APPLE APPEAL

We had a really old cooking-apple tree in Scotland where I grew up. My mum and I were the only ones who liked crunching on these sour apples that made the best apple pies imaginable. I was truly spoilt with mum’s delicious homemade apple pies, piping hot from the old Aga cooker, a memory that still makes my mouth water.

Pear and apple trees enjoy cooler summers and cold winters. There are crab apple varieties that can be planted in the warmer parts of the country; check with your nursery which variety will best suit your garden. Both pear and apple trees need cross pollinating, so two or more varieties must be planted for flowers and fruit to form. Some nurseries will carry dwarfing root stocks that have more than one variety grafted onto the tree. This is a good choice for smaller gardens because they won’t take up too much space.

Dig a large, deep, well-composted hole and insert a pipe at an angle for watering. Place a long stake that the tree can be attached to, to help keep it upright until well established. Soaking the root ball for an hour before planting will help settle the roots better when in the hole. Water once a week and twice in hotter months. A dressing of compost in autumn will give the tree a good boost. Plant chervil or winter greens around the trees in winter. Nasturtiums in summer will help keep black aphids away. Carrots, potatoes and tomatoes don’t like growing near the trees.

Dwarf apple and pear trees are ideal for large pots. Choose a pot that is about a metre in diameter and place in a sunny spot. Plant a tree for the planet, for the bees and for the sheer pleasure of watching it grow. Alison’s on the Green, 33 Troupant Avenue, Magaliessig, Johannesburg, 011 467 0561, alisonsorganicdeli.com.