Persimmon Graft Results

[144]

Just thought I'd post with my persimmon graft results. This is the first time I've ever tried grafting and I started with bark grafts. I grafted three trees with Okie scions (thanks dogdoc!) around 6 weeks ago. It took around 3-4 weeks for the buds to swell on the two trees below. The third hadn't shown any growth by week 5 (May 27th) so I removed the scions and regrafted it. I also grafted another with Okie scions and two others with Japanese scions (Ichi) from one of my Chestnut Hill trees from last year.

I changed up the method that I was using based on some suggestions off the forum and the David Osborn article - https://www.qdma.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Grafting-Persimmons.pdf . I used 3M electrical tape turned backwards to wrap the union, instead of rubber splicing tape. I also scraped the bark off the side of the scion touching the cambium till it was green (step 3 on pg 2 of the article), instead of making a sloping cut on both sides like I saw in a few videos. That resulted in all of the scions from round 2 showing swelled buds in one weeks time.

I know that I still have a ways to go before the scions are truly part of the rootstock, but it's very promising results. Thought someone else may be able to benefit from this that's just starting out too...

144

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[lakngolf]

Way to go. Your results must be satisfying. Y'all gonna talk me into trying it one of these days!

 

[dogdoc]

Great job. Get them supported with bamboo or some other support stick. You are getting some fast growth from those older trees. It only takes one good storm to blow those scions off. I didn't support my first year and lost over 50% of my grafts.
In 3 to 4 years you should start seeing fruit.
Todd

 

[144]

Will do, gonna try to get out there in the next couple of days to do so. Are you just taping/tying off the support stick directly to the scion and rootstock?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Native Hunter]

Very nice job!

 

[dogdoc]

Will do, gonna try to get out there in the next couple of days to do so. Are you just taping/tying off the support stick directly to the scion and rootstock?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

i just just use electrical tape to support the stake to the mother tree then green garden ribbon to the scion.

 

[144]

Just a quick update...

The original trees are still growing great, was able to get out and stake them. Had the first two grafted trees break through the rubber splicing tape. Any idea if I should retape them with electrical tape or let them go? A few pictures below.

Have a few Okie scions from the second round leafing out. Maybe a complete coincidence, but it appears that the smaller trees are pushing more growth than the larger ones.

Unfortunately, the trees grafted with Japanese Ichi scions aren't doing as well, looked like the buds swelled and then dried up. Still have one that may make it, hopefully.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[dogdoc]

Looks great. I would retape but dont know if it's actually necessary. Glad the Okie scions are doing well.

 

[Fish]

Nice work on those grafts! I would keep that graft union tight this summer. Even with being staked.

 

[144]

Sounds good, thanks guys. I retaped them this weekend, good timing with the winds we were getting from the tropical storm. Hopefully that will hold them together.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Merle Hawggard]

Awesome job 144! Once you've been bit by the grafting bug you'll always have the fever.

Sent from my SM-S903VL using Tapatalk

 

[144]

Awesome job 144! Once you've been bit by the grafting bug you'll always have the fever.

Sent from my SM-S903VL using Tapatalk

Thanks Merle, definitely have been bitten. When I was a kid, I always wondered why I saw old timers in gardens and messing around with fruit trees and such all the time. My grandfather was big into them as it was his hobby, and I think he would have taken up grafting if he ever had the chance. I'd like to think I'm carrying on the tradition, I'm fascinated by the stuff. Plan to try my hand at some pears/apples next year and have a lot more persimmons to take care of.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Merle Hawggard]

Thanks Merle, definitely have been bitten. When I was a kid, I always wondered why I saw old timers in gardens and messing around with fruit trees and such all the time. My grandfather was big into them as it was his hobby, and I think he would have taken up grafting if he ever had the chance. I'd like to think I'm carrying on the tradition, I'm fascinated by the stuff. Plan to try my hand at some pears/apples next year and have a lot more persimmons to take care of.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

My wife's late grandfather, definitely an old timer at the time lol, taught me how quite a few years ago and I've slowly gotten better while somehow becoming a grandfather myself.
Chuck and I have quite a few apple and pear varieties so hit us up next winter, we may have what you want.
There are also a lot of other grafters on here that are very generous with the scions!
Tull would probably be a good apple for you. It's from south of Little Rock so I'd think it would do fine in the LA heat and humidity.

Sent from my SM-S903VL using Tapatalk

 

[144]

My wife's late grandfather, definitely an old timer at the time lol, taught me how quite a few years ago and I've slowly gotten better while somehow becoming a grandfather myself.
Chuck and I have quite a few apple and pear varieties so hit us up next winter, we may have what you want.
There are also a lot of other grafters on here that are very generous with the scions!
Tull would probably be a good apple for you. It's from south of Little Rock so I'd think it would do fine in the LA heat and humidity.

Sent from my SM-S903VL using Tapatalk

Ok, will do. Thanks for the offer. Would be happy to have the Tull on my place, been enjoying following along on your thread about it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[144]

Thought I’d post a quick update...

Looks like two of the trees I grafted last year are flowering out. I knew the okie scions were pretty good, but didn’t expect to see it this soon. Is this normal or just a fluke?

I’ll pinch these off soon, but want to see if it will set fruit. I believe it will.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[144]

Grafted 9 trees yesterday with a mix of okie scions from last years growth and some different varieties I got from other sources. Will post some additional pictures if they are successful.

Here’s the first tree I’ve ever cleft grafted, grafted it around three weeks ago, buds have greened up and busted through the parafilm...

Any of you still sitting on the sidelines with regards to grafting, you ought to try it. Only need some wild persimmon trees, dormant scions, a knife/box cutter, toilet ring wax and electrical tape, and follow one of the guides that some of the guys have posted. Odds are you’ll have some success... Neat to see a scion green up and triple in size in the first season, and it’s a fun hobby to boot...




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[jteeen]

What if both scions do great? Do you remove the smaller or weaker one?

I have a bunch of young persimmons from the state, 6"-6' tall. They aren't quite ready yet, but I would like to take some scions from some other very large trees with varying drop times. What's the best way to store them over winter?

This is assuming I can get up the trees first.

 

[144]

What if both scions do great? Do you remove the smaller or weaker one?

I have a bunch of young persimmons from the state, 6"-6' tall. They aren't quite ready yet, but I would like to take some scions from some other very large trees with varying drop times. What's the best way to store them over winter?

This is assuming I can get up the trees first.

Yeah, remove the smaller/weaker or the one that isn’t growing in the direction you want it to. It’s just basically insurance on the bark graft if one doesn’t take.

I’ve taken the cuttings the last couple of years around February and placed in a ziploc bag and put in a cooler. Then, once I’m back home, I light a cheap candle and dip each cut end of each cutting in the melted wax. Then put the scions back in the ziploc, put a few spritz of water in the bag, squeeze the air out, and put in the fridge. I’ve had them in the fridge since Feb and they are still green when cutting into them.

Depending on the diameter, some of those small persimmons you mentioned that are 6ft tall may be ready to graft, could use a cleft graft or a small bark graft. Did that on a few around the same height a few days ago. The last pic above is from a tree that is probably 4ft tall, did a cleft graft on it and it’s greening up. There’s a chance it won’t make it, but it looks promising thus far. Just got to line up the cambium layers.

I’m definitely no expert, I’m sure others can chime in as well...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[144]

Update from this weekend. Okie scion grafts from 2017, had around 10 persimmons forming on them. Going to leave the persimmons on until late summer to see how they do...

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Bottomland]

I have some leftover scions and about a dozen persimmon seedlings I planted last year in 5 gal rootmakers. Is it too late to graft? Even if I can keep them in a reasonable amount of shade and watered regularly since they are at my house. I know grafting is typically done in the spring, I just wondered if it would work this late since I can care for them intensely. My leftover scions are still dormant.