Does anyone else run into issues using sharpie on tags outdoors? I have about 65 across two beds and some more in pots for the first time this year. I’ve already had to rewrite the tags once this season and will have to do it again in a few days since it fades off so quickly. Just a bit worried that they will wash off again over winter with the intense low sun and heavy precipitation.
I also started working through whats left in my fridge scion-wise. Still some viable wood. Would it be a bad idea to topwork now in fall? I have an ornamental tree with a graft already on it. I might cut the top 10 ft or so branch and stick the pear scions I have left onto it, any thoughts?
Discussed at length in another thread. Search for “label writer”. I only regret I didn’t get a label writer earlier (before I couldn’t read the sharpies and the wooden tags fell apart on 50 trees)
@svr68
My favorite black marker for vinyl tags is
Artline garden marker.
For black pots I use Edding 750 white paint marker.
Both usually last 2+ years in the sun.
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The rootstock and the Scion tree were originally outdoors, but I grafted indoors and kept them in a south facing window. I’ve never grafted at this time of year and the night temps will start dropping soon, so I figured the stable temp inside would be better for healing.
I had tried grafting indoor last year and it failed but I think I will try again. I did quite a few winter grafts outside that did well but it did not get much colder than 38F. None died from the cold, though. Mostly from slugs lol. Thanks for the info!
I’m surprised they failed indoors, especially there won’t be any slugs inside lol I have been worried that either too close to summer would fry them, and too close to winter would freeze them, or go into dormancy before they heal. Also, I would highly recommend the tool I bought on Amazon. It’s a V-cut, large metal tool, not the plastic handled ones. I think the perfect cuts and how exact the rootstock and scion fit together, has really contributed to the graft successes.
It was literally like 2 grafts that failed lol. It was when I first started grafting so I was a little traumatized to try indoors again, but I think I will give it a shot this winter. I feel much more confident in my grafting skills after a year
I have moved small plum, nectarine, peach and apricot trees indoors after they’ve gone dormant. I put them in a south facing window with the ambient temp about 60 degrees in Jan. Once the trees showed signs of breaking dormancy (Feb/Mar) I cleft grafted onto them.
Almost every graft took, even on the nectarine, peach and apricot trees which you’d figure would be the most difficult to graft that early in the year.
As an update, I sold $500 worth of grafted trees and mesh bags. It was hard work getting setup, but the day was gorgeous, the food smelled amazingly good, bluegrass music in the background, and a constant flow of folks asking questions, telling stories, and signing up for spring grafting classes. If not for my family, I could not have done it physically and I am truly thankful.
I have the same problem. You can’t win - when battling sunlight. So, I do something similar to @northwoodswis4 - except I use those hanging metal tags that can be embossed with a ball-point pen. Then I go back over the embossed letters with a Sharpie - or a garden marker which is supposed to be more permanent than a Sharpie (but really isn’t). !
Every couple of years I find that I have to redo the tags - they always tend to get mangled. The marker has faded - but the letters can still be read.
Some updates on the nigra graft. The top 4 buds have leafed out with one growing a branch with surprisingly large leaves. Still in the south facing window, but can’t wait to plant in ground this spring!
Sadly, the Java plum didn’t take. I think I shouldn’t have used a branch that just finished fruiting already as it didn’t have any new buds coming through and it dried out at the cut…
(Sorry for the clutter in the photos, in the back left corner in front of the big albo monstera you can kind of see some of the seedling Aravaipa Avocados that just sprouted a couple weeks ago!)
I’ll crack the window every week or so for a few min. I also use that room for 3d printing so it gets warm in there and I’ll have the window venting depending on the material I’m printing with.
