What is a Scion (cuttings for grafting) Exchange?
For our new chapter members and guests, this article explains the basics of a scion exchange. What Will I find at the Exchange? A large room filled with rows of cafeteria-style tables. Most of the tables are covered with gallon-size bags of dormant cuttings from hundreds of varieties of fruit and nut trees such as apple, peach, pear, nuts, and persimmons. You will also find some cuttings from evergreen fruiting plants, whole plants, gardening catalogs, seeds, roots, inexpensive information sheets, and sometimes grafting supplies. What do I do at the Exchange? Select 1-3 pieces of each type of thing you want to propagate, clearly label each item, get answers to your questions about how to make the stuff grow once you get it home, and enjoy the company of others who are interested in growing unusual edibles. If possible, bring something from your own garden to share: seeds of your favorite vegetable, cuttings from an heirloom fruit tree, specialties from your family’s native county, etc.
