Propagating apple trees from simple stem cuttings can be challenging, as they often do not root easily. The most common and successful method for propagating a specific apple variety is through grafting. This involves joining a piece of the desired apple variety (called a scion, which is essentially a specific type of cutting) onto the root system of another apple tree or a compatible relative (called the rootstock).
While taking a simple cutting to root directly is difficult, preparing a cutting (scion) for grafting involves making specific cuts. The reference provided describes a cut often used when preparing either the scion or the rootstock for grafting techniques like whip-and-tongue grafting.
Preparing Your Cutting (Scion) for Grafting
When preparing a scion (your cutting) and the rootstock for grafting, precise cuts are essential for a successful union. One common technique involves creating matching cuts on both the scion and the rootstock that fit together snugly, often including a 'tongue' for added stability and surface area for healing.
The reference describes a specific step in this process:
Use a sharp knife to ensure a smooth, even cut. Starting about 1/3 of the way down from the pointed end, make a second downward cut into the stock to form a tongue. The second cut should be ½ to 1 inch long, slanted toward the base of the first cut.
This technique, likely describing the cut on the rootstock or the scion in a whip-and-tongue graft, involves:
- Making an initial long, sloping cut (the "first cut") on both the rootstock and the scion.
- On this freshly cut surface, about one-third of the way down from the tip (the "pointed end" refers to the tapered shape created by the first cut), a second cut is made.
- This second cut goes downward into the wood to create a "tongue."
- The tongue cut is typically ½ to 1 inch long and is angled towards the base of the initial sloping cut.
When grafting, a similar, mirroring tongue cut is made on the other piece (if the description above was for the stock, the same cut is made on the scion, and vice versa). These tongues are then interlocked, increasing the contact surface area between the scion and the rootstock and helping to hold them together while the graft union forms.
Why Grafting is Preferred
Grafting offers several advantages over trying to root simple cuttings for apple trees:
- Reliability: It's a much more reliable method for propagating apple varieties.
- Rootstock Benefits: Allows selection of rootstock for desired traits like size control (dwarfing, semi-dwarfing), disease resistance, soil adaptability, and precocity (how early the tree bears fruit).
- True Variety: Ensures the new tree is genetically identical to the parent tree of the scion wood, preserving the desired apple variety's fruit characteristics.
| Propagation Method | Success Rate (Apples) | Complexity | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rooting Cuttings | Low | Simple | Cloning the original plant (difficult for apples) |
| Grafting/Budding | High | Moderate | Cloning scion onto a suitable rootstock |
In summary, while taking a simple cutting from an apple tree to root is generally unsuccessful, taking a cutting (scion wood) for grafting is the standard method. This process involves making precise cuts, such as the tongue cut described in the reference, to join the scion to a rootstock effectively.
