Astrakan Apple Tree

The apple tree of the Astrakan variety in the garden next to the cottage Korpamoen illustrates the significance of the fruit tree for Kristina. Those with a good memory will recall that no tree ever grew from the seeds from Duvemåla that Karl-Oskar planted in the garden outside Korpamoen, but to uplift Kristina as she lay on her deathbed in America, he came in with an apple in his hand, and Kristina exclaimed: "The apples are ripe with us. I am home."

The Astrakan apple variety likely has its origins in Russia but began to be cultivated after Erik Lindgren took up his position at the Experiment Field, the predecessor of the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, in the mid-1850s. Young Erik had visited Fågelvik Manor in Småland a few years earlier and tasted an early Astrakan apple known as Gyllenkroks. As soon as he settled into his position at the Experiment Field, he had scions sent from Fågelvik, and the variety was put into production. It was believed that the apple originated from the Gyllenkrok family estate, Svenstorp, in Skåne, but it wasn't until 1951 that the original tree from the late 1700s was found at Regnaholm Farm in Östergötland, which at that time was owned by the Gyllenkrok family (1759–1859). Today, Gyllenkroks Astrakan has been designated as the county apple of Östergötland.