Susu, whips aka splices shouldn’t be hard to do! I’m taking the liberty of linking to a couple of useful threads on the subject, knowing that you may have already read them. My apologies if I’m belaboring the subject too much …
One important factor in these temps is if its sunny or not. I don’t know exactly how much the wood (the graft junction in particular) heats up due to sun but a guess is 10 degrees, and it could be even more. So, 60’s and sunny could be as good as 70’s with no sun. I have been waiting for highs in the 70s or 80s for peaches but am going to change that this year to also include highs in the 60s and sunny. Also it doesn’t have to be a good temp every day, I’m not sure how many days you need bu…
Advantage not really but I’ve had very good results with Alan’s favorite, the simple splice. W&T has also worked great but is more difficult and probably no better. I’m looking at 100% right now on ~15 splice grafts this spring.
The cleft does have the advantage of working when stock is much bigger than scion.
I like it because it’s self seating: meaning if I bang it, bump it, nudge it, or are otherwise misaligned, it just grows crooked or I only have to shove it down and it doesn’t fail. I also, as others have said, use it for top working trunks.
I have had good enough luck with apples with cleft grafts to not bother with anything else. Splice is probably equally easy but I honestly find wrapping field grafts kind of a hassle so I think cleft is easier to hold and wrap at the same time.
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