Were your spring bench grafts this year not 100% successful? Scion wood grafted this past spring which have not yet leafed out as well as produced new vegetative growth probably aren’t viable. Instead of waiting until next spring for another bench graft, rootstock currently with a bad bench graft is ready now for bud grafting.
Or are you looking to graft fruit varieties not as amenable to dormant grafting as pomes? Even as daylight hours already begin to ebb, plenty of time remains for newly harvested buds grafted now to heal before fall then spring forth next year.
On Wed 22 July at Magnuson, some bud wood and rootstock will be brought to the workshop by the instructor for demonstration purposes and additional first-year wood is available for harvest from the adjacent orchard.
Attendees are encouraged to bring your own freshly harvested bud wood as well as rootstock for hands-on creation of your own fruit tree.
Good tips on harvesting first year bud wood is available online at several sites including at: The bud graft or chip budding – People’s Trust for Endangered Species
1. Cut 1st year bud wood close to the growth ring closest to the branch’s tip.
2. IMPORTANT: Unlike dormant scion wood harvesting, first year bud wood has leaves and the leaves need to be removed in order to prevent the bud wood from drying out. Deleaf the bud wood, BUT leave the leaf stalk attached to the branch ensuring no damage to the bud located at the base of the leaf stalk where the leaf stalk connects to the branch. Leaf stalk will also serve as a handle when grafting.
3. Label then loosely wrap deleafed bud wood together before placing cut ends into damp media like sawdust or shredded newsprint. Place everything in container or envelope to retain moisture before storing in cool space like residential refrigerator.
IMPORTANT: If you plan on attending Wed 22 July at Magnuson with the intent to complete specific bud grafts, please RSVP seattletreefruitsociety@gmail.com with what bud wood you plan to bring and what rootstock you may need from STFS. Doing so should help ensure compatible rootstocks are available.
Some of the limited rootstock that can be brought by another STFS member if any attendees RSVP and request:
* Lovell (peach, some nectarine cultivars, some almond cultivars, other stone varieties)
* Marianna 2624 (plum, related stone varieties)
* Bud 9, M111 for apples
* OHxF 087 for pears
* Krymsk 5 for sweet cherries
Even if you have no plans to create your own bud-grafted fruit tree Wed 22 July at Magnuson, still come and observe then start planning for next year when you bud graft your own very special fruit tree.
BRING:
* first year bud wood you harvest and rootstock in which you will be bud grafting. Limited bud wood and rootstock will also be available for demonstration purposes.
* your own rootstock or make arrangements with STFS for rootstock.
* your equipment and materials for grafting. Limited items may also be available from STFS.
* your favorite portable outdoor chair if you plan to sit during the workshop. Limited seating should also be available.
DRESS: For weather and sitting/standing outside for 2 hours. Canopy will be available for unlikely rainy weather. Camping headlamp may also be helpful while bud grafting.
MEET: At the Magnuson Park demo orchard sign installed by longtime STFS member and one of Magnuson Garden’s bests Jerry Packard (RIP). The workshop will be held outside on the concrete pad next to the adjacent The Brig building.
Google Maps for Magnuson Orchard by The Brig Bldg, 6344 NE 74th St, Sea, WA 98115 (47.682388, -122.259640)
Free Parking in front of The Brig Bldg and Magnuson Orchard, also behind The Brig next to P-Patch and big parking lot on south side of NE 74th St.
Facilities: Closest dependable toilets are port-a-potty to north by green P-Patch shed behind The Brig. (Got TP?) or port-a-potty to south across big parking lot by playground under construction or possibly plumbed porcelain inside The Brig through the Outdoors-for-All shop if personnel allows you…Indoor tennis center across intersection may also allow use of indoor plumbed toilets.
Questions?: Email seattletreefruitsociety@gmail.comNext event: Sat 15 August 10 AM to noon at NW Seattle’s Carkeek Park Piper’s Orchard – STFS in-person, hands-on summer pruning of very, very mature apple and pear trees. More event details will be posted shortly.