Anyone know where I can get some budwood after November 7th?
http://www.mndaily.com/2008/10/22/honeycrisp-apple-patent-set-expire

Quote:

Honeycrisp apple patent set to expire BY Heather Sahr PUBLISHED: 10/23/2008 Although Nov. 7 marks the end of the University of Minnesota’s patent on the Honeycrisp apple, horticulture Professor Jim Luby said apple lovers should have no fear — the Honeycrisp will still be available for years to come, and possibly at a cheaper price. The fruit has brought in millions of dollars for the University, and its expiration could make way for a string of imitators. Dave Bedford, an apple breeder and research scientist at the University, said a patent extension isn’t an option for U.S. horticulture patents. Overseas, however, the Honeycrisp patent will continue to bring in money for the University; Luby, who helped Bedford develop the apple, estimated the international patent would remain for the next 15 years. Since the University has trees in other countries, like in a recent agreement with New Zealand, Luby said, Honeycrisp apples should be pouring into U.S. grocery stores well into the winter. The purchase of a Honeycrisp tree, approximately $23.95 at many nurseries, puts $1.35 each back into the University system. “In the horticulture department, it’s one of the most renowned varieties of plants that we’ve produced,” Luby said. Based on production rates, Luby said, the cost of Honeycrisps could possibly go down within the next several years. “Many millions of trees now have been planted over the last four or five years. As those trees get bigger, we’re going to start to see more and more fruit,” Luby said. Some of the things that make the Honeycrisp particularly special, Richard Mirabelli, University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum Applehouse manager, said, are its crunch and tart aftertaste. “It’s one of our most popular apples,” he said. When the Honeycrisp formula was set to be discarded in the 1960s, Luby and Bedford decided to re-examine the make-up of the apple. After years of testing, Honeycrisp reached the market in the early ’90s, Luby said. “It takes, I’d say, 25 years minimum from the time we do pollination ‘til when the public sees fruit of that particular variety,” Luby said. After a particular formula is developed, Luby said, a tree doesn’t actually bear fruit for several years, and around a decade of testing takes place after that. Luby said Zestar apples, the University’s latest hit, are doing very well. Sweet Tango varieties and Snow Sweet , other varieties developed by the University, should be showing up in grocery stores over the next several years.

Budwoods I have aplenty!

One thing nice about apples is that you can graft it practically all year round in California.

So what I do, I graft apples, pears, quinces in the dead of winter, not the coldest, but the time when I am least busy with the garden. It is not the best timing for grafting, but the success rate is still 99%+, and during budswell would be the best time to graft, with 100% success rate, which is practically (statistically) insignificantly better.

I usually graft the day after I get my budwoods from CRFG scionwood exchange. Check your local chapter, there is one in San Diego. Most scionwood exchange are done during the second saturday of January. They have plenty of other interesting apples aside from Honeycrisp.

If you have a slack time between Nov 7 and the scionwood exchange, just drop me an email, and I will cut some scionwood for you after thanksgiving. that way, it would be very cool time, and sending the budwoods via ordinary mail should have no effect on freshness or viability of the scionwood. No more priority or overnight mailing, and cheap ordinary mail would be very good way to mail scionwood.

It's time to surprise your friends with your apple tree next year. You can graft any pear that you like unto that Winter Banana Apple. Then you will have apples and pears together in one tree. Select the low chill types of pears in your area, such as Pineapple, Flordahome or Hood Pears.

OK you guys, you are waking up the grafting bug in me. Joe, could I get some Honeycrisp & Winter Banana budsticks from you next spring? Michael thinks it's so cool that his apple tree has 5 varieties (the one I bought for him last spring), so to add these 2 would be REALLY cool.
I don't know veneer grafting, so what kind of graft would you suggest? Tbud?
I was going to get some variegated budwood from Laaz, but my trifoliate seedlings are about dormant now. I'll have to wait for spring to do any grafting.

Phillip will have to ship to you Winter Banana budwoods while I ship honeycrisp to you. During winter when barks are not slipping, cleft grafting or whip and tongue are the best ones to use for pome fruits.

Thanks Joe. I still have to wait till spring..it will just be too cold for a graft to take. Mike's place (35 miles north) had frost a few times already with more frost this next week.
I made a note to remind me in spring. I can't wait.

I purchased two Honey Crisp apple trees earlier this spring. Planted one in the apple orchard, and put one in a 15 gallon Root Maker container. Colorado has a lot of late Spring freezes that frequently occur during bloom. With the container Honey Crisp I can temporarily move it into the greenhouse for protection. Our store had Ambrosia apples for the first time (I have never heard of Ambrosia before). I purchase a couple to sample. On a scale of 1 to 10, I rate Ambrosia at 6-1/2. Not as crisp as Honey Crisp, a little less crisp than Fuji, Ambrosia is semi-sweet. Probably would not buy it again. - Millet