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28 January 2011
Imagine Johnny Apple Seed. Now imagine taking a bite into one of his feral apples and what it might taste like. Think about the texture. Were you one of the lucky few? Was your apple sweet and crisp? or Astringent? Tart? Chances are your salivary glands would probably go wild. This has something to do with the man’s technique.
You mean if you throw your favorite apple seed into a pot or out in the yard the apple that grows may not be so delicious? Right. Luckily, the California Rare Fruit Growers CRFG and lots of locals know the secret to growing a diverse selection of pretty tasty fruit. Diversity is key to our landscape! And you get the good fruit by grafting.
I had the opportunity to go to the recent Scion Exchange in El Sobrante, hosted by the California Rare Fruit Growers. I didn’t really know what I was in for because I am pretty new to growing fruit. Years ago I helped a friend graft a bunch of apples trees that are now establishing themselves in the Blue Ridge Mountains. At the scion exchange a bunch of fruit growers and people interested in growing shuffled around a room full of tables with zip lock bags full of cuttings from their favorite trees. The idea is that people leave some and take some. I didn’t have any to give and that was ok. Maybe next year I can hunt down some great trees to clip. Along with filling baggies full scion wood we also watched experts graft the scion wood onto root stock for people to take home. My favorite part was the amazing citrus I left with! I tasted my first Cara Cara.
When I got home with all of my scion wood, I wondered now what?? I don’t have any fruit trees or root stock, and I have essentially a bunch twigs that want to become the strong branches that will hold seckel, warren, moon glow pears and Inca plums. We sorted through varieties of plums, pears, peaches, persimmons, citrus and currants all of which need be grafted. As well as, figs, grapes and pomegranates which actually just need to be rooted (these are a good bet if you don’t have trees).
I visited another city farm Monday where there was actually a grafting demo and they used my scion! So my twigs won’t be lonely in my fridge for too long.
I have a project ahead of me rooting a variety of figs. One of the expert growers there shared a secret. Kelp contains rooting hormone! I am a seaweed harvester and I am excited to dip my figs in kelp water and then into some potting soil and hopefully years down the road the figs will be enjoyed here in this fruitful city.
Photos by Booka Alon, January 22, 2011
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Over a thousand volunteers, neighbors, and community members have helped coordinate the farm efforts.