Silver Creek Nursery Ltd.

Smokehouse Apple Scionwood

Scionwood is not a tree, yet!

Scionwood, or scions (pronounced 'sigh-ons'), are the young, one-year shoots you graft with in order to propagate a variety. If you want to propagate a Gala apple tree, for example, you would graft with Gala scionwood!

We collect these scions from trees in our test orchards and are happy to be able to offer rare/heritage varieties!

For more information on scionwood and grafting, click HERE!

History: In the 1830s in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, a seedling apple tree grew beside the smokehouse of William Gibbons. Perhaps it sprang from a core that some one had tossed there while they tended the fire. Who knows? What we do know is that the aptly named Smokehouse was commonly grown in the area until its popularity waned as sweeter apple varieties appeared on the market. Still, this variety has stood the test of time due to its great flavour. 

Why We Grow It:  Traditionally Smokehouse apples are picked a little early and used for baking, but if they're allowed to ripen fully on the tree, some people have described the balanced flavour as being “like drinking fresh-pressed cider!”. 

      $8.50

      Propagation Material:

      26 in stock

      Fruit Traits:

      Recommended Use: Fresh eating, cooking, juice

      Fruit Size: Large

      Storage: Keeps until March when stored in cold storage

      Harvest: October - Early

      Plant Traits:

      Canadian Hardiness Zone: 3

      Flowering Time: Early

      Pollination Requirements: Requires a pollinator of a different apple variety that blooms around the same time

      Sun/Shade Requirements: Full sun (approx. 8-10 hours of sun daily)

      General Growth Habit: Vigorous and precocious, begins bearing fruit at a young age and has good crops, spur bearing. Susceptible to scab but very resistant to mildew and fireblight.

      Shipping: Scionwood can be shipped anytime in the spring, although we generally recommend that customers receive their scionwood by mid-April at the latest to ensure it arrives dormant. We can hold it longer if customers accept the risk that the scionwood may start breaking dormancy after this time.

      Pickup: We will notify you as soon as your scionwood is ready. We recommend picking it up as soon as you are able and storing it at home.

      Click HERE for tips on storing scionwood!

      CLICK HERE to see our shipping policy.

      Each scion will have at least 2-4 grafts' worth of material and ideally will be approximately 12-18" or 30cm+ long. Since we specialize in so many varieties/species, there will be natural differences in growth habit and vigour so some varieties may be shorter or thinner. We will provide the best quality we can, within natural restraints.

      If a scion is less than 6" or 15cm, it will be discounted accordingly.

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