Above Presenter: Bill Brandt, California Rare Fruit Growers Association shows the class how to graft.mIn the front row (L-R) Marlen De Silva, Nathan Herrera, & Joseph Valenzuela Along the wall (L-R) Tyler Kurtz, Carlos Noe Cruz, Mariela Martinez, Rocio Zamora Middle: Angie Duran

Apple Grafting Workshop for students in the SPHSAgriculture Program

March 23, 2016
Santa Paula News

Agriculture students Santa Paula High School learn to graft apples with a “Learn by Doing” demonstration from the members of the California Rare Fruit Growers (CRFG) of the Ventura County Chapter. Agromin generously donated 60 bags of soil and Otto & Sons Nursery donated 125 one gallon pots to help conduct the workshop. The Santa Paula High School agriculture program recently purchased semi-dwarf apple rootstocks from the CRFG. These rootstocks are then grafted over the student’s favorite variety of apple. Grafting is common in the fruit orchard and the nursery to produce trees and fruit, which are true to form and taste.

The members of the CRFG assist with the grafting process and provide the semi-dwarf rootstock. Students learn about the various career and education opportunities. Students can attend Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, Fresno State or UC Davis and major in fruit and crop production, environmental horticulture, or agriculture education. High school instructor, Mr. Flores, said “It is a great way for our students to learn to graft and understand the process of propagation. In a way, they are cloning their favorite apple tree. In addition, the price is right!” The rootstock will produce a “semi-dwarf” apple tree, which will grow to be about 70% as tall as a full sized tree.

The grafting technique is not a difficult one. It involves the use of a very sharp knife to expose both the rootstock and the dormant top, called a scion. These two plants then heal together and grow into a single tree. Students will know if their graft is successful in just a few short weeks when the top begins to grow new leaves. In one year, the trees will grow to 3-5 feet tall. These will be planted or moved to a larger container. The tree will be allowed to set only one apple in their second year because the goal is to produce a big strong tree at an early age rather than produce 5 to 10 apples! Bill Brandt, member of the CRFG said, “We enjoy going to different schools to teach this vital skill. Many students don’t know how our food is grown and conducting this workshop allows them learn hands-on how to grow a fruit tree.” 

Apple trees produced by the Santa Paula High School students will be used to develop Supervised Agriculture Experience Projects as an orchard at the school farm. Some trees will be sold, used for award banquets, raffle and budded in the next year to add a second variety in September.     

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