Hello,

If you knew someone who had a nice black or red mulberry you could get a cutting and graft it on. If the rootstock and scion is still dormant where you are then go for it!! Otherwise maybe you could just pot up the White Mulberry plants in anticipation for next year.

Good luck!

Peace,
Little John

I know the scion has to be dormant for grafting on an outside tree but is it necessary for the rootstock to be dormant as well for proper callusing?

Ottawan,

Its my understanding that it does matter, both scion and stock need to be dormant. Unless you are bud grafting. That can be done when both are in full vegetation. I think budding needs to be done before flowering or fruit set. I'm no expert but I'm definately obsessed with grafting. If anyone else has more info here please share.

Thanks,
Little John

Actually, I do all my grafting onto rootstock that has already come out of dormancy. The scionwood should be dormant. If you do bark grafting, the rootstock MUST be starting to grow.

Same here, swdave - I do all my grafting with dormant-collected scionwood, held in the fridge until the rootstock is actively growing. A simple bark graft is my preferred method for almost everything from pears to persimmons to pecans - and mulberries.

Wow,
Thanks for the input. I usually just cleft or whip and tongue graft. I learned something new! It makes sense, for a bark graft the bark needs to be slipping. How would someone do a bark graft on a seedling mulberry?

Thanks,
Little John

you can easily graft scions using the bark graft method it worked great for me grafting dark mulberry on red mulberry rootstock. however i've been trying to graft on a white mulberry but had no success. I don't think they're compatible grafting dark mulberry on the white mulberry as a rootstock. not sure if anyone else had the same experience.

Bass

I tried 4 bark grafts of Illinois Everbearing onto two different White Mulberry volunteers last year. On one a neighbor cut my tree down before the grafts had a chance to take. The others did not take. I will try again this year using self-procured scions at a larger caliper site on the White Mulberry.