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Introduction- History of Grafting.:
Grafting is an ancient practice that has been used for thousands of years to propagate plants with desirable traits. The history of grafting fruit and nut trees dates back to ancient civilizations such as the Greeks, Romans, and Chinese.
The Greeks and Romans used grafting to propagate fruit trees, and the technique was also mentioned in the Bible. The Chinese were also known to have used grafting to propagate fruit trees, particularly citrus fruits.
In Europe, grafting became more widely practiced during the Middle Ages, when monasteries began cultivating fruit trees in their gardens. The monks would graft fruit tree scions onto rootstock, allowing them to produce fruit more quickly and efficiently.
During the Renaissance, the art of grafting became even more refined, with different methods of grafting being developed for different types of trees. In the 17th century, French horticulturists began experimenting with grafting nut trees, such as walnuts and chestnuts.
By the 18th century, grafting had become a widely used method for propagating fruit and nut trees, and it played a crucial role in the development of modern horticulture. Today, grafting remains an important technique for propagating fruit and nut trees, and it is used by commercial orchardists and home gardeners alike.
Best Time of Year :The best time of year to graft fruit and nut trees is during the dormant season, which is typically in late winter or early spring. The exact timing will depend on your climate and the specific type of tree you are grafting.
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Tools and Apparatus: You will need a few tools and apparatus for grafting fruit and nut trees. These include:
- A sharp grafting knife or pruning shears
- Grafting tape or wax
- Rootstock (the tree you are grafting onto)
- Scions (the cuttings from the tree you want to propagate)
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Types of Grafts: There are several types of grafts you can use for fruit and nut trees, including whip and tongue, cleft, and bark grafts. Each graft has its own advantages and disadvantages, and you should choose the one that is best suited for the tree you are grafting.
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Steps for Grafting: Here are the basic steps for grafting a fruit or nut tree:
- Select a healthy rootstock tree that is the same species or a closely related species to the tree you want to propagate.
- Collect scion wood from the desired tree. Scion wood should be taken from young, healthy shoots and should be around the thickness of a pencil.
- Cut the rootstock tree to the desired height and make a clean, angled cut with a grafting knife.
- Make a matching angled cut on the scion wood, making sure the cut is the same angle as the rootstock cut.
- Join the two pieces of wood together by inserting the scion into the rootstock and securing with grafting tape or wax.
- Care for the grafted tree by keeping it moist and sheltered from wind and direct sunlight until the graft has taken.
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