North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[Scott Smith <scott@cs.jhu.edu>]

Wow, starting on June 1 is quite late!  It is clear I have been too early.  
Fortunately I did all the grafts at about 3' high so for the failed ones I 
just chopped off the top and regrafted with bark grafts; the bark was 
slipping well in all cases.

Scott z7 MD

On May 13, 2011, at 9:03 AM, Jwlehman@aol.com wrote:

> In a message dated 5/12/2011 3:40:08 PM Eastern Daylight Time, 
> scott@cs.jhu.edu writes:
> 
>> I have a somewhat related question, about as in persimmon grafts.  I have 
>> had inconsistent results over the years and now I am thinking I am 
>> grafting too early perhaps.  I did the grafts this spring when the new 
>> shoots were 
>> maybe 1" long.  On the bark grafts the bark was not slipping well yet 
>> which is one reason why I am wondering if it was too early.  What shoot 
>> length 
>> is best for persimmon grafts?  Some of my persimmon grafts did work, they 
>> were bark grafts; all the wedge and cleft grafts failed.  I am going to 
>> only 
>> do bark grafts from now on persimmons.  All of my other grafts worked well 
>> this year, it is only persimmons I am having problems with now.
> 
> Hello Scott,
> 
> Yes, you were too early to achieve best results. Generally 1 inch of new 
> growth the bark should be slipping well. However I believe can vary 
> depending 
> on soil moisture. Suggestion, cut off the tree maybe two branches above 
> where you wish to graft. If that area is slipping well then move down to 
> where 
> you wish to make the final graft. If not wait another week, cut off further 
> down and test again. 
> 
> One reason for cleft graft failures is the very low area of cambium to 
> cambium contact. I no longer use it for any species! Failure rate is too 
> high. 
> 
> Also something I noticed in American persimmon. The trees don't seem to 
> heal well in the bottom maybe 12 inches and my success rate works best when 
> grafting 18 inches and higher. I no longer graft persimmon less than 12 
> inches 
> above the ground level. 
> 
> Another note, here in Indiana persimmon remains in the slip until about 
> July 1, don't get in a hurry. But if one waits until near the end of the 
> active 
> growth period you lose growth of the grafted material. I generally don't 
> start grafting persimmon until June 1. 
> 
> Jerry
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