Peach trees can be propagated in a variety of ways. Propagation via cuttings is quite easy, but rearing from the seeds can also be successful. Most often, however, peaches are propagated through grafting.
What is a refinement?
In a refinement, a so-called scion - i. H. a young shoot - taken from a perennial tree and grafted onto another shoot. The lower shoot is called the "root" and is only intended to form roots and trunk. The actual tree, which also produces the fruit, grows from the scion. However, rootstocks and scions cannot be arbitrarily combined, but should belong to the same or a related species if possible.
Why is it refined?
There are many reasons for refinement. In the case of peaches, however, this measure is intended to increase resistance to cold, unfavorable soils and locations, and diseases. Refined peaches can e.g. B. also thrive on heavy soils, provided their rootstock (in this case a plum) prefers such soils. Another reason is the increase in yield, as grafted woods produce more fruit.
Win noble rice at the right time
Scions are usually harvested during the winter break or in midsummer. One-year-old, healthy and mature shoots that are at least as thick as a pencil are taken.
spring finishing
Remove the sprouts in December or January and keep them in a damp, cold wrap until further use. The grafting then takes place in the spring.
summer finishing
Cut fully mature shoots, including the flower buds, from the tree and graft them directly onto the substrate.
The type of finishing
The main types of finishing are:
- oculation
- bark plug
- chip finishing
- copulation
- goatfoot
The oculation
The process of budding is particularly suitable for refining peach. The oculation, i.e. the eye refinement, is carried out between the end of July and the end of August. To do this, proceed as follows:
- Cut off the leaves except for a petiole.
- Remove the small supplementary sheets.
- Now make an incision about five centimeters long as flat as possible under the eye.
- Do not touch the eye when doing this.
- They basically cut the eye “from the trunk”.
- Now make a deep T-cut in the (delimbed) rootstock.
- This must no longer have eyes.
- Press the cut-out noble eye into the cut.
- Connect the spot with raffia and finishing wax.
In addition to budding, the bark grafting method is also excellent for grafting a peach tree.
tips and tricks
Work with clean hands and germ-free tools. The use of disposable gloves is advisable. Otherwise, a fungal infection can occur and the grafted sapling dies as a result.