The columnar apple variety is a hybrid that was first introduced in Canada in the last century. A skilled gardener saw a small mutant branch on an old tree. Then, when it was bred, the breeders found a rather interesting variety, which served as the basis for many columnar apple trees. The superiority of the culture lies in the fact that it grows in a single trunk, the crown of the tree is absent, flower primordia develop on the lateral branches, and then fruits appear.
For gardening lovers, this apple tree is considered a feature, in addition to being unusual, this tree also presents with generous harvests, covering an area 4-5 times smaller than a simple crop. Planting a columnar apple tree in spring is an ideal period for such a wonderful plant.
Tree advantages
The apple tree reaches a height of almost 2.5 m, has a remarkable yield and a varied taste, depending on the variety taken. Many gardeners choose the Canadian "Leader", recognizing it as the most reliable and in need of less care and labor. Care should be taken with the crop, especially the upper kidney, which is called the peak of growth. For the tree to grow tall, the first 2-3 years do not prune it, allowing the apple tree to grow stronger.
One plant can be ugly already in the second year, and over the next ten years you can get good fees. Large fruits with different colors and sweet and sour taste - this is what a columnar apple tree is rich in. Caring for her also plays an important role in this. It is necessary to mow the grass around the crop, providing the trunk with free space, perform regular watering (lack of moisture manifests itself in the form of yellowed leaves) and mulch.
How to plant
The planting of colon-shaped apple trees is wonderful if one-year-old seedlings are used as the basis for planting raw materials. It's just that they are much better able to withstand transplantation than adults. If the purchased seedlings are planned to be transported, then it is worth worrying about wetting the root system in advance. This should be done so that the columnar apple tree itself does not dry out. Caring for it in the future will be much simpler, and the tree itself will not immediately become ill.
When buying seedlings, it is very important to examine the entire planting material for the presence of damage by pests or diseases. The plant should not be overdried and without leaves. It would be prudent to preliminarily determine the suitability of a planting crop for the climatic environment where its planting is planned.
Planting process
Planting a columnar apple tree in spring involves digging holes and introducing humus into them. The volume of the planting pit is planned, going beyond the size of the root system of the seedling. In other words, the roots of the tree should feel spacious, and at the same time, the place of grafting must be placed above the ground.
A columnar culture should be planted in the garden according to the scheme - 50x200 cm. In the rows, the seedlings will be more compacted (40-50 cm), and the aisles will remain free (1.5-2 m). You also need to calculate the height at which this variety will grow.
Than fertilize
Planting a columnar apple tree in spring must necessarily be done with top dressing, which will significantly enhance the soil property. Here you can apply such fertilizers:
- dolomite flour (if the earth has a high acidity), 100 g per 1 sq. m landing site;
- 60 g of potassium and 70 g of superphosphate are added to each pit;
- adding compost - 15 kg per 1 sq. km. m (this is only if the landing pits are prepared in advance).
Completion
The process of planting columnar trees, as a rule, does not take much time and does not take up strength, as well as planting a simple pear or apple tree in the garden. All that is needed is to lower the root system of the seedling into the prepared hole and provide at this stage minimal care: it is good to water and sprinkle with soil. For watering, it is better to take warm water.
How to care
A column-shaped apple tree for care is almost no different from a simple apple culture. But, nevertheless, there are some tips for careful tree care.
- Planting a columnar apple tree in spring and summer should be done with fertilizing seedlings 3-4 times with slurry 1:10 or with fermented chicken droppings at a ratio of 1:30. Urea or nitrate will also work (you need 1 tbsp. L. Per bucket of water).
- So that the process of maturation of the top of the kidney occurs faster, you should remove 2/3 of the leaf strip from the 4 upper leaves, preferably in mid-August.
- Do not forget that the apple trees bring good harvests, they must constantly be provided with mineral nutrition, water and protected from diseases and pests.
- The leaves at the trunks should always be healthy, therefore, preventive spraying with drugs for an ordinary apple tree from pests and diseases is required.
- For the winter period, care should be taken to protect against hares and mice.
- Young trees (up to two years) for the winter should be protected from severe frosts, while using improvised raw materials (straw, pine conifer or shavings).
Colon-shaped apple trees for Moscow region
Frost-resistant varieties are grown in this area. In the Moscow region, the columnar apple tree “President” is quite famous. This variety has large fruits (150-250 g) with juicy pulp and white-yellow color. Apples are ripened by the end of summer and the beginning of autumn.
The culture of the Ostankino variety is very popular due to its generous harvest (6-9 kg), as well as huge fruits with a red tint and a wonderful taste.
Also, the columnar-shaped “Vasyugan” apple tree, which is distinguished by large sweet and sour fruits, does not go unnoticed. This variety brings 6-7 kg of fruit from one small tree.
No less famous in Moscow gardens is the Medok apple tree, which has a delicate yellow color, a fragrant smell, and also a sweet taste. This variety ripens by the end of August or by the beginning of September. The fruits of the “Medok” gain weight up to 250 g. Their skin is thick, and the flesh is very tender and juicy. The yield of such a culture reaches 9-10 kg.
In the suburbs are still very famous miniature trees of the Malyukha variety with small fruits. They give medium-sized oblong apples (100 g) of a greenish-yellow color with a wonderful taste.
Apple-tree columnar "Vasyugan"
Such a culture belongs to semi-dwarf varieties, its height reaches three meters. Apple-tree “Vasyugan” has a densely growing crown, as well as a lot of chaffers on which fruiting is taking place.
There are many characteristics that a columnar apple has. Their description is given below:
- this type of variety is summer; ripening begins in late August and lasts until mid-September;
- early crop, begins to bear fruit in the first year after planting, for 4-5 years - this is a good harvest;
- strong apples, medium and large sizes (100-200 g), conical shape, bright red-striped color with a thick peel;
- the taste of the fruit is sweet and sour, the smell is very pleasant;
- one tree gives a yield of 5-6 kg;
- fairly high resistance to diseases and pests;
- Vasyugan variety is characterized by excellent frost resistance and can withstand cold up to minus 42 degrees;
- apples are stored for one month, are great for drying and preserving, can be consumed in kind.
Variety "Necklace"
The Moscow-shaped apple-tree, like most similar ones, has a height of 1.5-2 m. This variety is early-growing, and no more than 5 kg of juicy, dark red apples with excellent taste ripen in a year after planting. In the fifth year after planting, the crop bears fruit up to 12-15 kg. The fruits appear in a standard round burgundy color with smooth skin, sweet dessert flavor and a pleasant aroma.
The ripening period of the Moscow Necklace apple-tree falls in early autumn and early September. The fruits themselves are stored until spring (March-April). Colon-shaped trees of this variety are compact and small. On the site, which is a simple apple tree, you can plant up to 30 columnar trees. The admissible interval between cultures is 70-100 cm. The fruits of the Moscow Necklace variety are spiced evenly along the entire length of the trunk. The tree is susceptible to fruit preponderance, and to avoid damage to the plant, it is necessary to thin out the apple ovaries.
The columnar apple-tree "Necklace" differs in good resistance to any diseases and is almost insensitive to scab. This popular variety has high winter hardiness, is remarkably accepted and brings generous crops, which is very pleasing to domestic gardeners.