Content
Weather conditions in North-West Russia are quite unstable; a hot day can be replaced by a cold night with sub-zero temperatures. If we add here strong winds and high humidity, the climate for the growth of fruit crops is very doubtful. Therefore, varieties of columnar apple trees for the Leningrad region were bred to be stress-resistant, winter-hardy, with strong immunity and rapid fruit ripening.
Features of the region
The northwestern part, which includes the Leningrad region, is characterized by weather instability. The region is located in the temperate zone. Due to frequent changes in the direction of air flows, the Leningrad region is characterized by features of both oceanic and continental climates:
- Those coming from the western direction bring with them wind, precipitation, and fog in the warm season. In winter they cause a sharp increase in temperature and thaw.
- At the time of the eastern and southern anticyclones, the weather is dry, hot in summer, and frosty in winter.
- Nordic flows from the Kara Sea bring clear but cold weather. During this period, the lowest temperatures are observed in winter; frosts are possible in summer.
Due to the sharp, unpredictable change in flows, it is quite difficult to predict the temperature in the Leningrad region. On average summer temperatures are +18-20 0C, winter -17-25 0C.
The arrival of spring in the Leningrad region occurs after the melting of ice and snow cover, but the process of sap flow in plants begins much later. Swelling of buds on trees is observed only in mid-May. Temperatures begin to drop to zero from the second half of November. In general, the Leningrad region has short summers and long winters.
There are many lakes and reservoirs in the region. Among them there are quite large ones: Onega, Ladoga, Gulf of Finland. Because of them, air humidity is always high.
In such climatic conditions, not all varieties of apple trees will be able to survive, not to mention bear fruit,
Special hybrids calmly respond to weather variability and manage to produce a harvest in a short summer
The best varieties of columnar apple trees for the Leningrad region and the North-West
These are mainly hybrids on varietal rootstock. The group of columnar apple trees includes dwarfs that do not grow more than 50 cm, semi-dwarfs with a height of 1.5-2 m, medium-sized ones with a height of 2.5-35 m and tall ones with a height of 5 m or more. But all varieties are characterized by weak shoot formation and thick branches located at an acute angle.
The fruits are formed on short branches located both along the central trunk and along the branches.Columnar apple trees were created taking into account all the climatic features of the Leningrad region. Below are several popular varieties from the State Register.
Garland
Varietal description of the columnar apple tree:
- autumn variety;
- blooms in the second season;
- the optimal yield is reached in the fourth year, up to 15 kg of harvest is taken from the tree;
- height of the columnar apple tree – 2.5 m, width – 30 cm, does not form lateral branches;
- fruits are elongated and round, green, with a pale blush, weighing 200-250 g;
- juicy pulp, light green, with a predominance of sugars.
The columnar apple tree Garland is suitable for cultivation throughout the temperate climate zone, and not just in the Leningrad region.
The fruits do not lose their presentation and nutritional value until February
Ostankino
The columnar apple tree of late autumn ripening reaches a height of up to 2 m. One of the varieties common in the Leningrad region, the variety has been grown since 1976. Skeletal branches are short, thick, without branching. The ovaries begin to form at a height of 20 cm from the ground level to the top of the trunk.
The arrangement of apples is dense; 10-15 kg of harvest is taken from a tree in the Leningrad region. At five years old, the columnar apple tree enters full reproductive age. Blooms in the third season. The apples are round-flat, weighing 150-200 g, yellow-green, most of the surface is covered with a dark burgundy pigment with pronounced red streaks. Shelf life – 3.5 months.
Dessert variety, the presence of acid is insignificant
Nectar
Medok is a variety of columnar apple tree, the sweetest in its group, suitable for cultivation in the Leningrad region.It is formed by one trunk without side branches, up to 3 m high. The fruits ripen at the end of summer, the yield is stable up to 20 kg. The apples are yellow, flat-round, with a pronounced aroma, weighing 100-150 g.
Shelf life no more than 30 days
Arbat
Arbat is a columnar apple tree that forms buds in the fourth year after being placed in a permanent place. It belongs to the mid-late variety; in the Leningrad region the fruits ripen in mid-September. The trunk height is 1.8-2 m, the branch is weak. The root system is powerful, the columnar apple tree is resistant to strong gusts of wind. Fruits weigh 100-120 g, yellow with a large burgundy pigment, peel with a glossy sheen. The pulp is juicy, creamy, aromatic. The yield of an adult tree is 9-11 kg. Apples are stored until December.
Taste: balanced, sweet and sour
Welsey
Welsey is a tall late variety. In the Leningrad region, the harvest is harvested in October. The columnar apple tree reaches a height of up to 5 m. The skeletal branches are thick, short ones are formed at the base of the plant. The fruiting period begins in the third year of growth. Productivity is stable up to 25-30 kg per tree. The apples are round, the main background is golden, the top is dark red, weighing 100-120 g. The pulp is dense, juicy, with a delicate aroma, sweet and sour, with a deficiency of ultraviolet radiation, acid predominates.
The variety is transportable, the harvest can be stored for up to four months
Friendly
Druzhnoye is a mid-late columnar apple tree variety. The fruits in the Leningrad region ripen at the end of September. The crown is compact, without branching, height up to 2 m. The first apples are harvested in the second season, at four years it reaches the peak of fruiting, the figure is 15-18 kg per tree, stable. The apples are yellow-green with a dark red blush covering most of the surface.The pulp is juicy, dense, aromatic, with a predominant acidity in taste.
Apples weighing up to 180 g retain nutritional value until the end of February
Arkhangelsky, or Zhukovka
The columnar variety of the Arkhangelsky apple tree has appeared on the seed market relatively recently. It was created specifically for the Leningrad region. The plant is completely without branching, up to 2.5 m high. Fruits weighing up to 200 g, rounded, elongated, green surface with a weak pink pigment. Sweet and sour pulp with a green tint, juicy, weak aroma.
Zhukovka is a mid-late variety; the harvest ripens from mid-September
The president
President is a columnar, semi-dwarf apple tree, the trunk height does not exceed 1.5 m. There is no branching. The variety is early, harvested in the Leningrad region in mid-August. The fruits are not leveled, 130-170 g average weight. The yield is the same every season (up to 12 kg). Shelf life – 30 days. The peel is thin, yellow, the blush is small and weakly expressed.
The taste of apples is closer to sweet; the more ultraviolet radiation, the less acid
Antey
Columnar apple tree Antey is a common variety in the Leningrad region. The height of the tree is up to 3 meters; there are short thick skeletal branches at the base. Blooms in the third year of growing season. Fruiting is stable, yield up to 40 kg. The fruits weigh 180-220 g, light green with a large burgundy blush. Ripen in mid-October. The pulp is light beige, fine-grained, sweet and sour, with a pronounced aroma.
The Antey variety has a shelf life of up to March.
How to choose the right one
In the varietal characteristics of a columnar apple tree, the following qualities are a priority for the Leningrad region:
- precociousness;
- stable immunity to fungal infection, this is especially true with high humidity in the region;
- winter hardiness, the tree should not be afraid of return frosts;
- rapid ripening of fruits or the possibility of harvesting at the stage of technical ripeness;
- sufficient shelf life;
- versatility in use;
- frost resistance.
Seedlings that are zoned or specially created for the region are purchased from nurseries located close to the place of growth.
Features of cultivation
In the Leningrad region, columnar apple trees are planted only at the beginning of the season until the buds on the seedlings swell. Over the summer, the apple tree will take root well and overwinter without loss. The site is allocated sunny, without groundwater, the composition of the soil does not matter.
In the fall, the planting site is dug up and organic matter is added. In the spring, a hole is made so deep that the grafting site remains on the surface. The width should be 15 cm greater than the volume of the root system. The recess is drained, the bottom is covered with a mixture of peat and turf layer with the addition of superphosphate. The young seedling is tied to a fixing support.
Follow-up care for columnar apple trees:
- During the planting season, the seedling is not fed. Water as the root circle dries. Loosen and remove weeds. Once placed in the ground, you can mulch it.
- Starting from the next season, nitrogen agents are added in the spring. At the time of budding, phosphorus and organic matter are used. At the beginning of fruit ripening, potassium is given at intervals of three weeks. Water only during drought.
- In the fall, moisture replenishment measures are carried out, they are fed with superphosphate, hilled up, covered with a thick layer of mulch and wrapped around the trunk to protect against rodents.
Columnar apple trees without branching do not need pruning; if there are stem branches, they are shortened by 2/3 of their length after sap flow. All apple trees are resistant to infection, but for prevention purposes they can be treated in the spring with any antifungal drug.
Conclusion
The varieties of columnar apple trees for the Leningrad region meet the requirements dictated by the regional climate in their characteristics. All varieties are early-bearing, with stable fruiting. Frost-resistant, the fruits have time to ripen during a relatively short summer. Stress-resistant, do not react to sudden temperature changes. Columnar apple trees are ideal for small areas. The maximum crown diameter of this group is no more than 50 cm.
Reviews of columnar apple trees in the Leningrad region
