SCION PREPARATION
By Bernie Lincoln & Neil Barraclough.
Here is what you need to do to take wood cuttings for grafting, which are known as scion wood:
CUTTING THE WOOD
Scion should be collected off plants that are true-to-type and disease-free.
Cut from trees when they are dormant in winter.
Sterilize secateurs with methylated spirits mixed (75-80% Metho & 20-25% water) between cutting each tree. This is to sterilise the secateurs and so avoid transmitting infections from tree to tree.
Here is what you need to do to take wood cuttings for grafting, which are known as scion wood:
CUTTING THE WOOD
Scion should be collected off plants that are true-to-type and disease-free.
Cut from trees when they are dormant in winter.
Sterilize secateurs with methylated spirits mixed (75-80% Metho & 20-25% water) between cutting each tree. This is to sterilise the secateurs and so avoid transmitting infections from tree to tree.
Select last year's growth, which has more pronounced buds and younger looking bark. Your scion wood should be pencil thickness (preferably 3 – 6mm diameter, or up to 8mm maximum diameter), approx 15cm.
For apples, pears, plums, apricots peaches, nectarines and quince, select ideally from wood that is 3-7mm in diameter. Cherries can be a bit larger.
A range of widths (girths) is ideal. Keep each variety separate.
Then cut up your scion to the right length that will fit in the bag. Put in as many pieces of scion wood as you think can be used (we will be needing a lot of scion this year if you would like to share it around). Put a diagonal cut on the top and a flat cut on the bottom of scionwood/cuttings you take from grapes and kiwifruit. This helps you identify which way up to graft them. Lightly mist the scion with a trigger mister bottle before placing in the bag.
For apples, pears, plums, apricots peaches, nectarines and quince, select ideally from wood that is 3-7mm in diameter. Cherries can be a bit larger.
A range of widths (girths) is ideal. Keep each variety separate.
Then cut up your scion to the right length that will fit in the bag. Put in as many pieces of scion wood as you think can be used (we will be needing a lot of scion this year if you would like to share it around). Put a diagonal cut on the top and a flat cut on the bottom of scionwood/cuttings you take from grapes and kiwifruit. This helps you identify which way up to graft them. Lightly mist the scion with a trigger mister bottle before placing in the bag.
Optional
Dipping the ends of the scion in molten paraffin wax a bit above its melting point of around 60 degrees C. or beeswax will greatly add to the keeping quality of the scion but don’t dip terminal buds.
Dipping the ends of the scion in molten paraffin wax a bit above its melting point of around 60 degrees C. or beeswax will greatly add to the keeping quality of the scion but don’t dip terminal buds.
PUTTING THE SCION WOOD IN BAGS
Remove as much air as you can and roll up bundles of bags then put a rubber band around them.
If everybody can standardise scion collection to share at grafting events it will make a lot of things easier for everyone involved.
Use the press seal (ziploc) sandwich bags approx. 180mm x 170mm and cut the scion so it will fit in across the bottom of the sandwich bag. It would allow a number of bags to be placed one on top of the other with a small part of the seal
unsealed. They can be rolled up tightly and have a rubber band placed around the whole roll.
Note that it is best not to dip the scion in a bucket of water before storing it, due to the risk of cross-infection.
Remove as much air as you can and roll up bundles of bags then put a rubber band around them.
If everybody can standardise scion collection to share at grafting events it will make a lot of things easier for everyone involved.
Use the press seal (ziploc) sandwich bags approx. 180mm x 170mm and cut the scion so it will fit in across the bottom of the sandwich bag. It would allow a number of bags to be placed one on top of the other with a small part of the seal
unsealed. They can be rolled up tightly and have a rubber band placed around the whole roll.
Note that it is best not to dip the scion in a bucket of water before storing it, due to the risk of cross-infection.
LABELLING THE BAGS
Using a laundry marker felt-tip pen, write the name of the variety on the outside of the bag, the three initial letters of your name, and any comments. If it is a particularly good variety, rate it with 1 - 3 stars and any other useful information. Black Artline(TM) marking pens are the only ones we can recommend as other brands often don’t remain readable very long.
Using a laundry marker felt-tip pen, write the name of the variety on the outside of the bag, the three initial letters of your name, and any comments. If it is a particularly good variety, rate it with 1 - 3 stars and any other useful information. Black Artline(TM) marking pens are the only ones we can recommend as other brands often don’t remain readable very long.
Hoover *** Apple
LRB (Person's initials)
Best winter apple
June-‐August.
Plums are Japanese or European so label
Satsuma Plum (J) or (Jap)
or King Billy Plum (E) or (Euro) and initials etc
Peach & Nectarine
Variety name - white (W) or yellow (Y) freestone (F) and clingstone is (C) and initials etc
STORING THE SCION WOOD
Store horizontally in the fridge until needed but don't put it in the freezer. The wood will keep for several months like that. If fruit is stored in the same fridge, then keep the bags of scion in an additional air tight plastic bag such as a garbage bag to protect the scion from ethylene gas given off from the fruit.
STORING ROOTSTOCK
Regarding storage of rootstock for grafting, wet the roots as soon as possible and cover them with moist soil. The rootstock should then be planted in fertile soil in a spot where they will get very well cared for over the first year.
PLANTING GRAFTED TREES
A good idea is to plant the grafted trees in your vegie garden, and then after 12 months transfer them to their definitive place in your garden during the next winter.
LRB (Person's initials)
Best winter apple
June-‐August.
Plums are Japanese or European so label
Satsuma Plum (J) or (Jap)
or King Billy Plum (E) or (Euro) and initials etc
Peach & Nectarine
Variety name - white (W) or yellow (Y) freestone (F) and clingstone is (C) and initials etc
STORING THE SCION WOOD
Store horizontally in the fridge until needed but don't put it in the freezer. The wood will keep for several months like that. If fruit is stored in the same fridge, then keep the bags of scion in an additional air tight plastic bag such as a garbage bag to protect the scion from ethylene gas given off from the fruit.
STORING ROOTSTOCK
Regarding storage of rootstock for grafting, wet the roots as soon as possible and cover them with moist soil. The rootstock should then be planted in fertile soil in a spot where they will get very well cared for over the first year.
PLANTING GRAFTED TREES
A good idea is to plant the grafted trees in your vegie garden, and then after 12 months transfer them to their definitive place in your garden during the next winter.
