Hey folks -
I’ve been out of the picture for a while and I’m late to the scion party AGAIN!
I’m wondering if it’s too late to take scion cuttings in the Mid Atlantic? I don’t live at my orchard and it’s been a few weeks since I’ve been there so I don’t know what the condition of the buds are.
For the locals like Scott and Matt, what do you think? Have you done all your cuttings yet?
I’m considering making a quick trip up there tonight to try to get ahead of the rain, but I’m wondering if it will be worth it or a wasted effort.
I’m in Kentucky…but I’m guessing eastern Virginia… too late for stone fruits, but apples might still be OK if you hurry!
Procrastinate another week, and sap will be up and buds swelling for sure. Maybe someone closer will chime in for you.
Hi Bart, here in Arlington it is too late. Even my apple buds are swollen with even a few green tips showing. A few pears maybe, but mostly since they are so easy to graft that you can get away with it and they seem just a bit behind the apples. That would be for personal use not for shipping - I wouldn’t think they’d be any good after sitting in a USPS office, etc.
All the models on getchill.net are all basically 1000+ hours here, which seems like more than past years, so when the warm hit and the rain came things just started jumping quickly.
But I think your trees are in the mountains, so you might be okay if it was colder.
Mine were fine a few days ago but then we had a heat wave. I have been stuck inside with the flu since then so have not looked, but based on an out of the window look they are probably still OK here. I still need to grab a couple things so I hope I am correct!
Thanks folks!! Yes, Zendog I’m up in the mountains (only 1650 feet) but the weather up there is much cooler than down around DC. I think I’m going to go for it. I’ll report back either here or in the Scion forum.
Mine have really responded to those back to back days in the 70s. This is my methley. Flavor grenade and satsuma are at the same stage. Apples and pears seems okay for now.
The plums were too far along to cut, but I pulled samples from Apples and Peaches. I didn’t get a chance to the pears, kiwis, or grapes before I got rained out and it got too dark, but my list is in the scion forum if anyone wants to trade.
I pulled apples, Euro plums, and apricots yesterday and they were all still fully dormant on the buds. The J plum and cot buds are starting to swell here though… I sure hope March is mild as things will be opening up on the early side of March.
