Haha! I have a couple of file folder sized drawers that I don’t use for anything (my job is all about replacing paper records and workflows with digital ones), and they should fit a bundle of 3 bench grafts no problem. Maybe even in mini treepots, but I’ll have to measure and test to be sure.
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Like @californicus suggested, I’d plant a Tomcot, train it to a three- or four-scaffold vase and then in spring 2021 graft Orangered and Zard on two of the scaffolds. This way, you at least guaranteed a Tomcot tree, while with bench grafting, there is a chance the whole seedling dies.
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In a perfect world where I’m more patient and haven’t jumped the gun on ordering stuff, that’s what I would do. I think what I’ll do is do the three single variety bench grafts, and hold the remaining scionwood in reserve in case something doesn’t take but the tree still survives. Hopefully, I should get at least one take, and chalk up the losses to experiential learning.
@jcguarneri,
Since you will do 3 bench grafts, why don’t you plant the 4th one in ground? You could have it both way.
I personally think bench grafting stone fruiit in our cold climate is not easy but I wish you success.
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I’m thinking about that. It’ll have to be in a pot, though. The other area where I’m getting ahead of myself is with regard to planting space. I have 4 large trees that need to come down this spring. My eventual prime planting spaces are all either under those trees or need to be driven over by heavy equipment to get the trees out. My style of impatience is weird. I’m patient enough to baby grafts in pots for a year or so, but not patient enough to just wait a year and get established trees.
In case you have not noticed, we not considered “normal”, by general population 
.
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Ok, so we’ve established that I’m not going to try to do a frankentree all at once. But, I have a new question. Just got my rootstocks in today, and one of them has three branches of suitable size for grafting. Would it be wise to graft each of those and keep whatever looks best? Or should I just pick one and remove the other two? Or graft lower down?
Also, since I’m currently working from home and don’t have access to a steady 72 degree office, I decided to pot them up instead of bench grafting. My understanding is that I should let them wake up a little bit and then graft. I’ll be keeping them in my sunny dining room, which gets up to the mid 70s on sunny days this time of year, and gets down to about 60 at night. Does that sound like a good plan?
You can actually plant them in ground now. I would do that if it were me. Plant them and mulch 2 ft deep to protect them will do.
Re. the two rootstock with three branches, the two on the left have some damage half way up the branches. Was that from cicada?
I would graft below those damage. I would graft all three and see how many will take.
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Thanks! I was planning on working below the damage. Regarding planting outside, I’m still waiting for the arborists to come back and finish taking my trees down before I have a space for them that won’t get run over!
I’m kind of tempted to make that one a frankentree anyway. I feel like it’s already on a good track for open center.
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Technically, even an open center style should have branches at different height 6-12 “ apart. Having all of them branch out at about the same points, you risk them splitting once they carry a full fruit load.
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That’s a very good point. I still have lots to learn, I guess!
Once COVID19 is over, feel free to come over. I have all examples of what not to do to show you.
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Yes! and don’t we all.
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I agree with @mamuang, this is not a good structure. I would actually graft below the point where branching starts. However, if you want to have a back-up, graft on all three branches and eventually keep one.
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Yeah, I think I realized that shortly after I posted. I think I was stretching it out to a full sized tree in my mind…
Would you recommend letting them wake up some, or grafting while still dormant?
@mamuang @marknmt, I look forward to contributing my own examples of what not to do!
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I would graft them right away, temperature in your room is high enough for callusing.
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My itchy trigger finger can work with that. I guess I know what I’m doing tomorrow afternoon.
I was hoping to ease my way into it with the apples and pears, but those rootstocks aren’t here yet… Fortunately I’ve been practicing all my grafting cuts.
Got them all grafted, and still have all my fingers! Mostly W&T, but I had to change one over to a cleft because I botched the tongue and that seemed to make more sense. Also threw on a couple of chip buds to save some buds at the bottom of the stick, so each variety has at least two graft chances. Definitely happier with some than others, but they all have at least some cambium contact and I cranked down as well as I could with the electrical tape. Fingers crossed!
Thanks for the advice, everyone!
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@jcguarneri I’m trying to do a similar project because i simply have too many apricots i want to grow an too little space to grow them so i hoped to be able to grow at least 4 varieties/tree to have a decent selection over 2-3 trees.
My approach for now has been trying to grow the rootstock and build the scaffolds on the rootstock. On every scaffold graft just a variety. So, no apricots growing on top of other apricots. I think that, by doing this way, i will have an easier time keeping them balanced. My idea is that for long term stability of multi grafted tree one should avoid the situation on the left (every color is a different clone) and strive for the situation on the right because when the grafted branches fight for sap with the branches coming from the original trunk they have a disadvantage, and over time the plant feet them less and they are less vigorous or might die.
Having the rootstock with scaffolds overall also helps (relatively) if you want to topwork the plant later because you can easily cut the growth and graft directly over the rootstock with predictable results. With appropriate spacing you can even give the most vigorous varieties north esposure, helping balancing the tree. I’m using for that a Torinel rootstock wich is good for my location, and i planted already 2 plants ('m assuming a third one gonna follow sooner or later). Just my 2 cents.
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