GRAFTING WORKSHOP
 
UT Extension Greene County will conduct a grafting workshop on Thursday, March 24, 2016.  The class will be held at 2:00 p.m. at the UT Extension Office located at 204 North Cutler Street, Suite 105, in the lower level of the County Courthouse Annex. Registration is limited to fifteen participants!
 
We will have rootstock available with descriptions on the rootstock below.
You must order a minimum of seven (7) rootstock. 
 
The fee for rootstock will be as follows:
·        7 rootstock will be $30.00.
·        There may be additional rootstock available after class for $1.00 each (you will need to bring additional money if you wish to purchase any excess that we might have).
·        Grafting tape (enough for approximately 10 trees will be provided).  Additional grafting tape will be available for purchase.
·        A variety of scion wood will be available at the grafting workshop.
·        There will be grafting knives available for you to use. 
 
Please note: If you have a specific tree you want to graft, please bring pre-cut scion wood (water-sprouts) from the tree you wish to graft. Water sprouts are the long straight whips that grow vertically in the tree, usually from the top sides of the branches. Refer below for additional information on collecting scion wood.  Store in the refrigerator (Do not store any fruit in refrigerator with scion wood).
 
To register and purchase your rootstock, please drop by our office or visit our website at http://www.bsmga.com/store/p30/2016_Grafting_Workshop.html.  Registration is limited to the first fifteen that purchase rootstock!
 
Programs in agriculture and natural resources, 4-H youth development, family and consumer sciences, and resource development. University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture and county governments cooperating. UT Extension provides equal opportunities in programs and employment.
 
 
Rootstock Info:
Malling VII (M7)
Descended from 'Doucin Reinette' in France, around 1688. Very popular in areas with cold winters, and deep well-drained soils. Suckers profusely, prone to crown gall, resistant to fire blight, tolerates wet soils but does best where it can root deeply. Trees are 50% of full size, or so-called "semi dwarfs." Hardens off early in season. Will bear fruit for 25-30 years. Not compatible with Winesap.

Malling XI (M11)
'Northern Spy' hybrid. Quite drought tolerant. Not very precocious, minimal suckering, fairly tolerant of wet sites, prone to burr knots. Good anchorage. Matures late. About 75% of full tree size.

 
Grafting is the process by which a fruit tree is asexually propagated resulting in a new young tree, which will be genetically identical to the parent tree. It is a common (but mistaken) belief that apple seeds collected from a particular variety can be planted to produce an exact genetic copy of that variety. To reproduce an exact copy of any selected apple variety, it must be spring grafted or summer budded.

A shoot or twig (known as a scion or scion wood) is collected in January or February and stored under refrigeration until grafting season (typically March). The process of grafting itself is quite simple. A selected piece of scion wood is inserted into the rootstock of a young apple tree where, over time, it will heal and fuse together to produce a new tree.
The most important point in collecting scion wood is to be sure to collect new growth (twigs or shoots that emerged the previous summer). New growth is identified by its smooth, reddish or greenish bark in contrast to older growth which will have rough, grayish-colored bark. New growth will have small, tight buds and rarely have side limbs, twigs or branches which are common on older growth. The two photographs below show examples of good and bad scion wood.
On older, unmanaged trees, new growth may be difficult to find. Normally, this new growth can be found out on the tips of twigs high up on the sunny side of the tree. You can also find new growth on “water sprouts” which are vigorous, whip-like shoots ranging in size from a couple of inches to several feet in length and typically found growing vertically upwards from the trunk or larger limbs. Not all water sprouts are new growth, however. Be sure that any water sprout selected for scion wood has no side branches or twigs.

Collect the proper scion wood cuttings in late January to mid-February. The cuttings should ideally be eight to ten inches in length and approximately the diameter of a pencil, although pieces of a smaller length and diameter can be successfully grafted. Bundle the scion wood together and label each variety separately. Wrap the bundles in a damp (not wet) paper towel and enclose tightly in Saran Wrap or a plastic bag.

Notice in the first photo the relatively smooth cuttings with small buds. This one-year-old wood is excellent grafting material. The second photo shows two and three-year-old fruiting wood which is unsuitable for grafting. However, the cutting in the middle of the second photo shows a short length of wood at the top which is good viable scion wood. Frequently on older trees this is the best material that can be collected.

Steven Huff, UT Extension Jefferson County will be conducting the workshop.

​Dr. David Lockwood, Professor, UT Extension Plant Sciences Department, will be conducting both a Small Fruits and Pruning Demonstration on Thursday, February 18, 2016 from 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM. 
 
The cost is $35.00 for BOTH the Small Fruits class and the Pruning Demonstration with lunch provided.  If you prefer to only participate in either the Small Fruits class or the Pruning Demo, that option is available as well when you register, but no lunch will be provided.  The Small Fruits class will be held from 9:00 am until noon at the UT Extension Office.  The Pruning Demo will be held at a local demonstration site. 
 
Advanced registration is required by February 11, 2016.  Call 798-1710 for more information.  Fee can be mailed to UT Extension – Greene County, 204 N. Cutler Street, Suite 105, Greeneville, TN  37745 or stop by the office located downstairs of the Greene County Courthouse Annex.  You may also register online at: www.bsmga.com/pre-register-here1.html.  Please note you only need to register for one option online!
 
The University of Tennessee Extension offers its programs to all eligible persons regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability and is an Equal Opportunity Employer.