6
in other words
january22
2013
Diggin’ in the Dirt: Why Do We Graft Apples?
By Chip Bubl
You can’t make the cross repeatedly
Oregon State University
since each time you will get seeds and
Extension Service - Columbia County thus plants with mixed genetics and ap-
pearance. So you have to clone the new
Grafting workshop in February
plants, in other words, make an exact
The OSU Extension office in St. copy. Many woody trees and shrubs are
Helens will be hosting a grafting work- fairly easy to propagate by rooted cut-
shop on February 16th from 9 a.m.-12:00 tings. Each cutting is a clone from the
p.m. Participants will be taught how “mother” plant. This is the way most
to graft apple scions on to dwarf apple woody plants are propagated in the nurs-
rootstocks. Each participant will receive ery industry.
5 rootstocks to work with and supplies to
secure the graft. Scion varieties will be
available or participants can bring their
own varieties they wish to graft. Cost of
the workshop is $15. The class is limited
to 20 people so early registration will
assure a place. To register or for more
information, call the Extension office at
503 397-3462.
Why do we graft apples (and other
plants)?
New varieties of fruit trees or or-
namental woody plants come about from
several sources. A farmer or plant breed-
er might do a controlled cross, moving
pollen from the flower of one variety to
the female parts of the flower of another
variety. This work is done both commer-
cially and in universities to develop new
plant types. On the other hand, many va-
rieties arise from chance crossings that
get noticed once the seedling matures
and shows unique qualities. Sometimes,
trees produce spontaneous mutations
that might affect only one limb and have
desirable characteristics like nicer fruit
or disease resistance on that limb only.
But, then the question is, how
do you get more of these new plants?
But some woody plants root
poorly. But they can be grafted onto a
seedling (or other) rootstock. Almost
all fruit trees except figs (which root
from cuttings easily) are propagated in
this way. For years, apples were grafted
onto seedling rootstocks. In the fall, the
farmer would sow seeds and new plants
would emerge in the spring. After grow-
ing through the summer, the seedlings
would be suitable for grafting next win-
ter. Winter was traditionally used for
grafting because the success rate is was
BE PREPARED FOR WINTER
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higher when the scion and rootstock are
dormant when first grafted. The farmer
would take the rootstock and make a cut
into which he (or she) would stick a piece
of the variety (say, Gravenstein, North-
ern Spy, or King) they wanted a copy
of. The joint would then be wrapped
tightly and coated in beeswax or graft-
ing “goop.” If all went well, the root-
stock and scion (the piece of the variety)
would knit together over the winter and
next year could be planted out into an
orchard. Another technique involved
grafting a new variety onto limbs of an
existing fruit tree with the ultimate aim
of converting the entire tree to the new
variety. Today, commercial grafting is
more often done by “budding, in which
a dormant bud of the desirable tree and is
inserted into the rootstock in a small “T”
cut.
The other big change has come
in rootstocks. Some seedling rootstocks
are still used, especially for ornamen-
tals like Japanese maples. But for apples
and most fruit varieties, specialty root-
stocks are used. New rootstocks control
the ultimate size of the new tree (dwarf
or semi-dwarf), may provide some dis-
ease resistance, and will come into first
fruit much faster than a graft on a seed-
ling rootstock. For much more detailed
information, see this excellent public-
The Extension Service offers its pro-
grams and materials equally to all
people.
Free newsletter
The Oregon State University
Extension office in Columbia County
publishes a monthly newsletter on gar-
dening and farming topics (called Coun-
ty Living) written/edited by yours truly.
All you need to do is ask for it and it will
be mailed to you. Call 503 397-3462 to
be put on the list. Alternatively, you can
find it on the web at
http://extension.oregonstate.edu/colum-
bia/ and click on newsletters.
Contact information for the Extension
office
Oregon State University Extension Ser-
vice – Columbia County
505 N. Columbia River Highway (across
from the Legacy clinic)
St. Helens, OR 97051
503 397-3462
Email: chip.bubl@oregonstate.edu
Tree Planting Workshop to be held
February 8, 2013
OSU Extension Service is
conducting a “Plant Your Trees Right”
workshop on Friday, February 8 th , from
9:00 to 11:00 AM at the Scappoose
Bay Marina.
The class will cover bare-root
seedling handling and care, planting
technique and follow-up care. It
is recommended for small acreage
woodlot owners who would like to
learn and get hands-on practice in
advance of this winter’s planting
season.
The event is free, but
registration is required. Please call
the Extension office at 503-397-3462
to register. Participants should dress
warmly, as the class will be held
outdoors, and bring along their own
planting tools.
Oregon State University
Extension Service offers educational
programs, activities, and materials
without discrimination based on age,
color, disability, gender identity or
expression, marital status, national
origin, race, religion, sex, sexual
orientation, or veteran’s status.
Oregon State University
Extension Service is an Equal
Opportunity Employer.
Vernonia’s Voice
is changing publication dates!
Starting in February we will publish twice each month
on the 1st and 3rd Thursday.
Our next issues will be February 7 & 21.
IT’S TAX TIME
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VERNONIA AREA
Call your LOCAL tax preparer
Polife and County personnel are required
to use a rotation of available provfiders,
UNLESS YOU SPECIFICALLY ASK
for a servife by name.
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tion available free on line from Wash-
ington State University: http://cru.cahe.
wsu.edu/CEPublications/PNW496/
PNW496.pdf
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