Colon-shaped apple trees: description and characteristics of the variety, including in Siberia + photos and reviews

Column-shaped apple trees - a clone of an ordinary apple tree that appeared due to random mutations - are very popular in private households and large agricultural holdings due to the rapid start of fruiting and the ability to place a lot of land on a small trees. Varietal variety of columnar apple trees allows you to choose the right one for any site.

The history of the appearance of columnar apple trees

This variety of apple trees appeared by chance in 1964 in Canada. On one of the old apple trees of the Mekintosh variety, a branch was found with a large number of fruit-bearing shoots, but without lateral branches. The apples on these shoots grew a lot.

Subsequently, the branch was propagated, named Vazhak and was used to breed varieties of columnar apple trees. In the early 70s of the last century, low seedlings first came to Russia and were crossed with the traditional cinnamon striped variety. Engaged in the selection of a new variety of apple trees, Professor Viktor Valeryanovich Kichina. About 30 years he devoted work on the creation of varieties of columnar apple trees, in which the positive qualities of the clone were improved and its winter hardiness was increased.

This clone got its name due to its appearance - low strong trunks and really remind columns. On the web there is a spelling with one letter “n” - a columnar apple tree, but it is incorrect.

How columnar trees grow and bear fruit

The trunk of this clone of the apple tree is thickened, short twigs (rings) depart from it at an acute angle, at the ends of which flower buds are formed and subsequently - fruits. The internodes (sections of the stem between the places of attachment of the leaves) are much shorter than on a regular apple tree. Most varieties may have lateral branches, but they are weak, thin and few, growing only the first 2-3 years.

If, as a result of frost or other problems, the apical kidney of the columnar apple tree is damaged, branching is more active. In addition, it depends on growing conditions: the frequency of irrigation and top dressing, the density of planting of apple trees. The growth of the lateral branches can be stopped if the shoots are cut two or three times a season.

The trunk of a columnar apple tree can reach a height of 2 m. It is covered with apples on all sides. Due to this feature, trees can be placed very densely. Even on the standard six acres will accommodate more than 10 low apple trees. Usually they begin to produce fruits from 3 years of age and bear fruit up to 15 years. The most productive varieties can give about 3 kg of delicious apples in the first year of life.

Column-shaped apple trees are very decorative - both during flowering and during fruit ripening. In warm regions, they do not require special care, and in places with frosty winters, planting is better to shelter for the cold season, since this allows a low growth.

Like any plants, columnar apple trees have their advantages and disadvantages. The pluses include:

• early maturity;
• a large number of fruit twigs;
• high planting density, due to which different varieties of apple trees can be planted in a small area;
  

  Thanks to the compact crown, many columnar apple trees can be planted in a small area

• good winter hardiness of adult apple trees;
• simple care - and spraying from pests, and protecting low trees from rodents is much more convenient;
• high productivity (it is clear that you can’t collect several buckets from a “column”, but if you count per unit area, columnar apple trees are more productive than ordinary ones;
• convenient harvesting;
• decorativeness;
• good crown lighting;
• no need for cropping.
  

Of the minuses note:

• the high cost of seedlings (especially if you plan to plant a lot of apple trees);
• frequent freezing of young apple trees (in the early years of growth, flowering plants often also suffer from kidneys, and bark), because of which they need to be covered with several layers of spunbond, and in small areas, also sprinkle snow
  

  The apical bud of a young columnar apple tree may freeze if it is not covered for the winter

• a high probability of death of an apple tree damaged by rodents (in contrast to the usual variety, where small damage is easy to eliminate).

Video: some popular varieties of apple columns

Popular varieties of columnar apple trees for Central Russia

For more than half a century that have passed since the appearance of columnar apple trees, many varieties of this clone have been bred. The best qualities (winter hardiness, good immunity, productivity) boast popular varieties included in the State Register of Selection Achievements of the Russian Federation.

Moscow necklace

A columnar apple tree will delight gardeners with greenish-red apples with red blush, which are sung by October and lie well until the New Year. Small fruits weighing 130 g each have a round shape and good taste, estimated by tasters at 4.3 points. This is a winter-hardy and early-growing variety - the crop can be harvested already in the second year.

Amber Necklace

Fruits weighing up to 130 g, with a greenish, juicy flesh with good taste, ripen on a medium-sized autumn apple tree, greenish-yellow with a pale pink blush. The variety is also quick-growing and more productive than the Moscow necklace. If with 1 square. m of the first one can collect no more than 2 kg of apples, then from the Amber necklace - 2.5 kg.

Malyukha

Mid-late variety, apples ripen in the fall. Thin brown shoots with dark green leaves extend from the medium stem. Fruits are rounded conical, small, light yellow, weighing up to 70 g. The taste of juicy creamy pulp is sweet, freshish, estimated at 4.8 points.

Ostankino

This fast-growing variety bears fruit in late autumn. Large dark green leaves grow on a gray-green trunk. Light yellow, flattened, with a purple blush, the fruits grow to 110 g. Their taste is sweet and sour, the pulp is white and juicy. Ostankino variety tolerates the winters of Central Russia and is relatively resistant to the frequent disease of apple trees - scab.

Currency

A fast-growing late-ripening variety with a dense crown fructifies with large apples weighing up to 240 g. The skin color is light yellow with an orange-red blush. Variety apples are very fragrant, with white juicy pulp and a sour-sweet taste. The tree does not tolerate drought, but in the conditions of the Central region with rainy summers, for which the variety is zoned, it grows successfully. Resistant to scab. The currency is not hasty - the crop can only be obtained in the third year.

The president

Another medium-sized fast-growing variety. By maturity - early winter. Compact thick shoots extend from a strong gray-green trunk. This is one of the largest-fruited columnar varieties - from a low tree (up to 2 m) you can get fruits weighing up to 300 g.

In shape, they look like turnips, whitish in color and sweet and sour taste. The pulp is also white, slightly aromatic, but very juicy. The president does not tolerate extreme heat and dryness. Fruiting begins in the third year after planting.

Video: description of apple trees of varieties President and Medok

Varieties of early columnar apple trees for Siberia and the Urals

In the State Register of Breeding Achievements of the Russian Federation, it will not be possible to find varieties of columnar apple trees that are bred specifically for regions with severe climate, but among varietal diversity you can choose the most suitable for the Siberian and Ural climate with short summers and frosty in the winter.

Iksha

Winter-hardy apple tree (tolerates frosts up to –42 ° C) has good immunity to scab and is rarely affected by pests. Already in the first year after planting in late summer, it can please small green apples (weighing 80–140 g) with an orange blush, and in a couple of years it will be possible to collect up to 6 kg from one tree the crop. The taste of juicy cream pulp is sweet and sour, with a pronounced saffron aroma. Iksha should not be overfed with nitrogen fertilizers, since the variety is prone to form side shoots.

Dialogue

Although originally a summer variety and bred for the Central region, high winter hardiness (up to –40 ° C) allows it to be grown in areas with very cold winters. The tree grows up to 2.5 m, the apples are light yellow, with white, juicy, slightly aromatic pulp of a sweet and sour taste. The variety is not early ripening, it begins to bear fruit only in the third year, but the fruits can be harvested already in early August. You can get about 5 kg of apples from one tree. The dialogue is self-fertile, so it must be planted next to other varieties that bloom at the same time.

Vasyugan

The variety is also zoned for Central Russia, but is successfully grown in Siberia and the Urals. The color of apples weighing 100-140 g is green, on top they are covered with a pink-red blush. The fruits ripen in late summer, stored for about a month. The apple tree gives the first crop already in the first year, by the fourth year it is possible to collect from 6 kg from one tree, the height of which can reach 3 m. Excellent winter hardiness (up to –45 ° С) protects young trees from freezing.

The best varieties of columnar apple trees for the Russian North

The short, often rainy and cold summers of the Russian North require apple varieties that mature early. Although the shelf life of such fruits is short-lived, the taste and aroma of apples grown in their area is a reward to any gardener.

Triumph

Harvest with this low (up to 2 m) apple trees can be harvested already in mid-September. Its fruits weigh up to 150 g, are covered with a dark red striped blush. Bright white flesh with a honey flavor and a slight acidity has a pronounced apple flavor. Triumph begins to bear fruit in the second year, can yield up to 6 kg per tree. The winter hardiness of the variety is medium, but the apple tree is resistant to scab and is not afraid of pests.

Cheburashka

Large white-green apples (weighing 150-180 g) on ​​a tree with a funny name ripen by mid-August. They are sweet to taste. The variety is medium resistant to scab, it is better to grow it in sunny, well-blown areas.

Chervonets

Light yellow apples with raspberry blush grow up to 200 g. Their taste is dessert, sweet with a slight acidity. The pulp is white, juicy. Harvest can be expected in the second or third year after planting, it matures by the end of September. It needs to be collected on time, since when overripe, the flesh becomes cottony. Chervonets has high productivity, but to maintain it, another pollinator must be planted nearby.

Features planting columnar apple trees

Such apple trees cannot stand strong winds and grow poorly in the shade, so you should choose a sunny, but closed, area for planting. The root system of the columns is weak, close to the surface, they need light, water- and breathable soil, drainage is mandatory.

Most likely they won’t bear fruit on poor soils, they must fertilize six months before planting humus, season with mineral fertilizers (phosphorus-potash) and wood ash (1 glass per tree). Planting pits are located at a distance of 40-60 cm, between rows - 1 m. The dimensions of the pit are determined based on the size of the earthen coma of the seedling, as a standard it is 40 × 40 or 50 × 50 cm.

It is better to buy annual seedlings that take root easier.

Landing is performed in spring, while the buds have not yet blossomed.

Procedure:

1. Drainage is poured into the pit with a layer of 20–25 cm.
2. Part of the fertile soil taken from the pit prepared in the fall is poured on top.
3. The trunk of the apple tree is placed vertically, spread its roots.
   

   Before falling asleep the roots of the columnar apple tree, they are straightened

4. Fall asleep a hole from the edges to the seedling.
5. Drive in a count.
6. Tamp the soil, making sure that the site of vaccination was 2 cm above the ground, and watered with water at room temperature.
7. Tie the apple tree to the stake, mulch the trunk circle.
   

   A planted columnar apple is tied to a stake

Subsequently, the seedling is watered through a special groove (a bucket of water on a tree) dug along the border of the trunk circle so as not to wash the roots close to the ground outside.

Features of care for apple-columns, fruiting rules

Unlike ordinary apple trees, columnar plants almost do not cut, because they almost do not form lateral shoots. However, sometimes such shoots can form if the apical bud is frozen. They can be left, forming an apple tree in three trunks (this method is called "candelabrum"), and they will bear fruit, however, the tree will lose the characteristic appearance of the column. Or you can remove all the side branches in the second year of life of the apple tree.

Video: pruning columnar apple trees by years

Which way to apply depends on the region of cultivation:

• where there is a risk of freezing of the apical kidney, the lateral branches are left as backup;
• in areas with warm winters, the side branches are removed so that they do not take on part of the nutrients and the crop is not reduced.
  

  Column-shaped apple trees usually form in one trunk, leaving only fruiting gloves (short shoots with flower buds)

Feeding small apple trees is necessary, because they carry a large load. Depending on the composition of the soil, fertilizers are applied in various proportions, observing the standard sequence: in the spring - nitrogen, in the summer - potassium, in the autumn - phosphorus. On poor soils, humus is necessarily added to the mulch. It is advisable to apply all the fertilizers in a dry way, scattering along the tree-trunk circle and carefully sealing them into the ground so as not to damage the nearby roots. Watering under the root with solutions of mineral substances is possible, but not with a stream, but from a watering can or hose with a diffuser.

Mulching and frequent watering (in hot weather - up to 2 times a week) are very important for growing columnar apple trees. The mulch layer should be thick.

Most varieties of columnar apple trees are resistant to diseases and pests. You can carry out preventive treatments that are no different from the treatments of ordinary apple trees.

A mandatory measure is load regulation. It is carried out in three stages:

• in the first year all the ovaries are torn off so that the young seedling is well taken root;
• in the second year, half the flowers are removed;
• in subsequent years, when the apple tree is all covered with flowers, they are thinned out during flowering and during the formation of the ovaries.
  

  In the first year after planting, you need to cut off the flowers from the columnar apple tree

As a result of such work, apples grow larger and the tree does not deplete.

Another essential care item is rodent protection. After all, if the branches of an ordinary apple tree are gnawed by hares in winter, it will not die completely, and low rodent columns can destroy under the root. Therefore, columnar apple trees must be covered with a metal mesh.

Gardeners reviews

About eight years ago, I bought three one-year-olds. They were 40 centimeters. They stayed in my land for 4 or 5 years (I don’t remember exactly), waved up to 2 meters and not a single flower. We cut them nafig ...

Last spring I bought as many as 5 pieces on Sennaya, everything blossomed at once and several apples were tied up on one, but fell off (((Probably, there were not enough nutrients, now everything is in bloom again - we will feed them diligently in this time.

A neighbor-friend grows one 5-7 years (he himself does not remember), there are many apples, but he ties all branches to props, otherwise he will break them. The height of the meter is 3... He didn’t know the variety from the very beginning; the tag was “Column-shaped apple tree”. Taste - for an amateur, but beautiful ...

I also planted two apple trees last year, for the year there was no growth at all, as I planted, they stand. The seedlings were two-year-old, and we are already growing for a year, I doubt very much that they will bear fruit in the next couple of years.

We have been growing such apple trees for 7 years. In the third year they began to give crops, then every year, except for the past after a terrible winter. We really like them. Varieties Barguzin, Ostankino, I do not remember the third. We bought three more varieties a year ago, we are waiting ...

I don’t know the details in terms of variety and other features, but my neighbors have such a baby with good fruit for the fourth or fifth year. It was their first successful experience, so they are going to buy some more of the same seedlings, and part with old large apple trees. I’ll take a look at their successes and, perhaps, I will also. Venue - Southeast of Moscow Region.

Rapidity and productivity, as well as the decorativeness of columnar apple trees attract the attention of gardeners. Despite some of the shortcomings and difficulties of growing, these short beauties are in demand. If you select a variety of columnar apple trees suitable for your region and follow the recommendations for its cultivation, you will soon be able to enjoy fragrant apples.