Hi everyone! I’d love some advice with how to move forward with an already established little Lovell peach tree.
I’d like to graft something else onto it… namely Independence nectarine. I’m just learning about fruit trees and grafting and hoping to make this little tree into something still. It’s been growing for about two years but was just a small dead stick when we got here. It sent up a sucker and we kept it. We were going to pull it out but then we learned we could graft something else onto it and Lovell seems to be a great rootstock for my area.
It’s not pruned well, it’s crooked and I’m unsure the best way to prune it to be grafted into something else. I did practice branch grafting some Fantasia scions on to it last year and they took but I already have a Fantasia tree and I did them too far out on the branch I think.
Anyway, I’d love some advice. I think the plan is to try and graft Independence nectarine onto this tree. So I’m specifically seeking guidance on how to prune this to graft to it and what grafting technique might work best. Also, any other advice about the structure of the tree.
Thank you to everyone for all of the amazing topics on this forum. I’ve learned so much in the last year and a half because of this forum and I’m so happy to be a part of it.
I’m new to grafting but have studied the topic pretty throughly. Timing, temperature and ample watering seem to be very important when it comes to grafting on to peach. I bark grafted and made a tin foil tent last year and had 100% sucess on a unknown peach variety root stock.
If it were me, I’d cut off everything but that one that bends back and kind of straightens it out. Then graft onto that. You could graft all of those branches or cut of that top part and graft the main trunk. Make sure to leave at least a branch or two for nurse limbs. They can be cut off later.
This is awesome. Ok so basically I have some options…. I like the idea of cutting off the thick branch and grafting three scions to that one branch to make a new open shape. I’d have to learn more about bark grafting and when to do that but I can make that happen.
I don’t know what nurse branches are. So I’ll have to Google that. Any advice about how to choose nurse branches? Also… newb question but do people order scion wood for peaches/nectarines in the summer time? I’ve only used love wood from a neighbor that was only maybe 4 hours old. Not sure how to get ahold of some Independence scion wood for this little project. Thanks so much for your input! It was very helpful!
You get the scion wood now and store it in the fridge crisper till spring to graft. Nurse limbs are branches you keep to have some foliage while most of the tree is cut off and grafted. Like those two lower ones on the piece that bends back.
Oh ok! That makes sense. I am in northern AZ and the sun is still very intense here so that probably would offer them some good protection.
Is there somewhere appropriate on the forum to ask if anyone has some scion wood for sale? I don’t have anything to trade as of yet and I’m striking out finding it for sale online somewhere. So far no one locally has that variety of nectarine either. It’s almost easier to buy a whole tree than graft this one
You can post in the trading post section of the forum that you are looking for it. There are a lot of other good varieties. I wouldn’t restrict yourself to only that one. Another tree is never a bad ides either.
Ok. I wasn’t sure if the trading post was just for trades
My weather conditions are pretty crappy. Ive been researching varieties for a couple years and that one keeps checking some boxes. I live in the high desert zone 6b/7a. Intense spring wind, late frosts, ultra intense summer sun but frigid, dry winters sometimes down to -5 for a couple nights in a row. I’m not super hopeful about peaches/ nectarines but I picked out
Independence
July Elberta
Fantasia
PF24C
to try and give myself the best chance and hopefully an extended harvest.
I have limited space and can only have two of each type for now. But I want to get at least something in the ground. I would love any other options you think I might try? Definitely helpful from an experienced grower.
Fantasia and Elberta are already planted and thriving. I have good soil with great drainage and that’s about all that I have going for me at this point hahaha. People here do grow peaches though with some success. I think I can do better with better pruning, fertilizing, soil building etc. So I’d like to try.
There are regional postings. There may be one for your area. On the left click all categories then on the right scroll down to click on regional chats. If there is one for your area then you can ask others near you for more specific advice about varieties ect.
thanks for sharing. 100% is outstanding!