just when it suits me....

[BUFFS]

some weeks ago I took some scions from my egremont russet tree, about a dozen, I have waited for weeks, had a minor operation, a health scare, and weeks and weeks of either very wet or very cold weather, but today the temperature has been a good bit warmer, so I got out there and grafted half a dozen onto the braeburn, which was chopped down to 6ins to get rid of the canker. There are now 2 strong branches going sideways, opposite each other, and I have grafted onto branches coming off these, so its like a W shape now with the 6+ grafts(saddle grafts). I don't know if I have done these at the correct time/temp but as I cannot move around well on "cold" days I have to do it just when it suits me, so its fingers crossed as I love the taste of russets.....

[BUFFS]

how long does it usually take for the grafts to fuse with the "parent" plant as they seem very vague on the internet videos (my instruction manual) ?

[Jungle Jane]

It says 6-8 weeks here
https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=443

[BUFFS]

thanks for that, about what I was hoping but I didn't know so thought I would ask. the saddle grafts look so easy on the videos but beware the sharp knives slipping, I nearly lost the ability to say bye bye to the foreman properly...

[BUFFS]

I had a good look at the grafts this morning, and of the nine, (I worked on the basis that one would take, hopefully) that I did, risking my fingers, I counted a definite 7 looking alive, with the buds colouring up and the stems seem to be greening up and the 2 others are still possibilities after such a long cold spring, so now I have to put in some new posts and cross pieces to hold these new stems growing where I want them, I just thought, that's at least the 7 vertical stems across the 8ft of the old espalier set up from when we had the braeburn producing, boy, am I a happy bunny, first attempt and it seems successful....loads more tasty russets..

[lookbettertomorow]

So exciting when a graft works. I always try the whip and tongue but struggle getting the two tongues to sit nice. Must be the angle or something, all the videos I've seen go really fast on the important bit. I have much more success with saddle grafts but the end result isn't tidy, whereas a successful whip graft almost becomes invisible. I'm going to try fettling with a penknife some of the ugly saddlegrafts. Can imagine when the joint grows to few inches across they will look gross.