Learn to grow a home orchard at grafting class

If the idea of a home orchard sounds like a high-maintenance nightmare, think again.

You can grow your own custom orchard in a small space and on a budget for a backyard bounty of edible, homegrown fruit.

How?

Grafting.

Grafting, which involves taking cuttings or scion wood from desirable varieties and attaching them to inexpensive rootstock, can help you increase the number of varieties you grow on a single plant.

Perfected in Roman times, the art of grafting is commonly used among fruit aficionados throughout the Northwest.

You can learn this horticultural trick at a Washington State University Snohomish County Extension course with local fruit expert Gary Moulton from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 16 at Ed’s Apples, 13420 339th Ave. SE, Sultan, just off U.S. 2.

Each participant in this hands-on class, which is part of a WSU pomology series, will receive two apple and two pear rootstocks to graft and take home for planting. The workshop fee of $75 per person includes a catered box lunch.

Participants will learn about different types of grafting, how to choose scion wood, how to select a good grafting site on the rootstock plant and how to make the graft and seal it properly so it can heal.

Participants will practice grafting indoors first. They’ll follow that with work on larger trees outdoors.

Grafting knives will be available for purchase for $15, cash or check only, or participants can bring their own.

Moulton started working in the fruit horticulture department at WSU’s research station at Mount Vernon in 1980. In 1991, he took over management of the program. Though the Western Washington tree fruit program was later eliminated because of budget cuts, Moulton has continued his work as a consultant and speaker.

Registration and payment are required to hold a space in this class. To register online, visit www.BrownPaperTickets.com/event/136756 or download a registration form at www.snohomish.wsu.edu/ag/workshops/Pomology2011.pdf.

Contact Karie Christensen at 425-357-6039 or write klchristen@cahnrs.wsu.edu with registration questions.

If you’d like to bring cuttings from fruit trees you have at home for grafting, see snohomish.wsu.edu/ag/workshops/collectingscionwood.pdf for instructions.