New to grafting

[Twolftg]

Innitally i was going to jump in on j-birds beginers post but I didn't want to hi jack, I have a Whitney crab apple that is growing head and shoulders above the other trees in my small 5 tree orchard, I have a couple wolf rivers and a couple honey crisp, would it be wise to use the t budding method into this crab apple? I am not sure of the rootstock of any although I got them from stark Bros and they are semi dwarf and I planted about 5 years ago. To date the only tree to bear fruit is one honeycrisp, althought I didn't label so I am not 100% sure that's it isn't a wolf river. I thought maybe experimenting on my well growing tree with one that's is fruiting might give me more fruit sooner.

 

[Neahawg]

Innitally i was going to jump in on j-birds beginers post but I didn't want to hi jack, I have a Whitney crab apple that is growing head and shoulders above the other trees in my small 5 tree orchard, I have a couple wolf rivers and a couple honey crisp, would it be wise to use the t budding method into this crab apple? I am not sure of the rootstock of any although I got them from stark Bros and they are semi dwarf and I planted about 5 years ago. To date the only tree to bear fruit is one honeycrisp, althought I didn't label so I am not 100% sure that's it isn't a wolf river. I thought maybe experimenting on my well growing tree with one that's is fruiting might give me more fruit sooner.

If your wanting to add fruit to one tree and you already have yeah you can start with t budding this year. Find a branch you want to convert over and just follow the steps I posted earlier with the diagram. Watch YouTube videos they have some good ones. They say if it's a success in roughly two weeks you can click the petiole and it will fall off. If it takes just be sure to cut off everything above the graft.

 

[dogdoc]

You should easily be able to tell the difference between a wolf river apple compared to honeycrisp. Wolf River is a very large apple--almost the size of a softball and plus it won't be a great tasting apple. The honeycrisp---one of the most delicious apples out there.

todd

 

[Twolftg]

You should easily be able to tell the difference between a wolf river apple compared to honeycrisp. Wolf River is a very large apple--almost the size of a softball and plus it won't be a great tasting apple. The honeycrisp---one of the most delicious apples out there.

todd

Yeah the one tree growing only has a handful and they are still small, but I am sure I will be able to figure it out down the road.

 

[Neahawg]

You should easily be able to tell the difference between a wolf river apple compared to honeycrisp. Wolf River is a very large apple--almost the size of a softball and plus it won't be a great tasting apple. The honeycrisp---one of the most delicious apples out there.

todd

I tried a honeycrisp the other day at honestly to me it tasted about the same as yellow delicious. I prefer pink ladies but could have just got a poor apple.

 

[Turkey Creek]

So you are just going to T-bud onto an existing limb on the crabapple? Otherwise why would you knock the top out of a perfectly good tree.

I prefer the Cripps Pink apples as well. Honey Crisp is a bit over rated as far as I am concerned.

 

[Twolftg]

Yeah I am not nicking down the top, just graft in on a few branches. I have to trim it like crazy so it if I lose a few branches no biggie.

 

[Fish]

If it were me, i would just graft a whip and tongue, cleft, or bark graft to those branches next spring. What are the branch diameters you want to graft?

 

[Twolftg]

If it were me, i would just graft a whip and tongue, cleft, or bark graft to those branches next spring. What are the branch diameters you want to graft?

That all sound like a foreign language, better do more studying and video watching before I start hacking away.

 

[dogdoc]

I tried a honeycrisp the other day at honestly to me it tasted about the same as yellow delicious. I prefer pink ladies but could have just got a poor apple.

I'm a big fan of pink lady also and it's the only apple my parrot will eat so we always have some around. Also a big fan of Fuji apples.

 

[Fish]

That all sound like a foreign language, better do more studying and video watching before I start hacking away.

Apologies. Those techniques are clearly shown on youtube in many different grafting videos. The diameter of the branch you're grafting will dictate which to use. These are not difficult grafts and dont require perfect technique for a take. I have no doubt you can succeed.

 

[dogdoc]

So many "how to" videos on YouTube. I watched tons over and over then started cutting smaller branches off my silver leaf maple and practiced till I felt comfortable. I even surprised myself with the success.

 

[Sam]

ya i have watching videos going to try it on some citrus trees i have.

 

[Twolftg]

What method is the best to start with, I imagine it differs depending on what your trying to accomplish ie grafting a branch into a tree or grafting to a main trunk for rootstock?

 

[Turkey Creek]

Size of the under stock vs scion, and personal preference on grafting style are the two biggest factors influencing which graft type. To a lesser extent field graft vs bench graft, amount of scion wood available and time of year the graft is done. 90% of the grafts I do are cleft graft. I just find them simple, strong and reliable.