25. Seven varieties grafted into our lovely apple tree.
Finally I learn how to do grafting! Not really difficult / challenging. Actually the only really difficult thing was the choice for branches where on/to do the grafting. For most of the rest — I had 4 A4 superb instruction with text and step-by-step pictures: I was naive to think it was for myself and some hobbyists, but it was actually published in Pomospost in pre-digital time.
I thought that I start with some twigs / varieties of Russian origin. Only yesterday took my final decision on the branch to graft — when Harry was looking at our tree he said “why don’t you cut this whole thing off”. May be for the reason of what I did today.
Then I was also looking at our old tree for some more grafting: I got Champagne Reinette from Lubbert De Baggelhof, and I got nicely packed Oranje Reinette from Harry. Wow. I opened the latter package of 1-year grafting twigs — and !! thank you Harry !! — I found two more twigs — from two more apple varieties (links here or later in the posts).
OK, share the process LOL (funny) — we almost came to a tiny family quarrel discussing how the twigs have to be sliced for grafting. Finally I trusted the way JJ read the instructions — but it happened to develop as “just to be seen on the spot”.
Till the very last moment — I was not sure I do grafting just today. But — today I started. Four very Russian varieties — Коричное, Московское позднее, Юбилей биофака, Память Тихомирова. Интересно что-кто и как приживется.
Then I had to do some major home cleaning — really needed for 2+ weeks when I was busy studying. But then I thought — why can’t I finish the tree / my attempt of grafting to this very tree…?
So I went again to make choices (and these are indeed the most difficult, grafting as such is simple).
OK, that pink stuff — it is with two twigs of Champagne Reinette. And the labels from twigs from Harry with also the photo of the hand — they are from the next spot, in green colour by coincidence.
Green above is the combination of two — James Grieve on the left and Oranje Reinette on the right. Both pinks — Champagne Reinette.
OK, let it be. Неюные толстые мичуринцы…
Finally the summary of what came into the Schoon van Boskoop: rose — both twigs Champagne Reinette; green — James Grieve and Oranje Reinette both twigs from Harry; blue — counterclockwise — Коричное, Московское позднее, юбилей биофака, память Тихомирова.
This is / was my first grafting attempt and I am really curious of the output. Rose, green and blue to be seen :-)
One week to wait — and then comes the most important task — for the tree that is behind.
