Hello guys .
Welcome to my first post.
In this post, we are going to deal with the subject of graft cuttings that are collected in the latent period, and I will try to describe the process as I do it, since I have had problems with fungal contamination (cuttings from friends), if this process is not done.
First of all, a crucial question
When should cuttings be cut for grafting?
From my point of view the best time to collect cuttings is in the time most coldest of winter, the cuttings will be in a total state of latency and with the cold, the wood becomes lignified, thus multiplying the success rate in our future grafts.
What calibers are suitable?
Between 3 and 8 millimeters in diameter, it is an adequate thickness, so if we send grafting material to a friend, at least three cuttings per variety should be sent in different calibers, in order to be suitable for their rootstocks.
Worldwide, the ziploc plastic bag is widely used for shipping cuttings, with a moistened piece of paper, to guarantee the freshness of the cuttings during shipment.
Big mistake, since with the humidity, the appearance of botrytis is being promoted , which is the fungal disease that contaminates the cuttings, .
Which parts of the branches are the most suitable for collecting cuttings.
The water sprouts of the variety (straight branches of wood, not fruitful) are the most suitable.
In these photographs you can see some pieces of suckers of a variety of stone fruit
The proper size of the cuttings would be approximately as long as a pen, and in different gauges
And for grape cuttings, it is necessary that the cuttings have at least two viable buds
It is necessary to leave a good piece of wood below the lower bud (marked with a red arrow), which is where we are going to practice the graft bevel, so that once grafted, we will have two viable buds for sprouting
But we cannot keep them that way, nor can we send them in this way, so we will apply the method used in fig cuttings for rooting.
We will need these two things:
- Tap water
- Normal household bleach
Is necesary have to prepare a dilution of 9 parts of water and one part of bleach.
The appropriate thing, if we are going to prepare a lot of grafting material of different varieties, is to make a dilution bucket of nine liters of water and one liter of bleach, and now you will see why so much quantity .
If we only have a container with water and bleach, to deposit all the cuttings of different varieties, the same thing always happens “everything ends up mixing” hahahahaha, and we will have problems identifying the varieties
The ideal is to cut a few plastic bottles, where we introduce the dilution, and each bottle will be worth a only variety.
in this way
You can see that each variety is in its bottle, and there is no risk of mistakes, and it is essential to put the name of each variety written on a piece of paper under each bottle (all precaution is fews ).
How time is necesary to leave the cuttings in the dilution?
Well, between 10 and 15 minutes (nothing happens if it is more), and it is interesting to turn them from time to time, so that they soak well on both sides.
Once the hydration and disinfection time has passed (15 or 20 minutes).
An absolutely clean cloth tablecloth is spread on a table, and the cuttings are deposited, with their labels in front ( I repeat, all precautions with the labels are fews ).
It is necessary to leave the cuttings on the tablecloth (they are turned from time to time), until their total and absolute exterior drying.
This process can last perfectly an hour and even more, it depends on the wood of each variety, and the ventilation of the room.
What is the purpose of leaving its exterior drying?
Very simple, with this process, what we have done is a good internal hydration of the cuttings, and in their external part “that is without humidity”, microscopic crystals of bleach have been formed that will prevent fungal contaminations, inside the the wrappers.
Now once the cuttings are externally dry, they must be wrapped.
A quality plastic film is used, I recommend the one I use, which is the “violet catering plastic film”, this one:
And we proceed to wrap, avoiding as much as possible the accumulation of air inside (that is, we wrap them by pressing well), and doubling well at the ends, like this.
Once well wrapped, the label with the name of the variety is placed
We continues wrapping well, doubling well at the ends, and the film is stretched to cut it, obtaining the packets.
We already have the cuttings packages, totally ready, to be refrigerated until grafting time, or to send it without fear to the end of the world.
The refrigeration temperature is essential for a good conservation of the cuttings, and should be between 1 and 2 degrees Celsius (33.8 Âş to 35.6 Âş Fahrenheit)
It is a very simple process, and really surprising, since when opening the packages in spring-summer, the state of the cuttings is as freshly cut.
I personally have successfully grafted with refrigerated cuttings from the previous year, and after a year and several months they were in perfect condition.
Regards
Jose
P.S .: Sorry for my bad writing, but I have to use google translator and sometimes it makes mistakes
