I suck at grafting

[cjccmc]

For amusement and learning I tried some Tbud and a "lap joint" type grafts that I thought would be easy. Knowing my past success rate at this type stuff my strategy was to overwhelm Mother Nature with numbers. So I figure about 12 Tbuds and 3 lap jointy attempts ought to be enough to get lucky on at least one. Then again do these all look pretty dead to you?

[COGardener]

Unfortunately they do look a bit toasty.

Don't give up!!!

[jmaler]

It's a learning process. Keep at it and you will get better. I have only 4 out of about 20 or so, but I am already looking forward to next spring when I can do more grafting.

[cjccmc]

When my golf shots splashed in the water I figured it was the clubs, so a new grafting knife is probably in order here :-)

[cjccmc]

Unfortunately they do look a bit toasty.

So the brown woody dead look is not just a phase they're going thru?

[WillsC]

So the brown woody dead look is not just a phase they're going thru?

That is pretty funny


#1 looks ok to me. 2 and 3 not so much. It can take a LONG time for the bud to pop if you don't break the tree above the node and in your case that is probably not something you want to do.

[Taverna78]

You only suck if you give up. Capise?

[LouNeo]

Ive had a lot better luck with either a Whip and tongue graft if the scion is the same size or a cleft graft if its not the same size.

http://www.rodsgarden.50megs.com/whip1.jpg

https://heritagefruittrees.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/grafting-process.jpg

[cjccmc]

Ive had a lot better luck with either a Whip and tongue graft if the scion is the same size or a cleft graft if its not the same size.

http://www.rodsgarden.50megs.com/whip1.jpg

https://heritagefruittrees.files.wor...ng-process.jpg

Yeah but that might mess up my perfect 0 for 15 record!

They say practice makes perfect but I really don't know what key quality was wrong with what I did so not sure how to improve on it. I followed the video instructions pretty carefully and would even say I was more meticulous (definitely much slower) than what I saw the teachers doing on the T buds. That lap joints seemed like a no way to fail since I had the cambiums lined up as good as seemed possible and the rubber band tension to keep them together, but 0 for 3 there also.

But whipping and tonguing might be more my style even though it sounds a bit kinky.

[don_sanders]

I think I see your problem. Your misunderstanding the naming and taking it literally. Your supposed to suck, not blow.

[LouNeo]

I've had decent luck with it even as a beginner. Also make sure you have some grafting tape. There is some decent yet inexpensive tape on amazon that I use. I get goo results with wt grafts and clefts.

[cjccmc]

Is grafting tape same as parafilm?

Harvey C suggested pre wrapping the scion with it so you don't risk disturbing the alignment by doing this as a later step, which seemed like a good idea to me. I just used the non sticky side of electrical tape then covered with a 90% closed sandwich baggie to retain moisture and shaded from sun with white paper.

[LouNeo]

This is the tape I have used with decent success. I think with the right parafilm you will have at least better chance at success https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01AC6R08Q

[figgrower]

Just a few things that helps with apples (I've never grafted figs):

Never touch any of the cut surfaces.
You have about thirty seconds to get the two pieces in place and wrapped before the cambium layers start to dry out/die.
You may get better contact if you use the sticky side of the electrical tape. Pull it tight, and completely cover all surfaces except for a small patch for the bud.
Hope this helps. Casey

[cjccmc]

The 30 second guideline is good to know Casey, it took me as much a 5 minutes to make the Tbud graft and another 5 to wrap it.

[COGardener]

I have had great success with apples, pears, peach, plum and so on, my first Fig graft was a mammoth failure. It's fine, I'll just try again!

That is really what it is all about, try, try again.

[Rewton]

I'm usually really good with this type of stuff but I also have not had any success with a fig graft yet either. I also am not sure what I will do differently next time other than download some new videos and keep entering contests for one of Hershell's knives!

[cjccmc]

That's what I figure too, my crappy knife is the problem :-)

[cjmach1973]

It's got to be the knife

[Taverna78]

Ask funny man or HarveyC even WillsC. They are the champs of grafting. My word. Never give up. Some you win some you lose. It's the ones you win that keep you come back for more. 👊🏼👍🏼

[figgrower]

Smart man, Fabio.

[Taverna78]

is tis way with everything in life. simplicity... No think too hard and the answer is right there in your face🙂