Peach propagation methods by cuttings in summer: instructions and useful tips

Once the peach tree was grown only in warm southern regions. Today it is often found in the middle zone of the country. Summer residents grow juicy and sweet varieties on plots, many of which appeared in gardens by propagation by cuttings. This method cannot be called simple, however, if the recommendations are followed, even a beginner will be able to grow a peach tree from a cutting in his area. How to propagate a peach, we will consider in detail in the article.

Is it possible to propagate peach cuttings in summer

Cutting is the propagation of a peach by green or lignified cuttings. The procedure is carried out in spring or summer - depending on varieties and climatic conditions of the growing region.

For cuttings, shoots are prepared in advance and a planting site is selected. The advantage of the summer event is that the ground is already warmed up, which means that the peach will root faster and adapt to a new place. Also, the fruit tree will be less sick, which will have a positive effect on the future harvest.

Advantages and disadvantages

The advantages of the summer procedure are that it does not require special agronomic knowledge and skills.... All a gardener needs is planting material and step-by-step instructions for breeding a peach. Until summer, there is time to prepare the pit, fertilize the soil with organic and mineral fertilizing.

There are few disadvantages to cuttings. Summer residents note the fact that a new tree will not take root well in the garden if it has been infected with fungal or infectious diseases or damaged by insect pests.

This usually happens with cuttings that are purchased from garden nurseries. Therefore, when buying, it is recommended to carefully examine the planting material for the presence of such lesions.

Optimal timing for summer cuttings

In the southern regions of the country, cuttings are carried out at the beginning of summer, in the northern regions - until mid-July. It is important that the earth warms up and possible frost passes.

When choosing a day, pay attention to the weather: suitable air temperature - about + 22 ° С, humidity - 80-85%, precipitation and winds should not be. It is recommended to propagate the peach early in the morning, before 9:00, while there is no hot sun.

Attention! If for some reason it was not possible to multiply the peach in June and July, the procedure is postponed to the beginning of August. The main thing is to have the right weather.

Auspicious days

To choose a favorable date for the procedure, many gardeners turn to the lunar calendar for help. It shows which days are ideal for grafting, and which are best not to do any gardening at all.

In 2020, suitable days are 22-26, 28-31 July and 21-24, 26-31 August. If you propagate a peach on these dates, it will quickly take root and grow stronger.

Suitable varieties of peach

For cuttings, varieties are used that retain the taste and marketability of the fruit. These are the varieties Veteran, Saratov early, Novoselovsky. They are distinguished by juicy and sweet fruits, attractive commercial qualities.

It is also imperative to pay attention to the region in which the culture is grown. Experienced gardeners recommend choosing zoned "home" varieties.For example, for the middle zone it is the Belgorodsky peach, for the south - the Nadezhny, Juicy and Crimean fireworks varieties.

Selection and preparation of cuttings

When propagating, gardeners use green, lignified or airy cuttings.

The most common method is cuttings with lignified shoots. They are prepared 2-3 months before landing... If shoots are cut from their own tree, they do it early in the morning, and then wrap them in a damp cloth. The length of the handle is 20-25 cm, the thickness is 10 mm.

Cutting with green shoots is common among gardeners who grow peaches in the southern regions. Lateral shoots are cut with a sharp knife into segments with 2-3 internodes. The bottom layer should be oblique at a distance of 1 cm from the kidney.

Summer residents also use propagation by air layers - fruiting branches, which gardeners artificially stimulate to the formation of roots, sprinkling with wet soil... Soon, the cuttings develop their own root system, and after 3-4 years the peach gives its first crop.

For this method of reproduction, choose a healthy and fruiting branch, well lit. Most often these are 3-year-old shoots as thick as a pencil.

Ways to root them

There are several ways to root cuttings - in water, substrate, growth promoter, soil.

Each of these methods is available to any gardener, does not require much effort and time:

1. In the substrate... Peat, sawdust, sand, purchased land are used as a substrate. Sometimes summer residents use coconut fiber - a simple and convenient option. The substrate is placed in a container, moistened, then a stalk is placed there, covered with polyethylene and removed to a sunny place.
2. In water... After cutting, the peach cuttings are placed in a container with clean water at room temperature. Water must cover the lower buds, otherwise they will dry out and the cutting will die. Rooting shoots are prepared in May or June.
3. With a growth stimulant. Gardeners identify 2 affordable and effective stimulants - "Kornevin" and "Heteroauxin". The cut of the shoot is treated with powder and immediately after that it is placed in the prepared soil.
4. In the ground. This method is suitable for southern regions. The procedure is carried out in April. The stalk is cut and placed in the ground, where it is located until June - July. And in the summer, the peach is planted in individual holes.

Planting ready-made cuttings

Peaches are planted in prepared soil. 1-2 months before planting, the soil is dug up, cleaned of debris and weeds, fertilized with urea or ash (30 g per 1 sq. M). The depth of the hole is about 70 cm, the width should be at least the diameter of an adult tree, therefore, it is selected individually for each variety. At the bottom of the pit, fine gravel and sand are poured in a 1: 1 ratio. The drainage layer makes the soil lighter, more breathable and permeable.

Ready cuttings are planted in the early morning: they are carefully placed in a hole, the roots are straightened and sprinkled with earth. Soil temperature should be around + 25 ° C. Immediately after this, the peach is watered abundantly and mulched with straw, grass cuttings or sawdust. The root collar should protrude 3-4 cm above ground level.

Attention! If there is strong wind or rain on the scheduled landing day, it is better to postpone the procedure. Otherwise, you can forget about a rich harvest and a healthy tree.

Features of cuttings depending on the type of peach

Distinguish between early, middle and late ripening peaches. When grafting early and middle varieties, gardeners recommend paying attention to the method of rooting.

It is better to use a substrate, with its help the cuttings will get stronger, and the trees will hurt less in the future. This is due to the fact that early maturing and medium varieties do not differ in frost resistance, so they need additional protection.

Attention! For cuttings, summer residents use large-fruited, self-fertile, disease and pest resistant varieties. They are suitable for any region and have a high yield.

Depending on the region

When breeding peaches in central Russia, it is important to take into account the composition of the soil. The cuttings are planted in loose and fertile soil with a neutral acidity level. To improve the quality of the soil, gardeners in the spring fertilize it with infusion of rotted manure or chicken droppings, and at the beginning of summer they add potassium salt. Fertilizers help the peach to adapt and take root faster, to avoid diseases in the future.

When growing peaches in the south, make sure that the stalk always remains moist during rooting. Summer residents regularly water the soil. When rooting in the substrate, the cutting is taken out into fresh air and ventilated. At the same time, direct sunlight should not fall on the peach.

Further care

Further care behind a peach consists of watering and fertilizing, loosening and processing from diseases.

Water the tree so that the ground is slightly damp, but not wet. For irrigation, use clean water heated in the sun.

Watering with the help of a drip system is popular: water falls directly under the root, bypassing the stems and leaves. The liquid consumption is economical, this system can be used to water all garden trees and shrubs.

Before each procedure, the soil is loosened and cleaned of weeds so that the young peach grows healthy and strong. If weeds are not removed, the plantings will be neglected and dense, which will provoke the reproduction of insect pests.

Attention! Preventive measures are a mandatory step in caring for both young and adult trees. Gardeners once every 2 weeks treat the plant with a solution of Bordeaux liquid (1%) or infusion of nettle and garlic. Prevention protects the tree from curliness and powdery mildew.

Experienced gardening tips

Experienced gardeners share tips on how to cut a peach:

• cut the cuttings in the morning in cloudy weather - at this time there is the most juice in the buds, and the plant will quickly take root;
• place the cuttings in the shade;
• cut with sharp secateurs;
• process the places of the cuts with garden pitch;
• keep the substrate or soil slightly damp;
• choose healthy and fruit-bearing trees for cutting;
• when planting on a site, observe an interval between plants of 2 m;
• prepare the planting pit in advance (1-2 months in advance).

It is interesting:

How to properly prune peaches in the spring and why it is so important

How to properly prune a peach in the fall and what is it for

Conclusion

Peach cuttings begin with the preparation of the planting material. These can be green or lignified shoots. They are cut from a fruitful and healthy tree. Then they are rooted - placed in water or substrate, or treated with a growth stimulant.

Cuttings are planted on a cloudy day. The pit is prepared in advance, fertilized with organic matter and dug up. The stalk is placed in the ground at a slight slope, sprinkled with earth and watered. With proper further care, such a tree will yield in the third year.