(Assuming time of year / temperature is ideal) Will grafting newly received, freshly planted, rootstock have a good chance of grafting success, or is it necessary to plant the rootstock and let the it establish before cutting it back and adding a graft to the base?
Last year I potted 15 rootstock and allowed them to establish for a year, and plan to cut them back and graft them this year (probably in early June) I will cut off much of last years growth before they break dormancy.
This year I would like to graft one to two hundred rootstocks, and would prefer to graft right away. Will there be good chance of success?
grafting freshly harvested rootstocks for planting is called “bench grafting” and is common practice.
Should work fine. I do most of my grafting that way.
Only thing i would advise though. Since the grafted tree’s are planted end of winter/beggining of spring. Is to water a bit extra during dry periods the first year. And especially when the grafts are just leafing out. (although usually around that time there’s enough rain)
i don’t completely understand. You put ungrafted rootstocks in pots for a year. And plan to prune them in June for grafting afterwards?
Older wood is often harder to graft (cambium is thinner, and larger size mismatch. I don’t see a reason to let rootstocks grow out a year, unless you want to graft on side branches. Or if the rootstock caliper/size is to small.
If you however did let them grow out. I would summer budd (chip or t-bud) wait till the leaf petiole of the graft falls off. And than prune above the graft to force the graft to leaf out the same summer as grafting.
You however need freshly cut and mature enough scions for that in summer. Usually this means you cut the scion and graft the same day. Impractical to mail fresh scions in summer.
Your proposed grafting (either choice) should turn out fine.
I’ve grafted to a couple already planted in pots last year.
And soon as my bare-root rootstocks arrive in March, I’ll get busy grafting 100 or more as soon as I have time. I’d probably do some this evening…
in fact I think I shall…there’s over an hour of daylight.
Yes, I received rootstocks last spring and potted them without grafting because I was unsure if cutting them back at that point ( they were leafing above where I would graft ) would harm them by removing too much of their energy and cause the graft not to take. They are not very large now - approx 2’ tall with 10"+/-’ of that being the original rootstock base, and most around 1/2" caliper, and a few a little larger.
removing the top of a leafing out rootstock should be no problem if the leaves are small. If it is growing shoots you might be on the late side.
If a rootstock is leafing out, i usually rubb off the buds. And do a chip bud graft. Keep rubbing off rootstock buds that leaf out. Until my chip bud starts to grow.
if growing shoots. You can pinch the growing tip, and do a chip bud or t-bud on the side.
Rubbing off buds or pinching growing tips. “pauses” the growth for a while. While costing the tree minimal resources. Thus giving you time to graft.
