Adam’s apples

The simple compost that finds its way onto our verges, rest areas and pull-ins that line the roads are producing some very interesting finds. Every time someone either tosses or throws an apple core from a passing vehicle, if the core bounces onto the ground then many of the apple pips or seeds germinate and form new apple trees. Each pip produces a slightly different tree to the parent apple tree plant. Some are sweeter, some more tart but each one of these new seedlings offer the chance for a new variety of apple tree to sprout.

Commercial trees are almost a clone as they are all grafted plants onto wild strong root stock. Although this method is suitable for supermarkets so that people are able to buy all of one variety of apple at a time it means that much natural wealth of goodness and taste of our planet is lost to us.

A whole new group of people who call themselves forages are now taking the opportunity to gather these free offerings to give them a wider choice in their fruit bowls.

You must admit that it is very tempting to take an apple core from your favourite apple and push it gently into the ground and see what emerges from these humble beginnings.

 

Creating new apple varieties by planting apple pips

It is alleged that figs were once called apples and that the fig tree was the tree of knowledge. So Eve tempted Adam not with an apple but with a fig. Figs are low in calories and contain manganese, potassium, calcium and Vitamin B6 as well as being a good source of fibre. It is also believed that figs are quite good for the eyesight.