How to plant a plum in summer, spring and autumn: methods and technologies for beginners

The grafting of fruit trees is used by those who are not afraid to change the varietal characteristics of plums. After all, cuttings from different trees can be grafted onto one tree. Then, after the procedure, fruits are harvested, different in shape and taste. And for culture, this is an opportunity to recover, to become more resistant to adverse weather conditions. But before starting any actions, you need to know everything about how to plant a plum, which crop is better and in what way.

What time of year is the procedure done

It is necessary to determine the timing of vaccination, taking into account the region in which the stone fruit crop is grown. Spring grafting is most common, as the tree will recover faster due to increased sap flow. But autumn and summer also cannot be written off.

The phases of the moon also determine when it is best to graft. The procedure is more successful in the growing month. Weather conditions are also taken into account. Don't let the day of vaccination be too cold or too hot.

Spring

The most likely success of the procedure will be in the first months of spring. The end of March - the beginning of April is considered optimal. At this time, the tree is full of strength, and the plum will recover quickly. In May, you can perform the operation, but only in cold weather. Otherwise, the plum may wither, or there will be no sense in the vaccination.

Summer

Summer operation only takes place if it was not possible to carry it out in the spring. Often the spring vaccination does not always go well, the stalk does not take root. Then it is worth rescheduling the procedure for the summer. The ideal time would be in June or July for temperate areas. Then the survival rate of the scion will increase until the onset of a cold snap.In warm areas, you can also start grafting plums in August.

Autumn

Plum grafting in autumn is not recommended. Even if the operation is carried out in September-October, the tree will not have time to recover after the procedure. And the vaccine will fail.

How to prepare cuttings

As a scion, cuttings from lignified shoots of one- or two-year-olds are used. It is better to cut from the side branches and from the sunny side of the tree. This should be done in the fall, before the first drop in temperature occurs. Cuttings ready for hibernation will be better preserved and remain viable until spring. You can save them:

in grooves lined with spruce branches, covered with earth and straw on top;
on the balcony, tied in bundles;
in the basement or cellar;
on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator.

The main requirement for storage is an air temperature of at least 0 degrees and a humidity of 70%.

As many cuttings as possible should be prepared, as many can come out of storage with damage and rot.

Types of rootstocks

It is better to graft plum onto related trees. It is better if it is wild or semi-cultivated. The resulting tree will have the taste of a grafted cultivar, but be characterized by winter hardiness and durability. In addition to stone fruit crops, pome fruits can be used as a stock, but the survival rate of the cutting will be worse. So you can use such types of rootstocks that are close to plum. These include bird cherry, cherry, apricot and peach varieties.

Plums on plums

One of the successful operations, when one plum variety is grafted onto another, getting a wonderful hybrid.A feature of the resulting plum will be the best qualities of the parents. You can not limit yourself to one cutting, but use several. Then the variety of fruits on the plum will be interesting.

On the turn

The closest relative of the plum is characterized by the fact that the shrub is unpretentious, resistant to low temperatures. If you want a plum variety that bears fruit in the southern regions, then you can graft a cutting from it onto a turn. The success of the operation will be in any case.

Into the wild

Wild varieties of plums are used for rootstock when it is necessary to improve such qualities as strong immunity to diseases and pests. Wildlife is characterized by persistent tolerance of cold climates, temperature extremes, high humidity.

Beginner gardeners need to use this type of rootstock to learn how to vaccinate.

On bird cherry

Although you can use a bird cherry tree as a rootstock, but there will be no positive result from vaccination. The resulting specimen of the fruit tree will not produce good fruit. And the plant will get sick, develop poorly.

Cherry

Of all types of cherries, it is better to choose felted ones for plum grafting. But at the same time, the operation requires precision, accuracy. Only then will the plum stalk take root. The advantage of the operation will be the short stature of the hybrid, its precocity.

Apricot

If the grafting is successful thanks to properly selected varieties of plum and apricot, their compatibility, then the summer resident will get a wonderful hybrid. Although the tree will be more suitable for a warm climate, but the aroma and taste of fruit will be excellent.

On yellow

Unusual fruit color is obtained after grafting varieties with blue and yellow plums. The operation is usually successful, and the stalk quickly takes root. But it is best to graft not on a seedling, but on an adult tree.

Peach

To get it right, you need a variety that is ideal for merging with a plum. It is best if it is a semi-culture. But still, the peach tree rarely serves as a rootstock. It is better to graft a stalk from a peach on a plum, then the sense will come out more.

For cherry plum

Short rootstock is suitable for the plum cutting, and the operation is successful. The survival rate is high, since both cultures are related.

Preparing the rootstock

Choose a tree for the rootstock that will be:

no bark damage;
with a strong immune system;
2 to 5 years old.

Only a young he althy plum tree can give strength to a grafted cutting if the operation went right. There can be no doubt about the success of the procedure if the grafting technology is followed, especially for beginner gardeners.

Methods and technology of vaccination

Many ways have been developed on how to graft a plum step by step. It all depends on the experience of the gardener, his practical skills. For beginners, it is better to choose easy vaccination methods, moving on to more difficult ones.

Ablunting

Ablactation is also called a way to bring garden crops closer together. The method can be used when you need to create a row of plum hedges. On the shoots growing nearby, cuts are made, joining together the scion with the rootstock. Having correctly folded the layers of cadmium and securing the place of convergence with electrical tape, a new hybrid is obtained.

Copulation

One common and simple plum grafting method is that:

The thickness of the rootstock and scion should be almost the same.
For grafting, cuttings with 3-4 buds cut from annual shoots are suitable.
At the top, the cutting is cut off above the kidney.
Make incisions obliquely in the diameter of the handle - 3-4 centimeters. On the reverse side, the scion should have a kidney.
On sections, a tongue is made from the bark 0.5 cm long. Cut from top to bottom under the middle share of the plane.
Bending the tongue, connect the sections of the scion and rootstock with the coincidence of the cadmium layers.
Tightly connect the place with a washcloth and adhesive tape.

As soon as growth appears, cut the winding material across.

Budding

Budding is carried out by grafting an eye or bud of the selected plum variety. The thickness of the stock should be 1 centimeter, a recess is cut out on it and a shield with a kidney is inserted into it. The junction is fixed with a special tape, leaving the eye open. Vaccination can be carried out in the fall, then in the spring the kidney will sprout. Taken in the spring, the peephole is suitable for the summer procedure.

Shank

It is possible to graft a plum with a cutting even when the thickness of the rootstock is 2 times greater than the scion. Then an oblique cut is made on the tree, and then the width of the cut plane is reduced by a second cut at an angle of 30 degrees. In this case, the width of the remaining plane will correspond to the thickness of the handle. The rest of the procedure is performed as for copulation.

Kidney

Graft with a kidney or eye on a bark shield, and so:

make a T-cut into the rootstock;
fold back a layer of bark;
insert a shield with a kidney there;
The vaccination site is firmly fixed with PVC tape.

It is better to graft on young plum shoots in August.

For the bark

If the thickness of the selected rootstock is from 2 to 4 centimeters, then the bark grafting technology is suitable. Cut the bark across the length of 2-3 centimeters. With a thin scion cutting, the bark is separated on one side. For a better connection of cadmium, a layer of bark is removed from a thin cutting. Insert the stalk behind the bark, bandage the grafting site and coat it with garden pitch. Be sure to ensure that the entire oblique cut of the scion enters under the bark.

Split

This technology will allow you to graft several plum cuttings.The rootstock branch is cut transversely and straight. The sections are split perpendicularly in the middle. A wedge is made at the bottom of the cutting, with which it is inserted into the split so that the layers of cadmium coincide. Then comes the processing with a var and tying the junction.

Inside cut

This method is needed when the thickness of the rootstock is at the level of 2.5-3 centimeters. The cut is made with a sharp knife, placing it at an angle of 20-25 degrees relative to the axis of the stock. It is enough to crash to a depth of 5-8 millimeters. Turning the knife, bend the cut part. Then a wedge is made on the scion, which is inserted into the side cut. When the planes coincide, they make a strapping and cover with pitch.

Bridge

As an example, or with a bridge, a stock is prepared by cutting it across with a slight inclination of the butt to one side. On the higher side, the bark and part of the wood are cut longitudinally with the tongue cut.The width of the cut corresponds to the thickness of the cutting for grafting. And the length will be 2-3 centimeters. Having connected the stalk with the stock, they tie it with a bast, covering it with garden pitch on top. The upper end of the plum cutting and the end of the rootstock is also coated.

How to care for a tree after grafting

After the operation, you should carefully care for the plum. They also monitor the condition of the grafted cuttings. If leaves appear from the buds on it, then engraftment has begun. Then loosen the strapping or remove it by cutting it across. If a large cutting was grafted, then you can only loosen the tape, but do not remove it.

To exclude the weakening of the tree by grafting, it is necessary to free it from excess growth, inflorescences and fruits that have appeared.