Bernie Dizon, the fruit expert, can help you along this time. On Tuesday, July 17, he will conduct a free seminar and demonstration at the Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife along North Avenue in Quezon City. One session will be from 8 a.m. to 12 noon while the afternoon session will start at 2 p.m.

     Dizon has plenty of large planting materials of rambutan, durian and other exotic fruit trees at the Parks and Wildlife as well as at the Dizon Exotic Fruit Trees in UP Bliss Diliman, Quezon City.

     Right at the Parks and Wildlife, attendees will be able to see for themselves that even in Quezon City, exotic fruit tree such as rambutan, lanzones and durian bear fruits that are comparable to the production in areas where these high-value fruit are traditionally grown such as Mindanao. Dizon will also explain how he improved the adobe soil in the park so that the fruit trees will thrive. For instance, the durian and rambutan trees are grown in mounds of garden soil so that they will not suffer from waterlogging.

     Dizon will also demonstrate how to produce grafted fruit trees with multiple rootstocks which are sturdier against strong winds and are also faster growing and more productive.

     He will also explain the new technique of grafting known as crown grafting. Under this technique, the leaves of the scion are not removed. Hence, the grafted planting materials are ready for planting in just 60 days from grafting.

     Grafted planting materials of durian, rambutan, Magallanes pummelo, Guimaras mango, mangosteen, Millennium mango, longkong, duku lanzones, variegated chico, apple macopa and others will be available during the open house.