Saturday March 25, 2023

1-3pm, $65 including one tree. Limit 20 participants. 

Leader - Stephen Kapusta

Catch the 12:30pm ferry from Millhaven (please arrive early, the boat can be busy). The cost is $10 round trip/car. There are washrooms on either dock and on the ferry. Meet at Topsy Farms, 14775 Front Rd.

Participants will learn how to make a whip and tongue graft of their chosen rootstock  and scion (the type of apple). Stephen will discuss and demonstrate techniques, distribute the root stock and scion you ordered, then provide step by step guidance and supervision. This technique can be applied to your own trees as well as this rootstock. If you wish to bring a scion from your own beloved tree, be sure to choose a side branchlet that has grown within the past few years.

Each participant must bring their own protective work gloves; a sharp utility knife; a bag to keep their tree roots moist or a 1 or 2 gallon pot and soil to plant their tree. The workshop will be in our unheated barn so dress appropriately. You're welcome to bring a lunch; there is no food available on the island at this time of year. 

Stephen spent years working in horticulture, amassing significant practical knowledge of growing fruit trees, and creating hummingbird gardens. In the hours outside of his work at the MTO, he can be found volunteering his time with Hummingbirds Canada as their plant expert, or spending time in the garden.

Rootstocks
The medium apple tree will grow to 16-20', and the short one to ~10'. Both are cold hardy, and neither requires staking. 

Apple scions available:
Northern Spy
Wealthy
Wolf River
Cortland Nova Red 
Gravenstein Green
Ambrosia
Royal Gala
Golden Russet

Information on each of the varieties can be found at www.orangepippin.com

If you'd like to purchase additional trees and scions, click here. Please note; there may only be enough time for one supervised graft during the workshop.