Bangalore’s apple experiment a hit The ‘forbidden fruit’ grows in Lalbagh after nearly a century The ‘Rome Beauty’ is the apple of everyone’s eyes at Lalbagh. Not without reason. Bangalore has managed to grow (revive, to be precise) green apples, a botanical miracle accomplished after 93 years. The seedlings, planted five years ago as part of the horticulture department officials’ experiment to revive Rome Beauty, have borne fruit now. Bangalore Mirror had first reported about the experiment (City grows its own apples after 91 years). The officials had then expressed hope that they would get the first yield by 2012. Though climate played a spoilsport last year, officials accomplished this year what they were yearning for for years. Dr S V Hittalamani, the additional director (fruits), horticulture department, said: “Our long wait has come to an end with the plants bearing fruit. We are very proud of it. We were always convinced the Rome Beauty variety can be grown in Bangalore despite the changing temperature and climatic conditions.” He said the fruits are “delicious with a blend of both sweet and acidic taste.” “Even though we have successfully grown apples, commercially they are not viable. Only those passionate about it can grow a couple of trees with utmost care,” said Hittalamani, whose team has dedicated a lot of time and effort to raise the seedlings inside a nursery in Lalbagh. Narayana Swamy, senior assistant director of horticulture, Lalbagh, said, “We ensured protected conditions to raise the seedlings. We watered them once in a fortnight. During summer, extra care was taken to cover plants with a wet green net and protect them from extreme heat. If an apple tree can withstand summer heat, then it will regularly bear fruits.” Officials say these apples thrive on red sandy loam soil with temperatures ranging between 10 degrees centigrade and 13 degrees centigrade. “At least 350-hours of chilling period is a must for the plants to blossom,” they said. Sources in the department said the Central Fruit Board has sanctioned Rs 46,000 to help research in apples, pineapples and other fruits. From UK to Bengaluru Apple was first introduced in Bangalore in 1887 by then curator of Lalbagh, John Cameroon. He imported 17 apple varieties from Danier Brothers Company in Norwich, UK, and tested them at Lalbagh. Out of the 17 varieties, only Rome Beauty survived the local conditions. Eventually, seedlings were distributed free to farmers. By 1910-15, apples were grown on 1,000 acres in Bangalore. As there was no supply of apples from Kashmir and Shimla then and it used to take several days to reach here, there was much demand for the local variety. Subsequently, then Imperial Council of Agriculture Research at Hesaraghatta too conducted research and experiment on apple cultivation in Bangalore. Horticulture sources say the first seedling of apple (Rome Beauty) was grafted at a fruit orchard in Bangalore Palace (Sadashivnagar). A few houses in Cox Town had apple trees in their backyard. Apples were also grown in areas from Sadashivnagar to Konanakunte on Kanakapura Road.
Posted on: Thu, 27 Jun 2013 07:40:01 +0000
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