For example, grafting heirloom tomatoes combines old-world tomato flavor with increased disease resistance and productivity.
What Is Grafting?
Grafting is a technique that joins two plants into one.
The Spruce / Randi Rhoades
The wound needs to be protected until it heals to avoid pests and diseases entering the graft.
Flowering and vegetable plants can be grafted.
For example, roses and tomatoes are commonly grafted plants.
Illustration: The Spruce / Melissa Ling
Not all plants can be grafted though.
They have to be compatible in both rootstock and scion for it to work properly.
The same plant species and genus are more successful than plants from a different genus.
The Spruce / Randi Rhoades
What Is a Rootstock?
The lower plant portion used in grafting is called the rootstock.
This is usually a healthy root system and some portion of the stem.
The Spruce / Randi Rhoades
The characteristics of rootstocks can make it possible to grow plants faster and in less-than-desirable conditions.
A common use for rootstocks is to create dwarf fruit trees that easily fit into the average backyard.
Full-size fruit trees are large and take years to mature and bear fruit.
Grafting a favorite fruit tree onto a rootstock can produce 6-foot dwarf trees.
Besides dwarfing, rootstocks contribute traits to improve yield, cold or drought hardiness, and even disease resistance.
What Is a Scion?
The portion above the graft is called the scion.
Special Growing Considerations for Grafted Plants
Considerable care and maintenanceare necessary when planting grafted plants.
When that happens, you lose the characteristics selected for when the plant was grafted.
For example, a Granny Smith apple tree may start producing unrecognizable red apples from rootstock shoots.
There are also times when the rootstock needs some winter protection, as with many grafted roses.
This is the preferred technique for propagating deciduous fruit and shade trees.
The two budding methodsT-budding (also called shield budding) and chip buddingare used during different seasons.
Successful budding takes practice to learn.
Budding uses smaller incisions rather than the major cuts used with traditional grafting methods.
What Is Budding?
Budding is a modern form of grafting.
A bud is inserted into a small incision rather than using a scion with numerous buds.
Most all fruit trees are grafted using the budding technique.
Want to Try Your Hand at Grafting?
Standard rootstocks are available from many mail-order nurseries.
They describe the attributes of each, so it’s possible for you to experiment using common techniques.
Here are the most common types of grafting techniques:
Grafting.University of Missouri Extension.
Rootstocks for Grape Production.Oklahoma State University Extension.
Stone Fruit Propagation by Grafting & Budding.University of California.
Grafting and Budding Nursery Crop Plants.North Carolina State Extension.
Fruit Tree PropagationGrafting and Budding.Penn State Extension.
Four Flap Grafting of Pecans.Oklahoma State University Extension.
