Howdy folks,
The method am about to share, was passed down from my uncle...then to my dad, 20+ years ago...then to me...now i'm happy to pass the knowledge down to you
This method is very easy and can be used for any fruit tree you wish to propagate...it has been down to kumquat and stonefruits, with flying colours
This method is great for hot and dry climates, since it keeps the graft cool and moist
A scion was selected with buds that are nice and swollen. Scions should be harvest when the mother tree is getting active and buds are almost about to vegetate or break dormancy.
Scion prepared for insertion. For those who haven't grafted before, please take your time and do it properly...so that your first time isn't unpleasant and painful
Cut in the middle of the rootstock, which will make a wedge, for inserting the scion or wood. The rootstock is a sucker that sprouted last year...when life gives you a sucker, graft on it
Insert the scion into the wedge...make sure to align the cambium layers, on both the scion and the rootstock...the cambium cells will start to divide...then a union will be formed and sealed, within few weeks.
The material I used for binding the scion to the rootstock, is cut up supermarket plastic bags. Neatly roll the plastic, like you would a pancake(pancake, with cinnamon and sugar...hmmm
) and cut 1 inch long sections is enough...I like to fold each strip in half, for extra ''strength'' for binding the graft
Cut the bottle and insert...then pop a few stones into the bottle and insert one below, to secure the bottle so that it doesn't foofy slide down the roostock
Fill the bottle with soil till top of the graft, (with soil, peat or sand...any soil ya have at your disposal) and water the bottle...Don't let the soil dry out, water now and then.
Voila
when the shots get at lest 10in...the bottle can be carefully removed..I like to use a hot wire to remove the bottle.
Hope this is useful