I have an old, granny smith I believe, that barely puts out but a few blooms each year now. Does anyone have any wonderful apple scions that will do okay in Ohio? I'm willing to pay for the scions and shipping of course. My tree is leafing out now. Will it still be okay to graft? Thanks, J

It is not too late to graft if you can get some dormant budwood. I recently added some budwood that Joe sent me to my Granny Smith which had already started growing. the new grafts are now growing!

It is probably actually better to put dormant wood onto flushing stock--that way the new wood is getting nutrients immediately, while the demand is low--as it warms up and starts growing on it's own. This is one of the tricks Joe has recommended for grafting persimmon and I have been using on pecans for years.

Joe had sent me apple scions 3(?) years ago. It was my very first attempt at grafting. I tried to use the different techniques he included in his grafting tutorial. Many grafts and only 3 took, one of which fruited for the first time last year and was a striated pink/white inside. Pretty cool. Not knowing any better and not wanting to sacrifice too much of a limb, I put them too far out and it is pretty much at the limit of where I prune!

This time, since the tree is not producing, I will cut back the limbs a lot further and allow the new variety room to grow out.

I have a Stanley plum as well. Any other varieties that would be worth trying to obtain scions for? Thanks, J

Both the whip/tongue graft and the bark graft techniques have worked well for me. I don't know much about plums, but Santa Rosa seems to be popular.

Japanese variety won't do well here in Ohio because it blooms too early. Sort of sad that all of the nurseries offer this plant!! Ohio State Extension told me it is a terrible choice for Ohio. Too bad because I've heard good things about it.