North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[Jwlehman@aol.com]

In a message dated 3/22/2014 7:33:18 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
list@ginda.us writes:

I had  another thought, as I shopped for rootstocks to have ready. What if 
I potted  up the root stocks temporarily in small, portable pots -- just 
enough to keep  them moist from when they arrive until when I can get there 
-- 
and bring them  with me when I go up to salvage wood. 

Would it work to do chip bud  grafting with dormant buds onto potted 
root-stock, and then plant to roots  into something roomier (the ground, or a 
large, non-portable container) the  next day? Or would I have better luck 
with 
grafting twigs that have some  unsprouted buds? If the latter, I assume I 
ought to cut off the fresh growing  end of the twig.

Or would it be less disruptive to the roots to plant  them someplace good 
for the season as soon as I get them, and just bring some  branches home to 
graft?

I have a sharp knife, parafilm, and some rubber  bands designed to hold 
graftlings together, so my grafting equipment is quite  portable.      
Hi Ginda,
 
I wouldn't brother taking every thing with you and graft there. I have  
taken actively growing apple, cut off the growing outer portion saving the  
dormant buds and place the dormant buds in a cooler to carry back home. I've  
kept those dormant buds that way for several days in a motel and drive back  
home.  
 
I have never grafted apple using commercial under stocks, but with  
persimmon and pawpaw, they don't like being grafted the same spring as  
planted. 
They prefer to be grafted the following year. What I would suggest is  
keeping 
the understock in the cooler until you have the scions then bench graft  
and then plant. That works with most everything.  
 
You can try budding, then watch and after it has calloused cut off the top  
forcing the bud. My preference would be whip& tongue or splice, dormant  
bench grafting.  
 
Jerry