Did you know that, if planted, the seed from a delicious avocado or apple will not necessarily produce a tree with good tasting fruit? In fact the fruit might not even be edible after waiting for many years for the tree to bear fruit.
A much better way to start your own trees is by budding or grafting. The best time of year to do this is spring or fall when the bark is easily separated from the wood. It should be timed early enough so the warm weather will help ensure a good bud union, yet late enough so that the bud will not begin to grow and so that callus (hard, whitish connecting tissue of the graft) will not grow over the bud itself.
Citrus budded or grafted in the fall must be protected from frost. Avocados are best grafted in the spring when the bark is easily separated from the wood.
It is also possible to change or add varieties to mature trees with budding and grafting techniques. This process is called top working.
Detailed instruction on budding, grafting and top working can be found here.
For more information please call our Master Gardener helpline at 645-1455 or email them with your questions.