When should I make cuttings?

burtonridr · Intermediate Crude Joined: Aug 03, 2007 Posts: 763

I want to make cuttings for grapes, black berries, and raspberries to plant next spring. When should I make the cuttings? I was thinking of doing it in the early spring to a new shoot.

When is the best time?
_________________
Tired of high gas prices? BangHead

Then stop driving to work, duh..... Learn to Work from home

Peak Oil Blog = http://getroasted.wordpress.com

kpeavey · Expert Joined: Oct 04, 2004 Posts: 1313

I have the best success with basal growth before flower buds appear. I have fair success with cutting after any flower buds have dropped off.
I have very little luck with cuttings taken when blossoms are in bloom, although purslane is an exception.
_________________
If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face--for ever."
-George Orwell, 1984

______________
Accept the Facts.

cynthia · Heavy Crude Joined: May 29, 2005 Posts: 378

There are many good books out there on propagation. Pegging canes to the ground to force root growth and then lifting the established plant is the easiest way to propagate the cane berries and grapes. Lifting and dividing raspberries better yet. You want to read up on ever bearing raspberries vs the spring varieties. Make sure you are propagating plants that are disease free. Root rot is the last thing you want in your garden1
cynthia

bobaloo · Heavy Crude Joined: Oct 14, 2004 Posts: 484

For grapes just take your prunings and cut sections about 18" long with 2-4 good bud sites. Take of the buds off the lower foot or so, leaving 1-2 bud sites and bury the lower foot in good soil. Keep moist and they'll start to grow. I get almost 100 percent rooting with this method. I do it in the Spring when the buds are swelling but not yet burst and be careful to keep it well watered and damp during the summer. I took about 12 cuttings this Spring and got 11 or so successful starts. Early next Spring I'll dig them and transplant them.

For blackberries and raspberries the easiest way to do it is wait until they're just poking up in the Spring, then look for shoots coming up at some distance from the old cane, these are root suckers and can be dug and moved carefully.

Getting a good reference is a good idea as plants have different needs, some cuttings need to be new growth, other plants you have to root from old growth, etc.

burtonridr · Intermediate Crude Joined: Aug 03, 2007 Posts: 763

Thanks for all the replies... I guess I will have to wait until spring after all Sad

I was excited to go out right now and do it Smile

_________________
Tired of high gas prices? BangHead

Then stop driving to work, duh..... Learn to Work from home

Peak Oil Blog = http://getroasted.wordpress.com

allenwrench · Intermediate Crude Joined: Apr 23, 2008 Posts: 893

I used cynthia's method about 6 -7 weeks ago and it made some plants.

I nicked a runner and buried it underground and used a garden staple to hold it down. Kept it wet and it rooted.

Plan on ripping out my strawberries and putting in all brambles. Nice having different varieties as something is usually producing.