How to Graft Tropical Fruit Trees
The grafting of tropical fruit trees allows the grower to enhance the quality of fruit offered by a tree that is not producing up to par. A twig, otherwise known as a scion, can be taken from an above average tree and implanted, or grafted, with that of a lesser quality producer. Optimally, grafting should be done in the spring, just before the buds of the fruit trees open. If the grafting is successful, new growth should begin to appear within a few weeks afterward, with the promise of a healthy production of delicious fruit. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Cut a small twig from an existing fruit tree that has proven to produce good fruit and healthy blooms. This will be your scion, or bud, that will be introduced to the host fruit tree. The branch should be healthy and full with buds.
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Snip off all of the buds with your pruning shears, leaving only about half of an inch of stem from each. Cut the bottom portion of the branch on an angle, exposing the inner bark on one side of the angle cut.
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Slice a wedge shaped pocket into one of the tree branches of the host tree, using a pruning knife. The tree branch, or understock, should be approximately one foot from the tree trunk itself, in order to graft successfully.
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Peel the sliced pocket back to expose the inner section of the cut. Slightly bending the branch should suffice in exposing its inner bark. But make sure that you do not bend it back too far, or you may snap the branch all together.
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Place the scion into the wedge shaped pocket that you have cut into the host tree. The inner bark of the scion should be affixed against the inner bark of the host tree for optimum grafting.
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Secure the two branches together with tape. They should be bound tightly to eliminate the chance of separation by environmental elements. Any type of binding tape or electricians tape will work well for binding the scion to the stock.
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Check the graft weekly to inspect for any new growth. To do this unwrap the binding and examine whether the union of the two branches is showing signs of off shoots. If not, rewrap and check back the following week. If new off shoots are present, unwrap permanently.
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Remove the section of branch just above the union when the off shoots have begun to develop. About 2 inches of branch should remain above the union after the cutting. The off shoots will form a new branch.
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Tips & Warnings
It is important to note that not all grafts will be successful. If this is the case with your grafting procedure, it is OK to try again at another time. Sometimes it takes several tries to accomplish a graft.
Not all tropical fruit tree types are compatible for grafting. For instance, a mango can not be grafted to an apple tree. And an apple tree can not be grafted to a plum tree. Only trees of the same genus are compatible.
Resources
- Photo Credit Jonae Fredericks
