I heard this sentence at some kind of event and I was quite… The old fruit tree variety in current modern times – well, I don’t know. I took part at several seminars and lectures, I asked Mr. Google and now I am the fun. I’ll try to explain why.

Modern varieties

Modern varieties, especially those hybrid ones, bring better profits and provide more balanced crop. Some of them have been cultivated to resist to certain diseases. However, modern varieties tend to be sensitive as they require optimum conditions. If they lack such conditions, the profit is significantly lower, they may even die. Because they are “novice” not exposed to effects of environment for a longer period of time, the unpredictable response to extreme draught and freeze, or sensitivity to common diseases and pests also play a key role in their growth. They bring fruit in the first years of life and provide maximum crops. Their useful life is significantly shorter and requires much more care. Bio quality is difficult to grow.

Old or regional varieties

Both the regional and old varieties belong to our cultural heritage. They are varied and diverse. Many of these varieties are well adapted to local conditions and they resist to pests, diseases and freeze better because they are resistant and not difficult to grow. In practice it means that the adaptation to local habitat causes that the need to use chemical means for protecting and nourishing is minimal. The wide range of taste, characteristics or use (for example apples and pears suitable for direct consumption, storage, pressing, desiccating or distilling it…) are typical, which makes it locally unique. Trees in their traditional trunk-shape form serve for aesthetic and country purposes, too. These trees will create not just an orchard on your land, yet the noble park. Moreover, if you take care of them first 3-4 years, they will basically not require any special attention, apart from picking fruit, for the period of next tens of years. The old varieties from bio gardens contain significantly more nutritions beneficial to health than modern varieties from conventional growing.

Being the “doubting Thomas” – I won’t believe until I see and taste, all the information made me visit and see with my own eyes. Where? In Biele Karpaty of course, where the fruit growing has been a tradition for several centuries and people living here wish to put this type of fruit growing back to the pedestal where it actually belongs. Who? OZ Panganea and its soul Ľudo Vašš who is a person to show you in practice the reason why we should love trees and how to take care of them. He holds a number of practical seminars. If there is no seminar he will welcome a helping hand in his orchard with over 130 varieties of apples and pears, or in the nature when planting trees… Take some time off and visit him at Bošáca, you will understand.  Being a right ancient wandering fruit grower, he regards money insignificant, therefore he does everything for free. He also arranges the apple self-picking and seminars, fruit tasting included. Next year he will even have some top-quality apple varieties to offer to our Beautiful Settlements and promised to come to tell us all about it. I just hope he will pick up the phone!!!

You’ll understand that: “To plant a tree means to do an act of solidarity and love to neighbour. Because a person who plants is not the person who shall sit in its shade.” – Marcel Prévost

Peter Choma