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Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: Jayb on April 26, 2017, 22:01:48
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I've two dwarf nectarine trees I got from B&Q several years ago. I've neglected them the last couple of years as to be honest the fruit taste is poor. Today I decided I was going to just plant them at the bottom of the garden. But when I knocked the first one out of it's pot I noticed another plant growing at the edge. I didn't take much notice at first but decided to pot it up, I then realised it originated from the roots. It had a nice root ball of its own so I've potted it up.
Can it be used as a rootstock and if yes what can I put on top and how? I presume I'd have to wait for dormancy?
Could I also use the two original plants too, if I lop off the tops they have?
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I haven't ever done it before, but I have looked in to it. This video was a good one https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bM-q_P9zet8
It seems you can take the top off any grafted apple on the rootstock you want and let the rootstock grow shoots and provided you keep coppicing it right to the ground, it will produce numerous shoots from the roots every year. These can be dug up and those with a good root system can be potted on and used for grafting new trees. from healthy vigourous growth from any apple you fancy.
It doesn't sound too complicated provided you know how to graft.
Cheers
Squeezy
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I've only ever grafted tomatoes and potatoes, never fruit trees. But same kind of principle I guess.
Thanks for the link, I'll check it out. Do you know if I can select a fruit top other than peach or nectarine?
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I have grafted apple trees. I have two of my own production. I went on a course. I think the most important thing is to buy a length of grafting tape. It is slightly stretchy. You only need a few inches but I waste some. I find I need a volunteer to hold the graft together while I wrap the tape round. (And my OH is useless. He is too busy talking to hold the graft still enough.)
Presume you could put any peach or nectarine or apricot onto it maybe even a plum or almond. There is a good list here
https://www.agroforestry.co.uk/rootstock-information/
http://www.gb-online.co.uk/prestashop/product.php?id_product=18
The bad news is it takes a very long time between the graft and the fruit. The ones I grafted two years ago have now got a few flowers but it will be at least another two years before they are big enough to even have one fruit.
Though the thrill of seeing your graft take and a few little leaves appear about the graft is quite special. The two little 'trees' each have a cane to protect them from my husband who is a random weeder. It is amazing they have survived so far. I think now they have finally flowered he has got the message.
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Well worth trying with all the stone fruits - there are a handful of incompatibilities even with the normal stonefruit rootstocks, and some of the weirder patio ones may have more, but the odds of successful compatibility are still very good.
Paradoxically, some incompatibilities have been known to create better transfer of nutrients - but the graft is physically weak and the whole top comes off in a gale.
A very rare problem anyway - the best response is to try as many scions as you can, and start with the most similar - peaches, nectarines & apricots. Plums tend to use the same rootstocks but cherries have their own.
Cheers.