Grafting Series Lesson #2 Scions, Cutting, Storing, What Goes Wrong

[@KarlaRei]

These videos are 7 years old at the time I'm writing this but I'm so excited to find them. I could not ask for a better complete series on learning this skill. Thank you so much for making these videos!

[@radrickdavis]

Thanks for talking about grafting older fruiting wood. I was going to ask what happens if a person grafts on wood with fruit buds. Love how comprehensive your instructions are. Many people watch videos on KZbin with zero prior knowledge or experience, so you are a godsend.

[@SkillCult]

It's hard to remember to cover all the basics that I might tend to assume people would know. You can graft wood with flower buds on it. I've even let them flower and fruit the first year before, but they won't grow much usually. It's not ideal though.

[@Murdant]

I've been growing many types of fruiting plants for years, but I'm mailing out cuttings for this first time. This information was excellent. Thank you! Subscribed!

[@SkillCult]

Glad to help. Thanks.

[@deakemarschall2992]

Awesome series. Thanks to your tips in earlier vids I'm 6 for 6 on my first season of attempting to graft. Four on my apricot tree and 2 on my apple. I'll be stepping things up next years.

[@SkillCult]

Them's good numbers!

[@wendyburston3132]

Thank you for the very thorough info.

[@JesseLamarreVincent]

The best, thanks for all the details.

[@chrisvenables4584]

bro, you are an excellent teacher. thanks heaps!

[@SkillCult]

Thanks Chris.

[@3GNOME]

Holy hell, you make the best videos!!!!!

[@SkillCult]

I wish this series would get more traction. I'm learning a lot about marketing and doing youtube better, so I might give it a makeover or even redo it better. thanks :)

[@3GNOME]

SkillCult I would give it more time, maybes It’s by FAR the best on KZbin for grafting. Hands down, nothing else comes near that I’ve encountered. You have a very clear way of presenting the material and I very much appreciate the delivery and your personality. For me, it’s exactly what a KZbin video should be. No pretense and clearly presented accurate information. I watched all of the videos and am deeply grateful for all of the gaps you filled in for me. I could watch more for days. Hoping to join your patreon as I am able. Again, thanks so much for taking the time to share.

[@johnsfarm9366]

Thank you for this video series!

[@SkillCult]

You're welcome.

[@valley3621]

Great instruction, keep up the good work!

[@wherenot2236]

Thanks Steven. We just love your work. I have lots of hazel nut trees, can I graft walnut onto hazel nut?

[@SkillCult]

No, different family. Maybe you could graft on different filberts and hazels? Not sure.

[@wherenot2236]

@@SkillCult Thanks man, I appreciate it

[@redwolfwoodsman726]

Good stuff, keep 'em coming bro.

[@benacker1983]

Good educational video.

[@unpopuIaropinion]

What month is best to take dormant cuttings for Apple and Cherry ?

[@SkillCult]

January should be safe just about anywhere.

[@yakkerklrm3659]

Have you tried Cloning with long shoots? Most advice goes with 8" scion. However if you can get a 3-4 foot shoot wouldn't that speed things up ? Is the reason they don't clone with longer scions because they fail more, or because you get more scions when you cut to around 8 inches ?

[@SkillCult]

I have done anything from one bud to a couple feet long. weight can become an issue, but you can use splints and supports. It can speed things up if the extra buds develop into fruiting wood, which they sometimes do. I prefer 8 or more buds. It's really about buds not length.

[@winrockywin331]

I might be asking a question you answer in future videos (and I will be watching them all!). But do you have a recommended length for scion wood?

[@SkillCult]

Depends on the application. For new trees on new rootstocks, just two buds is plenty. even one, but two provides insurance. For frameworking onto established trees I like 8 or more buds but that just gets you where you want to go a little faster. it's fine to just use a couple of buds too. # of buds is more relevant than length.

[@winrockywin331]

@@SkillCultThanks! Yes I’m going to be frameworking so I’ll use a piece with 8 or more. Also would you recommend grafting onto 2-3 year old wood or first year wood on the tree itself.

[@SkillCult]

@@winrockywin331 It's more about replacing fruit wood and not the framework wood. Watch the video in this series on frameworking and there are others, the series on doing chuck's frankentree and another one where I graft 21 varieties onto a small established tree. That will give you an idea of what places I graft on.

[@papalilburn]

Is spaghnum moss an acceptable media to use in surrounding the scions to aid in moisture retention inside the plastic bad, in your opinion?

[@SkillCult]

should be fine. but damp, not sodden. If it's even close to being able to wring out water, it's too much water.

[@alfredopampanga9356]

Good video

[@MrWhiltetail]

When you rehydrate do you want to submerge the whole scion or just 1"-2"?

[@SkillCult]

just the freshly cut butt is fine

[@rosehavenfarm2969]

Wonderful information, thank you.

[@SkillCult]

You're welcome.

[@Tervnut]

Awesome learning vid. Thank you!!! So you have Spartan trees!??? I'm looking for scions and am not sure where the best source is for the same.

[@SkillCult]

No, I don't, but I don't think scions should be that hard to find. I have a vid on how to find scions. kzbin.info/www/bejne/e2HcnJeLp8hkm5Y

[@senorjp21]

Cool. I am going to try

[@LAWMAN662]

I'm not clear on rootstock. Can any kind of tree root system be used for any scions? I'd assume hardwood to hardwood, but beyond that? I have many small established Sawtooth oak trees. Will a pear scion graft to one?

[@SkillCult]

No, you have to use compatible stocks. Pear goes on pear and quince for instance. Apples and pears are sometimes compatible enough to grow, but I don't think it works well. Oaks are probably only on oaks and could even be only on the same species of oak. You have to look that information up.

[@nickross133]

Good videos. Do you still have the Suntan apple tree I could possibly get scion wood from next year? I meant to try and buy some this year and forgot.

[@SkillCult]

I have it still. I might move it next year, but I may have scions next year. I think I had a few this year.

[@erichaapapuro3389]

Have you had any experience with freezing scions? I kept my scions in the fridge at about 40 degrees when I last checked and I checked them today and my fridge dropped down to 20 degrees! I have about 200 scions (half apple half pear) I was going to graft onto rootstock and I'm not sure if these will still be good or if I should try to find other scions?

[@SkillCult]

If they did freeze and haven't thawed, try to thaw them slowly in the fridge. If they bark is translucent and watery looking, the cell structure is probably blown out. What a bummer to have your fridge go wonky randomly like that.

[@ericrosales9722]

1) Based on experience, if plum scions were stored in a ziploc bag in the fridge for 5 to 6 months, what percent of it would still be alive for grafting? 2) would wrapping the scion in parafilm tape help preserve it significantly?

[@SkillCult]

I would put them in damp sawdust, not wet at all, just damp. and put sealed in a ziplock in the bottom of the fridge. Might work. They like to try to start growing sometimes and age makes them weaker eventually. It helps to cut the end and put in water overnight. I think it might help to put them in sugar water or compost tea or both, but that's just a guess.

[@ericrosales9722]

@@SkillCult How many months old in the fridge was the longest-stored plum scion you've successfully grafted?

[@TheTelestone]

Is it necessary to store Scions before grafting or can one graft a freshly cut scions?

[@SkillCult]

No, it is not necessary. Better to use them sooner.

[@scottcomella2264]

Do you suppose a thin "painting" of honey would stop many of the mold/moisture problems ?

[@Theorimlig]

One thing it will do is attract ants. :P

[@scottcomella2264]

Perhaps. Although, if they are a problem, a little borax mixed in will easily solve that. I don't see ants as a problem mostly. Just a part of it all.

[@SkillCult]

I wouldn't be surprised if keeping them immersed in honey would work. I'm not sure though. It's amazing stuff. My favorite thing for healing wounds if you can get it to stay in place.I don't know of anything better. It shouldn't be necessary however and it would still have to stay cold. Maybe for special situations holding them over for a year or something. I wouldn't just coat them though, and you'd have to maintain the moisture content of the honey. It is hygroscopic, so it would tend to absorb moisture from the air. as soon as it got a little wetter, it would no doubt start growing mold.

[@scottcomella2264]

Yep, honey is way at the top of my list.

[@ts694]

Great stuff. Why not just freeze scions for long term storage? On the tree, they are frozen for months during winter, and they freeze and thaw dozens of times in the shoulder seasons. Maybe it would not be appropriate for non cold-hardy varieties. Also, burial is a good option for keeping things cold with no refrigeration. (Burial would keep them frozen here).

[@ts694]

Oops. Read other comments after posting this. I've got to try it now. I've seen lots of scionwood collected from limbs that broke off mid winter and sat there frozen for months, no longer on the tree, but still grew when grafted. Now I know my next experiment!

[@SkillCult]

I've had them freeze in the fridge and die, but that is disconnected from the parent plant. I know they'll survive some frost on the ground and stuff. I feel sure they wouldn't survive storage in a freezer though. Let me know how that works.

[@t.richocereus3577]

Could you freeze your scions? I was thinking since trees survive through freezing weather, maybe the scions could also be frozen?

[@SkillCult]

Nope, done that by accident before, they don't like that. I think it's just different to be frozen when you're still part of a tree.

[@t.richocereus3577]

Ok, thanks for the reply!

[@luchurujetakezevi4346]

Hello can u plz tell me the root stock of a persimon!!

[@SkillCult]

There is more than one, but I'm not that familiar with persimmon rootstocks. You can find information if you search for it though.

[@johnlord8337]

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