Whip And Tongue Grafting

Question 1

Selecting scion cuttings.

Answer 1

Midwinter - select healthy, vigorous hardwood shoots.
Previous season’s growth.
23cm long.
Cut obliquely just above a bud.

Question 2

Storing scions prior to grafting.

Answer 2

Bundles of five or six, roughly pencil thick.
Hell them in in prepared free draining bed, 5 to 8 cm above ground or place in dry plastic bag and put in fridge.

Need to be kept moist but dormant.

Question 3

Preparing stock.

Answer 3

Rootstock should have been planted 12 months in advance.

Early spring, before bud break.

Cut top off, 15-30cm above ground level.
Trim side shoots.

Make upward sloping cut on one side using clean knife, 3.5cm long exiting halfway up stock.
Do not touch cambium.
Make shallow, 0.5cm incision one third of away down exposed cambium layer of stock - this forms the tongue.

Question 4

Preparing scion

Answer 4

Grade scions and match size of stock to size if scion as closely as possible.

Check polarity

Cut off soft growth at tip.

Trim to three or four buds.

Choose a bud 3.5cm from base, make a cut on opposite side of bud.
Cut bud to base.
Match the tongue on the stock by making a slit in the cambium layer on the scion.

Question 5

Fitting whip and tongue layer together.

Answer 5

Fit the tongue of the scion into the stock.
Use arches of cambium layer as guide, adjust until they fit well.
Bind together with grafting tape of wet raffia.

Remove tape when callous forms around graft union.
Keep well watered, provide support if necessary. Weed, check for pests and diseases.