Growing own-root fruit trees

A two-day course with Phil Corbett, including practical propagation

Saturday 13 – Sunday 14 March 2010, 10am-5pm both days

On this course you will learn how to propagate and grow fruit trees without grafting. Fruit trees grown on their own roots are healthier and produce fruit of better quality, flavour and storage life.

Venue

Stanmer Park (near University of Sussex), Brighton. Click here for directions to our meeting point at Stanmer Park

What are own-root fruit trees?

Most fruit trees are created by grafting a known variety of fruit onto a rootstock from a different tree. This practice has been carried out for thousands of years. Initially this was because this was the easiest way people knew to propagate trees from good varieties. In recent centuries rootstocks have also been used to control the size of trees.

Few people stopped to consider the merits of growing fruit on their own roots until the late Hugh Ermen, an acclaimed fruit expert at Brogdale Horticultural Experimental Station, carried our research on apples in the 1970s and 1980s. ‘Own-root trees’ are propagated from cuttings, so the entire resulting tree is of one variety. Despite having to work out new propagation procedures Hugh was convinced of the merits of growing apples on their own roots, and found own-root apples to have:

• Better tree health
• Better resistance to pests and diseases
• Better fruit set
• Better overall fruit quality
• Better flavour
• Better storage life
• Better ability to cope with poor soils and drought

As well as having the ability to regenerate from the base when damaged or coppiced

Unfortunately his work was largely ignored. Course tutor Phil Corbett of Cool Temperate Nursery now advocates the growing of own-root fruit and his nursery supplies apple trees on their own roots. This course is a rare opportunity to learn more about what is involved.

What will the course cover?

The course will look at various aspects of growing own-root fruit trees, and in particular apples. Half of the course will be devoted to developing the practical skills necessary to propagate own-root fruit trees.

Initially the course will look at the advantages and opportunities of growing fruit on their own-roots as well as the challenges.

When working with trees that are already growing on their own roots propagation by root cuttings is the most useful technique. We will demonstrate the technique and will look at root cuttings taken in previous years.

Getting a tree to grow on its own roots in the first place is more complex. The favoured methods for this is to nurse graft the desired variety onto a piece of root, which encourages the variety itself to develop its own root system. The course will encourage participants to develop the practical skills necessary to carry out this task through hands-on experience.

The course will also consider whole new ways of growing fruit that own-root cultivation might offer. The work of Hugh Ermen on restricting the vigour of varieties for commercial production will be discussed. Phil will also present his ideas for a coppice orchard; a low maintenance orchard giving many additional yields including vegetables. The suitability of different fruit varieties, old and new, will also be discussed.

Course tutors

Tuition will by provided by Phil Corbett, an experienced tutor/trainer who has been running Cool Temperate Nursery since he set it up in 1996. He is one of very few people with experience propagating and growing fruit trees on their own roots.

Bryn Thomas and Stephan Gehrels, of Brighton Permaculture Trust, will be assisting Phil. Bryn grows and prunes fruit trees with community groups amongst other things and Stephan grows fruit in schools and makes apple juice.

Who is the course for?

No prior knowledge of fruit growing or propagation is needed. However due to its specialist nature it will be of interest to experienced gardeners and professionals as well as the complete novice. The course is open to anyone over the age of 16.

The course is practically based. The techniques taught are not strenuous, however some of the work is done bending over or crouched down and some optional digging will be involved. You must be willing to spend much of the duration of the course out of doors. However if there is heavy rain we will be able to do some of the propagation under cover.

What you will need to bring

• A small, sharp grafting knife if you have one. A Stanley knife with a brand new blade is suitable, or very sharp grafting knife. There will be a limited number of knives available to borrow on the day.
• Plenty of warm weatherproof outdoor clothing
• Sturdy outdoor footwear
• Pens and a notebook
• A packed lunch
• Something to drink

Learning methods and outcomes

A discussion about what participants want from the course will be followed by theory sessions and practical demonstrations. A significant part of the course will be devoted to practical hands-on experience with guidance from the tutor. Phil will also present information and lead discussions. By the end of the course participants will have a grounding in the theory and benefits of growing fruit trees on their own roots, as well as the practical skills necessary to propagate and.

What does this course lead on to?

This short specialist course is not accredited and does not lead directly to any other qualification, but would be useful to people wishing to grow fruit as well as people working in horticulture or those who wish to widen their propagating skills.

Fees

Fees include tuition and refreshments.

£175 - Sponsored/organisation rate
£175 - Individual income more than 25k/yr
£140 - Individual income 18-25k/yr
£105 - Individual waged less than 18k/yr
£70 - Individual, concessionary rate

Concessionary rates are available to people in receipt of means tested benefits (including housing benefit and council tax benefit) and working tax credit, also fulltime students and OAPs.

We endeavour to make our courses/events affordable to all. Unfortunately we do not receive any external funding for most of our courses/events and rely on large amounts of voluntary input. If your circumstances are exceptional we may be able to negotiate fee reductions, but please contact us before reserving a place.

See the cancellations and refunds policy.

Booking

Advanced booking is essential. Most of our courses/events are fully booked weeks in advance, however if places are still available then reservations can be made until midday the day before the course/event.

You can pay now using a credit/debit card or paypal. This is our preferred option as it saves us administration time. It is usually also possible to pay by cheque/postal order, however this option will not be available on the form in the 2 weeks leading up to the course/event, or if it is nearly fully booked. A place is not secured until we have received the requested payment and reservations will only be valid for 3 working days.

Please read the information on this page then
register here for Growing own-root fruit trees, 13-14 March 2010
(if places are available).

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Contact us

For further information or if you have problems with your registration please contact us.