2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
Novice gardeners often wait for spring to start harvesting cuttings for spring grafting. However, experienced farmers know that it is necessary to start this work ahead of time - in late autumn and during the winter. Why it is done in the cold season and how to properly perform all operations - let's take a closer look
On the timing of harvesting cuttings and temperature conditions
Testing annual shoots with negative temperatures is an important point when harvesting cuttings. Therefore, it can be difficult to choose the optimal time for this.
If the winter is going to be harsh, it is better to do such work in late autumn - in the first half of winter, so that the growths do not freeze at low values on the thermometer, otherwise the cuttings cut from them will be unsuitable for grafting, because they simply will not take root.
At the same time, it is necessary that the stalk has time to harden. And if the winter is not very frosty, then the harvesting of cuttings is continued throughout the entire cold period.
This is one of the most important conditions for spring grafting and the reason why harvesting should not be done in winter. When a stalk with dormant buds is grafted in the spring with the beginning of sap flow, it has many times more chances to take root. But grafting with a cuttings cut in the spring with already awakened buds will draw the juices out of it and destroy it.
An important point - you need to have time to get vaccinated while the buds on the tree have not yet blossomed. The approximate date is the end of March, depending on the variety and type of tree. Some can continue to be vaccinated in May. For example, in some regions, where the spring heat comes later, this is done with an apple tree.
The basics of choosing shoots for harvesting cuttings
When choosing parts of a tree for harvesting cuttings, it will be helpful to understand garden terminology. Even strong shoots are suitable for cuttings. And shoots are parts of plants that have grown in a given year. They are also called one-year increments of the current season. Therefore, they notice shoots with vegetative buds that have appeared on garden trees during the past summer.
What is meant by the term strong escape? This means that its length must be more than 30 cm. The short ones will not have good characteristics, and the grafting will not bring the desired effect. Thickness is also an important factor, the value of which should be within 0.5-1 cm.
Another important condition for choosing a good cutting is its location on the tree. It is better to use shoots that grow from a well-sunlit side.
Technology for harvesting cuttings in winter
To prepare the cuttings, the shoot is cut at the level of its two lower buds. And now the gardener's task is to keep the cut cuttings at rest until spring comes.
Chopped cuttings are tied in bunches and signed. In the note, you need to indicate the cutting time, variety, or at least the tree from which the material was collected. Cutting them is not worth it yet, so they will dry less. And in the spring, before vaccination, you can only update the lower cut, and then soak for a day in water (or in a stimulant solution). They must become flexible, pliable. After this procedure, you can cut the cuttings. This is done so that there are three buds on each cuttings.
To ensure a high-quality winter sleep for the harvested cuttings, with a good snow cover, it is better to dig them in the garden under the snow. The most suitable corner for these purposes will be a secluded place on the northern side of the capital buildings, where the sun practically does not have time to look in on short winter days.
There are many ways to protect cuttings during storage. They are wrapped in polyethylene, put in a stocking. You can wrap it with prickly materials so that the mice do not covet to gnaw delicate blanks.
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