When
April 10-October 9, 2026
Where
Virtual
This workshop series will teach you the techniques and processes needed to successfully bench-graft new apple trees. We’ll walk you through the process of splicing dormant scion wood and rootstocks. Once the splice is made, the new trees will need to rest and heal in cool, damp conditions, then be planted outdoors. There are few things a gardener can do more gratifying than to graft and grow their own apple trees, and we look forward to walking you through the process.
Note: Apple trees grow best in zones 4-8. Although we will send materials to all contiguous US states and accept all virtual registrations, for best results, we recommend planting apple trees within zones 4-8.
Registration includes guidance for caring for your apple trees throughout the year and access to educational videos, recordings of live sessions, and other resources. This is a virtual class. Registrants will receive an email from events@seedsavers.org with a Zoom link by April 6, 2026.
All times are in the Central United States time zone.
Students who cannot attend live will receive recordings, and our instructors will be available to help and answer questions throughout the year.
Level I: Instruction only (no trees, no grafting kit) $35
Level II: Instruction + Scion Kit $75
Scion Kit includes five (5) heritage variety apple scions from SSE’s historic orchard, five (5) rootstock (size M-7, ¼”, semi-dwarf), practice wood, grafting tape, thumb cot, and tree tags.
Level III: Instruction + Full Grafting Kit* $115
Full Grafting Kit includes: Scion kit plus a bench grafting knife. You must choose between a right-handed or left-handed knife.
Additional Scion & Rootstock Kits: $60
Additional Scion & Rootstock Kit (SKU: EVT016A) includes five (5) heritage variety apple scions from SSE’s historic orchard, five (5) rootstock (size M-7, ¼”, semi-dwarf), practice wood, grafting tape, thumb cot, and tree tags (same as grafting kit above).
Note: We cannot accommodate specific variety requests for this workshop. This allows our orchard team to select the best scion available when it is time to collect it. It also allows us to send out lesser-known and rare varieties with only a small amount of scion. You will receive five unique, rare, and historic varieties from SSE’s historic orchard. Along with your kit, you will receive names and descriptions of each variety. If you are looking for specific varieties, we recommend going to the Exchange to order additional varieties from IA SSE HF. Note that varieties requested from the Exchange do not come with rootstock. To learn more about the Exchange, go to exchange.seedsavers.org.
Also, please note that scion kits can only be shipped to contiguous US states. Your grafting success is dependent on using the right tools. A bench grafting knife has a single bevel with one straight edge to create a flat grafting surface on the rootstock and scionwood. We highly recommend purchasing one if you do not already have a grafting knife.
Scion and Grafting Kits will be shipped in March. Changes to orders cannot be made after Thursday, March 12, 2026.
We can offer full refunds up to March 12. After that time, we are unable to issue a refund for your registration.
If you have questions about this event, contact our customer service staff:
Lindsay Lee, Seed Savers Exchange’s Orchard and Horticultural Advisor, describes himself as an “old-school nurseryman”. He has logged over 45 years in the ornamental horticulture trades, with 30 of those running Willowglen, a seed-to-sale perennial plant nursery near Decorah, Iowa. Lindsay served as the grafting team leader in 1989 when SSE collected the first trees for its Heritage Orchard. “I believe the knowledge and skill of grafting has been eroding among gardeners,” says Lee. “It is my goal to rectify this by teaching gardeners to graft and share their favorite fruits.”
Jamie Hanson‘s journey into the world of horticulture began at the College of the Atlantic, where she cultivated a deep-seated passion for the historical significance of fruit trees and their cultivation. Her fascination with the intersection of history and horticulture set her on a lifelong journey to preserve and celebrate the legacy of these remarkable trees. As the Orchard Manager at Seed Savers Exchange, Jamie oversees the maintenance of two eight-acre apple orchards. Her daily responsibilities include collection management, comprehensive tree care, and historical research. Beyond her professional commitments, Jamie is an avid adventurer; when not tending to the orchards, you can find her cycling on local trails, hiking in the great outdoors, or working on craft projects.
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When you make a purchase from Seed Savers Exchange, you help fulfill our nonprofit mission to protect our food and garden heritage. Do even more good by making a donation to help us preserve and share even more heirloom varieties!