Five apple varieties growing on one tree in Limburg
In a first for Flemish orchardists, a tree has been developed that produces five different kinds of apples
Ready by next year
Orchardists have been experimenting with grafting fruit trees for a few years now, but this is the first time it has been tried in Belgium. The first harvest is expected by next year.
“In order to get an apple tree that grows five different kinds of apples, you need a rootstock to which you graft tissue from four different kinds of apple trees,” Paul Van Laer of the foundation explained to Radio 2. “Together, they will grow the five different varieties of apple.”
Each variety comes from a different province in Flanders: the Keuleman from Limburg, Keiing from Antwerp, Reinette Hernaut from Flemish Brabant, Trezeke Meyers from East Flanders and the Essching from West Flanders. Although they will all grow on one tree, they will keep their own flavours and colours.
The varieties were also chosen on the basis of their similar characteristics in terms of when they are ready to harvest and the care required to grow them. “You can grow more varieties on one tree, but then you run the risk that one of them will dominate the others,” said Van Laer. “The five varieties that we have chosen are more or less equally hardy.”
