I’ve been collecting scions from friends and family and want to learn to graft hands on by making a multi variety tree with the scions. 80% of them are named varieties, 20% are unknown but I have an assortment of Pluot, Nectarine, Peach and Apricot to use with access to European and Japanese Plums soon.
Locally there are some great candidates for this project. Trees that are neck high with multiple (5-8) scaffold branches starting low. One variety is Brooks European Plum and a Frost Peach.
Looking at some grafting comparability charts it seems like Peach is the most universal. However, I’m not sure if that means literally grafting to peach rootstock like Lovell or if it means grafting to an existing scaffold branch. A lot of YouTube sources say prunus can be grafted to any prunus but these comparability charts say otherwise.
In my case the branches will be kept intact, cut short, and then the scions will be grafted on that. At the end of the day I’m looking at this as a living learning project to try different grafting techniques.
Any recommendations on the variety I should pick? Thank you.
I tried apricots during my first three years here, but they all died from local diseases, most likely borers, but I have not tried grafting them to a peach rootstock which is typically very reliable here. Your frost peach scaffolds should be compatible with all the varieties you listed. I recommend combining peaches, nectarines and apricots on the frost rootstock since these fruits will need to be treated for insects to obtain desirable fruit whereas your plums may not require chemical treatment for insects.
Your pluots and plums will not likely need spraying but will all be very susceptible to aphids, so your will likely need to treat them all in common. Pluots and Japanese plums can cross pollinate but not with your European plum, so it’s best to add only European variety scions to the European tree and choose a separate rootstock either peach or plum to create a multi variety Asian plum tree to maximize cross pollination.
Dennis
Kent, Wa
My pest pressure has been pretty minimal with just some aphids on my plum trees which I treated with soapy water and ladybugs. I’m working on the science of things this winter and trying to time my treatment of copper and dormant spray to be on a better schedule.
In general do you reccomend adding another spray to the rotation? I’m mixing Monterey liqui-cop and horticultural oil together in a sprayer since they can be mixed together and spot treat during the summer with pyrethrin and spinosad as needed. Should I add an additional insecticide to the rotation during dormancy in our area?
I feel the best & most universal would be the most hybridized species. If you do a multi-grafted tree, the seeds saved will likely be crosses due to proximity & those offspring will have the best graft compatibility.
Those you listed should work for aphids. This year for the first time I will try this method during dormancy for both Peach leaf curl and plum aphids. May do it this week if temps get above 40F.
Dennis