And for some trees that might grow very rapidly after grafting (like persimmon), having a stake that extends up higher than the tender new growth can help protect that growth from bird breakage.
Can I expect the open side of an uneven diameter cleft graft to fill in with callous? If so, how long? My graft has taken and grown approx 2ft tall, yet half of the root stocks cleft remains open because the scion was so narrow.
Is it wrapped/sealed in any way at the moment? Might help to do that again if not, from my reading of the grafters handbook, but my own experience is minimal thus far
Its currently wrapped with grafting tape. I removed some yesterday to have a look but rewrapped it after. I have wrapped my grafts very tightly with multiple layers. The tape has practically fused together and is very difficult to remove.
I´m hoping someone will advise me on this bud graft. I´m a total neophyte with grafting. I recently attempted a persimmon bud graft, but failed to put a ¨lip¨ at the base to serve as a perch for the chip. My concern now is that as it grows and becomes heavier, it will slough off. I´ve considered re-wrapping at the base and top to secure it but wonder whether I´d simply be knocking it off in the process.
@GeneH
I think the more that grows the stronger it will become.
Rewraping may be good , with parafilm , in a very gentle way.
Such as to not apply any pressure to it but to keep it from moving.
Or just leave it be…?
It looks to be barely attached .but healthy and growing,it will get stronger as it grows .
If that is the only growing point ,in 2-3 weeks it will be much bigger and better attached,may secure it with a bamboo stake as it grows to keep birds and wind from blowing it out,
Good luck
Here’s a fig graft I made a month ago. I messed up a lot of my cutting before getting the scion cut correctly, since the wood was so soft. Much less time consuming and less effort than rooting cuttings or making airlayers. I have some in ground trees that provide plenty of rooted branches I can dig up to use as rootstock.
Don’t worry about that, it will grow out fine. I forced some apple buds a few weeks ago, one of the chips has a huge open gap at the bottom but it is still growing fine. Which is good as the deer broke into the fence I had on it and took out the one other growing bud.
The main thing to be concerned with is to make sure the bud keeps growing and does not get out-competed by anything higher. Here is a persimmon I am forcing now, you can see I bent over all the other shoots to make the bud apically dominant.
@scottfsmith
Scott ( or others ) how late in the season have you had good luck with chip buds on persimmons.?
As I remember, late August or later they start to produce a black sap on wounds ,such as grafts , causing failures.
At least that has been what I remember on the few late ones.
Have you experienced the black sap ?