Apple tree rootstock storage?

[finglas]

Hi everyone

Hope all is going well. I am looking to try grafting apple trees and i have just received the rootstocks. Although iv been reading some books and trying to learn about grafting, there is not much in any of the books (or online) about storing apple rootstocks.

I dont yet have their final positions sorted and some will likely remaim in pots until i decide wjere to put them. The rootstocks have been delivered in a cardboard box and with a wet bag around the roots.

What is the best way to "store" them until i can get grafting. I was thinking the best thing may be to trench or heel them in outside and let the cold keep them dormant ?

Any help would be great as always,

Jamie

[nickdub]

This time of year you'd be fine to leave them wrapped up in their plastic, as long as you can :-
1) keep them somewhere cool like an unheated shed.
2) make sure the roots stay damp
3) put them somewhere the mice can't get at them


At other times heeling them in temporarily to a bed outside would be OK

[Lardman]

It's easier to work with the rootstock in your hand if it's your first attempt at grafting, trying to do it on a small stock in the open ground isn't easy, you'll also have a couple of failures.

I have lots of rose/hellebore pots, they're thin but deep. I put the rootstocks in these fill with 50/50 garden soil/compost keeping them in the greenhouse to bring them on a bit and then graft in the spring.

They'll last 2-3 seasons like that and I can move them around until I have space to plant properly.

[finglas]

Hi nickdub and lardman, thanks for giving me that advice.

Looks like i have two options then, keep them in the dark cold shed and make sure they are damp, or place them in small deep pots and leave them outside?

Decisions decisions.

Thanks for you help again

Jamie

[nickdub]

Hi nickdub and lardman, thanks for giving me that advice.

Looks like i have two options then, keep them in the dark cold shed and make sure they are damp, or place them in small deep pots and leave them outside?

Decisions decisions.

Thanks for you help again

Jamie

That's about right - and one factor which might help you in your decision is how long it will before you do the grafting. If I was in your shoes and intended to graft in the next 6 weeks I'd go for the shed option, longer than 6 weeks then you're better off putting them in pots for now.

[finglas]

Thanks nick, that us great advice. I appreciate the help. I will need to have a think about when i intend on doing the grafting. Its my first time trying it so plenty of studying still to do but i think , as was recommended, i would be better bench grafting.

Thanks again i appreciate your help. There doesnt seem to be too much information online about grafting.

Jamie

[nickdub]

You're very welcome - bench grafting is the way to go.

I'd advise having a look on You Tube for relevant videos, as its your first time.

A few points which may help - 1) make sure you have a suitable small knife and a way of keep it sharp like a whetstone 2) tape doesn't have to be expensive as long as it has a bit of stretch in it, electrical tape will do in a pinch 3) cut some bits of small growth from a hedge (doesn't matter what it is hazel, rose or whatever) and do a learning run making angled cuts on the ends of these off-cuts so that they fit tightly together, then use tape to bind them up - if you have an assistant that's good, as 3 hands make some operations easier.

Good luck, Nick

[It never rains..it pours]

Apologies for interrupting the thread but if the rootstock is outside in the form of an existing tree when would be the best time to graft scions on ? , mine are in the fridge at present

[finglas]

Thanks again nick. Sounds great. I have bought an opinel number 6 i think. Blade is just under 3 inches and ive taken the locking mechanism off so it's legal to carry in the UK. Not that im carrying it but im moving between my parents gardens etc.

I have also dug some beech saplings up and was going to try grafting on them too, just for angling the cuts as you suggest.

It never rai s it pours, im a total novice as you can see haha, but my understanding is that you want to graft when the sap is rising in the trees. So id imagine its early spring. I would imagine where i am its maybe going to be later in march?

Thanks again all

Jamie

[Lardman]

Apologies for interrupting the thread but if the rootstock is outside in the form of an existing tree when would be the best time to graft scions on ? , mine are in the fridge at present

As finglas says when the sap starts rising You'll notice the buds in the existing trees start to swell.

Ideally you want to put a dormant scion on a just woken up branch so it quickly flows from old to new. Graft too early and you'll have 2 dormant items sitting doing nothing which could dry either or both out.

I have bought an opinel number 6 i think. Blade is just under 3 inches and ive taken the locking mechanism off so it's legal to carry in the UK

It really is getting silly now. I have a No. 6 but couldn't keep it sharp enough and use a 1/2 inch snap off utility knife those cheap plastic things, but a 'Stanley' knife would also do.

[It never rains..it pours]

Thank you for the replies, will wait as you say till buds swell, suits me as more light in evenings and less disease risk when cutting

[finglas]

Sounds like great advice again. Can't wait to givr it a go. Im hoping to eventually espalier some of the trees and make a fence (for lack of a better word) of apples along the driveway. It gets sun most of the day so fingers crossed

[Lardman]

Im hoping to eventually espalier some of the trees and make a fence (for lack of a better word) of apples along the driveway.

Sounds like a plan. I divide my veggie section of the garden up with espaliers in a U shape, the 2 side in apples and the bottom in pears. I tend to fill the U up with cordons every other year too but you never know when a better apple might appear.

Tell us some more (about 15 posts more) about the varieties you have chosen and the space you have.

[It never rains..it pours]

Grafted half of each yesterday as unfortunatly (say that as no doubt hard frost will arrive next month) buds are waking up now, then do the other half in 2 weeks time

[nickdub]

Sounds about right - good luck.

I reckon grafting is like a lot of practical jobs - its only tricky because you mostly don't do very much of it, where as the professionals are doing hundreds and hundreds, so they just become good at it with practice.