By Debbie Arrington
Learn how to make your own grafted fruit trees Sunday at the annual Scion Exchange, presented by the Sacramento Chapter of the California Rare Fruit Growers.
Select from more than 100 varieties of fruit trees -- including some unusual and heirloom varieties rarely seen elsewhere -- at this special event, set for 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday at the UC Cooperative Extension office, 4145 Branch Center Road, Sacramento.
Suggested admission is a $2 donation. Grafting branches -- scions -- as well as root stock will be available for an additional donation. Grafting demonstrations and advice also will be offered.
The number of backyard fruit tree "farmers" is growing every year, notes Drew Bohan, who is helping to organize the event. With grafting, growers can create their ideal tree including multiple varieties on the same trunk.
Scion grafting allows gardeners to expand the number of varieties of fruit on one tree, Bohan explained. It also works on existing trees. For example, a homeowner with a yellow Golden Delicious apple tree might wish to graft red Gravenstein and green Granny Smith varieties onto it to expand the colors of the tree, the flavors of the apples produced and the number of weeks that the tree will produce fresh apples.
For information, click on www.crfg.org.
Call The Bee's Debbie Arrington, (916) 321-1075.
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