When To Collect Scion Wood

Scion wood can be collected immediately prior to being used for grafting or budding or it can be stored for a few days, weeks or months prior to being used for grafting or budding. For apple and pear trees, which are among the easiest to graft, the best time to collect scion wood is during the dormant seasonwinter. When trees enter dormancy, they slow down all active growth, making this the perfect time to harvest strong, healthy cuttings.

Cut scionwood when the tree is dormant. The best time in Maine is during February and March. December, January and April are also OK.

2. Locate last years growth. Start at any growing tip and work your way back towards the trunk.

Scionwood is collected during the dormant season before buds have begun to swell gen-erally between January and Early March. Wood collected after bud swell has reduced success rates and should be avoided. When collecting scionwood choose healthy current seasons growth.

Timing is everything in scion collection. The goal is to harvest during full dormancy when the tree has stopped active growth, buds are tight, and sap flow is minimal. Ideal window: Late winter to very early spring, typically January to early March in temperate zones.

Collect the proper scionwood cuttings in late January to mid February. The cuttings should ideally be eight to ten inches in length and approximately the diameter of a pencil, although pieces of a smaller length and diameter can be successfully grafted. The scion wood should be from terminal (one-year-old) dormant shoots with well-developed vegetative buds that are narrow and pointed.

In contrast, floral buds, which should be avoided, are round and plump. Cutting: The best time to collect scions is before the buds swell; stone Fruits (plum, apricot, cherry, peach) in January and apple, pear and quince in February. Use terminal shoots from last summers growth.

Cut wood with well-developed, narrow, pointed vegetative buds. NOT round, plump flower buds. Make sure to do collect scion wood from fully dormant trees in the wintertime (January through February is ideal).

This timing matches nicely with winter pruning season; youll be completing two tasks at once! Scionwood is best cut in late winter/early spring when it is warm enough that there is little risk of the cut suffering from freezing damage, but before the trees break dormancy. You want to harvest only one year growth, which is often smoother and shinier than the older growth.