Yikes! My scions are starting to get green already.

Just checked some of my scions that were in the refrigerator and they're  starting to get light green at the tips.  These were the same scions that I posted about my friend giving to me that were in the burn barrel less than two weeks ago.  Looks like I might be grafting early this year.  Seems way to early?  Last year it was bitterly cold and I had really good success, but it was much later I'm almost certain.  It's been unusually warm this winter.   I'm in Central Pennsylvania.  Anyone grafting any apple or pears yet?  Regards, Tim

Wow! Maybe turn the temp down or put them somewhere cooler? I always wait to graft till stock tree's leaves are "as big as squirrel's ears"

Also double zip lock bags if you are storing them in the same crisper as fruits and vegetables.  

Its a little bit warmer here, and I grafted pears today. I bet you would probably be fine there.

Almond Thompson wrote:Wow! Maybe turn the temp down or put them somewhere cooler? I always wait to graft till stock tree's leaves are "as big as squirrel's ears"

Thank you Almond.  I checked the temp and it was about 43 F.  turned it down to about 38.  Awesome advice.  I thought that it was much colder than that because we had some things freeze in the back not too long ago and I turned it up.  Obviously more than I thought.  Take care!  Tim

Our Refrigerator seems to have a pretty broad temp difference.... about 5 degrees depending on where you measure.  Colder on the sides and back.  I used an ir thermometer and measured jars that had a lot of thermal mass.  I don't think that the open door changed much.
 

Dennis Bangham wrote:Also double zip lock bags if you are storing them in the same crisper as fruits and vegetables.  

Thanks Dennis.  I have them in about 5 bags, I think.  I can get a little excessive. I also had them wrapped in a layer of tinfoil, but I'm not sure why.  It seemed more impermeable to me, but it still had the seams.  Last year I put them in canning jars which seemed to work out well.   Excellent advice and I appreciate it.

Steve Thorn wrote:Its a little bit warmer here, and I grafted pears today. I bet you would probably be fine there.

Thank you Steve.  I'm sort of stuck on cold weather grafting because I've had no success with grafting in the past.  That was until last year when it was freezing and I ended up with about a 95 percent success rate.  It may not have been related to the temperature, but it sure made an impression on me.

Maybe in the past I just waited too long and it was too late for my grafts to heal in time?