I have a Carolina Gold peach grafted onto BY520-9 rootstock. The tree didn’t do well after planting and I thought it had died so forgot about it for a month. Today, however, I found shoots coming out from the bottom - some below the graft, which I removed, but also this one, which appears - perhaps - to be above the graft line. But is this so close to the graft line that it actually represents growth out of the rootstock, and not the grafted tree? I’m trying to decide if it’s worth keeping.
2 Likes
To my eye, it appears to be emerging from above the graft union.
9 Likes
Agree with @JohannsGarden. I think it’s above the callous.
2 Likes
How does the rest of the tree look. Is that the only shoot
Looks like it’s scion growth to me to. It’ll likely fruit, at least lightly, next year if it grows well this year? I’d just leave it unless you have something else to pop right in.
It’s above the graft. I’d probably just let it grow (maybe tie it up more vertical) then prune off the dead stub this fall if that’s going to be the new “trunk”.
I have a persimmon doing the same thing now, but it’s sprouting exactly on the graft union and not a bit above. Fortunately its a kaki graft on a DV stock and I can tell its the graft by the leaf color and shape.
No worries be happy 
4 Likes
Keep an eye on it to make sure it’s not a chimera
Hard to say without a clearer photo of where exactly the graft union is, but if the shoot is genuinely above the union it’s worth keeping and watching. If the tree overall was struggling, the rootstock sometimes pushes hard even from just above the union. I’d leave it for now and see what the leaves look like as it develops — rootstock growth on peach often looks noticeably different to the scion.
Many thanks to everyone who replied! I really appreciate it. I’ll monitor it this season and go from there.