SPiCE is supporting local gardener, Ellen Schindler, to bring a kaleidoscope of colour and deliciousness to Sandringham through our grafted fruit tree project. Ellen has planted a mix of apple and stone fruit trees around Sandringham. We were very pleased to have Edendale School, Balmoral School, Te Kura Kaupapa Māori O Ngā Maungarongo, Bharatiya Mandir Hindi Temple and Gribblehirst Community Hub joining us as partners in the first year of this project.
Read on for more information about how you can get involved in this fascinating project and about the varie-trees we have produced so far.
Read on for more information about how you can get involved in this fascinating project and about the varie-trees we have produced so far.
Grafting allows you to clone your favourite trees, by taking a piece of an existing tree and connecting it to another tree. If you have a special apple or stone fruit tree at your place, please consider harvesting some scion wood (new wood) for us so we can graft it onto these fruit trees. You can follow Ellen's simple DIY Scion Wood Harvesting Manual, or email us if you would like us to harvest it for you.
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Edendale School VarieTree
This tree was planted by Edendale Schools students in 2021 and grafted 2022 and now has several different varieties of apples to enjoy. Base tree: Braeburn on rootstock Grafts 2022: Granny Smith, 2x Ricky’s favourite, 2x Captain Kidd Many of the grafts are heritage apple varieties and can‘t be purchased. Heritage varieties are often healthier as they haven’t been bred for shelf life in a supermarket or long transport mileage. Edendale Reserve VarieTree This tree was planted by Edendale School students in 2021 and grafted shortly after. Base tree: Royal Gala on rootstock grafts 2021 from bottom up: Captain Kidd, Belle de Boscop, Golden Delicious, Royal Gala, Priscilla, Braeburn, Ballarat, Monty’s Surprise, Peasegood Nonsuch, Granny Smith, Adoro, Altlaender Phlankuchen, Jack Humme Crab Apple (for best pollination). Bharatiya Mandir Temple VarieTrees These two fruit trees were planted and grafted in 2021 during a visit of the Gardens4Health meeting at the temple for education purposes. There is a grafted espaliered apple tree at the entrance to the community garden and a grafted plum tree to the right of the Bodhi tree. Espalier is a technique to train a fruit tree along a wire in order to make use of small narrow spaces, thus very suitable for small urban gardens. Apple grafts on original Braeburn tree: Branches to the left of the main trunk from bottom to top - Vailles Early, Royal Gala, Ricky’s Favourite, Oratia red-green, Branches to the right from bottom to top - Glucina Red, Initial, Granny Smith Plum grafts on Peach rootstock: Luisa x2, Marabella, Pt Chev Bowling Club Nectarine Te Kura Kaupapa Maori O Nga Maungarongo This Royal Gala apple tree was planted with the help of year 11 Kura students in 2021. Apple varieties grafted onto it are: Blenheim Orange, Captain Kidd, Glucina Red, Initial, Oratia red-green, Peasegood Nonsuch, Belle de Boskop, Priscilla, Reinette du Canada, Monty’s Surprise. |
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WHAT IS GRAFTING?
Grafting or graftage is a technique whereby tissues of plants are joined so as to continue their growth together. The upper part of the combined plant is called the scion while the lower part is called the rootstock. The success of this joining means that the tissues of the plant grow together.
Grafting allows you to grow many different varieties of fruit trees from one single tree! You can grow different varieties of apples on a single apple tree, different varieties of plums on a plum tree, and so on.
Grafting or graftage is a technique whereby tissues of plants are joined so as to continue their growth together. The upper part of the combined plant is called the scion while the lower part is called the rootstock. The success of this joining means that the tissues of the plant grow together.
Grafting allows you to grow many different varieties of fruit trees from one single tree! You can grow different varieties of apples on a single apple tree, different varieties of plums on a plum tree, and so on.
FREE RESOURCES TO GRAFT YOUR OWN FRUIT TREE!
SPiCE has created a number of free resources, for the community to be able to graft their very own fruit trees.
1. WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW ON HOW TO GRAFT YOUR OWN FRUIT TREE!
SPiCE has created a number of free resources, for the community to be able to graft their very own fruit trees.
1. WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW ON HOW TO GRAFT YOUR OWN FRUIT TREE!
2. DOWNLOAD FREE INSTRUCTIONS
In collaboration with Ellen Schindler, SPiCE has created a set of instructions on how to grow your own varie-tree.
In collaboration with Ellen Schindler, SPiCE has created a set of instructions on how to grow your own varie-tree.
If you are interested in attending a grafting workshop please register your interest here, or follow our Facebook Page to keep up to date with these and other events.
Native Tree Planting Project
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One of the goals of community-led development is to support collaborative local leadership, so we were thrilled when Fleur Tuck, the Environmental Lead for Edendale School, approached us with an idea for a native tree planting project. Fleur reached out to other schools in the area, and through her leadership, planting took place at Edendale School, Kowhai Intermediate School and Mt Albert Grammar School. STEPs (St Lukes Environmental Protection Society) has shared their expertise with Fleur, supporting her with advice on what, when and where to plant and how to prepare the site. If you have a community project that you want to pursue please let us know.
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