Gravenstein graft to M-7 rootstock looks good, what now?

General Fruit Growing
1

This one took a while, but looks like it’s taking. Two shoots are growing, and the graft area is swelling and shedding the parafilm and rubberband.

I already removed the shoot on the rootstock. Should I leave the two Gravenstein shoots for now? Thanks, Ed

2

Picture is always helpful. However, pinch the tip off the weaker of the 2 shoots and let the other become your central leader for the time being.

3

hahaha, I forgot the pic. I will pinch the tip of the lower shoot soon. Thanks. ed

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4

If you havent done it already I would let them grow a bit longer before pinching the growing point out of the weaker one. I let mine get 2-3" of gowth before I select one, I might be a little over cautious though. Your graft does look healthy. I would remove that lower limb coming out of your rootstock it is taking energy away from your scion.

5

Thanks. Sounds good. The lower limb is gone, and I’ll wait a bit on the other two.

What about the parafilm on the scion, can I remove it?

6

I have had more damage result from my own clumsiness in bumping grafts than parafilm, or the like, restricting them and suggest leaving it alone. I suspect that it will slough off on its own.

7

No reason to remove the parafilm. What did you bind with under the parafilm? At some point you might need to cut through that, depending on what you used, but leave it all be for at least several more weeks.

8

OK, so I’ll leave the graft parafilm alone, just thought I might be creating the greenhouse effect on scion and heat it up too much, sun is hot now.

I used a rubberband under the parafilm, and I can already see it’s breaking up due to UV, and swelling of graft.

Thanks for the help. Ed