Hello, First time poster. I am trying to learn bench grafting, I know I have made mistakes, but I dont have anybody close to show me or classes to attend thru extension. I have watched youtube videos and read the recommended books. I order apple and pear rootstock thru county extension , in the winter, however it doesnt arrive until April 1. I did approximately 50 apple bench grafts this spring between April-15 using whip and tongue and also cleft graft method. none of my grafts have budded out. I scraped a little bark off 1 scion today, cambium layer is brown rootstocks are green and living. MY QUESTIONS are 1] have my grafts totally failed 2] Is April 1 too late for bench grafts 3] When could I attempt t-bud grafting. My location is Eastern Ky. Thanks Steve
Welcome to the group. Sorry to here about your grafts. Yes brown is not good news. The scion has likely failed. However if it is just brown on the ends; you could chip bud perhaps and still get trees.
I have a number of scions I’m about to do the same on here after fire blight hit hard.
dannytoro, thanks, the cambion layer is green below the graft on the rootstock. This has really fooled me, all the grafts appeared to be callousing . I thought they had taken. Thanks for your time. I am so glad I found this forum. Steve
Hi Steve,
If the rootstocks are still alive and you have green cambium, you can either chip or T bud them immediately.
One of our more experienced members: Fruitnuts, posted this T bud tutorial: T-budding tutorial
If that fails don’t give up, try green scion grafting after early August. You have many ways to graft apple so I’m sure something will work for you. Contact me if you need more discussion.
Dennis
Kent, Wa