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Reproduction of Japanese quince is not particularly difficult even for a novice gardener, if you know how and when to do it. Therefore, in order to avoid serious mistakes, you should study in advance all possible ways to obtain new shrub seedlings in order to choose the best option. You should also familiarize yourself with the features of each method and the conditions for its implementation.
Japanese quince reproduces well by vegetative methods.
Quince breeding methods
Chaenomeles, or Japanese quince, can be propagated by seeds, layering, root shoots and grafting. The first method makes it possible to obtain many new seedlings, but they do not retain the species qualities of the mother plant.
All other breeding methods are recommended when it is necessary to preserve the variety of Japanese quince that you like. In this case, the plants fully reproduce the characteristics of the mother bush. But the disadvantage of these propagation methods is that they allow you to get only a limited number of seedlings.
Is it possible to cut quince
Cuttings can also be used to obtain new planting material for Japanese quince. However, the survival rate of seedlings is 30-50%, which is the norm for this crop.
For some ornamental grafted varieties of Japanese quince, cuttings may be the only way to obtain seedlings that fully preserve the species properties.
Is it possible to divide the rhizome
The division of the bush, as a method of reproduction, is unacceptable for this culture, since the resulting parts do not take root after transplantation. As an alternative, it can be a method of planting the basal shoots that the plant forms annually at the base.
How to propagate Japanese quince cuttings
Reproduction by cuttings of Japanese quince is possible in the summer, namely, in early June. During this period, many new young shoots form on the shrub. Cutting cuttings should be carried out in dry, cool weather.
What tools and materials will be required
For cuttings of Japanese quince, you need to use a sharp knife, which will ensure even, not torn cuts. Before carrying out the procedure, the instrument should be disinfected with an alcohol-containing liquid or scalded with boiling water. This will eliminate the possibility of getting into open wounds of infection.
A substrate should also be prepared, consisting of peat and sand in a ratio of 1: 3. And for planting cuttings, use wide containers 15-20 cm high. In case of rooting them in water, you need to prepare tall transparent glasses.
Cutting Japanese quince is not recommended at temperatures above +20 degrees
How to cut Japanese quince
For reproduction, well-developed young shoots with a diameter of 0,5-0,7 cm should be used. They must be divided into parts, each of which should have two internodes. The lower cut should be made obliquely 1 cm below the first pair of leaves. And the upper, even one, is 1,5 cm higher than the internode.
How to root cuttings of Japanese quince
To increase the percentage of rooting of cuttings, they must be kept for at least 2 hours in the Heteroauxin solution before planting in the substrate.
For planting, prepared wide containers should be filled with a sandy-peat substrate. Then the soil must be well moistened and the surface leveled. After that, plant the cuttings at an angle and slightly compact the soil at their base.
Japanese quince cuttings take root in the ground in 30-40 days
At the end of the planting procedure, cover with a transparent film and place the container in a bright place with a temperature of +23 degrees. Further care: regular airing of the cuttings, watering as the top layer of soil in the container dries up. As soon as young leaves begin to grow, the shelter can be removed, as this sign indicates the appearance of roots. You can transplant seedlings to a permanent place in early autumn, when they are strong enough.
You can also root cuttings of Japanese quince in water. But in order for the procedure to be successful, it is necessary to exclude as much as possible the likelihood of decay of the shoots.
To do this:
- do not change, but only add water as it evaporates;
- put the cuttings in a spacious container so that they do not touch;
- provide diffused lighting, maintenance mode within + 23-25 degrees.
When the roots grow in water up to 5 cm long, the cuttings need to be transplanted into pots. And they can be moved to a permanent place only in autumn or spring.
The lower cut of the cutting is made oblique to increase the rooting area.
How to propagate Japanese quince from seeds
For planting, you need to use seeds collected from ripened fruits in the fall. Before the procedure, they should be separated from the pulp. Then it is necessary to rinse with water and dry slightly until the characteristic flowability appears. Successful germination of quince seeds requires stratification, which involves exposure to low temperatures.
Therefore, planting can be carried out in the fall directly in open ground. In this case, stratification will take place in winter. To do this, you need to dig the site. Level the surface and plant the seeds in moistened soil to a depth of 2 cm. With the arrival of spring heat, they will germinate.
It is possible to propagate quince seeds at home. In this case, landing is recommended in December. To do this, it is necessary to fill wide containers with a sand-peat substrate, not filling up to the edges of 1 cm. After that, spread the seeds at a distance of 2 cm. And then sprinkle them on top with a layer of substrate 0,5-1 cm thick. At the end, compact the soil surface and moisten it from a spray bottle.
For successful propagation of Japanese quince with seeds at home, after planting, cover the container with a transparent film and put it in the lower compartment of the refrigerator for two months for stratification. After the waiting period, the container must be transferred to a bright window sill and the temperature of the content should be maintained within +23 degrees. When the seeds germinate and the sprouts get stronger, the film can be removed. Further care: watering as needed, transplanting into separate pots when four true leaves appear.
Seedlings grown from seeds must be kept at home for a year so that they can fully grow stronger. You can plant them in a permanent place in open ground only at the beginning of next summer.
The germination rate of quince seeds is 85%
How to propagate quince by layering
Common quince can also be propagated by layering. This is considered the easiest way to get new plant seedlings. To do this, it is necessary in early spring to bend the young side shoots to the ground and deepen them into the soil by 8 cm, leaving only the top. And so that the branches do not unbend, they need to be fixed with staples.
Throughout the season it is necessary to control the soil moisture. Also, periodically layering should be fed with organic matter, which stimulates the growth of roots. It is recommended to separate the young seedling from the mother bush only next spring. Then he will be able to get stronger before winter.
Seedlings obtained from cuttings have a 100% survival rate
Reproduction by young root shoots
Reproduction of the Japanese quince shrub is also possible by basal shoots. To do this, it is necessary to select shoots of 10-15 cm and a diameter of at least 1 cm. They must be separated with a shovel along with the roots from the mother plant and immediately planted in a permanent place.
For successful survival, it is necessary to control the level of soil moisture, since even a slight drying of the roots during the adaptation period can lead to the death of seedlings. Throughout the season, the plant should be fully cared for. It involves loosening the soil after each wetting to keep the soil aerated. You should also remove weeds in a timely manner. And in hot periods, it is necessary to lay a 3 cm thick straw mulch at the base of a young shrub. This helps prevent excessive evaporation of moisture.
Reproduction by grafting
Many ornamental varieties of Japanese quince are propagated by grafting onto a wild seedling.
This breeding method should be used in the spring. Experienced gardeners recommend using budding, that is, grafting with an “eye”. It is necessary to harvest cuttings of varietal chaenomeles in July or August during the period of active sap flow. And then store in a damp cloth in the refrigerator.
For vaccination, it is necessary to cut off the kidney from the middle part of the varietal shoot with a sharp knife with a shield. Then, on the shoot of the stock, make a T-shaped incision and bend the edges of the bark. After that, drive a kidney shield under it. Return the bark to its place, cover the graft with garden pitch. If everything went well, the kidney will begin to develop in a month.
All incisions during inoculation must be made with a sterile instrument.
Conclusion
Reproduction of Japanese quince can be carried out in different ways, and each of them allows you to get young seedlings, if you strictly follow all the recommendations. Therefore, even a gardener who does not have many years of experience is able to cope with this task. Especially if you use layering and root shoots. But only a professional can handle the cuttings and grafting of this fruit-bearing shrub.
