Answer to Question 1Unlike leaf or vegetative buds, fruit buds will not grow into new plants. Therefore, it is
important to select the vegetative bud, rather than the fruit bud, when attempting
propagation. The vegetative or leaf bud is slimmer and more pointed than the fruit bud.
Fruit buds generally appear on the base or bottom end of the shoot.
Answer to Question 2Plants that are typically propagated commercially by budding are apples, pears, peaches,
plums, cherries, roses, and the citrus group.
Answer to Question 3The process of budding is actually a form of grafting; in fact, budding is sometimes called
bud grafting. Budding differs from grafting in several ways, however. In budding, a single
bud is used instead of a scion. Because of this, many more plants can be reproduced from
the same amount of parent wood. Budding is also accomplished more quickly and is
when the rootstock is in active growth rather than in the dormant (resting) stage, either
in spring (March or April), in June, or in late summer or fall (July through -September).
All of these differences may be considered advantages when compared to grafting.