Grafting Now (in winter)

[Nora]

Any advice for grafting now (winter)?

I understand the best time to graft is in the spring, once the sap starts to flow. What considerations would you put in place if I wanted to try a few grafts, including bud grafts?

I have grafted once, in spring, fruit tree scions to the top of root stock.

 

[Trustyfarms]

Basically you’ll want to mimic spring temperatures that wake up your rootstock but indoors. Once your rootstock is actively growing new leaves it’s ready to graft.

 

[IAK]

Without sap flow, I don’t think they will take. The closest situation to winter grafting I have done is graft one variety to a non-rooted cutting. Once that it rooted, the graft took.

 

[PapaFig]

I wait until spring (Feb-April) in the greenhouse, a bit later (after last frost) if outside.

 

[grasshopper]

I have done winter grafting indoors with heater and light. You need the heat & light to keep the rootstock & scion going till Spring, not the easiest path unless you have the space and time.

Some of my early grafts were done on unrooted cuttings because I didn't have rootstocks. The odds are less favorable unless you have solid cuttings to begin with, and you are good at both grafting and rooting at the same time.

The upside of doing grafts in winter indoors is you are less busy in winter than in spring, and don't need to deal with the elements outside and give the scions headstart.