Taking fall cuttings from fruit trees and shrubs can be an incredibly satisfying and very easy way to get more of a fruit you love growing at no extra cost. Fruit trees that grow from cuttings are clones of the parent plant. By contrast, propagating by seed leaves the final product up to the whims of genetic combination – and it also tends to take longer.
While you can take cuttings at other times of year, fruit propagation in fall ensures your new cutting will put energy into root growth, not just foliage. It will also stress the parent plant less at this time of year when temperatures are cooler. The best plants to propagate from cuttings include gooseberry, mulberry and fig. Here are some of the key fruits that work best grown from cuttings in fall.
Best Fall Cuttings from Fruit Trees and Shrubs
Some fruits will root and propagate more easily than others, but most will work. Fall is the ideal time to take hardwood cuttings. These are cuttings of mature, woody branches or vines. Softwood or greenwood cuttings are fresh, new growth taken during the growing season.
If you are looking to root plant cuttings successfully, hardwood cuttings can take longer to grow and develop, but success rates are typically higher than with softwood cuttings. If you have time and patience, it’s very rewarding to make some fall hardwood cuttings for your favorite fruits.
You may already have taken some evergreen cuttings in fall, and the principle for fruit cuttings in fall is similar. Hardwood cuttings are taken in fall during dormancy. Look for woody growth that was new in summer but which has hardened off. Take the cutting from part of the plant that was growing vigorously for the best rooting results.
Use clean, sharp shears to facilitate the process. Bypass shears like the Felco F2 Bypass Shears from Amazon are especially effective for making precise, clean cuts that can heal faster. To help you remember which end of the cutting is which, make the top flat and the bottom diagonal. Here are some of the best cuttings from fruit trees and shrubs in fall.
1. Fig
Figs are delicious and grow on large, attractive trees, but most types are suitable only in USDA zones 8 and warmer. If you’re able to grow fig trees where you live and garden, you’re in luck. You can take cuttings in summer as softwood cuttings, but in the fall you will find it very easy to take hardwood cuttings, while the plant is dormant. This is one of the easiest fruit trees to propagate by hardwood cuttings.
For fig fruit tree propagation in fall, take cuttings from plants that are a year old, and make sure cuttings are 8-12 inches (20-30cm) long. The cuttings should include a few nodes (the bumps from which you will get new growth). Dip the cut end in root hormone like Garden Safe TakeRoot from Amazon to assist in faster root growth. For the best results, make sure your fig cuttings are rooted in soil that is moist, but not too soggy and warm – at least 70°Fahrenheit (21°Celsius).
2. Gooseberry
The gooseberry is a small shade-loving fruit shrub with types that are native to Europe or North America. The fruits are tasty, but tart, and often used to make jams, jellies and pie fillings. Gooseberries grow well in USDA zones 4-6 and readily root from dormant hardwood cuttings. Conventionally, gooseberry cuttings are taken during the winter prune, but you can also take them in autumn with great success.
Take the cuttings just after the last leaves have dropped in fall, or any time during the dormant season. Make each cutting 8-12 inches (20-30cm) long and plant into moist, well drained soil. If worried about prickles, wear protective gloves like Trifabricy Breathable Leather Gloves from Amazon. If you are doing multiple cuttings, make sure they are 8 inches (20cm) apart in the pot. Insert each cutting halfway into the pot or soil. Once they have rooted, put these cuttings in a spot with a little shade.
3. Mulberry
A mulberry tree is a medium, deciduous tree that grows in USDA zones 4-8. Depending on the type, it is native to Asia or North America. White mulberries (from Asia) are the sweetest varieties, while the darker varieties like red mulberry (from North America) offer a sweet and tart flavor. Certain varieties of mulberry – like ‘World’s Best,’ ‘Valdosta,’ ‘Jan’s Best’ and ‘Maui’ – are very easy to root as cuttings.
For mulberry fruit tree propagation in fall, take several cuttings of around 10-12 inches (25-30cm) that are pencil thickness. Check your cuttings are the right length with a strong and sturdy tape measure like the Stanley FatMax 25ft from Amazon. To grow mulberries from cuttings, keep moist in a warm spot and transplant outside in spring.
4. Blueberry
The blueberry is the classic, native North American fruit that still grows wild in many areas. Hardy in USDA zones 3-9, blueberry bushes are easy to grow. Plenty of blueberry varieties can be propagated by softwood or fall hardwood cuttings. Using neat diagonal cuts, take cuttings that are 6-10 (15-25cm) inches long, which contain two or three nodes.
For the best results with your blueberry cuttings, use a moist soil or medium that is slightly acidic and apply a rooting hormone to the cut end. Fabric containers like Garden4Ever Fabric Pots from Amazon are great for blueberry cuttings as they boost air circulation and prevent rots. Plant your rooted cuttings next spring in a sunny spot with acidic, well-drained soil.
5. Currants
Currants are European and North American natives that produce summer berries which are ideal for making jams, jellies, and baked desserts. Red currants are tart, while black currants are rich and earthy. Currants for home growing are suitable for USDA zones 3-7 and thrive in loamy, well-drained soil in sun or partial shade.
These fruit canes are related to gooseberries and, like gooseberries, they root readily from dormant hardwood cuttings. Take long cuttings that are around 12 inches (30cm), and remove any soft tip growth. Bury the cuttings so that about two-thirds of each cutting is buried in the rooting mix or soil.
6. Raspberry and Blackberry
Raspberries and blackberries are known as brambles or brambleberries. They look like shrubs, but they grow on canes. Some types of raspberries and blackberries are native to Europe, while others are native to North America. All are easy to grow and suitable for USDA zones 5-9. Brambles are also very easy to propagate. You can take and immediately root a softwood cutting in spring, or take more mature cuttings in fall.
Take fall cuttings that are 6-8 inches (15-20cm) long and pencil thick, and plant in moist potting soil or direct in the ground. Bury so a couple of nodes are under the surface of the soil. You can also just remove a sucker from the ground around the parent plant, then replant it somewhere else.
7. Elderberry
If you’re intrigued by the idea of fruit trees that grow from cuttings in autumn, this is one of the most reliable. Elderberry is a small tree or large shrub with edible, nutrient-packed berries. Just be sure to cook them first, as raw elderberries can be toxic. Several elderberry varieties are used to make wine, and the flowers are edible too. Elderberry trees are easily propagated by hardwood cuttings.
Wait until the leaves have dropped and the tree is dormant to take a cutting. Make your cuttings 8-10 inches (20-25cm) long and include a few buds on each cutting. Use an organic potting mix for your cuttings, such as Back to the Roots Organic Potting Premium Mix from Amazon. Your cuttings should root very quickly and be ready to plant out in spring.
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