From: Clifford Cain - uk yahoo <cc_syorks@yahoo.co.uk>
To: nafex@lists.ibiblio.org
Subject: [NAFEX] Grafting & parafilm
Date: Thu, 08 Apr 2010 21:36:11 +0100
Sorry for mixing subjects but they are interlinked...
My experience of grafting apples has been that the sap does need to be
active in the rootstock and the scion must be dormant. If the scion
wood is active, its energy goes into making leaf rather than healing the
graft union.
When I graft I tape (either with grafting tape - polypropylene tape or
parafilm / buddy tape ) and cover the whole of the tape and scion
(typically 3 buds) with grafting wax. I do this on the basis that it
stops the scion from dehydrating whilst the graft union is healing.
The texts also say you should not graft in November, I did 50 MM106
rootstocks, still in the green, with Charles Ross. 42 took. A poorer
success rate than my usual 98% but it works.
My closing remark is one I seem to use a lot these days - the plants
have not read the books, they do things they are not supposed too and
mis-behave on timings terribly. I suspect that is our human trait
trying to run to a calender rather than being governed by the weather &
environment.
Regards
Clifford Cain
Doncaster, UK
www.fruitscape.co.uk
[NAFEX] Grafting & parafilm,
Clifford Cain - uk yahoo, 04/08/2010