Fruit Tree Propagation Workshop
đź“Ť Orion Farmstead
📅 Saturday, August 23rd, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Join us for a full day of hands-on learning in fruit tree propagation! This workshop will cover both asexual propagation (morning) and sexual propagation (afternoon), giving you the complete skill set to graft, grow, select and even market and sell fruit trees for success in a cold climate.
🌱 Takeaway: By the end of the day, you’ll have the knowledge and hands-on experience to confidently propagate fruit trees by both grafting and seed, with a clear understanding of how to maximize value and success.
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Morning Session – Asexual Propagation (Grafting)
9:00 – 10:00 am – Sit-down session: theory of grafting, why we graft, pros and cons, timing, tools, techniques, variety selection, and the role of rootstocks.
10:00 am – 12:00 pm – Hands-on grafting: primarily bud grafting (preferred method), with demonstrations of spring bench grafting. Learn proven techniques, pitfalls to avoid, and three key practices that bring grafting success rates close to 100%.
12:00 – 12:15 pm – Q&A session.
12:15 – 1:00 pm – Lunch (informal Q&A continues).
Afternoon Session – Sexual Propagation (Growing from Seed)
1:00 – 2:00 pm – Theory of seed propagation: why to grow from seed, pros and cons, seed processing, and timing.
2:00 – 2:15 pm – Break.
2:15 – 2:45 pm – Genetics and value: how to select for the best genetics, tools, methods, and suppliers.
2:45 – 3:15 pm – Successful growing: practical strategies for efficiency, inputs, and costs.
3:15 – 3:30 pm – Break.
3:30 – 4:30 pm – Creating value & economics: maximizing success through genetics, marketing, and efficiency. Comparison of sexual vs. asexual propagation methods.
4:30 – 5:00 pm – Final Q&A and wrap-up.
About Luke Robinson
Luke has been propagating fruit trees for over 10 years. After completing his graduate research in Systems Ecology in 2020, he launched the e-commerce nursery montanafruittrees.com, specializing in cold-climate adapted fruit trees, shrubs, and vines. Since then, he has grown the business to millions in sales and helped put thousands of fruiting plants in the ground. Luke also consults with farmers on integrating trees into their operations—working with over 500 farms to date—and leads workshops on topics ranging from systems ecology and farm design to soil regeneration and propagation techniques. He lives in Missoula with his wife and son.
Learn more at https://www.montanafruittrees.com/