SPACE SAVING APPLE TREES

Any surplus apples that aren't suitable for storage in root cellars and other storage structures can be dried, canned, frozen, or made into juice or cider.

During colonial times, cider and juice were staples in the American diet. What America didn't seem to keep was the British custom of apple wassailing on the sixth day of January. This old-time custom involves drinking a toast and dancing around the largest apple tree in the orchard. Cider waned in popularity after the 1830's.

With the wonderful cardiovascular benefits of apples and apple drinks gardeners have another good reason for growing space saving trees.

Native to Asia, apples were introduced to the Mediterranean area via the Silk Route. Grown by the Greeks and Romans, apples reached the British Isles before the Roman conquest. Apparently locally grown British apples weren't always appreciated by the Roman legions for one Roman soldier stationed at Vindolanda (presentday Northumberland) wrote a friend, "Please send me 100 apples."

Apples survived the fall of the Roman empire, and were present in Charlemagne's gardens (www.newadvent.org/cathen/03610c.htm) throughout his kingdom. He listed them in one of his imperial edict, the Capitulare de Villis vel Curtis Imperii, which specified the plants to be grown on his properties.

Fruits, such as apples, were often depicted in Roman art especially in frescoes on the walls of homes (www.arkeologi.uu.se). A painting in the House of Orchard in Pompeii shows a highly civilized view of nature with fruit trees behind a low fence.

Modern gardens have something in common with those of Pompeii's residents, namely limited space. However, today's gardeners are lucky to have a number of space saving apple varieties available.

Go To Page: 1 2