Matthew D. Kleinhenz, Ph.D.: What Sustainable-Organic Vegetable Growers Should Know About Grafting & Demo USB/CD

Grafted plants are “physical” hybrids combining the traits of at least two varieties, one selected for its root system (rootstock) and at least one selected for its shoot and fruit (scion). As such, grafted plants offer potentially significant opportunities and benefits. For example, grafted plants can be prepared on-farm by their user (i.e., the tomato, pepper, eggplant, watermelon, cantaloupe, cucumber grower) or by a propagator/transplant producer who masters the process, thereby creating opportunities for income. Grafted plants appeal to users because they can out-yield ungrafted plants (especially when conditions are sub-optimal) and they can be used effectively in any setting (field, high tunnel, greenhouse) and number (tens to thousands) by gardeners and commercial growers. Still, growers often find that there can be much to learn in order to capitalize on making and using grafted plants. Join us for A-to-Z summary of grafted plants as a tool and, possibly, a source of income.

The session will have two discs. In Disc 1, we will summarize the ins-and-outs of grafting as well as opportunities and challenges associated with making and using grafted plants.

Disc 2 will be even more interactive, with opportunities to listen to the showing of grafted plants being prepared, to try the process firsthand with guidance, and to discuss related topics.

Two discs: A) 1 hour, 1 minute (21.9 MB) & B) (Demo) 47 minutes, 20 seconds (45.4 MB). Delivered on custom USB, or on two CDs. 

Recorded at the 2018 Acres U.S.A. Conference, Louisville, Kentucky, Dec. 4-7, 2018.