Grafts added to my Novamac B9 espellar this spring.
Both Pristine and Trailman growth from new grafts have 2 sets of blossoms. Sweet.
TNHunter
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On April 18 (16 days ago), I bagged a dozen bare-root persimmon seedlings, bench-grafted them (all W&T), then attached them to a hot callus pipe. Temps in the callus pipe were generally ~85 F. The garage in which these grafts were stored has been ~50-60 F.
Roughly 7-10 days ago, I potted the trees but left them on the pipe. Today, I see the first signs of growth. Note that outside temps are still cool – 65 F days, 50 F nights; I would not attempt field grafts of persimmons here until at least late May. So the hot callus pipe has brought me success 6 weeks ahead of schedule.
Now I’m gonna move these to my basement (low 70’s) to grow under lights until outside temps get a little warmer.
These are the hybrids Chuchupaka and Dar Sofievki.
Don’t be distracted by the plastic bag and duct tape over the pot – That’s just a way to prevent the potting mix from falling out when I turn the pot on its side.
Finally, just a footnote: I have another 13 rootstock trees that I’m grafting with a different strategy. I potted them, stored them under lights in the basement, waited for them to leaf out, and then grafted them. These trees have been leafing out over the past week or so, so I’ve grafted as available. I think I will move these to the pipe until I see signs of growth from the scions.
Addendum 05/07/25: As of this morning, 5 of 12 grafts from the initial cohort attached to the hot callus pipe show growth – green buds / shoots popping through the tape. Those include 2 of 3 Chuchupaka, 1 of 3 Dar Sofievki, and 2 of 2 H-118.
Addendum 5/10/25. Now 8 of 12. Add a Taishu (1/1) as well as one more each of Chuchupaka (3/3) and Dar Sofievki (2/3). Waiting on 1 final DS and 3 Cardinals.
Addendum 5/24/25. Now 9 of 12 on the pipe, as one of the Cardinals is popping. What remains is 2 Cardinal and 1 Dar Sof. Also 6 of 11 on the other strategy, waiting for leaf-out. What remains is 3 Cardinals, 1 Taishu and 1 Dar Sof.
Final note 5/30/25: I’m wrapping up this exercise. The cohort sent to the pipe remains 9 for 12. The non-pipe strategy remains 6 for 11. By variety, it was 2 / 2 for H-118, 4 / 4 for Chuchupaka, 2 / 3 for Taishu, 6 / 8 for Dar Sof, and 1 / 6 for Cardinal.
I check the 5 failed Cardinal scions for continued viability by snipping off the tips. Four were bright green. I had damaged one of those grafts, which I tossed, but I left the remaining 3 grafts intact, hoping that one or more rallies in the coming month.
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I have a few apple trees that I either field grafted or ordered as bench grafts. A number of the scions have leafed out. I’m wondering if this is stored energy in the scion or if they have successfully taken. How long would you think I need to see growth before I’d be able to consider them a success?
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I would say a couple of weeks. If they stop growing or decline, then it’s store energy. If they continue to grow in couple of weeks, then it’s good.
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Shoot extension is a good sign. Once they’ve put on an inch or two of growth it’s a good sign that something is healed. To see the difference between stored energy and healing just set a scion in a cup of water the same time you graft. It will leaf out but will put on no real vegetative growth
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I grafted the last few apple scions this afternoon but still have 5 B118 rootstocks remaining ungrafted. Tomorrow, I’ll go through the remaining scions and pick a few for another graft.
Pear grafts look outstanding with some already showing a foot of new growth. Pecan grafts almost all have green buds expanding. For pecan, this is not necessarily a good sign. I like them to stay dormant another week before growing. Time will tell.
I still have about 30 persimmon grafts to make most of which will be done tomorrow.
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That first photo looks as though you are getting growth from the stock. You might want to pinch off the upper leaves of that growth to hinder its extension while feeding the scion growth until you see a half inch stem on the scion growth, or a second set of leaves. Then cut off all the competing growth from the stock.
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Yes, there is some rootstock growth. I figured this was a good sign that the rootstock was establishing. Is there any risk in pinching the rootstock growth during rainy weather? If there is, would waiting a week make much of a difference?
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If your region is subject to fire blight, then waiting for drier weather might be a good idea. But, don’t wait long, because oftentimes the new stem(s) from the stock will grow faster than the other cultivar you want.
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Early Laxton graft from last year snapped off during the winter. It’s making a comeback with the only bud left.
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I love it when that works out.
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Looks good! I attempted some grafts last week on my in-ground trees. Temps were on the cool side of warm enough, but I’ve already got strong growth starting. Last year I waited until it was very warm, but the grafts missed the strong initial flush. Those that took barely grew and were aborted by the tree. I’m hoping they’ll at least catch the tail end of the spring flush and actually stick.
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What my Autumn Olives look like right now. Waiting a day or two before trying grafting England’s Goumi scions on. I haven’t grafted Goumi on AA before so I’m hoping this is about the right time.
An example of what one of my Goumi look like right now. This Red Gem Goumi was planted last Fall.
My Pippi Goumi that was planted last Fall. I practiced some indoor Goumi grafts on it last year. Here is a Monez Goumi graft that survived winter. All Goumi cultivars survive my winters, so far.
One of my Sunrise Ruby Goumi plants that arrived from Burntridge recently.
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If that is buddy tape (looks like it to me) really try to stretch it out as you go over the buds. My first time using it I didn’t and it smothered a couple of buds due to putting it on thick and not stretching it. Those are strong buds tho pushing right through, I forget what it was I did it with but it was a thin little scion, probably peach
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If I have a pecan rootstock that has a 3-way fork on top like this, what’s the best way to handle the two side forks? Cut them? Leave one or both? Graft all 3 and triple my chances?
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Cut off the smallest and graft both of the larger and more vertical shoots. I have several trees which were done with two grafts of which only one was accepted. I pruned off the dead scion a few months later leaving the one that was growing.
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it is- I stretch out the hardest over the bud and let it be a little thicker on the branch usually. I’m paranoid they can’t get through most of the time.
you can see how I try in this one. I make it clear from stretching there but thick elsewhere. because my hands start to hurt lol
more takes/beginning to take-
green gage, Clark’s Crab, lamb abbey, claygate, zeibergau reinette
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I like how these pictures are “here are my grafts” but also “let me low-key brag that I still have all my fingers”
MF
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