In the case of berries, propagation is possible through the offshoots. One offshoot is not enough to get identical descendants of the same variety from the cherry trees. You need two plant parts: a rootstock and a scion.
Offshoot formation is a type of propagation in which annual to perennial shoots are derived from the mother bush and covered with soil where they root. In this way, currants and gooseberries can be propagated quite easily. Propagation by cuttings, in which the shoots cut from the bush are planted in the ground for rooting, is also the usual method of propagation for many berry bushes.
With a cherry tree, however, a rooted scion or cuttings would not lead to the desired result. Because every cherry tree is a combination of at least two plants: a rootstock with its root system and a scion with its foliage. The rootstock is primarily responsible for growth, lifespan, flowering and yield development. The scion determines the taste, color and texture of the fruit, and the frost and fungal resistance of the cherry tree.
win scions
Scions are about 30 cm long, healthy annual shoots with leaf buds. These are cut at the end of December to January from a strong, healthy tree whose variety one would like to have propagated. The scions are wrapped moist in a cool place or kept outdoors in a sheltered place until spring. Around the end of April, when the cherry trees begin to sprout, the scions are attached to the prepared rootstock.
graft scions
In the spring, the well-preserved shoots are grafted onto a suitable base. A distinction is made between bark plugs and goat's foot plugs. The procedure for the bark plug is as follows:
- cut the bark and unfold,
- put the scion behind it,
- connect the grafting point firmly with bast and seal with tree wax (€12.96).
With the goat's foot graft, not only the bark but also the wood behind it is cut, the scion is inserted into the notch and also firmly connected to the substrate.
tips and tricks
If the grafting seems too time-consuming or complicated on your own, you can give the grafts you have harvested yourself to a nearby tree nursery for grafting.