A Simple Graft

The first batch of chicks has hatched, 70 out of 98 in the incubator, and that was without candling the eggs. Not bad for a homemade incubator. (For more info on that refer to the previous blog).

     After they hatch we put the chicks in several homemade brooders. We use regular lightbulbs instead of heat lamps to keep electricity costs down and they do the job. An enclosed box type brooder catches and holds heat well. A brooder light for a larger brooder area uses light sockets attached to the bottom side of a board which is raised by end pieces about 8'' high.

     The younger chicks snuggle up to the lights and the older chicks perch on the board above the lights as the heat rises and warms the board.

 

 

     Our trees are dug and potted. We have a lot of Grand fir, Noble fir, Doug fir, and Western Red Cedar. We also have some Austrian Pine, Incense Cedar, Coast Redwood, Pinyon Pine, and others.

     Deciduous trees include Red Maple, White Ash, White Birch and Purple lilacs.

     A deciduous conifer we have a lot of is Japanese Larch. It has an excellent light green spring color as the needles emerge and vibrant fall orange and yellows.

     Our 4-6' potted trees are 5 for $40. the smaller trees 2-3' in gallon pots are 10 for $30.

 

 

     We again have our "Dahlia Surprise Mix" available this year. 40 tubers for $16 (shipping is available). You get at least 8 different varieties and some very nice flowers. We also have individual dahlias for sale. To receive our brochure call us at 503-668-4524.

 

 

A Simple Graft

 

     It is fun to graft fruit trees! And it is not that difficult. It's an inexpensive way to increase your number of fruit trees. Our Shiro plum tree kept sending up lots of suckers from the rootstock. We have dug these up and moved them and grafted the shiro onto these, so now we have about 20 Shiro plum trees.

     Plums, apples and pears seem to graft fairly easily, some of the others not so much.

     A simple graft to try is simply to make your scion (the part being grafted on) into a V shape on the bottom. the scion should be about6 to 8''. Make sure your scion is the same diameter as the stock you are grafting it on to. The green cambium layers of the scion and stock need to match up.

     On the stock carefully make a slit down the middle of it going about an inch to an 1 1/2" deep. Insert the bottom of the scion into the stock. It should be held in place by the spring tension of the two sides of the split stock. next wrap the graft thoroughly with electrical tape and you're done. the tape keeps the graft from drying out.

 

 

Multiplying Rootstock

 

   Some apple rootstocks can be started by cuttings (M111 apple rootstock for example). Make cuttings of around 10'' in length and stick in the ground in a place that gets morning sun. Do this in February and March. By next March they should be well rooted and ready to transplant. Also experiment when you prune your apple and pear trees. Sometimes cuttings of these will root in.