Grafting apricots in spring on plums and other fruit

For constant care and proper care, the trees on the garden plot will repay with interest. Apricot is one of the trees that is sensitive to errors in maintenance and reacts sharply to the lack of mineral fertilizers. One of the foundations of a generous, quality and regular harvest is grafting. However, many gardeners, not knowing how to plant an apricot, are afraid to carry out this operation at all. Nevertheless, you can master the technology of grafting on apricot on your own.

Rootstock selection

Any fruit trees should be planted on 4-5 year old rootstocks. When the thickness of the trunk is at least 4-12 cm. If the apricot is grafted onto a weakened, diseased, underdeveloped tree, it can be carried out at a later age. However, it should be borne in mind that the older the tree, the worse the survival rate is and the more difficult it is technically to perform this procedure correctly. Apricot can be grafted onto a large number of stone fruit crops, and a positive result is guaranteed.

Numerous studies indicate that grafting on the same tree varieties succeeds especially well. Therefore, preference should be given to grafting on an apricot, in this case the risk of incompatibility of the components is minimal, the stalk will take root much faster. The grafted plant, as a result, will be drought-resistant, winter-resistant, without overgrowth, and the fruits are sweet, large, with a bright color. Apricot-peach grafting is often used. However, it is more suitable for the southern regions, since the peach does not tolerate frost well, the probability of the death of cuttings is very high. Plum, cherry, cherry plum, blackthorn are also used as a stock.

Grafting apricot on a plum

Most often, plum is used as a rootstock, this combination of components shows high survival rate and good yield in the future. In addition, almost no build-up is formed at the grafting site, which indicates a high compatibility of the breeds. The most suitable varieties for grafting are semi-wild plums. The apricot stalk, which is grown on a frost-resistant plum rootstock, develops well and is also resistant to cold weather and sudden temperature changes.

The video attached at the end of the article shows the plum inoculation.

Cherry plum vaccination

It is also widespread among modern gardeners. This is due to several factors. One of which, high and quick survival rate, high yield later and a significant improvement in the taste characteristics of the fruit. In addition, today it is cherry plum that is the most fertile and strong rootstock for many stone fruit varieties.

When to get vaccinated

Vaccination is best done in the spring. The weather should already be warm, but not dry and hot, there should be no rain a few days before the day of the vaccination. In the spring, there is a high circulation of tree sap, which ensures good survival of the scion. The procedure is carried out with the onset of a stable, positive temperature, in the second part of April or early March, but not later.

If the spring vaccination time is missed, for any reason, you can carry it out in the summer. In this case, the cuttings will also have time to take root, successfully overwinter and give the first ovaries the next year. They should be removed so that the branch first develops well and gets stronger.

There is also an autumn grafting, but it is used more often in southern latitudes, where autumn is mild and late, and winters are not so harsh. In autumn, the apricot should be planted until mid-October. It should be borne in mind that a significant drop in temperature will be detrimental to the cuttings, and for the winter, if they have taken root, they must be covered with a dense bag.

Vaccination methods

In practice, several methods of vaccination are used. But in view of the individual characteristics of apricot, not everyone suits him. Depending on the desired goals, the age of the tree, the size and thickness of the branches, the most suitable method is chosen for this.

When the diameter of the branch of the cutting is several times smaller than the rootstock, a split grafting is used. An incision is made near the tree, at the site of grafting, and a split is made in the center to a shallow depth. In the incision, carefully, without touching the cut with your fingers, insert the cutting, it must be tightly squeezed by the edges of the cut.In cases where the diameters of the stock and the cutting are almost the same, copulation or grafting is used. The stalk prepared in advance is firmly connected to the trunk, the junction is tightly wrapped with foil. Places of cuts must be treated with a special putty.

Video "Spring grafting of an apricot on a plum"

This video highlights what an apricot can be grafted onto, the technology of grafting on an apricot, all the stages of this procedure are described in turn, possible errors are revealed when it is carried out by beginners.