Her is the Shiro Branch on my 5:1 plum tree. She is seriously out vigoring everything else and needs a haircut. Since she is likely me best chance of tasting home grown fruit this year. I plan to begin after harvesting. Does anyone know when Shiro ripen in North NJ just south of NYC?
Glad to hear Shiro is quite vigorous. Of the plums I grafted the Shiro wood was the thinnest and I’m most worried about it as I already know that one of the two attempts I made has already failed…
I attempted to air layer off my Shiro a second time. I thought I removed an entire 1 around the bark but I must have left some in contact in the back Because this is what it looks like now. No roots but thats a hell of a callous. Given what I see I think I can cut it off and pot it in a protected area for a season
I posted about this in another thread by I came back here to leave a complete story. The tree took a hit by the second Nor’easter of 2018. Striped clean one side of the Shiro graft twisted and split the 2/3’s of the tree apart. I figure the best chance the tree has to heal is with out the Shiro Airlayer drawing energy so I removed it. and braced the tree back together.
That last picture was taken 4-22-2018. Poor guy looks the same as it did in the photo. All of the buds dried and never attempted to open. I have not yet lost hope. The bark scratch test is bright green and healthy looking. I have heard of scions taking a year to show life. How long has anyone seen an essentially 3ft tree stay dormant or survive. I wonder if the green parts of the bark photosynthesize
A few years ago I ordered a bare root Shiro tree late in the spring. I planted it in the middle of May with temps in the 80’s. The tree did nothing for a month and I was worried, but eventually put on some growth and this year is setting fruit. I know my situation is not the same as yours, but since it involved a Shiro not waking up right away I thought I’d mention it.
