Grafting on Display: New Garden at Oregon Garden

Grafting on display: New garden at Oregon Garden

Heather Rayhorn, Statesman Journal 4:56 p.m. PDT September 18, 2014

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(Photo: Thomas Patterson / Statesman Journal, Thomas Patterson / Statesman Journal)

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It's just a tiny plot in an area that is so frequented by deer that a netted fence had to be installed, but, as the saying goes, it's all about location, location, location — or numbers, numbers, numbers.

In June, Master Gardener Harry Olson set up his trial garden of grafted fruits and vegetables not in the usual, larger space he had in Salem for three years at the Marion County Master Gardener Demonstration Garden but in a 12-foot-by-12-foot plot at The Oregon Garden, right next to tram stop 5.

His friends, Charlie and Mardean King, who are Master Gardeners and Oregon Garden volunteers, had suggested Olson move his testing out to the Silverton garden.

"They said, 'You'll get tens of thousands of viewers if you come out here,' " Olson recalled. "Marion garden was nice, but this has more people in a few days than the Marion garden had all summer." Go grafted, plus know when to pick your melon. Heather Rayhorn / Statesman Journal

The Oregon Garden also helps Olson with things such as watering his plants, which include mostly tomatoes but also watermelon vines and eggplants, all grafted.

Olson swears by the technique, which grafts the upper portion of loved varieties with the bottom portion of a wild, vigorous stalk, such as a wild tomato in the case of tomatoes. The matchup increases fruit, fruit size, disease resistance and vigor, all while leaving the taste of the loved varieties the same.

Ty Boland, manager of horticulture and curator at the garden, said someone like Olson creating a trial garden on site is very uncommon. Boland first was a little skeptical of grafted plants, "seemed kind of gimmicky," he said. "But we were asked about it by people; a lot of people have been interested. I've been served if you will. If a person is looking to grow one tomato, it's incredible what they can do," he said about grafted tomatoes.

For Olson, the plot lets him share his passion for grafted plants with the public, letting them see first hand how grafted tomatoes and melons perform.

"Ninety percent don't know what a grafted plant is, but it's something they can have in their garden," he said. Stupice tomatoes on the vine. Master gardener Harry Olson volunteers at Oregon Garden by tending to an edible garden plot filled with tomatoes, watermelons, eggplant, rosemary and basil. (Photo: Thomas Patterson / Statesman Journal, Thomas Patterson / Statesman Journal)

Shoppers should expect to pay at least two to three times as much for a grafted plant. All Olson's plants come from Cottage Grove's Log House Plants, a whole seller that sells the brands Mighty Mato and Mighty Veggies at places such as Wilco Farm Stores and Al's Garden Center.

Last week, Olson showed off his area at The Oregon Garden. Tomatoes in a rainbow of colors, from black to yellow, and a variety of sizes covered the well-pruned tomato plants that reach 7 feet into the air. Olson said some of his favorites this year are the 'Black Icicle' paste tomatoes and the heavy-producing 'Yellow Icicle.' Fellow Master Gardener Tobie Habeck said people have to check out the yellow 'Moonglow' tomatoes, which are the size of softballs.

"Normally, a big tomato doesn't set as many fruit," she said. "That thing is covered with them, so that is a good deal."

Between the eight tomato varieties grow watermelon vines, purple and white eggplants and some ungrafted herbs. Olson said depending on the weather, the garden could be in good shape well into October.

Though you can't pick the fruit at Olson's trial gardens, if you visit the cafe or restaurant, you very well may be served the produce, one of the many benefits for the garden, which in turn provides the space and services such as watering for free to Olson.

A win-win situation for all involved. [email protected], (503) 399-6720, follow on Twitter at @hrayhorn.

A Cherokee Purple tomato. Master gardener Harry Olson volunteers at Oregon Garden by tending to an edible garden plot filled with tomatoes, watermelons, eggplant, rosemary and basil. (Photo: Thomas Patterson / Statesman Journal, Thomas Patterson / Statesman Journal)

The Oregon Garden

What: The Oregon Garden offers more than 80 acres that showcase the natural wonders of the Pacific Northwest with more than 20 individual themed gardens and related attractions.

Hours:9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily in September before going to fall hours, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily October through April

Find Olson's grafted garden: Tram stop five

Cost: Regular garden admission is $11, $9 for ages 60 and older, $8 for students ages 12 to 17, $5 for ages 5 to 11, and free for ages 4 and younger.

Online:OregonGarden.org

Contact: (503) 874-8100

Coming up: Scarecrows in the Garden is whimsical display of locally designed scarecrows throughout the garden in October. This month, scarecrow workshops are being held 2 to 4 p.m. each Sunday to help entrants build their submissions. Materials are provided, and all workshops are included in the scarecrow submission fees, which range from $25 to $50. A Cherokee Purple tomato. Master gardener Harry Olson volunteers at Oregon Garden by tending to an edible garden plot filled with tomatoes, watermelons, eggplant, rosemary and basil. (Photo: Thomas Patterson / Statesman Journal, Thomas Patterson / Statesman Journal)

Harry Olson shows how to get 20 feet of tomatoes off one plant with four leaders. Heather Rayhorn / Statesm