Sarah Holland
Northern News Services

NNSL (Sep 24/99) - As hard as it may be to believe, apples do grow in Yellowknife.

Just ask Stefan Miklosovic, who has seen the fruits of his labour from an apple tree that he ordered by mail from a catalogue.

"I always look for something unique in the catalogues," says Miklosovic. "And when I find something that can withstand our weather, I read the details about it and if it's OK, I bring it here and let it grow."

The tree, which offers Manchurian apples, was about three feet high when Miklosovic received it and was supposed to bare fruit in four or five years. It has only taken three years for this tree to grow fruit, a tribute to the appropriate climate and Miklosovic's gardening skills.

"I had to cross-pollinate or it would just have flowers and no fruit.

"I took pollen from a crabapple tree and spread it on the apple tree with a paintbrush."

Miklosovic also had to keep pesky insects away, and for this he used a mixture of anti-bacterial soap and mouthwash.

"The bubbles from the soap choke the smaller insects and the bigger ones, well they probably don't like it and maybe it makes them sick."

Of the 15 apples that are still on the tree, Miklosovic says about one-third are ready to be picked, but he has yet to taste the tempting fruit which can be eaten raw and aren't really sour like crabapples.

Is this the end of Miklosovic's fruit tree trials? Not even close.

"Some people who see the tree say I should plant an orchard," laughs Miklosovic. "Most people cannot believe there would be apples in Yellowknife.

"I had a peach tree but it didn't grow fruit and I also tried a cherry tree. It didn't work because not all plants ordered by mail survive, it was probably in shock. I don't think it had anything to do with the weather.

"I plan to try cherries again, and I'm working on blueberry bushes."