Long time lurker. I finally had time this year to explore the apples at my own farm and nearby roadsides. I found this apple at an old roadside pull out and it appears dwarfing, so it may be a cultivar. Tart, somewhat sweet, crisp, pink blushed flesh. The apples are super clean too for something that’s entirely unmaintained.
My question, is there any way to get scion wood from this yet this fall and store it until spring when I can graft it? There’s always a risk something could happen to the tree where it’s located. It’s already been below freezing here at night multiple times (but perhaps not where this apple is located along a river).
Alternatively, maybe it’s a known variety like Red Sauce that I can find somewhere next spring?
you should be able to gather scions, if thats what you mean, as far as i know at least. Thats usually when theyre gathered then theyre stored in a fridge and kept from drying out through a variety of methods
The wood should ideally be dormant when you collect it. Then you should keep it at a fairly consistent cold temperature away from food until it is time to graft. If it still has apples hanging, it is probably not yet dormant, although you’re in a colder zone than I so I don’t know how hang time looks for you. For me, I wouldn’t be harvesting until mid-late January through mid February. I doubt many places northern hemisphere would recommend anything pre-Christmas.
Many of us keep some form of setup for scion refrigeration. I use a small refrigerator that I only keep canned drinks in. You want it above freezing, but likely colder than you keep your regular fridge. Sealing the end of your scions can prolong storage, but mostly you will put them in a sealable plastic bag with just a touch of moisture and something that will “bank” it. (Wring out a bit of paper towel.) You don’t want the scion to mold or dry out. There will be thousands of instructions online, and apples are fairly forgiving graft partners.
I’ve only grafted apples once and that was over 20 years ago from scions I collected in the spring. I’ll keep an eye on the tree and get some wood in couple months. I was thinking I had to graft the scions right away, but storing them makes sense.
Apples are still hanging, and I may pick more tomorrow. I already have a bushel and made pink apple sauce this morning.
Ideally scions should be collected late in winter, but certainly before bud burst, but if you bag them with some damp peat and splash them with some water and iodine before storing, they’ll probably make it until spring, my scions make it until mid summer when I collect them I the winter,so o if you need to now, it’s probably okay, but they survive on the tree better than in the refrigerator.
And if something happens to the tree, you would probably know, right? And then you could go collect scions. It looks like an amazing apple! I’d actually like scions some day!
Once it’s had a good hard frost and dropped its leaves you’re fine to collect. I usually grab mine in late autumn and store them wrapped in damp paper in the fridge until grafting time in spring, and they keep well. That apple sounds worth preserving, clean untreated trees at old roadsides are often surprisingly good.
If your concerned that something might happen to the tree, take a few cuttings and prepare them for their winter sleep in your refrigerator.
Later in the winter or early spring when the time is ideal to take cutting in your area, if the tree is still around take a few more cuttings.
It doesn’t hurt to take some now just in case . . .
I had leftover dolgo rootstock this summer and found bag of scion I had used part of in spring of 2025 from 39th Parallel. It looked good so i grafted the rest of it roughly 20 grafts. All took except one.
Thank you for all of the input. I fear I never know what the highway department may do, so that’s my only concern. It would be my luck they’d put it in the chipper on a whim.
I think I’ll take a few cuttings this morning and then hope I can get more when the timing is ideal.
I would avoid ANY paper products in your storage container; they’re a source of mold. I just use ziplocks and will double them to retain moisture. Look for long, straight wood without branching (water sprouts are great) but with buds not too far apart. I’d check on the tree again once it has defoliated this fall and collect scion then. You’re looking for this year’s new growth… it will all depend on what the tree has to offer you. The best storage place is on the tree itself, but certainly understand why you want to store some away.
Like @AndySmith mentioned, water sprouts make good scions, the sprigs that are sticking out above the main crown of the tree (i can see several in your photo) make good scions also, if you can reach them
