Grafting peach in spring: timing, grafting time, what and how to graft correctly, video for beginners

Goals and objectives of peach grafting

One of the most popular fruit crops is the peach. This tree grows not only in the south, but also in the middle zone and even in some northern regions. You just need to choose the right variety and fulfill other conditions. Growing a heat-loving crop in a risky farming zone also became possible thanks to grafting.

Advantages and disadvantages

Peach grafting helps produce high-quality fruit. With its help, it is possible to grow this heat-loving tree even in areas with a cool climate. Sometimes this procedure allows you to preserve a rare variety of crop.

This manipulation helps achieve the following results:

cultivate a wild tree and graft a certain variety of peach onto it;
save the plant;
develop a new variety;
save space on the site;
speed up getting results;
propagate your favorite variety.

Properly performed vaccination has no disadvantages. With proper implementation of agrotechnical measures, excellent results can be achieved.

Optimal timing for peach grafting in spring

Peach can be grafted both in the spring before the onset of active sap flow, and later. However, you need to take into account that not all methods are suitable for carrying out the procedure in the summer. The timing should be based on weather conditions in the region:

Central Russia - early March;
southern regions - February, early March;
northern regions - end of March.

These recommendations are very conditional. You need to look at the situation. If it is warm outside, the swelling of the buds will occur earlier, so it is recommended to do it before this moment.

Crops suitable for peach grafting

Gardeners often wonder what to plant a peach on. Sometimes there are cuttings of a given crop, but no tree. Experts note that other crops can be used as rootstocks. However, first of all it is necessary to identify closely related species.

Grafting on peach and apricot

The best varieties of rootstock are considered to be apricot and peach. In this case, you can count on the highest survival rate. When the scion and rootstock are of the same species, this is good.

If possible, you need to choose apricots and peaches of cold-resistant varieties. After grafting, such a tree will withstand the winter well. If the scion is a heat-loving and capricious variety of peach, it is useless to graft a cold-resistant scion onto it.

Grafting on other stone fruits: cherry plum, plum, almond

Peach also takes root well on other stone fruits. Plum is a good option. Some breeders even consider it a better rootstock compared to apricot. Cherry plum is also suitable, especially for regions with heavy rainfall. It is not afraid of waterlogging of the soil, but is drought-resistant. Some gardeners graft not onto apricot or peach, but onto felt cherry, so that the tree turns out to be small and as decorative as possible.

Almond is a powerful, spreading rootstock. Peaches of many different varieties can be grafted onto it. Wild bitter almonds grow well in regions with dry summers. The disadvantage of using other rootstocks (not peach) is that after a few years rejection may occur. It is worth vaccinating on almonds if you need to increase resistance to diseases.

What can a peach be grafted onto?

Apricot Black Prince - description and history of fruit selection

Thanks to this procedure, you can not only increase the yield, but also diversify it with different types of fruits in one garden, even with small parameters. To do this, you need to know what the peach is grafted on.

Is it possible to graft a peach onto an apricot?

Grafting peach onto apricot is quite appropriate, because these crops have excellent compatibility with each other. Apricots are universal peach rootstocks. After all, most of their varieties are frost-resistant and grow on different types of soil. Peach grafting should be carried out on Veteran, Juicy, Greensboro, and Redhaven apricots.

Compatible crops are quickly grafted

Is it possible to graft a peach onto a plum?

There are also cultures to which peach is grafted. If a gardener has decided to graft a peach onto a plum in his plant nursery, it is worth choosing varieties that are easy to care for, hardy and frost-resistant.

Note! For the middle zone of a country with a temperate climate, plum is one of the most suitable rootstocks for peach.

Benefits of Peach Grafting on Peach

It is optimal to make a peach rootstock similar to a peach, but of a more hardy variety or a wild one. Before you learn how to graft a peach onto a peach, it is worth considering the advantages of the procedure:

most likely the grafted variety will bear fruit better;
the rootstock is accepted faster;
A peach tree is more suitable for a fresh cutting.

Compatibility of peach with other fruit trees

Almond, peach, cherry plum and cherry seedlings are often used as rootstocks for peach. Bitter almond seedlings are vigorous rootstocks for peach. They combine quite well with all its varieties. The tree on this rootstock is early-bearing, the first fruits appear 3-4 years after planting.

Choosing a scion for peach

Peach cuttings can be used as a scion. It is better to take one-year-old, or maximum two-year-old shoots. It is better to cut them from the top of the crown, from the south or west side. It is important that the cuttings are cut from the middle section of the branches. The length of the scion should be about 25 cm, and the diameter should be up to 1 cm. The thickness of the workpiece should be approximately the same as a pencil. The length can then be trimmed.

The graft must be of high quality and healthy. Damage to it is not allowed, as is the presence of frozen areas. You can check the cuttings. To do this, they should be bent. If they bend easily, they may be considered for the procedure. When cut, the scion should be green, not brown.

Preparation of cuttings

Since peach grafting is best done in the spring, cuttings should be harvested in the fall or at the very beginning of winter, before frosts below -7-12°C set in. For peach grafting, select 1-2 year old mature strong growth shoots 30-40 centimeters long.

Weak and thin branches have a fairly low probability of survival. It is better to cut shoots from a healthy tree on the south side of the crown. They are cut in the morning or evening, but not in the daytime.

Preparation and storage of cuttings for scion in the fall

You can harvest cuttings in the fall. At this time of year, more planting material can be found in stores (if you need a specific variety). It is also possible to prepare a scion during autumn pruning. Some gardeners prefer to take cuttings in the spring. But this must be done before sap flow resumes. It’s better to do the preparation in advance.

Cuttings taken in the fall can be wrapped in a damp cloth and placed in the refrigerator. They keep well in the cold in moss. Some gardeners prefer to place cuttings in perforated bags and bury them. The shoots are perfectly stored there if you protect them from freezing. About once a month it is recommended to take out the scion and inspect it for moldy areas or damage. Some portion may have to be discarded, so it is better to make a supply in advance.

How to properly prepare the scion and rootstock

The rootstock should be seedlings that are a maximum of 2 years old. It is best to choose plants with a trunk size of no more than 10 millimeters in diameter.

It is recommended to harvest cuttings in the fall - this is done before the first frost.

In winter, some annual shoots will freeze, but in early spring this may not be noticed. Frozen cuttings have difficulty taking root. To prepare the scion, perform the following steps:

take the middle part of the shoot with a maximum diameter of 5 millimeters;
cut a fragment 15 centimeters long;
leave 10 quality buds on the shoot.

Recommendations for gardeners on how to carry out the procedure itself

Vaccination must be done within a clearly defined time frame. If the method requires the tree to be in a dormant state, it is better to have time to complete everything in early spring, before the sap begins to flow.

If the deadlines are missed, you can try to graft the tree in the summer, but using other methods. Autumn procedures are undesirable, since the vaccination must have time to take root. This is not always possible before frost sets in. If you do the procedure in the fall, then only in September.

It is advisable to use seedlings under 5 years old as a rootstock, but only if you have a choice. In case of its absence, you can graft cuttings even onto an old tree or stump. But this comes with certain difficulties.

The procedure should be carried out on a cool and cloudy day. At first, the tree can even be shaded. This increases the chances of successful survival of the scion. It is important to maintain cleanliness, do not touch the sections with your hands, and use only disinfected tools.

Choosing a grafting tool

To carry out the procedure, it is important to choose a high-quality and suitable instrument. You need to focus on the method that the gardener is going to use. In some cases, an ordinary pruner or even scissors is enough (if you need very thin shoots).

To prepare the rootstock, when using a central conductor, stump or skeletal branches, you need to choose special garden saws. You can buy grafting pruners in stores. This is a very convenient tool. If a gardener plans to regularly graft trees, it makes sense. This pruner differs from a regular pruner in that it cuts branches not straight, but in a shaped manner. The scion and rootstock produce indented surfaces. During the vaccination process, they can be folded like a puzzle and then firmly fixed.

On a note!
With a grafting pruner, even a beginner can perform the procedure correctly. The contact area between the scion and rootstock increases, and this greatly increases the chances of success.

A grafting knife helps prepare cuttings and sharpen them well. This tool is quite sharp. It is easy for them to cut off buds for budding. All instruments must be disinfected before use. You can simply wipe them with alcohol.

Suitable timing

In order for the vaccination to be effective and bring the expected effect, it is very important to choose the right moment for it. Spring is considered the best time to carry out the vaccination procedure. This is due to the early start of the growing season in peach trees. It is recommended to do this work early in the morning. If the plants have already entered the flowering stage, then you can graft, but first you will need to remove all the existing buds. The temperature should not be lower than +6 °C. The ideal time is considered to be from the beginning of March to the end of April. You need to try to get there before the buds open. Otherwise, return frosts can lead to rejection of the scion. Ideally, the maturation periods of the scion and rootstock coincide.

In summer, vaccination should only be done using the budding method. It is held from late July to early August. At this time, the buds are already ripening, and the shoots stop growing. Peach grafting should not be done using other methods in the summer. If you postpone grafting, then frosts that begin in the fall can destroy the grafted shoots and prevent them from taking root normally. But you always need to take into account weather conditions, because... they may vary from year to year.

Important!

Vaccination cannot be carried out if the air temperature at night drops to negative levels.

Basic methods of peach grafting

The vaccination must be done correctly. There are several ways in which this procedure can be performed. When choosing a method, several factors should be taken into account. The age of the tree, the presence of a particular scion and rootstock, as well as the experience of the gardener are of great importance.

Simple and improved copulation method

The copulation method is considered one of the most common. It does not require specific skills from the gardener. Even a beginner can do it correctly. To carry out the procedure, you will need a scion and rootstock of the same thickness. This makes it much easier to vaccinate. It is possible for the rootstock to be a little thicker. There are simple and improved copulation. A simple procedure is carried out according to the following algorithm:

Make an oblique cut on the rootstock (at an acute angle towards you).
Make the same cut on the scion under the lower bud in the same direction. If it doesn’t work out the first time, it’s permissible to do it again.
Align the two cuts.
Tightly secure (wrap) the grafting site with a special bandage or polymer film.
Cut off the top of the cutting (scion), leaving 2-3 buds and cover it with garden putty.

The procedure can be carried out in early spring, when the trees have not yet woken up. In summer this method is not recommended. The survival rate is quite low. The improved copulation method involves performing the following actions:

Make oblique cuts on the scion and rootstock, as in the case of simple copulation.
Step back 1/3 of the length from the upper edge of the cut and make a “tongue” on the rootstock (the cuts should be 10-12 mm deep into the shoot).
Make exactly the same “tongue” on the scion.
Insert the scion into the rootstock or place the “tongues” behind each other.
Wrap the grafting site tightly with a special bandage or polymer film.
Cut off the top of the cutting (scion), leaving 2-3 buds and cover it with garden putty.

Improved copulation allows you to increase the area of cuts and increase survival rate. But to carry it out correctly, some experience is required. You can practice on branches in advance if the scion is in short supply.

Grafting a peach into a cleft in spring

This method is very popular because it is simple and does not require any special skills. As a rule, this method is ideal if the thickness of the rootstock is much greater than the scion. The vaccination should be carried out according to the following scheme:

Cut the branch chosen as a rootstock at a certain height.
Place a knife in the middle and lightly press down or make a split 2-5 cm deep, depending on the thickness of the scion and rootstock.
Insert a screwdriver or some other object into the split to expand it.
Prepare a scion (cutting) to insert into the split. To do this, you need to sharpen it on both sides so that it fits the rootstock and is easily inserted. You should get a wedge.
Insert the scion into the rootstock and move it to one edge.
Trim the cuttings, leaving 2-3 buds on it.
Cover the cut of the cutting with garden varnish.
It is good to wrap the place where the scion and rootstock combine with electrical tape to press them together and avoid displacement.

This method is recommended for use in early spring, before the buds open. After a few weeks, when leaves appear on the cuttings, you need to remove the electrical tape to allow the bark to expand and the scion to grow unhindered.

Grafting for the bark during sap flow

This technology is considered quite simple. It is suitable if the cutting diameter of the rootstock is large. For example, this is relevant when you need to graft a peach onto an old tree or even a stump. When carrying out the procedure, you must perform the following steps:

Cut down the central trunk or skeletal branch.
Make cuts 3-4 cm long in the bark. The wider the trunk, the more cuttings can be inserted into it.
Prepare the cuttings. To do this, oblique cuts should be made on each of them. 2-3 buds should be left on the cuttings.
Insert the scion behind the bark of the rootstock.
Secure everything with electrical tape.
Coat open areas with garden varnish so that the graft does not dry out and moisture does not get into it.

On a note!
The method of grafting a peach by the bark is very effective; it can be used in the summer, during the period of active sap flow. But the method also has a drawback. Grafted branches are not attached as securely as necessary. When they grow and the crops ripen on them, you need to put up supports. Otherwise, the branches may break off.

Grafting a peach into a side cut

If you need to vaccinate when sap flow has already begun, you can choose the side incision method. Carrying out the procedure is not so easy, but training videos and detailed instructions will help beginners. You need to do the following:

Make a cut on the side of the rootstock. At the same time, it must be directed in the right direction. To carry out the procedure, you need to apply the knife at an angle of 30 degrees to the trunk, cutting not only the bark, but also the wood.
Prepare the scion. On one side you need to make a wedge, sharpening the branch on both sides. On the other hand, you need to leave 2-3 buds and make a longitudinal cut above them.
Insert the cutting into the cut.
Wrap the grafting site tightly with electrical tape.
Cover the top of the cutting with garden varnish.

The advantage of such grafting is that the cambial layers are combined as much as possible. The scion and rootstock are pressed very tightly against each other. This means that the chances of successful engraftment are high.

Budding - transfer of a bud from another tree

This grafting should be carried out at the end of summer, when the buds on the trees are already quite large and the shoots are growing. It is imperative to follow the recommended deadlines. If grafted too early, the buds may sprout, meaning they will not survive the winter. Such work will be completely useless.

What tools and materials will be needed

To carry out vaccination you will need some tools and materials. The most important of them will be a sharp knife or a special pruner for this purpose. It allows you to make T-shaped cuts on the shoots. In this case, it is recommended not only to rinse the instrument well, but also to disinfect it. You will also need electrical tape or plastic tape. You can also find in specialized stores a special film that is destroyed when exposed to the sun's rays, and you do not have to remove it. For subsequent treatment of the grafting site, you will need a garden varnish.

There are several ways to graft peach trees. Each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages. Immediately before the operation, the prepared cuttings are cut so that 2 buds remain on them.

Rules for caring for a tree after the grafting procedure

Grafted trees require special care. At first, you need to regularly inspect the junction of the scion and rootstock. If the procedure was carried out in the spring, after a few weeks it becomes clear whether the bud or cutting has been accepted. If this does not happen, the graft is removed. You can try to vaccinate again using a different or the same method. If everything went well, you need to:

Regularly remove any growth that appears before the grafting site. It's completely unnecessary. This procedure is repeated several times throughout the summer.
Water the tree. A grafted peach needs sufficient moisture, especially in spring and summer.
Loosen the tree trunk circle. This should be done twice a year: in spring and autumn.
Inspect the junction, loosen the fixing bandage. The tree is constantly growing, which means that after some time the electrical tape will begin to cut into the bark. If there is such a tendency, you need to loosen the bandage.

On a note!
If the wood is cracked, you need to clean everything well and restore the coating around the bark.

Peach grafting allows you to improve the varietal properties of the tree, its resistance to various diseases, and to adverse environmental factors. Sometimes this is necessary to save a fruit crop. Budding in spring and summer is best done by experienced gardeners, and copulation and grafting into clefts can be done even by beginners. Everyone can choose the ideal option for themselves.