I have a few pomegranate propagation questions that I wanted to pose
I have been doing a little research (google searches) and I am not finding a lot of specific information on pomegranate propagation, mostly a lot of general info. Specifically, what is the best time of year for both harvesting scions / cuttings from donor plants and when the the best time to perform grafting / rooting?
1) Grafting onto a mature plant / rootstock, Grafting in this case is to perform a canopy change or to make a 'cocktail' pomegranate (does anyone do this?)
Questions:
- Pomegranate grafting is done with either a cleft graft or a whip and tongue graft, does this sound right? Who has experience with this, and what are the approx success rates.
- What size scion is used (e.g. pencil thickness x 6 in" long)? Are the leaves cut on the scion as usual, do you need swelling buds?
- When can grafting be done? Any time there is active growth or do you have to wait until it is dormant? When is the best time of year for a successful graft?
2) Grafting onto a seedling. Assume that the seeds have been sown after harvest (fall) and seedling has overwintered.
- Same set of questions as above
3) Rooting cuttings
It seems like pomegranate cuttings root similarly to fig cuttings. When is the best time of year to take the cuttings from the mother plant? What is the best practice to preparing a cutting on the mother plant (remove leaves, small side branches and wait for swelling buds like with mango or avocado, or is it not sensitive to that?).
All feedback is welcome. My Wonderful pomegranate is doing wonderfully (yuk, yuk) and I would like to increase my varieties slowly and inexpensively (I don't mind experimenting too). So I am open to grafting onto my mature Wonderful pomegranate, or grafting onto seedlings, or starting new plants from cuttings. I am looking for input for the relative success I can expect from each approach.