Joe, Neither Company's prices is not bad. I like the prices on Mid West's "Chip Budding Tape", which I take to be the vinyl, like I have ordered in the past from Frost Proof. Seems like Frost Proof was higher, but I don't remember for sure.

I have been using #64 rubber bands for rubber ties. I sometimes wish they were longer, but the price at Staples is right (and I assume at other office supply stores also).

Ned

Question:
I don't have grafting tape but Citrus Joe showed me some at expo when Ned was grafting. I remember how easy it stretched. I have 2,- 1 inch wide rolls of like a vinyl tape that construction workers use to tie on stakes to mark them. They are pink & yellow LOL.
It stretches about like grafting tape. Could I use this for grafting???
I don't see why not. What do you think? Thanks, Patty

Patty. You are better of to invest in a roll of grafting tape. Tape made for grafting makes the job easier and gives a higher success rate. A 90' roll of parafilm, or 800' roll of vinyl grafting tape, will last the hobbist a long time, and its a good investment. For general budding and grafting I like 1/2" tape. For large stuff, 1" is best. I have made the 1" tape into 1/2" by splitting it. That way one 1" roll can serve both purposes, if you don't do a lot of grafting.

Ned

I use about 12 rolls of 1/2" grafting tape and 1 roll of 1" grafting tape each year. Each roll is 90 ft long. I graft almost year round, not only in my yard but also in my friends backyard all throughout California when I come to visit them.

WOW Joe,

I tried this method with the scion wood .. was easier then i thoguht ..
some of the wood was Bogger then i had so i used it with a Grapefruit tree.
Wish me luck ..Tammy

PS you should write a book .. id definatly buy it ..

Joe, really an outstanding demonstration. Thank you so very much. I wish I had seen this before I received the budwood that you sent me. I would have liked to try the bark graft with some of the extra sticks. I'll give it a go next week end with some budwood that I can clip from some off my trees. Your tutorial was an outstanding contribution to this form. - Millet

Thanks for the compliments, Millet. As soon as I get better picture of my citrus bark grafts, I will post them here. It worked with the Kaffir lime that I got from EZ. The Kaffir lime was bark grafted unto Eureka Lemon and Grapefruit, both took nicely.

I have added about 18 new persimmon cultivars to one tree, all of them bark grafted using this method. I also added a combo T-bud below some of my bark grafts, for those cultivars that reliable friends have told me of their really low success rates with them. By using both methods, bark and T-bud combo, it increases my chances of successfully adding even the difficult cultivars.

And here's the latest update of Persimmon Bark Grafts. Added 18 kinds to this tree, 2006. 100% take and all growing strong.

Some have fruitlets already, will not remove the fruits, some of the new grafts are just too vigorous, must slow them down by letting them fruit.

WOW! Joe, that is unbelievable. 18 dif cultivarsin one persimmons. And your pictures are looking awesome.
Who can doubt if you have pictures to prove it!
Is there a chance you can give me some in the future?

Benny, you want fruits or scionwood? The secret to persimmon grafting is the timing and aftercare. Timing is that you start bark grafting when you see one small leaf open on the destination branch. Then you will have to aggressively remove without mercy any sprouts below the bark graft.

What I want is scionwood. I would like something that will sustain me for years and for show off(?)
How did you get yours?
As of now it is too late. My Fuyo has already started fruiting about marble size now. It should be done in the early spring. And fast because once the growth started they grow very rapidly.
When you order can you include me with your order and we can split the cost? WhatI would like to have is something like my Fuyo and not something that you use in making cookies.
Or if you want you can just give me the address and I can order them myself.
Regards,
benny

Here's one of my persimmons I'd be grafting the scionwood into.
I trimmed most of them last winter because they kept trying to visit my neighbor's yard

<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v488/bencelest/persimmons118Sept04025.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"></a>