Frequently asked questions about scions, scionwood, rootstock and grafting fruit trees.

What is a scion?

The scion is the unrooted portion of a tree, which can be a limb or twig used to propagate a plant. Usually, the 1 st year growth of a tree. It is also the varietal portion of a fruit tree (ie, Honeycrisp, Zestar, Cosmic Crisp, Red Delicious, Granny Smith, etc.).

What is rootstock?

Rootstock is the lower portion or root-containing portion of a fruit tree. Rootstock and scions or grafted or connected together to create a fruit bearing tree. Rootstock determines the size of the tree, along with disease resistance, drought tolerance, wind resistance, among other factors.

Can I graft an apple to a peach tree or rootstock?

No, apples, pears, peaches are genetically different and come from different plant types. They can only be grafted to like genetic trees or rootstocks.

How long can a scion be stored?

Scions are generally harvested in winter/early spring when the host tree is dormant. Since the scions are also dormant, they can be stored for months (in cold storage), assuming the right environmental conditions are met, such as humidity and temperature.

Is there more than one way to graft a scion?

Absolutely, there are many ways to graft a scion. Grafting is as much an art as it is a science, each method has its pros/cons and some folks are better at some methods than others. YouTube.com has hundreds of videos on grafting, ranging from 5 minutes to an hour, but all are basically the same, illustrating how to connect/graft the genetic material of the scion to the rootstock or to an existing tree.

Does the scion and the rootstock have to match size-wise?

Not really, each variety grows at different rates so its unlikely to perfectly match the scion and rootstock. One can adjust or make up for the differences by adjusting their grafting technique to accommodate size differences (ie side by side grafts, cleft grafts, tongue and groove types, etc).

What are the differences in the types of rootstocks?

There are 3 basic categories of rootstock, standard, semi-dwarf and dwarf and lots of individual rootstocks within those categories that go by names like B-118, antonovka, M-26, M-111, G-435 and so on. Each rootstock has characteristics that help define the tree size, disease resistance, ability to grow in certain soil conditions and environments.

Where can I learn to graft?

YouTube.com is a great place to start; there are hundreds of videos on grafting.

Is grafting difficult?

Grafting is not difficult, but does take some practice. Even experienced grafters don’t get 100% of their grafts to “take” or work. Some people are just better at it than others, pretty much like everything else in life.

Once grafted, how long does it take for the tree to bud out?

It varies with the rootstock, scion, weather conditions, graft, etc. In some cases, it may happen in a week or two, in other situations it may take a month or more… it is highly variable.

Can I plant an apple seed and get an apple tree?

Yes, but due to the mixed genetics in apples, the likelihood of a tree/fruit being the same variety that was planted from seed is 1 in a million. The only way to ensure a specific variety is via grafting.

What if I have questions that are not listed here? You can always call Masonville Orchards at 970-231-6399. We are always happy to assist you and answer your questions.