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Grafting apples
roxy2
Posts: 23
in Fruit & veg
Does anybody know whether it is possible to graft another apple onto an existing tree which I bought this year. I was thinking of making it into a 'family' tree. I have no idea what the rootstock of the existing tree is as I bought it from Homebase and their labelling is not exactly helpful, it looks like it might eventually be M26. Would I have to reduce the other branches? Any advice welcome please.
0
Posts
I just thought I would have a go as the professionals seem to graft the apples I don't want to eat or cook with. My main thought was that the rootstock wouldn't support the new graft, I might wait a bit for it to grow a bit more though, thanks for the advice.
Look up "bud grafting" (aka "chip budding") roxy2. You need very little material from the donor trees and will not cause much damage to the host tree if grafted buds fail to take. As young fruit trees are so cheap nowadays it's a risk worth taking and I'm very, very much for people trying these things themselves. It's by far the best way to learn.
I wish I had done that. There was an old tree in the Orchard next door. It was believed to be pre ww2. The experts at harlow carr apple day couldnt identify it and it was a lovely apple. The winter storms felled the tree while I was dithering.
Have a go, very little to lose.