Column-shaped apple trees are one of the new forms of dwarf varieties that fit very well in small garden areas. Trees have no branches and carry all or almost all of the crop on the trunk. In the garden, the columnar apple trees look original and a bit unusual.
Apple variety Moscow necklace
This is one of the types of mid-height half-dwarf trees, in which the height does not exceed 2-3 meters. Apple-tree Moscow necklace is resistant to diseases and pests, hardy, photophilous, loves fertile fresh soil. The tree has a neat dense columnar brown crown and a rather small trunk, which saves space on the site. The apple-tree columnar Moscow necklace has a fairly stable root system, which allows the tree to tolerate the transplant well. The leaves are dark green, short-pointed, elliptical in shape. The flowers of the apple tree are pink-white, rounded, flat. Fruits a tree from 5 years. Productivity comes quite late (late September - early October). From an adult tree, an average of 6 to 10 kg of apples can be harvested.
Apple-tree Moscow necklace: description of fruits
Apples are large (150-170 g), beautiful, regular spherical shape. The color is dark red with a shiny, poured skin that shimmers in the sun. The taste is dessert, sweet enough, with a slight acidity. The apple has a rich, pleasant aroma. The pulp is very juicy, creamy. The fruits are well preserved until January, they are consumed both fresh and for all types of home canning. According to most experts, today the columnar apple-tree Moscow necklace belongs to the most delicious and beautiful look.
Grade Advantages
Apple-tree columnar Moscow necklace reviews of gardeners gathered the most positive.
The main advantages of the variety include:
- plentiful productivity;
- excellent winter hardiness;
- wonderful taste and marketability;
- the grade is resistant to scab.
In addition, the Moscow necklace apple tree reviews has the following: early maturity, ease of care and decorativeness, which allows it to occupy a special place in amateur gardening. The new miniature tree shape attracts with more comfortable and convenient care conditions. Apple-tree Moscow necklace does not have large branches, so there is no need for labor-intensive pruning, which is also usually done in the cold season. A small tree (2-3 m). Due to the lack of crown, the control of pests and various diseases, fertilizing, and loosening of the soil is facilitated. Harvesting is also convenient - no ladder required. Column-shaped apple trees, planted as recommended (in a row every 40 cm), well-groomed and properly formed, are distinguished by their decorative qualities, especially when they bloom and bear fruit.
The disadvantages include a rather high price and a short fruiting period. So, already 7-8 years after planting seedlings, productivity is significantly reduced and there is a need to replace trees with young ones.
Buying seedlings
For planting, it is recommended to use annual seedlings. As a rule, unlike adult plants, they tolerate transplant much better. If the purchased seedlings need transportation, moisten the root system in advance. This is necessary so that before planting the roots do not dry out and after planting the trees are less sick.
In addition, when buying seedlings, one should examine the planting material, its condition, whether there are any lesions (pests or diseases). The apple tree should be without foliage, not overdried and not have signs of mechanical damage.
Landing
Variety of columnar apple trees Moscow gardeners necklace, so to speak, “with experience” is recommended to be planted in the fall (September-October). Spring planting can lead to a not very desirable result - flowering in the first year.
To plant a columnar apple tree, a pit is dug up and fertilizers are introduced into it. The size of the landing pit is calculated based on the size of the root system of the tree. The roots of the apple tree should feel quite spacious. The vaccination site should be located above ground level.
A columnar apple tree The Moscow necklace is planted in the garden according to the following pattern: the distance between rows is 1 m, and between the seedlings is 40-50 cm. The planting process does not take much time and effort. All that is needed is to lower the seedling into a well prepared in advance, or rather its root system, water it abundantly and fill it with soil. The first 2 months after planting a seedling is the most critical time. Care must be taken to ensure that the soil does not dry out. For watering, it is better to use warm water.
Top dressing
When planting in a pit, you can first add a bucket of compost or humus. It is also recommended to use the following fertilizers to improve soil quality:
- Potassium (60 g) and superphosphate (70 g). Feeding is added to each pit.
- Dolomite flour. Used for soil with high acidity. 100 g per 1 sq. M is added. landing area.
Crown formation
A columnar apple tree practically does not need pruning. To form a columnar crown, the top is pinched at the tree. It must be borne in mind that in severe frosts the top of such a tree can completely freeze and disappear. In this case, the damaged central trunk must be removed before the first strong shoot. It will be a continuation of the central one, since the branches of the seedling are arranged vertically. Horizontally, the branches of a columnar apple tree do not grow.
With a healthy apical kidney, only the main shoot develops. In case of damage (frost or pests), shoots competing among themselves are formed on the trunk, of which only the strongest is left. The rest, when they reach 15-20 cm, are cut out. Sometimes a columnar apple tree can produce long lateral shoots. They in an early state, while they are still soft and green, should be removed. In this case, the tree is practically not injured and does not get sick. Slices are processed by garden var or drying oil.
Care
Caring for a colon-shaped apple tree is quite simple and consists in the systematic watering and top dressing of a tree. In addition, it is necessary to carry out pest control and trimming the trunk to prevent the growth of side shoots. You can feed the garden with apple-columns from the end of May.
Particular attention should be paid to watering, especially during the first year after planting and in the absence of rain. Apple trees in such periods should be watered abundantly 1-2 times a week. During the flowering of trees to attract bees, they can be irrigated with sugar syrup.
Pest control
Apple-tree Moscow necklace is sprayed against insects with standard solutions. Diseases and pests in trees are as follows: scab, spotting, moniliosis, moth and aphid, a very harmful Schlechtendal tick, which is very microscopic in size and feeds on the juice of young leaves. The female lays up to several million eggs. Young leaves and shoots begin to darken, coarsen like rough paper, and stop growing. Against diseases and pests every 10 days, they are treated with acaricides. Stop 20 days before harvest. Then continue to process again. But one must not overdo it with chemicals. To combat scab, they are treated with a biological product, odorous herbs are sown from the moth. It is recommended to install birdhouses nearby, birds will help in pest control.
The columnar apple-tree Moscow necklace, the reviews of which are listed above, is interesting for gardeners with a small crown area, its high productivity, and the convenience of collecting autumn crops. With proper care, protection from pests and top dressing, the trees will always be healthy, the fruits will be large, ruddy and very tasty, and the garden will actively bear fruit for 6-10 years.