Bench Grafting questions

[Jordan Selsor]

How long do you guys store your grafts. Cummins web site said 2-12 wks!?
Just grafted last night so April 1st puts me at 2 wks.
Also read on their grafting instructions not to store cuttings with fruit in same fridge!? I did not know this and stored them in zip lock with lots of fruit in my fridge! Am I screwed? Cuttings looked healthy

 

[yoderjac]

The reason they say not to use a fridge with fruit is that fruit gives off a gas that can tell the scions to break dormancy. As long as you scions have not broken dormancy you will be fine.

I put my bench grafts back in the cold room for about a week. I then brought them in and started them under lights. I'll move mine outside after the last threat of frost. Most of mine seem to be doing well so far: http://www.habitat-talk.com/index.php?threads/winter-rootstock-availability.10183/page-3#post-195701

How fast the callus depends on the temp. A week worked for me.

Thanks,

Jack

 

[sandbur]

I asked my buddy that same question. Store them until the danger of frost is past, then plant.

Two or three weeks.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Jordan Selsor]

The reason they say not to use a fridge with fruit is that fruit gives off a gas that can tell the scions to break dormancy. As long as you scions have not broken dormancy you will be fine.

I put my bench grafts back in the cold room for about a week. I then brought them in and started them under lights. I'll move mine outside after the last threat of frost. Most of mine seem to be doing well so far: http://www.habitat-talk.com/index.php?threads/winter-rootstock-availability.10183/page-3#post-195701

How fast the callus depends on the temp. A week worked for me.

Thanks,

Jack

Thanks for your first hand feedback Jack!

 

[chickenlittle]

If I can, I work my way backward from when I want to plant out after the last frost to decide when to graft. I'd like to have 2-3 weeks in my basement for the grafts to callous. My basement is pretty warm so I don't want to leave them much longer than that or the scions start pushing growth. I keep the rootstock refrigerated until I graft. If I had a cool spot, say in the 40F range where I could store the grafts after callousing, I would be comfortable with grafting early like Cummins does and keeping them dormant until planting out.