How to Store Fruit Tree Scions

Gardeners graft fruit trees to continue a particularly healthy tree well beyond its normal productive years. When you graft a tree, you are essentially cloning the mother -- this is a viable way to renew an aging orchard or to bring a new fruit tree into your garden. Scions are best taken when the donating tree is completely dormant. In most locations, they should be stored until spring for a higher chance of grafting success.

Sharp knife
Plastic bags
Masking tape
Ball-point pen
Paper towels
Refrigerator thermometer

Instructions

- 1
  Cut scion wood by selecting small branches that are approximately the diameter of a pencil -- about 1/4 inch. Choose healthy scions that are approximately 1 year old and less than 18 inches long. Use a sharp knife to cut a very shallow wedge out of the tree at the point where the scion attaches. Place the scion into a plastic bag immediately to keep it moist.
- 2
  Label and bundle scions using masking tape and a ball point pen. Orient the scions so the cut ends all face the same direction. Bundle just tight enough to keep the mass together. Wrap the bottom of the bundles with moist paper towels and place in a large plastic bag. Seal the bag and put it in a spot in a refrigerator that is approximately 34 degrees -- do not allow scion wood to freeze.
- 3
  Check the scions weekly to ensure that they do not dry out. Wet the paper towels as needed, but work quickly to keep the scions cold. Maintain the scions in cold storage until the buds high up on your other trees begin to swell, this is the ideal time to graft.

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