Here in Gillette, Wyoming I am heading up an Apple Tree Project in one of our parks. We have a park where we planted an orchard (24 trees last year and 4 more will be added this year). It was a effort between the Master Gardeners and the county. The park has a lot of space and at one time they planted apple trees that we are now going to graft onto. We are asking people around the county to allow us to come cut scion wood from trees on their property. We realize there maybe trees that the owner thinks is one variety but maybe another or it’s been there so long they don’t know the variety. That is not the point. We want to have apple trees with 30-50 varieties on one tree. All cold hardy and all that can grow in our cold weather. Plus the blooms will be fantastic.
All the scions will be labeled with the variety and the person’s name who donated it. We are asking for stories about the trees that we can share also. After the scions are thriving and producing we plan on grafting some onto root-stocks and growing them in other parks around town. All of which the people in the county can harvest.
Why I am posting this is I am wondering if anyone has done this in their community and are there tips you might have for us.
Sorry I did not include any exposition. The Project above while being stone fruit applies to apples as well. The take away is to product a tree with that many verities you should use chip budding not scion grafting. And be sure to use a full size rootstock like Bud118 or Antonovka
I have one tip regarding labeling. Use a decent gauge wire and put a dowel with a hole drilled in it in a drill and spin the wire. Attach a heavy duty tag. As the tree grows the wire expands and it will stay for decades. It will probably also help stop kids from removing a lesser non-heavy duty tag.
Here’s the finished product.
Dax
One more:
After successful grafts have healed and grown, you may consider painting only the union with white latex paint and return annually continuing the process. In the future I think you’ll be glad that you did.
Dax
What a good idea!
I’ll take partial credit, Mark.
Thanks,
Dax
Dax, here’s one of my favorite quotes:
“If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants.” (Also, "of those who came before me; of those who labored before me, etc.)
I like that a lot. That is a well-written & well-thought quote.
Dax