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Corryton, TN

What stage of development seems to work best for you when matching the scion and rootstock?

1/6/2018 8:19:19 AM

The North Coast

For hole insertion, the first true leaf on the melon should be the size of a grain of rice. First true leaf on the rootstock should be about the size of a 50 cent piece. That being said, there's a good bit of flexibility.

1/6/2018 9:48:04 AM

East Tennessee

What Nathan said is what I shoot for Brother Dave.

1/6/2018 10:32:25 AM

sevierville, Tn

the one cot you want them close to the same size. So rampart starts the same time. With BG you would start the melons first.
can't help with hole insertion.

1/6/2018 7:30:18 PM

The North Coast

Right. Hole insertion would require a 5-7 headstart for the roostocks. Most growers eventually find a method that works for them. All methods seem to work about equally. I'd put money on the Bartolis using approach grafts.

1/6/2018 7:43:18 PM

sevierville, Tn

Bartoli uses approach ??

1/6/2018 8:31:27 PM

Franklinton ,La.

My recent experience with 2 different tests about a month apart is that starting rootstock and melon on the same day is good for the hole insertion method because the rootstock will outgrow the melon and for the 1 cot method start the melon seeds at least 1 week before starting the rootstock and you will have stalks that are generally the same size and makes the 1 cot graft much easier.

1/6/2018 9:44:46 PM

Grant, AL

Nathan, if all grafting methods seem to work equally then I guess it is a matter of finding the correct rootstock for the conditions that you grow in. Or finding the ideal rootstock for Carolina cross that gives maximum growth, maximum health benefits, and allows for the maximum number of days for melon growth.

1/6/2018 10:29:32 PM

The North Coast

I remember Sergio (I think) sharing something that led to a video all in Italian. It was a guy demonstrating the approach technique. A bit of an assumption from there.

1/7/2018 6:50:33 AM

Bethlehem CT

Last year I did a mixture of hole insertion and one cot. Most of mine were one cot. I felt more confident with the one cot because I could see all the vascular connections. I used the hole insertion only when the scion was tiny like it was on this small seeded Japanese variety that I grew. I believe the variety was 'Hime Kansen'. Last year I did about one hundred grafts, so I got pretty good at it. I could do a one cot faster than the hole insertion. One little tip that I discovered was that I found it helpful to use a grafting clip on the hole insertion. I believe it added pressure and kept the scion from moving. It also kept it nice and upright.
You put the clip on the outside of the cot leaves and it kind of bent them up a little. This helped support the scion and I think it also helped provide a good environment for the wound site to heal.

1/7/2018 7:28:18 AM

Bethlehem CT

My technique was not fancy. I planted the rootstock and watermelons on the same day. When the seeds were up and had some size to them. (like mentioned above) I began grafting. Some of my melons took a long time to germinate so I planted a second batch of rootstock. I completed all the grafts over the course of a week. I cut all the rootstocks off and all the watermelons off. ( no roots) were left in tact) This made them easy to work with. No soil was attached so I could do the job nice and neatly while sitting at the kitchen table. After completing a bunch I would stick the grafted cuttings into a bed of fifty-fifty pro mix bx/perlite blend. (drainage is key) Mist would come on every five minutes for a few seconds during daylight hours. The key to growing roots is to keep moisture on the leaf at all times. (no stress) Opposite of what you would think there is less chance for disease propagating this way than with humidity alone. My propagation bed is in a greenhouse so it receives natural sunlight. No shading required. I already had the set up for propagation, so it made sense to use it for the grafts. To build my set up I spent one hundred dollars on the propagation valve/timer and another 40 dollars or so on the piping and misting nozzles. The propagation controller was purchased from Nolt's Greenhouse supplies in PA. It is battery operated and the battery last about a year.

1/7/2018 7:46:19 AM

Bethlehem CT

In a warm enough climate you could build a set up like this outdoors. ( a windbreak may be helpful though) I did two batches one in April and again in May. The May grafted ones did much better and healed much quicker. Why? I believe a big part of it had to do with the warmer temps in May. As long as the scions aren't wilting it isn't too warm or too bright. I suppose in very hot sunny places closer to the equator a shade net may be of use, but I didn't need that under my conditions.

1/7/2018 7:54:42 AM

Bethlehem CT

Lastly, It has been great to see everyone on this Watermelon board this winter. This board is more alive than the General discussion for AG's, that is a first! I look forward to coming here every day and reading every ones posts.

1/7/2018 8:04:38 AM

Bethlehem CT

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oP1UIeinUKg
This guy did a series on how to build a small time propagation set up. He is very knowledgeable and informative. Twenty years ago, you would not have had access to information like this. Propagators are traditionally very tight lipped about their techniques. (job security)
Not sure if anyone is interested in this or not, but beware if you build one you will never need to purchase another plant at a nursery. You'll be able to grow roots on just about anything.

1/7/2018 8:28:46 AM

Eastern Shore of VA

Great stuff John.
Thanks.

1/7/2018 10:14:20 AM

Franklinton ,La.

Posted a picture of some plants I just grafted on my 2018 diary.

1/8/2018 8:35:46 PM

Bethlehem CT

Nice plants big dogg.

1/9/2018 8:15:41 PM

Franklinton ,La.

Thanks Big Moon . Lot of trial and error. A whole lot of research. About the time you think you got it down pat you have a bad batch. I did 24 this time and 15 that were successful. The ones that germinated later were the ones that failed. I should have done hole insertion method on those instead of the one cot because these were smaller seedlings.I wanted all to start healing at the same time.

1/9/2018 11:11:24 PM

Bethlehem CT

Big Dogg you are right! Gardening is very humbling, just when you think you have it down pat. Wham! You have failure. It has happened to me many times over the years.

1/26/2018 6:40:02 PM