Tip-grafted a Pinkerton scion onto a seedling here beside a Hass tree just last week. Buds are pushing through the Parafilm already.
I just found a great resource on grafting avocados. Of course, I just finished doing my grafting for the season, but it will serve me well in the future.
Written by some of the most experienced people in the world, specific to California conditions, called “Propagating Avocados,” the University of California published it.
Avocadosource.com makes it available online HERE.
Hey Greg,
Love your stuff. I had a few questions regarding grafting.
I want to try the cleft graft on my avocado trees. I have a hass tree that grew from seed and multiple other trees that I bought grafted from nurseries. My plan is to graft a few branches from my nursery grown trees onto the Seed grown tree so I can have superior fruit. I tried one graft a couple of weeks ago, using the cleft technique and buddy tape. I wrapped the wound with the tape then placed a ziploc bag over the cut tip with a rubber band to retain moisture. Unfortunately yesterday I went out and saw the entire branch on the ground(including the branch that I had grafted onto). The wind fought the ziploc and broke the thing off the tree. I opened up the tap and it seems the graft seemed to be sticking but we’ll never know. My questions are:
1. Can I try this now if I see budding branches? Or should I wait until late winter/early spring? I am in the San Fernando valley in California. I read that avocado trees have two George stages, one in summer, and one in fall..are these leaf “buds” what you mean when you say it should have a few buds on there?
2. When wrapping with budding tape, should I wrap the entire branch, including the buds, or do you recommend sealing the cut with the tape and putting a ziploc with a rubber band over the branch, so the buds will not be disturbed by the tape?
Thanks for everything bud (pun intended).
Hi Ayven,
I think it’s cool that you’re experimenting with grafting. You can graft avocados right now, but it’s more challenging than in late winter and early spring. It’s easiest and very effective to just wrap the entire scion with the Buddy tape. The buds will break through the tape once they grow.
Thanks for the tip!