Grafting with Robert and Dave – 5 October 2019
A very enthusiastic bunch of grafters came to the Nursery on Saturday 5th October 2019. Robert Guyton gave a talk about apple grafting – the history, why we do it and not grow from seed, the Open Orchard project and much much more. Then it was hands-on with Robert and Dave Simpson demonstrating the grafting technique.
Each person then chose from a list http://www.sces.org.nz/store/doc/Scionwood-list-2015.pdf, the apple scions (the cutting from the tree they want to create (eg “Peasgood nonesuch”) – taken around July) and the rootstock (which has the growing characteristics required) and used sharp knives to cut and shape the two parts to join into one tree binding the scion to the rootstock with grafting tape. It didn’t take long for everyone to get into the swing of it and lots of new apple trees were made and taken away.
On the South Coast Environment Centre website there is good information about how to graft as well as pruning, caring for and choosing fruit trees. It was a great skill to learn http://www.sces.org.nz/education/fruit-tree-selection-and-care
Thanks Robert and Dave
Chris
Posted: 7 October 2019