Increasingly, in garden areas you can find a compact elegant tree - a columnar apple tree. Despite its small size, it delights gardeners with an abundant harvest of apples. One of the favorite varieties should be called a colony-shaped apple "malyuha", a description and photo of which we will familiarize with in this article.
Origin
The first columnar apple tree appeared in Canada after an unusual branch was spotted on one of the Macintosh apple trees: very thick with a complete absence of lateral shoots. Apples in large numbers hung on underdeveloped shoots. It was she who was used to obtain the Vazhak variety, which became the ancestor of all colon-shaped apple trees in different countries. In Russia, such an apple tree appeared in 1972, when Professor V.V. Kichina, using pollen from Vazhak, crossed the brown striped apple tree with a variety of apple trees.
Colony-shaped apple "Malyukha": variety description
Apple tree "baby" refers to dwarfs, its growth does not exceed 180 centimeters. It successfully combines decorative and fruit tree. This variety is preferable to grow in the Urals and in the middle zone of Russia. Due to their small growth and elegant appearance, these apple trees are used in landscaping. The trunk of the tree of the columnar apple tree "malyuha" is an elegant and miniature column with a neat and compact crown. Fruits are evenly distributed over the entire height of the trunk.
Ripening time
Colony-shaped apple "malyuha" refers to late-ripening varieties by maturity, fruiting begins in early September. The variety "malyuha" is considered to be early-growing - in the first year it is already possible to harvest, which will amount to only a few apples. Some experts believe that the flowers should be cut off in the first bloom , to enable the tree to take root and take root better. The first full-fledged picking of apples will take place not earlier than four years, and five years later, with proper proper care, the harvest from one tree of the colony-shaped apple "malyuha" can reach 12-15 kilograms. The life expectancy of an apple tree of this variety is about 10 years.
Fruit Description
Yellow-green apples with a coral blush, slightly elongated fruits. Apples varieties "Malyuha" belong to the table dessert varieties. The weight of one apple can reach 250 grams. With improper care, not only the size of the apples decreases, but also the yield.
Taste
The flesh is pale yellow, sweet-sour taste with a high content of juice, easily chipped. They have a delicate taste and have the aroma of honey and cinnamon. According to organoleptic indicators, apples "malyuha" are considered one of the most delicious varieties.
Benefits
Like many fruit crops, colony-shaped apple trees of the "malyuha" variety have their advantages:
- The small height of the tree makes it easy to care for the crop and harvest.
- Thanks to their miniature size, a more compact planting of trees is possible.
- Apples hold tight to branches and do not fall.
- As can be seen from the photo presented in this article, the colony-shaped apple "malyuha" has a beautiful decorative appearance, which allows them to be used for site design.
- When choosing a variety of "baby" for planting in regions with colder climates, its winter hardiness is of great importance.
- Another advantage is the early maturity of the variety, a small crop can be harvested in the first year after planting.
- The apple trees of the "malyuha" variety have rather large fruits.
- Apples when properly stored can not lose their commercial quality until January.
- The variety is resistant to scab and some other diseases.
Landing
Acquired apple seedlings should be held in water for 24 hours to make up for lost moisture. It is possible to plant seedlings of apple "Malyuha" in spring in April or in autumn in September-October. First, before landing, you should choose a place that meets these requirements:
- Plant apple trees in open sunny places, plants are very sensitive to light. With a lack of lighting, yield decreases.
- Plants must be well protected from drafts.
- Groundwater should not be located close to the surface of the earth.
- It is advisable to plant seedlings of a columnar apple-tree of "malyuha" in a warm bed.
- The land should be selected fertile with good drainage.
After choosing a place, a landing pit is prepared, it is advisable to dig it out a couple of weeks before the proposed landing. The width of the hole should not be less than 50 centimeters, and the depth should be chosen taking into account the length of the roots. Typically, apple trees of this species are planted in rows, the distance between them should be left about 1 meter 30 centimeters, and the distance between the trees - 70 centimeters.
When planting, it is recommended to make a warm bed in order to create more comfortable conditions for the growth of the colony-shaped apple "malyuha". According to the description, the garden bed is made as follows: a hole of the required depth is prepared, ordinary plastic bottles are laid on its bottom, compost is poured on top. Various plant residues are laid with the next layer, then sawdust and a layer of earth is poured. In the “pillow” prepared in this way, the apple “malyuha” is planted. One more rule to observe when planting: the root neck can not be covered with earth. After the seedlings are planted, they should be well shed with water and mulched. It is advisable to put a support for the plant and tie it up to protect the seedling from the weather and wind.
Care
Special care for apple trees of this variety is not required, it consists in the following activities:
- timely watering;
- weed removal, loosening;
- top dressing;
- protection against various diseases and pests;
- pruning.
Despite the fact that this variety is frost-resistant, trees should be insulated for the winter.
Watering
Colony-shaped apple trees of "malyuha" are very sensitive to watering, especially in the first year. It is necessary to ensure that the soil always remains moist at a depth of 5 centimeters. If sunny weather is dry, watering is done at least 2 times a week.
Top dressing
First of all, you need to remember that fertilizing is never applied to dry soil, first you need to water the plants. In the first year, nitroammophoska in the amount of 50 grams per plant is applied as fertilizer. A month later, the sapling is fed with a urea solution (2 tbsp.spoons per 10 liters of water). In the third feeding - after a month - use urea or nitroammophoska in the same proportions.
Weeding and cultivation
Usually these two procedures are carried out simultaneously. In order to make the process less time-consuming, experienced gardeners recommend zamulchivat tree trunks.
Plant protection
Apple trees of this variety are quite resistant to various diseases and pests. But still in the spring it is necessary to carry out preventive measures with fungicides and special pest control drugs. Near the trunk of the apple tree, “Thunder” will be used for protection against ants. If there are no ants on the seedlings, then the aphid will not appear. To prevent the rodents from damaging the trunk in winter, they wrap it with roofing material and a netting net.
Pruning
You need to know that, if you do not prune the colon-shaped apple trees, they lose their shape and age quickly. Pruning is carried out in the second year after planting, side horizontal branches are removed. The uppermost and strongest escape is not touched. Circumcision of the branches is carried out according to this scheme:
- 2nd year of life - lateral branches to the second buds are removed, in the summer new shoots will form from them.
- 3rd year - annual shoots begin to bear fruit, cut off all young shoots.
- 4th year - branches bearing fruit last year are removed, with the remaining shoots they work anew according to the same scheme.
Colony-shaped apple "malyuha": reviews
Gardeners with apple varieties of malyuha on their plots note the high yield of the variety, excellent palatability of apples, and long shelf life. The variety is especially popular with owners of small plots, because in a small area you can plant more of these plants and achieve high yields. Use columnar apple trees for design.