EVERETT, Wash. — Adding multiple varieties of fruit trees to a home or commercial orchard can be an expensive proposition. But learning how to graft can expand the varieties in your orchard with less expense. Washington State University Snohomish County Extension is presenting a workshop on the art of fruit tree grafting.
The workshop will be held on Saturday, April 16, from 10 am to 3 pm at Ed’s Apples, 13420 339th S.E. in Sultan, just off State Route 2. The cost is $75 per person and includes a catered box lunch and two apple and two pear rootstocks to graft and take home for planting.
Gary Moulton, former director of the fruit horticulture program at the WSU Mount Vernon Northwestern Washington Research and Extension Center, will teach the workshop. Moulton is a popular workshop presenter and holds a master’s degree from WSU in fruit plant pathology and a bachelor’s in pomology/fruit science from Cal-Poly San Luis Obispo.
Perfected in Roman times, grafting involves taking a small shoot from a desired cultivar, cutting it to fit and binding it to an inexpensive rootstock. After healing and growing, the graft will produce fruit identical to its parent tree.
Participants will learn about different types of grafting, how to choose and take scion wood for the graft, choosing a receptor site on the rootstock, and how to make the graft and seal it properly. The workshop will involve practice indoors doing bench grafts and time in the orchard top working larger trees. Participants should dress appropriately and bring a grafting knife and gloves. Grafting knives will be available for purchase for $15, cash or check only.
Class size is limited and registration and prepayment is required. To register online go to www.brownpapertickets.com/event/136756, or download the form at www.snohomish.wsu.edu/ag/workshops/Pomology2011.pdf and mail with your check. Or contact Karie Christensen at 425-357-6039, or by e-mail at klchristen@cahnrs.wsu.edu.
For more information on the workshop, contact Andrew Corbin, corbina@wsu.edu or 425-357-6012.
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