The Best Time, Method, and Precautions for Grape Grafting
This article provides a detailed introduction to the best time, method, and precautions for grape grafting, as follows:
The Best Time, Method, and Precautions for Grape Grafting
The optimal period for grape grafting is around the flowering time, preferably on cooler days, to ensure the maturity of the seedlings in autumn. The most commonly used method for grape grafting is the greenwood cleft grafting, which involves taking a one-year-old healthy branch, cutting the bottom into a 2 to 3 cm long wedge shape, cutting the base flat, and then making a matching wedge cut on the rootstock. After applying wax to the cut area, the prepared branch is inserted into the rootstock's wedge-shaped joint and securely tied together.
Compared to other fruit trees, grapes have a high market demand and their varieties have been frequently updated in recent years. The use of grafting technology is the fastest method for their propagation.
Branch Grafting
In production and daily life, the most commonly used method for grafting grapes is branch grafting. The timing of grape grafting is crucial and is an important factor affecting the survival rate. There are three periods to choose from for grafting.
Timing: Grafting should be done on cool days, from late March to early April using hardwood grafting, selecting one-year-old sturdy, full, mature, and disease-free branches, cut into single-bud sections.
From late May to early July, use branch grafting, where the rootstock is a 1-2-year-old cutting seedling, and the grafting material is usually semi-woody tender shoots, cut into single-bud sections, with 3/4 or all leaves removed, leaving the petioles.
Bud Grafting
From early June to early July, bud grafting is done: the rootstock is a two-year-old seedling or a one-year-old cutting seedling, and the bud is cut from a semi-woody new shoot. The grafting technique is similar to that of other fruit trees, which can be referred to in previous articles.
Bud grafting is done on the internode of the rootstock's new shoot, which is straight and smooth, making it easy to graft. Grafting in mid-May, the bud grows to 4 cm and has 2 leaves by early June. The bud can also be grafted on the bud position of the rootstock, replacing the bud with a bud, and then wrapped with plastic film. This method has little effect on the growth and fruiting of the rootstock's new shoot.
Cleft Grafting
The most important grafting method is cleft grafting, similar to the ordinary cleft grafting method. The wounds on the upper end of the scion and the petioles and tendrils are sealed with film to keep moisture, resembling a hat.
Long Cut Grafting
Similar to the ordinary cut grafting, it takes full advantage of the length of the grape internode to create a larger healing surface. On the wider side of the scion, a double-sided blade is used to cut smoothly from the bottom to the bud (node) section, and the corresponding part of the rootstock is matched, with the scion and rootstock tightly wrapped and tied.
This article shares comprehensive knowledge about the best time, method, and precautions for grape grafting, hoping it will be helpful to you.