The Tropical Fruit Forum

In anticipation of the grafting season coming up in the spring, I thought I might put this out there to improve upon my grafting success.

One thing I have found when trying to graft to my seedling cherimoyas is that it can be difficult to make a multi-grafted tree with a lot of different varieties. I've had great success when grafting a single variety to the top of the main stem. However, allowing that tree to grow a little, and then trying to graft to the lateral branches down lower on the tree has proven problematical. The grafts seem to take, they bud out and the small branches grow a few inches, but then at some point months down the line most of them just start to slowly wither away as the graft is eventually rejected. I've heard from others this is a common problem.  Does anyone have any tips/ secrets they'd like to share that improve the odds on getting these grafts lower down on the tree to take long term?

It's kind of important to me because my yard is very small, and I will ultimately only have room for 1 annona tree in the ground, while I ideally would like to have 6 or 7 varieties growing on it if possible. So  far I've only been able to get a maximum of three, and that was only because that particular seedling branched out very close to the ground and has 3 primary stems, each of which I was able to graft successfully to the apical tip, but not to any of the lateral branches below.  All my other seedlings so far have only 1 or 2 varieties successfully grafted onto them.

Do I simply need to wait until my trees are larger and more mature to have better success?

Richard - San Diego - 10a

Pm sent.

I ordered an Achacha seedling two years ago from 9waters in Florida, arrived as a tiny 4" 2 leaved plant.  Early during the 1st growing season, a second stem appeared from below the soil line immediately adjacent to the primary stem. Was happy to see that, assume it means the larger, original one is probably a clone of the mother tree and so will definitely produce fruit. Last year they were growing in a 5 gal pot, about a month ago I separated the two trees, and so now have the larger one (~18" tall) in a squat 10 gal and the smaller one (~12") in a 5 gal.. Even though both trees survived the separation and re-potting, I was surprised at the relatively small amount of roots they had.  Mostly vertical root stem, with very little side branching.

Hopefully I'll see a bit more growth on these going forward.

Hey Behl:

My PayPal order was placed on the 11th.  Was I too late to participate in this round of cuttings shipments? I sent a PM before ordering, but have no way of knowing if it was received by you or not.
I understand if the current worldwide situation has changed your ability to take  / ship cuttings and you need to process refunds for those that didn't get in early enough to pre-order.

Thanks for all you do, and stay safe!

Richard