Autumn grafting of grapes: features and timing of grafting

Graft Grafting is a method for propagating, renewing, and restoring plants, as well as enhancing their desired properties. It also allows for the development of varieties more resistant to adverse factors, improving their flavor, and more. This process is typically carried out in the fall, but summer and winter grafting are also possible.

Why graft grapes?

Since grape tinting involves moving a fragment of one plant species and grafting it onto the shoot of another, it improves the taste, appearance, and other qualities of the grapes. It can also help address the following issues:

1. Transfer of characteristics of well-bearing and growing grape bushes to other representatives.
2. Improving the taste of fruits by grafting sweeter and juicier varieties.
3. Increased immunity, resistance to weather conditions and pests.
4. Saving space in the garden.
5. Testing the stability of a newly acquired variety.
6. Replacing an existing grape variety with a more profitable one.

Grafting grapes in autumn: timing of grafting

The best time for grafting in the fall is October. This month is relatively warm and the soil is still warm. For tinting, soil temperatures should not drop below 10°C.

Advantages of autumn grafting of grapes

Grafting grapes in autumn has a number of advantages compared to summer and winter grafting:

1. The grafted vine begins to bear fruit as early as the following season.
2. Grafting has a positive effect on the number of berries on the bunches, their size and the overall yield of the plant.
3. Certain species may begin to ripen more quickly.
4. There is a high probability that a rare and capricious variety will take root successfully.

The most common reasons for grafting grapes in the fall:

1. A small harvest from an old bush. Transferring fragments of a young plant to an older bush allows for its restoration.
2. A variety that is susceptible to weather conditions and unsuitable for fruiting. Coloring allows this plant to acquire the characteristics of another species. The result is a combination of well-adapted, dense, and developed roots and a bush with suitable fruiting characteristics.

Preparing the scion

We prepare scions only when the “original” meets the following characteristics:

• the grape vine had ripened and its bark had turned yellow-brown and had become dry and hard;
• The vines have been harvested at least once.

The cuttings themselves meet the following requirements:

• size – 60 cm;
• width – 7-14 mm;
• Only the buds are on the surface, the rest is removed.

First, we soak the scion in a heteroauxin solution, which effectively stimulates plant growth by activating cell division.

Add the paraffin to the container of water and heat until it boils, melting it. The water won't dissolve the paraffin, and due to its high temperature, it will float on the surface in a liquid state.

https://youtu.be/N54xgqJlchI

Next, quickly dip the cuttings in the wax and then lower them back into the water. This prevents them from being damaged by the heat. The cuttings must be dry so that the moisture released by the plant doesn't repel the wax and reduce the effectiveness of the treatment.

Then we carry out pruning cuttingsWe make it at an angle where the grafting will occur, 1.5 cm from the first bud. Immerse the scion in water until grafting.

How to graft grapes in autumn

All tools used during the grafting process must be clean and treated with alcohol. Prepare the scion a week before grafting. The tinting process itself is carried out as follows:

1. We clean the upper root part of the grape vine onto which we will graft the cutting.
2. Carefully trim the above-ground portion of the bush, making the cut at a height of approximately 12 cm from the ground. The cut should be free of any unevenness or signs of disease or pests. If necessary, carefully sand and trim the uneven area to prevent the growth of pathogenic bacteria.
3. The upper section of the remaining part of the bush (the trunk) is cleared of any remaining bark and treated with 3% copper sulfate. The trunk is a round or oval section of the stem that begins at the upper root portion of the plant and ends with a branch.
4. Using an axe, pruning shears, or a knife, split the graft site along the center of the circle. Spread the graft with a screwdriver and hammer, making sure not to damage the trunk structure by spreading it too far, and then insert the pointed scion. Insert the scion deeper into the trunk so that the cut is fully flush with the split. Seal any resulting cracks and voids as much as possible with pieces of grapevine or scraps of dampened toilet paper.
5. We wrap the connection with film or cotton fabric, securing it.
6. We loosen and water the soil around the bush.
7. Sprinkle with new soil and cover with film, not forgetting to make a hole for the bush itself.

For beginners, we've prepared a detailed video on how to graft grapes.

Caring for grapes after grafting

Plant care after grafting consists of the following activities:

1. Water regularly and we hill up the plant so that the soil is saturated with oxygen.
2. If shoots have not formed on the scion within 14 days after grafting, re-graft the grapes, having first cut off the upper part of the rootstock and the grafting site.
3. We check the condition of the scion every 1.5 weeks and remove all roots it produces that are not part of the rootstock.
4. If you notice juice leaking from the plant, loosen the grafting bandage.
5. For the winter, we insulate the plant with a layer of hay or straw, as well as spruce branches.
6. We treat the plant with antifungal preparations.

Mistakes Newbies Make

To ensure the cutting takes root successfully, we try to avoid the following mistakes:

1. Incorrect storage of scionCuttings must be treated with paraffin or stored in a plastic bag. Otherwise, they will lose a lot of moisture, dry out, and fail to take root.
2. Splitting too deeply can lead to rot due to moisture.
3. The cut is uneven and rough. It must be sanded down, otherwise the cutting will not take root, and bacteria will form on the cut.

Helpful tips

To ensure the success of the grafting process, we recommend taking the following points into account:

1. The cutting should not be too long, two buds on its surface are enough.
2. Before grafting the plant, fertilize the soil around the bush.
3. If the rootstock is thick enough, you can try grafting several cuttings. This will increase the chances of success.

Grafting grapes in the fall is an excellent opportunity to improve the variety and rejuvenate an older plant. To properly graft grapes, follow the basic rules for successful grafting and our recommendations for this procedure.