First Grafts

RandyK

RandyK

Well-known member
Well, I did my first ever grafts today. Been watching youtube videos and asking people questions. And the timing seems right this weekend, with the weather conditions.

These are all cleft grafts on paw paw seedlings. I did three grafts...just to get my feet wet, so to speak.

Pawpaw Graft1_05182025.jpg
I did scootch the scion wood a bit more to the left after taking the pictures and it matched up better.

Pawpaw Graft2_05182025.jpg

Pawpaw Graft3_05182025.jpg
Parafilm added

Pawpaw Graft4_05182025.jpg
Pawpaw Graft5_JerrysBigGirl_05182025.jpg

It was fun and I learned a lot. Nothing like some actual hands on experience. Now I cross my fingers and toes and wait to see if they are successful or not. 🤞
 
Looks good. Hope they take. I’ve had good success with the pear trees and persimmons I did earlier this year. I’ll be watching this thread, might try grafting some pawpaws next year in the pawpaw patch.
 
RandyK said:
Nice! I've heard persimmons can be tricky/difficult.
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Still a little early, but the one's I did by bark graft seem to have taken good. The cleft graft ones seem to be coming but not as good as the bark graft. Also, I'm not convinced the scion I was given was the best.
 
I don’t want to jinx myself, but as of 6/13/2025, I’ve done 5 varieties on 6 grafts and it appears that they have all taken 🤞
IMG_5756.jpeg

IMG_5755.jpeg
 
Well, yesterday (6/14/2025), I did my first "field grafts". The ones above are my first "bench grafts", on seedlings in pots. These grafts below are on one of my wild patch of pawpaws on in my yard. I think this patch is probably all root suckers from the same original tree, which is gone now...but I think all of these are probably genetically the same. So by grafting some other varieties into the patch, I will not only improve the cultivars there, but they will be able to cross pollinate each other. I'm going to see how there grafts go and then probably add a couple more varieties. I am hoping that by grafting onto trees that are in the ground with an established root system, that these grafts will take and also grow well.

Nyomi's Delicious:

Field graft_06142025_Nyomis1.jpg
Field graft_06142025_Nyomis2.jpg
Field graft_06142025_Nyomis3.jpg

Jerry's Big Girl:

Field graft_06142025_Jerrys.jpg

And I got my first cut while grafting. I thought "I'm being so careful...I'm not going to cut myself"! I guess it is bound to happen. :oops::)

Field graft_06142025_first cut.jpg

I guess that is why several sources on the internet and youtube advise to have bandages and/or a first aid kit! I stuck a couple of band aids in my kit!

Field graft_06142025_first aid.jpg

And, finally, I did my first Chip Bud graft. This one was tougher for me. It will take a bit more practice. The cuts need to be a bit more precise to get the root stock cut and the chip bud to match each other well. On this one, you can't see it, but the root stock cut ended up being slightly bigger than the chip bud, so the chip bud in only aligned on one side. I think it can still work, but not ideal.

Field graft_06142025_first chip bud1.jpg
Field graft_06142025_first chip bud2.jpg
 
Good job. I didn’t even think of grafting the pawpaws in our patch. I will check into that for this next year. That’s also a good tip about putting some bandages in the kit. I use a tool belt with all my stuff in it when I hike into our field. I guess I could wrap my finger in parafilm until home…..lol.
 
superdave336 said:
Good job. I didn’t even think of grafting the pawpaws in our patch. I will check into that for this next year. That’s also a good tip about putting some bandages in the kit. I use a tool belt with all my stuff in it when I hike into our field. I guess I could wrap my finger in parafilm until home…..lol.
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Ha, parafilm is great stuff, isn't it? You're probably right...it would probably help with a cut until you can get a bandage on it.

A toolbelt sound like a good idea too. Everything right at hand. The tote I use works pretty well, but it sometimes seems to be just out of reach :rolleyes:
 
RandyK said:
Nice! I've heard persimmons can be tricky/difficult.
Click to expand...
They’re actually quite easy if done when average temps are 75F and warmer and the same applies for pawpaws. Glad to see you getting into grafting as it’s really rewarding to add new varieties to your collection. This year my persimmon and pawpaw are breaking bud in just 10 days after grafting using chip buds and whip tongue. I’ve developed my own technique for getting chip buds to fit perfectly but know that all sides don’t need to overlap for them to be a success as the cambium will expand outward and fuse as it sees fit.
 
Trustyfarms said:
They’re actually quite easy if done when average temps are 75F and warmer and the same applies for pawpaws. Glad to see you getting into grafting as it’s really rewarding to add new varieties to your collection. This year my persimmon and pawpaw are breaking bud in just 10 days after grafting using chip buds and whip tongue. I’ve developed my own technique for getting chip buds to fit perfectly but know that all sides don’t need to overlap for them to be a success as the cambium will expand outward and fuse as it sees fit.
Click to expand...
Ryan! Thanks for the input. The grafting has been very rewarding and fun. It seemed pretty daunting before I started, and it is a bit challenging to learn (like with any new thing), but I am really enjoying it!
 
RandyK said:
Ryan! Thanks for the input. The grafting has been very rewarding and fun. It seemed pretty daunting before I started, and it is a bit challenging to learn (like with any new thing), but I am really enjoying it!
Click to expand...
That’s awesome and if you haven’t already watched Jsacadura’s videos I highly recommend them.

m.youtube.com

JSacadura

Growing our own food is the way to go if you want to eat quality products that are healthy and have the taste we remember from when we where kids. I am lucky in having a 5 acres piece of land where I have around 800 fruit trees with more than 600 edible varieties, so I have room to experiment...
m.youtube.com m.youtube.com
 
I am not good at handling knifes so the first thing I got was a pair of cut resistant gloves. :ROFLMAO:

That had saved me quite a few times. It is a bit troublesome to use it sometimes but I sure glad I had it on.

Another thing I usually have with me is soapy wipe or Alcohol wipe to help clean the knife and the pruner as I graft. I am less concerned with FMV(just assume all of them have it) than the sticky sap mess up the cuts.
 
grasshopper said:
I am not good at handling knifes so the first thing I got was a pair of cut resistant gloves. :ROFLMAO:

That had saved me quite a few times. It is a bit troublesome to use it sometimes but I sure glad I had it on.

Another thing I usually have with me is soapy wipe or Alcohol wipe to help clean the knife and the pruner as I graft. I am less concerned with FMV(just assume all of them have it) than the sticky sap mess up the cuts.
Click to expand...
Definitely a good idea to be careful and I'm sure the glove helps a lot.

I use those little pre-packaged alcohol wipes and they work great. I make sure I clean all my tools (knives, pruners, saw) after each use on a tree or cutting. I think it is good practice, since there are several things that can be inadvertently spread. One of those alcohol wipes worked well also to clean up that little nick of a cut I got :p
 
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