I grafted about 50 rootstocks a little over a week ago and placed them in my cellar (around 55-60F) and noticed today that most of the grafted scions are breaking dormancy. From what I’ve read it takes more time for the union to heal, so am I in trouble?
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your fine
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Good job.
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Looks good. The grafts will continue to heal, and the scions will break dormancy. All good.
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Do you know when the best time would be to plant them outside? I’m in zone 5B in NH and still have the chance of frost here. I was hoping to get them out of our house as soon as possible (my wife isn’t too thrilled with them taking up space).
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I’d say you’re fine to plant, especially after tonight’s freeze. I’m in Nashua and my in-ground graft I did a few weeks ago (before the 20 degree night!) is starting to leaf out. I think tonight will be our last cold snap for at least a week, which should give them plenty of time to adjust if they need to. They’ll probably handle the freeze just fine, but waiting a day is cheap insurance since you haven’t already planted them. Just make sure to tie the grafts to some stakes for support and to make sure birds don’t land on them. Oh, and 1/2" or smaller hardware cloth cages are a must, or you’ll likely come home to find bunnies sampled your grafts. Usually below the union.
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Have 150 on a trailer in a dark barn but pulled them out today for some air and sunshine. I have some white Limbertwig that broke after 3 days, evidently both our grafts are successful.
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Last year I planted my bench grafts in ground on April 9th. This year I still have them in moist saw dust in a dark room in the house today, 4/20. Each year is different. I let the grafts tell me when they need to be planted out. I have some breaking dormancy, while others are still dormant. I will be planting them out this weekend though.
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