Question on rootstock

[H20fwler]

I have a Cummins Honeysweet semi standard size pear on OHxF 87 rootstock that a bunnie clipped off a month ago about five inches above the graft. The rootstock is growing a bunch of shoots off of it now, above the graft is still green but not putting any new growth out.
Is there any way to get the graft going and if not will the rootstock grow a fruiting pear tree if I try and get a leader going?

 

[CAS_HNTR]

I had some issue with some of my grafts this year and ended up with some shoots from the rootstock. I have been letting them grow and get a few leaves and then just pinching the green actively growing tip off of each shoot. Eventually the graft took off and has now put on 6-8" of growth beyond the pinched rootstock shoots. I will cut all the shoots off this winter.

I would think a similar approach would work for you. A few leaves are needed for it to live, but you want to try and prevent the rootstock from taking over too.

 

[H20fwler]

Thanks

 

[Turkey Creek]

In my experience pears are pretty good about pushing latent buds, sometimes it does take quite awhile though. I would try and keep 2-3 or of the root stock suckers, but dont allow them to get higher than the graft portion by much. You might still see a bud start to grow this summer. If nothing starts to pop on the scion portion by next spring then allow one of the suckers to keep growing until it has enough size to graft to.

 

[H20fwler]

It worked out just like you guys said, the graft finally started to put out some leaves out so I pinched off the rootstock leaves today to let it get back to growing on the graft. It's going to be set back a years worth of growth but hopefully it will come out of it OK.

 

[chickenlittle]

You won't really lose a whole year. The rootstock was still getting established and the graft healed. That tree will be able to take off right away next spring. It will be farther along next fall than it would have been this fall.

 

[yoderjac]

You won't really lose a whole year. The rootstock was still getting established and the graft healed. That tree will be able to take off right away next spring. It will be farther along next fall than it would have been this fall.

Absolutely! It is not quite the same, but I'm using a similar approach. Rather than using clonal rootstock, I'm growing some trees from seed. Some varieties like chestnuts are true enough to seed, that I'm just planting them in the field. Others like pears and apples, I'm planting in the field and allowing them to establish. I plan to graft most of these to some known variety.

Thanks,

Jack

 

[Ouachita]

H2Ofowler,
I would mulch and or kill that grass around the tree, especially if it is fescue. If it was earlier in the season I would also give it about a tablespoon of miracle grow in a couple of gallons of water but It might not harden off before the first freeze. The reason I mention those things is that sometime if the tree is not vigorous enough going into winter then it may die down below the graft by spring time. Good luck

 

[H20fwler]

H2Ofowler,
I would mulch and or kill that grass around the tree, especially if it is fescue. If it was earlier in the season I would also give it about a tablespoon of miracle grow in a couple of gallons of water but It might not harden off before the first freeze. The reason I mention those things is that sometime if the tree is not vigorous enough going into winter then it may die down below the graft by spring time. Good luck

I appreciate the feedback.
It is actually planted where my garden has been the last ten years behind the house, good fertilized dirt that is very loamy. The grass is Kentucky Blue or something, it's in a spot where I can water it plenty. I'm planning on covering it good with straw in the winter and keeping it fenced to keep the rabbits off it then moving it early spring out the farm where it will stay.