As many of you already know, there are different methods for multiplying a vegetable. A rather curious one is the transplant. With this technique we can germinate several species from the same plant, provided they belong to the same genus, of course. It is a good option for some fruit trees, such as fig crops. But how to graft a fig tree?
In this article, we will answer this big question. explaining step by step how to do it. In addition, we will tell what is the best time of the year to carry out this task, so that we are successful with the result. So if you are considering grafting a fig tree, I recommend that you keep reading.
What is a transplant and what is it used for?
Before explaining to you how to graft a fig tree, we will first explain to you what this technique consists of and what it is used for. This method consists in using a piece of plant and assembling it with another so that once grafted, they form a single plant. The part that we grafted onto a certain plant merges with it and manages to get nutrients through it. It is usually done to improve the characteristics of the plant by increasing its resistance and/or improving its fruit or production.
For a transplant to be successful, it is essential that the cambium of the two plants comes into contact, which is the inner green part that is under the bark. It is a very thin layer of cells. Cells responsible for creating vascular tissues are produced in it, through which sap with nutrients and water eventually flows. Thanks to the production of this new tissue made by the cambium, the two pieces of the plant will be able to weld together.
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What are grafts and what are they used for?
Note that the variety to be grafted must also have a compatible rootstock for the union to be successful. It is for this reason that the grafts must be carried out between species belonging to the same genus. Even so, there are a few exceptions in which species of different genera may have been grafted, although they have always been related. For example, it is possible to graft the pear tree (belonging to the genus Pyrus) in the quince (of the genus Cydonia). Other species that agree to be grafted together are pistachio and terebinth.
It should be noted that there are different types of grafts. These vary mainly in their method of implementation and some may be better for some plants than others. By performing this technique well, you can achieve truly spectacular trees, the most famous being the Frankenstein tree. This curious specimen was created by an American art teacher named Sam Van Aken and produces 40 different types of fruit belonging to the genus plum.
How to graft a fig tree step by step
Now that we know what the grafting technique is, we must say that it is not generally used to propagate fig trees, since it is much easier and more effective to propagate these trees by cutting a branch and planting it directly in the ground. However, fig transplants are usually performed to bring together different types and thus obtain a tree that produces different varieties of figs.
These vegetables tend to respond well to this technique, so the result is usually successful. While it is true that there are several different methods, the most used is the so-called “whip and tongue transplant”. Next, we will see how to graft a fig tree step by step:
- Choose the host: It can be either a branch from our fig tree or a cut piece.
- Choose a descendant: It is important that it is the same size as the host.
- Prepare the host: Using a sharp knife, make a cut between 2.5 and 6.3 centimeters, tilting the edge down. The cut should be deep enough to see the inner green part that is under the bark.
- Create a “language”: In the host we must make a cut, again sloping downwards, starting it at about a third of the height, depending on the initial cut. As a result, we will get a tongue-like piece, hence its name.
- Remove stem: Now is the time to cut a piece of the fig tree that we want to graft onto the host. Ideally, you should have at least three buds starting to form. It is necessary to cut a piece about 10 to 15 centimeters long and remove the leaves that it has.
- Create a “tongue” on the stem: You have to do it the same way as with the host, but in this case we have to tilt the cut upwards.
- Mounting the Rod to the Host: The next step is to insert the stem into the host, directly over the inner green part. It is important to align it correctly. Care must be taken not to extend the end of the graft too far from the end of the host, as this may cause a callus to appear when the graft begins to heal, thus hindering growth.
- Wrap the two pieces together: Finally, it remains to wrap both parts with a transparent tape, which in some places is known as tree tape. After a few weeks, when the graft has already taken effect, it is time to remove the tape.
When is fig grafting done?
Once we know how to graft a fig tree, knowing when to do it is extremely important. Choosing the right time of year is essential for this technique to be successful. The ideal is to graft the trees in the spring. During this time, the vegetables are in full germination and growth, which will favor this technique. We can also perform this task at the end of the summer, sometimes in August. However, the transplant we do so late will not develop new shoots until the following spring.
With all this information on how to graft a fig tree, we just have to get to work. If we do it correctly, we will get different types of figs from the same tree, which is very beneficial in several ways.