"Robyn and Robert Guyton have been scouring Southland's original, fast-disappearing orchards, taking cuttings and collecting stories. It's grafting time and a team of helpers cut, splice and bind scion wood from trees up to 150 years old onto new rootstock. They want to see the proven Southland survivors live on in parks, schools, backyards and roadsides.
Listen
6 comments:
Great listening! Though we didn't hear the origin of nonsuch? Got a productive apricot out the back - Jason R. has run out of plum rootstock, do you know where I may find some? Though he thinks apricots from seed might just grow true, so have a few on the raise also. Same 10-15yr til fruiting wait you think?
Nick - Allantons or Waimea for the plumstock I guess, but we're growing from cuttings so haven't ordered any. I like the idea of apricots, nectarines and peaches from the stone. Might not take so long for fruiting. I've seen some very successful, fruitful stone fruit trees laden with ...stone fruits, grown that way.
Mrs Peasegood in 1863 Lincolnshire planted a seed from a Catshead apple and up popped the Nonsuch (the 'BIG' family) Mrs Peasgood's Nonsuch was shown somewhere, became desirable then fashionable and hence into our gardens today. We had a woman come in today asking for one but we're all sold out! They are our most often requested apple.
Great story, thanks Robert! Reminds me.. on an adventure through Roxburgh early in the year I found a young lone crisp, sweet, light green apple on a river. Worth going back for. Do you guys grow your apple root stock or buy in? Apples are the most amazing fruit :)
We've grafted onto existing trees and seed grown saplings but our heritage scions are going on to 793 rootstock from Waimea nurseries.
I'm planning to establish a 'stool' system here to produce our own each year (from a copppiced 793) but because we are doing hundreds each year we need to buy in.
Have you heard of a Yellow Ingestra? That's a special apple! We've found just one tree and have grafted it. It's my favouriete, with Merton Russet coming a close second.
Favouriety, new word! Nope haven't heard of Yellow Ingestra, and it doesn't even show up on google, must be special! If your after volunteers to do the next lot, I'm keen :) Enjoy the day!
It's French but popular here in the South.
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