Collecting and storing Scion wood

by Nik Magnus | © 2017 Woodbridge Fruit Trees | www.woodbridgefruittrees.com.au

Scion wood is the branch from the parent tree that is used to graft with onto another tree in order to propagate that variety.

Identifying the Scion.

It's important that the material harvested be last seasons growth (one year old). You can easily tell this by looking at the tips of the growing shoots, either at the end of branches or those shooting from the middle of a tree (water shoots). Follow the stem back from the tip of the branch and identify the growth knobble where the growth has halted. Anything closer towards the main trunk than this is not usable. Generally, if the branh has side branches or spurs then its more than 1 year old. Often you get very little new growth on an old tree, so go hunting! Any shoots that are coming from low down on the trunk may well be the roostock, so avoid these.

Harvest and Storage.

Wait until the tree has become dormant in winter, when the sap flow has slowed right down. This could be as early as May, but simpler to wait until the leaves have fallen. Simpy cut the scion from the tree with secateurs. Choose pencil-thick wood if possible. Grafting material will be 3-4 buds worth of wood, but for storage and trasport, cut into 30-40cm pieces. Wrap in moist newspaper and then into a sealed ziplock bag or similar. Refrigirate. Check periodically for drying out, and 
Scion should not be harvested in spring-time, as the warmth starts bud-swell which is followed by sap flow. By refrigerating the grafting wood, one can prolong the grafting season well into springtime.

Transport.

Wrap up the scion wood in moist newspaper, seal inside a plastic bag, wrap in cardboard or bubblewrap and send express post. My postal address is PO Box 444, Cygnet 7112.