Search this forum using 'fruit tree grafting' and you will find lots of directions. In the meantime keep your scions in a ziplock bag with a damp paper towel in the refrigerator. You have plenty of time to graft if your scions are kept in condition. Al

There have been some great posts here, but the best, I think, was a link to Joe Real's post on a citrus blog. (BTW: Thank you Joe, I've spent a lot of time studying your info! I'll be grafting for the first time too.)

Here is a link that might be useful: Graft and Corruption

maryjane43, if you want to have experimental disease-resistant apple trees from USDA. Keep the scions in the refrigerator with some damp paper towel in a plastic bag. You will need a root stock to graft those scions. What diameter are they. The root stock you order should be the same diameter. You also want to pick the rootstock for the height tree you want. You want to order root stock soon before it sells out. You should study Whip and tongue grafting. It is basically to same diameter stock and scion cut on an angle to make one. A notch is placed in each cut to lock the two in place but don't bother unless you can do it. You whip tape around the graft to hold it together and seal it. Beginning of May, plant your bench grafted tree in a sunny location, water and watch it grow.

maryjane43-
Tell me you're making a 5-1 Disease Resistant Apple tree?!?! (If that's not basically what you're doing, then not much point in reading further!) About 2 years ago, I had my heart set on one of these, but never could find one. But, since then, I've decided to allocate a lot more of my yard to apple trees, and have vowed to learn everything I can about spraying, diseases, insects, etc. Now, with quite a few more varieties, (some of which are DR), the 5-1 isn't as necessary. Yes, I know, I can learn to graft... And I will. But, little steps for little feet.

I have a non-DR 5-1 now that I like, and I've had a few friends that I've set up with apple trees. I figured what would be better for them, than a DR 5-1. Pollination? All set. Diseases? You're in pretty good shape. Insects? Bag your apples. Harvest? You'd get a nice long spread out harvest.

Maybe someday I'll start making them and selling them online. Yeah right. :-)

Or, are you just going to graft these experimental varieties onto existing trees? What experimental DR scions did you obtain?

-Glenn

I'm not sure what a 5-1 tree is. The scions are cultivar # PRI-1569-1; somebody over on the Organic Gardening forum recommended it.

5-1 tree = 1 normal apple tree as you know one, with 4 other varieties grafted on. -Glenn