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It doesn’t matter the size of a summer cottage or a country estate, a good owner always has little space. After all, you want to plant vegetables and fruits, decorate the area with flowers and bushes, set up a gazebo and put up a barbecue, and also artificial ponds are at the peak of popularity today!
It is not surprising that ordinary fruit trees often do not have enough space, because their crowns are spreading and can occupy several square meters of valuable area. The solution to this problem was the emergence of new varieties of garden trees - columnar plums, cherries, pears and apple trees. The main feature of columnar apple trees is their compactness, which is why they quickly gained popularity among summer residents of the Moscow region and other regions of Russia.
The varieties of columnar apple trees suitable for the climate of the Moscow region will be discussed in this article. Here we will talk about the advantages of this type of trees, as well as the features of their cultivation.
Features of columnar apple trees
Columnar apple trees - low miniature trees that begin to bear fruit within two years after planting. Such apple trees are famous for their high yields, and most importantly, they do not take up much space in the garden.
The branches of columnar apple trees are directed upward, they have a strong trunk and are literally strewn with fruits. Externally, the structure of such a tree resembles a column, hence the name of the species.
Gardeners love columnar trees for characteristics such as:
- high productivity;
- unpretentiousness;
- ease of planting and care;
- good survival rate of seedlings;
- miniature.
Of course, columnar trees also have their own characteristics and some disadvantages - these will be discussed below.
Columnar varieties for the Moscow region
The climate of the Moscow region is very ambiguous: there are sultry summers and relatively cold winters. That is why Not all varieties of fruit trees and other crops are suitable for cultivation in this region.
Columnar apple trees for the Moscow region must have a number of characteristics in order to grow normally and bear fruit well in this climate zone. Among these factors:
- Frost resistance. Most columnar apple trees can withstand temperatures down to -20 degrees, while in the Moscow region frosts of over 30 degrees are not uncommon.
- Resistance to fungal infections. Summer in the Moscow region is mostly warm and humid; the weather is often cloudy and cool. In such conditions, fungi and various bacteria multiply especially well, so columnar apple trees are affected by scab, cytosporosis or powdery mildew.A variety for the Moscow region should have good immunity to this kind of infection.
- Precociousness It also doesn’t hurt, because not everyone has the desire and opportunity to wait 5-7 years until the tree begins to bear fruit. While columnar apple trees begin to bear fruit already in the 2-3rd year after planting.
- Frequency of fruiting. Most columnar apple trees are capable of bearing fruit abundantly only once every two years; the next season the tree “rests.” Among the columnar varieties, there are also those that produce consistently high yields every year.
- Resistant to weather conditions. In Moscow, summers are often hot, and long periods of drought, strong winds, hail and other natural disasters are common. Low columnar apple trees with meek shoots are much more stable than tall and spreading trees of the usual variety. Columnar trees tolerate drought well and are not afraid of wind, so such varieties can be safely grown in the Moscow region.
Classification of apple trees
In modern breeding there are hundreds and thousands of varieties of apple trees, and they all differ in some way: yield, fruit quality, taste and color of apples, stability and frost resistance of trees, ripening time, etc.
Probably the most important factor for gardeners is the ripening period of fruits or the growing season - the time during which flowers turn into ovaries and into ripe fruits. Columnar apple trees for the Moscow region, like other varieties, are divided on this basis into three large groups:
- Summer varieties of columnar apple trees, such as Medok or President, ripen in the summer, that is, they have the earliest ripening periods. Typically, the harvest from such apple trees is already harvested in the first half of August. These fruits are tasty fresh, but do not last long.
- Autumn varieties bear fruit in September and include Gin, Titania and Vasyugan. These apples are good both fresh and in jams, compotes, they can be dried or dried. The mid-season harvest is stored better than the early one, but the fruits will not last until spring.
- Winter varieties of columnar apple trees They are distinguished by amazing keeping quality - their fruits can remain intact until February and even March. These columnar apples ripen in late autumn. These include the Moscow Necklace, Arbat and Bolero.
Popular varieties
The best columnar apple trees for the Moscow region are united by one important quality - the ability to survive in a difficult and even harsh climate. Before you buy a seedling and settle on a specific variety, you need to familiarize yourself with the characteristics of each of them. The gardener must understand that any columnar apple tree has both strengths and weaknesses. All these qualities must be weighed and compared with the conditions of a particular site.
Trees and fruits of each variety will be presented in the photo.
Vasyugan
Vasyugan is excellent for the Moscow region because this apple tree can withstand temperatures down to -42 degrees without shelter.Despite the harsh climate tests, the columnar tree pleases with abundant harvests of fairly large apples - the average fruit weight is 200 grams.
The variety is considered semi-dwarf, since its crown is quite massive and spreading. There are many ringlets on the tree, on which apples are tied and ripened. The yield of the columnar variety Vasyugan is stated to be within six kilograms per tree, but this figure can easily be increased by providing the columnar apple tree with sufficient care.
Vasyugan bears fruit already in the year of planting (if the tree was planted in the spring), but you should not immediately expect huge harvests - for the first time it is only a few fruits. Starting from the third year of life, the apple tree bears fruit steadily.
Nectar
Early varieties of columnar apple trees can also grow in the Moscow region; an excellent example is the Medok variety. The fruits of this columnar tree ripen in the first days of autumn.
The Medoc apple tree is characterized by strong immunity, good frost resistance, compact size and high yield. The tree grows no more than two meters in height. Withstands temperature drops in winter down to -40 degrees.
The early fruiting of the columnar variety is very good - in the first year after planting it is quite possible to harvest a full harvest. The yield is excellent - about 6-9 kg from each miniature tree. But the fruits are stored poorly, no more than a month, so they need to be eaten or sold as quickly as possible.
Currency
This apple tree is miniature and compact, frost-resistant and very prolific.A special feature of the columnar variety is the different sizes of its fruits: depending on the growing conditions, the tree can produce large, medium or small fruits.
The apple tree's resistance to fungal infections is simply amazing: most gardeners do without even preventive treatment of the tree. The ripening period is late; apples can be stored for a long time (3-4 months).
With all its advantages, the columnar variety Valyuta is very demanding on the composition of the soil. If the soil is not fed, the apple tree may not bloom in the spring or may not set fruit. It is better to use balanced mineral complexes for apple trees as fertilizer. For good yield, it is recommended to plant a columnar tree in an open area that is well lit by the sun.
The president
Another miniature columnar variety, reaching a maximum height of two meters. The main advantage of this variety is its very high yield. In the first year after planting, you can harvest up to six kilograms of apples; already in the fourth season, the President will give about 20 kg per tree.
Another advantage is the annual abundant fruiting. This apple tree does not need to “rest”; every year its trunk and stems are covered with a huge amount of fruit. The apples are large, their shape is slightly flattened, and their color is pinkish.
The columnar variety is valued both for its frost resistance and for the good survival rate of seedlings in any conditions. Although apples ripen early (in the last days of August), they can be stored for up to six months.
Moscow Necklace
Productivity, resistance to cold, diseases and pests - these are the main advantages of the columnar Moscow Necklace. The tree is small (up to two meters), strewn with leaves and apples - it looks very beautiful.Therefore, the variety is often used in landscape design, so the apple tree can not only feed the family, but also decorate the area.
The roots of the columnar variety are elastic and undemanding, so the apple tree takes root well. The fruits of the variety are large - weighing about 250 grams, with a blush. The apples have a pleasant, dessert taste – sweetness with a slight sourness.
Harvested in mid-September, apples can be stored for several months if placed in suitable conditions. The highest yields are observed in columnar trees planted in well-lit areas with loamy or sandy loam soil.
Malyukha
The columnar tree of this variety is literally strewn with large egg-yellow fruits. Apples weigh from 150 to 200 grams, have a good taste, and are often called dessert apples.
The gardener should be aware that Malyukha is not as frost-resistant as the other varieties listed here. Therefore, a tree in the Moscow region will have to be covered with rags or other materials. A columnar tree may lose its original shape, so Malyukha needs to be regularly pruned to form its crown.
The apple tree prefers light, moisture-permeable soils and loves sun and space. The little one does not tolerate wind well, so secluded corners of the garden are preferable for planting.
Review
Conclusion
Not all columnar apple trees are suitable for growing in the climate of the Moscow region, but there are several varieties that are excellent for such conditions. In order to grow and bear fruit in a difficult climate, a variety must have a number of certain factors, including frost resistance, disease resistance, early fruiting, and unpretentiousness. If a gardener from the Moscow region wants to plant a columnar tree in his garden, it is better to choose a variety from the list above.
