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Minnesota

I ordered some rootstock and scions to be delivered this week. My plan is to mass plant the rootstock in a bucket in the garage for 7-10 days, to wake them up. Store the scions in the refrigerator for that time. After 7-10 days bench graft with a whip and tongue graft. I have no experience so would appreciate some feedback on this plan.

3/16/2021 11:48:00 AM

Bethlehem CT

I did the same thing several years back. It was fun. For some reason I had less success with the Whip and tongue and more success with a cleft graft. The cleft was also nice because you don't have to match scion size with the rootstock. My wife had bought me one of these saddle grafting tools that carves out a perfect tongue on the rootstock and groove on the scion. I don't know if I got even one to take with that fancy tool. (It was a nice thought anyhow.)
I knew I wasn't going to be that good at grafting so to be conservative I grafted them on the high side (so the rootstock would survive) If it failed I knew I would have another shot at grafting either with a t-bud in the late summer or next winter with a more traditional whip and tongue or cleft. I used the dwarf Geneva 11 rootstock If I do it again I would use a semi dwarfing rootstock like an m7. I would rather not have to stake them (as they have incredibly poor roots) and manage the size through pruning and heavy fruiting.

3/16/2021 1:43:18 PM

Bethlehem CT

I believe you have the right idea to give the rootstock a head start. You want the juices flowing up into the scion which will help give it a better chance of survival and not drying out.) I had mine in the greenhouse in two gallon pots, the rootstock was just starting to break buds when I did my grafting. If I remember right I may have let one bud beneath the union remain just in case I needed a do over. Have fun and watch those fingers LOL

3/16/2021 1:49:29 PM

Grittyville, WA

I've done bud grafting successfully. I am not sure if the rootstock should be started ahead of time. You might try a few just directly grafted together at the same time.

3/16/2021 6:30:11 PM

Minnesota

Thanks for the input big moon, glad to hear I am on the right track.

3/17/2021 8:43:40 AM

Central NY

I grew up on an apple orchard. This post gave me a flashback of my grandfather showing us as kids how to graft branches from one variety of tree, to the other. I was probably 12. I went ape poop that spring grafting all over the orchard. I think it was a few years later my father asked that I do do that anymore as there were so many yellow apples on the red trees and vice versa. my gramps taught me well. Also taught me how to find water w an apple switch. There’s no better way. Good luck chad..fun stuff.

3/17/2021 10:44:47 AM

NILES , CALIF

A 1/4 in 2ft rod with a bronze tip worx good to

3/17/2021 2:21:20 PM