To scroll through the slideshow click next above the picture.
So… last year we bought a McIntosh apple and promptly filled up the rest of the yard to the point that we didn’t feel like we had enough space for another semi-dwarf tree, nor do we need that many apples. The problem is that apples need a different variety nearby in order to set their best fruit and we aren’t sure if there are any other apples or crab apples that would be close enough to do the job (sweet cherries, pears and others have similar needs).
The solution?…… Two varieties on a single tree!
You may have heard of trees for sale that have several varieties on them, what you may not know is that you too can be Dr. Frankenstein.
Here is what I did.
First, you have to figure out what kind of apple can pollinate the one you already have, CLICK HERE. Then you have to identify scion (branch of the new tree type) material, say from a close big box store’s fruit tree stock which was in bad need of pruning. The scion should be 8 buds long with clean cuts on both ends (make sure you know which end is which). Scions can be taken in the fall and stored carefully, but I took mine fresh in late winter/early spring.
The next step is identifying a branch of similar diameter as the scion on the receiving tree. This way when you set up the graft union the cambium lines up on both sides, giving the union a better chance of success. Then you make a straight cut with bypass clippers at that point.
Then, as in the diagram in the slide show above, you take the utility knife and cut the receiving branch in half to a depth of 1.5″. The diagram is not perfect because it looks as though I made 2 cuts to take out a wedge when, in fact, it is a single cut and the two halves are spread apart. This is called a modified cleft graft, better pictures can be found HERE.
Then you sharpen the bottom part of the scion by making a single, clean cut about 2 inches long down one side and, turning the scion over, cut starting at the same point as last time and make a clean cut to meet up with the other cut 1.5″ down.
Once the cuts are made, quickly insert the scion into the receiving branch, making sure to line up the cambium (the little bit of green tissue between the bark and the wood) perfectly on one side, if the other side lines up that’s perfect but you must definitely line up one side.
Finally, wrap the graft union with the electrical tape. I felt like it was best to wrap the union from the bottom up to reduce sitting water in the wrapping, but maybe that doesn’t matter. Whats important is to wrap it firmly and overlap the tape to reduce moisture loss and drying of the scion.
Keep an eye on the scion and when you see the buds swell, it means you have succeeded. At this point it is not clear to me whether to remove the wrapping or wait for a while. I have read different fact sheets that suggest both methods, so maybe it doesn’t matter so much as long as the tape isn’t permitted to bite into the bark.
Now we have two different varieties on a single tree that will pollinate each other and we will get two types of apples in the fall.
If you have questions, have tried this yourself or are going to give it a shot, please feel free to comment below.
-Troy
- – -
Update: I am now 2 for 2 with this type of graft and I found a pretty good video describing the process: