In 2010 I had the privelege of taking an apple grafting workshop with heirloom apple fanatic John Bunker, founder of Fedco Trees. The workshop was held at the Polly Hill Arboretum and was crowded with enthusiastic students.
Apple grafting is a form of cloning, where you grow a little twig cutting onto a rootstock to form a tree like the parent of the twig.
Why graft? Every seed unique. Each apple tree grown from seed is unique, and may not be anything like the parents. So if you want one like the other one… you have to graft.
In olden days, most apples were grown from seed. People were less interested in sweetness and looks, since they used most of the fruit for animal feed and cider. They were more concerned than we are with keeping qualities, and had varieties that ripened sequentially throughout the winter in the cellar.
Every town had one or more grafting specialists. Some types were named and became items of trade, usually popular in a particular small area.
The old apple tree in your neighborhood may very well be one of these special regional heirlooms. These trees are often 80-100 years old, and yet a young version can be created using a twig cut out during midwinter, and a possibly unique variety preserved.
By the way, pears are the same.
When you plant an apple seedling, you are planting for the future. The wild and domestic apples we pick now were all planted by someone years ago. Do you know who? have you thanked them? Are you ready to pass it on?
Get involved in saving historic trees in your area – it is lots of fun! Talk to Rebecca about grafting YOUR old favorite.