North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

["ADAMSON, Karl" <Karl.Adamson@apvma.gov.au>]

I'm also pretty sure I read about freezing scion wood here a long time
ago.  At the time I thought it was an interesting technique as I always
have trouble with my peach scions drying to much.  Never yet tried it
though.

As I recall the main problem experienced is the freeze drying that
occurs and it was pointed out that this is compounded by the defrosting
cycle most modern freezer go through.  I used to freeze dry tissue
samples at -80oc and even at these temperatures water has the ability to
irreversibly leave cells and condense on colder surfaces.  So it would
be much worse at 'normal' freezer temperatures.

Someone also mentioned, as Steve has alluded to, that the best way to
avoid freeze drying was to freeze the scions into blocks of ice.

Alexander when you mention drupes are these what I would call a
stonefruit (plums, peaches, cherries etc)?

Alexander Dragotin wrote:
> I shouldn?t intervene in other?s talk, but I would tell my experience.
> 
> I am freesing my budwood since more than 15 years. I wrap the wood in 
> moist paper (usually newspaper), put it in a plastick bag and friese 
> it at ca. 25 Degree F/-4 Degree C.
> 
> Up to the late spring meintains the stored wood its excellent
condition. 
> I have made it with drupes, pipfruit, persimmon and every other kind 
> of scion wood.
> 
> Alex

Steve wrote

Here's another thought. When I was a kid, I had a great uncle who owned
a cabin on Drummond Island (Google it if you are curious). We would go
out fishing and catch dozens of perch. My uncle had a method of freezing
them so that they would last for months, even years, without freezer
burn. We would put a little water in a half gallon milk carton, place as
many perch fillets as it could hold. Top it off with more water and
freeze it into a solid block. So, when we say the scions dry out, that
is basically freezer burn, right? Maybe if there was a reason that
scions had to be collected at the beginning of the winter and held until
spring, they would stay completely dormant and completely hydrated if
frozen in a block of ice. I know it's not necessary for apples (I know
someone who grafted apples the following year and Lon just mentioned a
similar story) but I have had trouble with apricot scions popping buds
in the refrigerator and even pears have pushed out some green tips
before it was time to graft them. Just some thoughts that I'll probably
never test myself.

Steve in the Adirondacks


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