Plant grafting and Exchange events update plus other LNC

The South Orange County chapter of California Rare Fruit Growers (CRFG) is hosting a free plant cutting and scion wood sharing event on Sunday February 11, 2024, from 10:30 am until approximately Noon.
This meeting will be held at the Irvine Great Park, Farm + Food Lab. It is near the big orange balloon.

This will include an "Anything Garden Related" exchange.
Bring cuttings of known varieties (except citrus or those under current patent) of fruit trees, grapes, blueberries or other plants.)

You can also bring gardening items you no longer need i.e. books, sprinkler fittings, chemicals, old tools, pots (whatever you have that is still good, but you were hoping it could be of use eventually, but you probably will never use).

Attendees can expect to get while supplies last

5 black nursery type pots
various types of seed packets
1 white food grade buckets with lids (last use had frosting in them)
Registered attendees get 2.5 gallons of mealworm frass,
Not registered attendees prior to the event only get 1 gallon mealworm frass.
Registering at the event does not count.
Other items received will be dependent on what attendees bring, which is visible on our exchange event page bottom right

Register for Sunday's event at: https://southoccrfg.org/exchange-event/

Several nurseries and gardening businesses will have tables. recommended to bring

Ricardo's Nursery in Long Beach - Rare and unusual fruit varieties.
Exotica Rare Fruit Nursery in Vista - This well-known nursery will soon be closing its doors permanently.
Aguinaga Green Soil Company in Irvine - Very good quality soil.
Foothill Feed / Canyon Feed - Animal feed and supplies. (bigger but cool)
The Farm + Food Lab will be offering Banana plants for sale.
There will be someone selling Ollas, or buried terra-cotta pots, commonly used for efficient irrigation in permaculture and gardening. Ollas work by slowly releasing water into the surrounding soil, allowing plants to access moisture as needed.
Parafilm grafting tape will be available for purchase. ($3 per 5 feet)

We have confirmation that CDFA staff and CDFA SCIENTISTS will have a booth.
(CDFA = California Department of Food and Agriculture) Great time to ask questions

Attendees can learn about IMPORTANT current information on Citrus diseases, Fruit Fly infestation, pests, and quarantines. It is very important to understand what is going on.
You may think that Southern California is unaffected by Citrus pests or diseases.
You would be mistaken. Have you noticed the difference in commercial Orange Juice now vs. 15 years ago?

There is a current outbreak of a fruit fly in Southern California. The life cycle of the fruit fly is as follows:

An adult female lays eggs on fruit. They hatch within 2-4 days (up to 16-18 days in cool weather).
The larvae feed for another 6-11 days, ruining the fruit.
The larvae leave the fruit and pupate in the soil under the host plant for 6-11 days,
The adults emerge and can live for up to 2 months, reproducing and laying eggs, up to 500 at a time.

So, the fruit flies can rapidly destroy all the fruit on trees at your home or in commercial groves in a very short time.

We anticipate some representatives of the media to attend.
Note to media representatives - This will be a great opportunity to meet influential people from the CDFA. plus Media Representative's get 2.5 gallon container of Mealworm frass.

Instructions for preparing plant cuttings for donation:
Cut them 4-8 inches long, with 3-4 buds per piece.
Store them in a plastic Zip-Lock bag with a damp (NOT soaking wet) paper towel.
Be sure to label the bag with the variety name and DO NOT mix varieties.
You may drop off cuttings or other items ahead of time by contacting Frank Wagoner.

Instructions for selecting scion wood:
Be sure to label each variety as you pick it. It is useless if you do not know what type or variety it is.

Some people use blue masking tape and a pen or pencil that can write on it. Write on the tape and attach to the cutting. - observe how experienced others at the event are doing it.
Beige masking tape also works, but being extra sticky, may be more difficult to remove.
Please remember that others also want cuttings. Take just one or two pieces of each type you’re interested in. If you want more, wait until later and ask if it’s ok to take more.
‘Leftovers’ are often used by the club after the event.

Note: Only current chapter members will be allowed to pick scion wood for other members that are unable to attend.

Volunteers needed.
During the week prior to the event, we will need help transporting the black pots to the Great Park.

Saturday, February 10 to set up folding tables.
Sunday, February 11 8:30 am.

A) Greet people at the gate and give them directions to the meeting site.
B) Help organize the cuttings by type on the correct tables.
C) Help at tables with preventing cross contamination of types.
D) Monitor for people taking too many cuttings.

All volunteers will receive a bag of mealworm frass (approximately 35 lbs.).

Register for Sunday's event at: https://southoccrfg.org/exchange-event/

Registered (by the night before event ) attendees will receive a 2 1/2-gallon pot of mealworm frass.
Nonregistered attendees will receive a 1-gallon pot of worm castings.

For directions, search with Google maps for Irvine Great Park, Farm + Food Lab

Visit crfg.org for information about other chapter's scion wood exchanges.

From Wikipedia: “Grafting is a horticultural technique whereby tissues of plants are joined so as to continue their growth together. The upper part of the combined plant is called the scion while the lower part is called the rootstock.” You can think of this as plant surgery.
Generally, both plants need to be the same type i.e. apple to apple, dragon fruit to dragon fruit,
avocado to avocado, citrus to citrus. Some avocado growers graft multiple varieties onto a
single tree in order to extend fruit production. Grafting can enable a rose plant to have multiple-colored flowers.

You can also bring garden stuff you no longer need i.e. books, sprinkler fittings, chemicals (original packaging & labeled), old

We still need additional volunteers for our events especially Feb 11th event. If you can help, let us know!!! Volunteers get 4 gallons or 30 lbs of mealworm frass ( think more concentrated worm castings) .
1:) Exotica Rare Fruit Nursery | Vista CA - a famous nursery It is recommended to go there if wanting some cool and interesting fruit plants
Small businesses expected to attend the event. Also great to visit outside of the event. , Ricardo's Nursery in Long Beach , Exotica Rafe fruit Nursery in Vista - Lots of cool plants. Aguinaga Green Soil Company in Irvine for great quality soil. Foodhill Feed / Canyon Feed for animal feeds and supplies. (bigger but cool)
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This meeting will be held at the Irvine Great Park, Farm + Food Lab. It is near the big orange balloon.
for best directions search with Google maps for
Irvine Great Park, Farm + Food Lab

From Wikipedia: “Grafting is a horticultural technique whereby tissues of plants are joined so as to continue their growth together. The upper part of the combined plant is called the scion
while the lower part is called the rootstock.” You can think of this as plant surgery.
Generally, both plants need to be the same type i.e. apple to apple, dragon fruit to dragon fruit,
avocado to avocado, citrus to citrus. Some avocado growers graft multiple varieties onto a
single tree in order to extend fruit production. Grafting can enable a rose plant to have
multiple colored flowers.
We will be covering various grafting methods, such as saddle graft, splice graft, side veneer
graft, bark graft, and air layering.
Medical grade Parafilm grafting tape will be available for purchase. ($3 per 5 feet)
Register at
https://southoccrfg.org/monthly-meeting/
Registered participants get preference, because:
1) We are able to prepare for the number of attendees
2) Should the class need to be rescheduled, we will be able to notify those registered.
3) We are doing this for free. It makes it easier for us to plan and prepare for the class.
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On February 11th, we will be having a Plant cutting and anything garden related exchange
event. Free to attend / participate
This is our biggest event of the year.
Bring cuttings of known varieties of fruit trees, grapes, blueberries or other plants.) Do NOT bring citrus or those under current patent)
You can also bring garden stuff you no longer need i.e. books, sprinkler fittings, chemicals ( in original containers w labels, old tools, pots (whatever you have that is still good, but you were hoping it could be of use eventually, but you probably will never use).
When bringing cuttings, store them in a plastic Zip-Lock bag with a damp (NOT soaking wet)
paper towel. Make sure to label the bag with the variety name and DO NOT mix varieties.
When selecting scion wood, be sure to label each variety as you pick it. It is useless if you do
not know what type or variety it is.
Some people use blue masking tape and a pen or pencil that can write on it. Write on the tape and attach to the cutting. - observe how experienced others at the event are doing it.
Beige masking tape also works, but, being extra sticky, may be more difficult to remove.
Please remember that others also want cuttings. Take just one or two pieces of each type
you’re interested in. If you want more, wait until later and ask if it’s ok to take more.
‘Leftovers’ are often used by the club after the event, or other chapters
We have confirmation that CDFA staff and CDFA SCIENTISTS will have a booth. Participants can learn about IMPORTANT current information on Citrus diseases, Fruit Fly infestation , pests, and quarantines. It is very important to understand what is going on. The fruit fly can make all your fruit not edible in a short time.
CDFA = California Department of Food and Agriculture
If you are from the media, This will be a great opportunity to meet influential people from the CDFA.
I have attached the Citrus Disease Article written in English vs Latin by Frank and verified by CDFA Scientists. Some people think they are unaffected by the citrus disease.. Want to bet? notice the difference in Orange juice now vs 15 years ago.
We anticipate some representatives of the media to attend. It will be a great opportunity for them to get high level CDFA contacts.
There will be at least one nursery bringing plants for sale. Be prepared by bringing cash.
We expect to have a number of garden related companies / groups attending.
There will be someone selling Ollas, or buried terra-cotta pots, commonly used for efficient
irrigation in permaculture and gardening. Ollas work by slowly releasing water into the
surrounding soil, allowing plants to access moisture as needed.
The Farm + Food Lab will be offering Banana plants for sale..
Volunteers are still needed.
during the week prior to the event, we will need help transporting the black pots to the location, and helping pickup
People can drop off cuttings or items preferably ahead of time by contacting us.
The day prior to the event, we will need help putting up the folding tables.
The day of the event
Volunteers will be doing the following tasks
A) Greeting people at the gate in groups to briefly explain where to go and how to proceed.
B) Help set out the cuttings at the proper tables by type
C) Help at tables with preventing cross contamination of types.
D) Alerting staff of person(s) trying to take too much without regard of others
E) Ahead of time, --Need someone to paint signs on cardboard with words like apple, dragon fruit, grapes , avocado, seeds ect.... . We have the recycled paint and cardboard used at each table
Register for the Exchange event at:
https://southoccrfg.org/exchange-event/
also, there are other chapters offering scionwood exchanges
you can see the list at
2024 Scion Exchanges – California Rare Fruit Growers, Inc. (crfg.org 2024 exchanges)