Grafting Workshop

This workshop provides an amazing opportunity to learn from our local experts, Jonathan Banks, whose Pialligo Apples orchard has conserved a lot of the apple history of Canberra, and Mark O’Connor whose Feijoa conservatorship in Canberra is another one of our unknown National treasures. This workshop will now be held at Canberra City Farm, 2 Dairy Road, Fyshwick. Enter through the first gate on the left past the chicane in Dairy Road.  Please note: The Workshop will be held outside so wear your winter woollies.

Limit – 15 participants. If you want particular varieties of apples, plum, quince or feijoa, select from the list here and tell us at least a week before the Workshop.

Light lunch and refreshments provided (Soup, bread, fruit and biscuits, tea and coffee – please advise of any food intolerances/allergies/limitation)

$130 per person. = Basic workshop participation, materials and light lunch ($100), grafting knife (modified fruit knife) $10, apple tree (MM106 rootstocks provided, plus your choice of scion, $20). Total $130. Additional scion/rootstocks that you graft ($18, limit 10 or by arrangement). Additional rootstocks ($10). Additional scion wood, from variety list ($ 8 per set).

Presenters: Jonathan Banks and Mark O’Connor

Tickets are available HERE

Objectives

• Understand principles of grafting and why grafting is used.
• Assemble and demonstrate traditional tools for grafting, including showing how to make a grafting knife.
• Learn various grafting techniques and their suitability. In particular, techniques for pome fruit (apples, pears, quinces etc), stone fruit (plums) and feijoas. Young and old trees.
• Enable participants to graft their own trees.

Content

• Participants will view and discuss various results of grafting (apple, plum, elm) and Observe a variety of grafted trees in the orchard, showing results of different grafts.
• Participants to practice hand cutting of scions (using traditional willow)
• Participants to graft one or more young trees for their own use

Equipment

Grafting materials (tape, sealant, meths), grafting knife and potting mix supplied. Bring own secateurs and grafting knife, if you have them.

Plant options

Rootstocks – Apple rootstocks (MM106, bare rooted) will be available on the day (limit 10 per participant). Quince, pear, citrus and feijoa seedling rootstocks are available by pre-arrangement.
Scions – Apple, quince, pears, medlars and plum varieties from Pialligo Apples orchard are available. Feijoa scions are also available.

Information about rootstock and scion available will be distributed to participants and pre-orders will be organised prior to the workshop.