Apple tree grafting care - once the buds start to break

General Fruit Growing
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Hi folks. Long time reader - first time poster.

I took the plunge this last year and ordered the beginnings of my apple orchard. I wanted to experiment a little bit so I ordered 3 different rootstocks (M7, G890, and M111). My goal is to have free standing trees and I’ve heard all of these rootstocks are good for that (though the more I learn the more I believe pruning has more to do with what makes a free standing tree) and wanted to see which rootstock did better in my area.

I bought about 12 scions and grafted about 2 inch sticks (2-3 buds each) to each root stock. I heeled the rootstock over in large pots in my basement and let them sit. That was in early March and the now most grafts are starting to pop buds which I take as a good sign.

My question now though is “now what?”. I know my goal this first year is to pick one bud and let it form the whip. But to my understanding there are flowering buds and “wood” buds. Some links I’ve found indicate that any bud would eventually push wood for the whip but I cant seem to confirm that yet.

I cant seem to find any info that talks about what to do at this state. Do I leave all the buds until I get growth? Then pick one? Or should I be picking one already? My goal is to get them in the ground in a small nursery sometime in early May.

Thanks for any pointers

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I let all the buds grow until I see an inch or two growth from the top bud, meaning it’s a vegetative bud that will survive and grow. If the top bud starts to form flower buds I cut it off and let the lower bud take over. I have tried pinching off flower parts and waiting for a flower bud to change into a vegetative bud but it’s never happened for me. Also make the whip grow straight by tying it loosely to a rod shoved into the ground an inch or two from the whip. As the whip grows taller keep loosely tying the top to the rod so leader cannot whip around in the wind and birds cannot land on it. You want the leader to wobble some in wind to strengthen it but not more than a couple inches I’d say.

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I leave everything that wants to grow the first year. Rootstock included. But keep them pinched back so they don’t compete with the apical leader.

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Oh interesting. So you wait until the second year to pick a leader? I was under the impression that one could choose a whip the first year and let it grow but maybe that’s not that case?

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So you’re really wanting a vegetative bud to take off it sounds like? A lot of the buds that have started opening look like flowering buds to me but to be honest I’m not 100% sure

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Yes, I personally hope like heck that the top bud is a vegetative bud, and it usually is. Post a photo and let’s see what your buds look like.

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