What's happening today - 2018 edition

[Bradybb]

That looks like some kind of a Cricket. Brady

[ZombieFruit]

Yesterday I practiced W&T grafting on my apple and pear cuttings in preparation for the real thing in a few weeks (my first attempt bench grafting). After using a Stanley box cutter, I can see how one would choose a good grafting knife. I found that my cuts often were concave and sometimes slightly spiraled (although I do not know if I can pin the latter problem on the blade). If I were doing more grafts that I am, I would certainly purchase a grafting knife.

I was surprised how quickly a stick can go from high resistance to practically no resistance when cutting the tongue- even when I was gently “rocking” the blade. Fortunately I did not draw blood.

I also came to the realization that toilet ring wax does not easily melt. I thought I would be dipping my scions in wax, but it looks like I will be smearing them with wax.

It was a good experience and I’ll probably practice again next week. I think my woodworking is good enough for an apple graft, but I need more work before attempting grafting an apricot.

[BlueBerry]

idea I’ve had!

Well, the red fleshed apples I grafted over two weeks ago have swelling buds…so grafts must have taken.

The box cutter works great…unless grafting 50 or 100, I don’t see a need for a special tool.

[VSOP]

Me, grafting with a box cutter/utility knife:

https://media.giphy.com/media/dFEd78w0sJNwA/giphy.

[speedster1]

Well, the red fleshed apples I grafted over two weeks ago have swelling buds…so grafts must have taken.

You are probably right but don’t count yours chickens before they hatch. Swollen buds do not gaurentee a take. Scions typically have enough residual energy to imply growth when even without a good grafting union

[danzeb]

also came to the realization that toilet ring wax does not easily melt. I thought I would be dipping my scions in wax, but it looks like I will be smearing them with wax.

There’s discussion of melting in “tip of the day” topic.
[What is your Tip OF The Day?]

Also in warm weather I’ve found toilet bowl wax too soft so I add some candle wax to the mix when melting it.

[BlueBerry]

That’s so. But, I have 50 rootstocks I am still waiting on…so will be doing many more, including a second copy on a different rootstock of all the ones I did earlier. I have purchased a few scions, and have had
a few gifts that I appreciate.

[Drew51]

Scions typically have enough residual energy to imply growth when even without a good grafting union

Yes, they can grow leaves even and last weeks, then fail.
Yeah I don’t like razor blades, box cutters, whatever you want to call them. Once you try a grafting knife you’re hooked, they are as sharp and with the weight easier to cut with than any box cutter. I have used both and their is no comparison.If you can cut good with razors I can’t imagine how good a cut you would get with a one sided knife, probably 100% takes.

[ZombieFruit]

I placed the toilet bowl wax into a recycled salad dressing bottle (glass). I put it in in the microwave and heated it in 30 second intervals. After 2 minutes with absolutely no melting, I gave up. The wax was hot to the touch but it’s viscosity did not change. I can only assume that not all toilet bowl waxes are created equal. I cannot imagine my wax melting or weathering off a scion prematurely.

By the way, it was that “tip of the day” that inspired my approach to waxing the grafts. Thanks!

[Drew51]

I’m wary using wax worried it will get in the way of good contact by being where it is not supposed to be. Just being on your hands you can cause issues.

[ZombieFruit]

Good point, Drew. After first grafting repetition where I cut, taped, and waxed in sequence; I realized that the wax part was going to be problematic for me because it was all over my fingers and did not easily come off. With the current arrangement I will plan on cutting and taping in sequence followed by waxing the grafts en masse.

[Drew51]

I will plan on cutting and taping in sequence followed by waxing the grafts en masse.

Yes, I do have wax and when I’m all done grafting I might use it in some spots.This worked well for me. Often tips of scion even with parafilm can be a point of exposure so I like to dab them in wax.
I’m trying some different techniques this year like instead of wrapping graft in aluminum foil to keep it from getting too warm, I’m using glad press and seal. It’s white which reflect light, thus heat and it seals grafting area well and should keep it humid around the graft. I might have to watch for mold if it rains a lot.

[Victoria]

Living in Illinois the weather is just starting to reach into the 50s. It smelled like spring yesterday, and I see the beginnings of leaf buds on my Japanese Maple. I even sat out on my deck (without having to wear a coat or hat!) and started my 2018 garden goals/todo list. This list, so far includes:

Prune nectarine tree, grade flowerbeds on south side of house, check roots on failing yew shrubs, move rock board to more compliment fence installed around pool last fall, among other planting and maintaining tasks.

I also want to add more railing boxes to my deck and front porch, but our deck is starting to rot in places so the focus will probably be on repairing that and the boxes will have to wait til next year.

My in-laws want to have a garden this year, and I’m excited to help with that. I tried Cherokee purple tomatoes last year, and we just don’t get the sun here for many vegetables. Next month I’m going to start some heirloom tomato seeds, and maybe some pepper seeds, and pumpkins for my son so we can add them into the mix after the last frost. Can’t wait!

[danzeb]

I’m wary using wax worried it will get in the way of good contact by being where it is not supposed to be. Just being on your hands you can cause issues.

That’s a valid point, especially with straight toilet bowel wax. I add candle wax to the toilet bowel wax and the result is a harder wax with less chance of contamination. I only cover about 2/3 of the scion with wax but still must be cautious about contaminating the cut. It’s useful when storing scion for long periods of time. It’s probably too much trouble for anyone doing a large number of grafts. Waxing can also be used when trying to root cuttings.

[PomGranny]

What’s Happenin’ in Southeastern Virginia.
Well . . . pomegranates are showing up in the high end supermarkets. Poms from Chile. I bought one. ($2.99 a pop) And I’m curious to know if anyone knows what variety they are? I don’t think they are Wonderful. The rind is thick . . . and almost spongy. They don’t have as hard a seed. Same color aril. Not quite as tart. Skin is smooth and a bit lighter in color, although my photo doesn’t look it. (Skin is a bit more ‘pink’.) These were marked ‘LARGE’. But they are really only about 3.5" across.

[thecityman]

I am very excited and pleasantly surprised today. For a long time I’ve ordered my beloved Imidan 70 WP from the various on-line sellers listed in this sites reference pages. I’m a little embarrassed that I hadn’t tried this before, but today I stopped at the local co-op to see if they sell some of the sprays that I use and I wash shocked at the price of Imidan 70 WP (wetable powder). I’d been paying around $115-$130 per 5 pound bag PLUS SHIPPING. Turns out my local co-op has the exactly same thing- even divided into the 5, one-pound water soluble bags- for $59.99 and NO shipping. What’s more, I don’t have to pay sales tax there. So the final cost is well under 1/2 of the total price I was used to paying.

I tell you all this to encourage some of you to check your own co-ops if you haven’t already. Mine didn’t have it in stock but said it would be just a few days until they will receive it. I also ordered some Myclobutanil, but it wasn’t nearly as good a deal. It was $35 for a pint or $177 for a gallon. Obviously the gallon price is a big discount over the pint, but I don’t think the pint price is much cheaper than I’d paid online or even at Lowes.

Anyway, I was pleasantly surprised and thought some of you might be as well.

[Johnnysapples]

I add just enough paraffin wax so it’s not tacky nor to brittle. I also used it to root cuttings. Sometimes I just dip the cut tips. I didn’t like a full coat on my peach wood last year. I didn’t get any takes that way, but I did with wrapped peach wood.

[Outdoor334]

The cold winter we had really made my contender happy. It has not bloomed this big in 3 years. Brings back memories of previous years where I got big blooms and some fruit from this tree. Excited to see what fruit forms next month. Contender is probably the best tasting peach I grow - just have not gotten the chill it needs in most years.

[Susu]

Beautiful tree Outdoor! Can’t wait for mine to bloom.

[Levers101]

Oh cool! I didn’t know it had a showy bloom. I almost posted the question asking if any cold hardy peaches had a showy bloom like that. My Redhaven most certainly does not.