All About Budwood

Mango scions, also called budwood, are relatively easy to acquire. If you already have a mango tree you can propagate it from the new growth in the months just after fruiting. Perhaps you have a neighbor, friend or family member with delicious mangoes who would be happy to share some cuttings? You could even choose buy an already grafted mango tree, plant it and then use it as the "mother" for future grafting. It is also possible to find commercial mango growers who sell budwood online. Ebay and Etsy are other great places to look, especially for unique varieties. 

 

If you are gathering your own cuttings the best time to gather budwood is after the fruiting season and before the next flush (just before the tree puts out new "reddish" leaves). 

 

A good quality budwood will be found on the tip of a branch and will exhibit a wide crown with many buds on it (see pictures below).

 

Before you cut your budwood from the tree make sure your garden clipper is sharp and sterilized (Lysol works great). When you cut the budwood from the tree it should be between 4 and 6 inches in length and placed into a plastic bag to keep it from drying out. 

 

Use your budwood quickly (preferably within a few hours). If you won't be able to graft for a few days, wrapping your budwood in Parafilm or grafting tape can help keep it fresh longer.

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Not all rootstocks are the same... Turpentine (Common Mango) seedlings are the most versatile because they have the unique ability to happily accept any variety of budwood.

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The images below will show you some examples of what to look out for...