How to propagate peach trees through cuttings
Summary: This article details the contents of planting green plants and flowers, focusing on how to propagate peach trees through cuttings and a detailed explanation of the cultivation and maintenance methods. Let's follow the editor to take a look!
Many people who have planted peach trees or maintained peach tree bonsais at home may not be few. Peach trees are usually cultivated through播种 (播种, sowing) and grafting. Many people think that cutting peach trees is useless or even impossible, but this idea is completely wrong!
Peach trees can not only be propagated through cuttings, but if grown at home, the resulting trees may be more suitable. It takes a long time for grafted peach seedlings to grow into a mature tree, and the cost of large-scale planting can also be relatively high. Cuttings, on the other hand, grow faster and have a more stable plant form, with fruit visible within one or two years.
How to propagate peach trees to achieve the highest survival rate? Let's explore this together.
One, the selection of cutting branches
There are two types of branches that can be used for peach tree cuttings: hard wood and soft wood, with the latter also known as tender wood. The timing and methods of cutting differ based on the choice of these two types of branches, but in both cases, healthy, robust branches should be selected, free from pest infestations and without wormholes.
Hard wood cuttings involve using branches that have completely lignified during the dormant period, with no leaves; soft wood cuttings, however, require the selection of new, leafy branches during the growing period, with the lower part slightly lignified or completely non-lignified.
Two, the timing of cuttings
Choosing the right time for cuttings is the first step to success. Hard wood cuttings are usually done in spring, or in October and November in autumn, but attention must be paid to the overwintering of the seedlings; soft wood cuttings are mainly done after spring warming or during the plum rain season, which is suitable for regions in June and July. Choosing the right time for cuttings is essential to improve survival rates.
The cutting bed should maintain a stable temperature of around 20°C and keep the soil and air moist.
How to propagate peach trees through cuttings
Three, the method of cuttings
1. Cutting branches
The branches should be cut to a length of about 20 centimeters, using professional gardening shears and disinfecting them before cutting. The斜剪 (oblique cut) should be quick to minimize the wound trauma to the cutting section.
2. Pruning
The leaves on the branches should either be removed or retain one or two, with the top kept flat and trimmed about 2 centimeters away from the uppermost bud.
3. Storage (in case the cutting time is not suitable)
If the right time for peach tree cuttings is not met, it's better not to proceed as it will not help with survival. In such cases, we can choose to store the branches first, usually using wax sealing or sand storage. Wax sealing is more challenging for home gardeners and requires professional skills and techniques, so sand storage is more appropriate.
Branches stored in sand will enter a suitable dormant state, maintaining their "strength" and ready to "spring into action" the following spring.