Content
- 1 General description of columnar plum
- 2 The best varieties of columnar plums
- 3 Columnar yellow plum
- 4 Self-fertile columnar plum
- 5 Columnar plum varieties for the Moscow region
- 6 Columnar plum varieties for the Leningrad region
- 7 Columnar plum varieties for the Urals
- 8 Columnar plum varieties for Siberia
- 9 Planting and caring for columnar plum
- 10 Columnar plum diseases
- 11 Conclusion
- 12 Reviews
Columnar plum is a fruit plant that is in particular demand among gardeners. It is interesting to figure out exactly what features characterize the plum.
General description of columnar plum
This name is given to plums that have a narrow but dense crown directed vertically upward. The shape of the trees resembles columns, which is what gives them their name.Almost all branches of a plant of this type are directly involved in fruiting and are represented by thin flexible shoots; there is almost no need to form a columnar plum.
Are there columnar plums?
Many gardeners doubt the existence of such trees. The fact is that the first plant with an unusual narrow pyramidal crown was the Mackintosh apple tree - and such a crown was the result of a random mutation discovered in the 1960s.
However, since then selection has greatly advanced. Narrow pyramidal apple trees, pear trees, plums and other cultures.
All these trees are united by the fact that the vertical growth of their branches is a selection feature, and not another mutation and not the result of crown formation. Therefore, the answer will be positive - columnar plums exist.
What does a columnar plum look like?
The plant is easy to recognize. Its branches are thinner than those of ordinary plums and covered with smooth bark. The shoots grow not to the sides, but upwards at an acute angle, as if trying to press themselves against the main trunk of the tree.
Characteristics of columnar plum
Plants of this type differ from ordinary varieties not only in appearance. The description of the columnar plum reports a number of other features.
- The frost resistance of such trees is very high - even temperatures below - 30 degrees do not harm the health of plum plants.
- Root system trees is less developed than ordinary trees. Therefore, they can be planted almost closely - they will not harm either the crowns or the roots of each other.
- The plants are distinguished by their small height - they rarely grow above 3 m. At the same time, the yield is very high - up to 12 kg per tree.
- Narrow pyramidal varieties are early ripening. The fruits appear already 2 years after rooting. Up to 7 years, the yield increases year by year - and then declines. Fruiting usually stops between 13 and 17 years of age.
The advantages include early ripening, high yield, strength and frost resistance. You need to prune the columnar plum very little in the spring, since it has few “extra” branches.
Do columnar plums need a pollinator?
Some varieties have the ability to self-pollinate - for example, Imperial. Others require pollinators for high yields.
The best varieties of columnar plums
Among the varieties, there are several that are respected by gardeners.
Ant
It bears its first fruits a year after planting and is harvested in August. The drupes have a dark purple color and a sweet taste; you can collect about 4–5 kg of fruit from one tree. The columnar plum Muravushka is pollinated by plum trees Blue Free, Stanley and others, and is considered one of the best plum varieties for the Moscow region.
Ruby
The height reaches 2 m, the fruits are red in color, the taste is sweet with a slight sour note. Harvesting can be done in early September. Ruby - a large-fruited variety, the weight of one drupe can be 60 g. Pollinators are not required for the plant. The disadvantages of the columnar plum Ruby include late ripening of the fruit.
Russian
A plant with dark red sweet fruits. The drupes ripen in the second decade of August, and one fruit can weigh up to 40 g. It is successfully pollinated by Ussuri or cherry plum.
Honey
Bears golden yellow, very sweet fruits weighing up to 50 g. Columnar plum Honey White ripens from the end of July. Pollinated by Hungarian donetsk and Renclad Karbyshev.
Commander
A medium-ripening variety with reddish-purple fruits. Columnar plum Komandor bears fruits weighing up to 55 g. Self-fertile.
Imperial
The most popular variety among gardeners, up to 2 m tall with large fruits up to 55 g. The drupes have a rich dark red color. Ripens towards the end of August. Refers to self-pollinating columnar varieties of plums for the Moscow region and other regions.
Blue Sweet
Prunes with dark purple fruits weighing up to 75 g. Ripens in August, produces up to 13 kg of sweet-sour drupes from one tree. Pollinated by Blue Free and Stanley varieties.
Olenka
Tree with bright red small fruits. The weight of one drupe is only about 25 g. It is self-sterile; if there is a Stanley or Blue Free nearby, it will produce abundant harvests.
Mirabella
A variety with yellow sweet drupes up to 40 g each, reminiscent of apricots in appearance. It bears fruit from mid-August; one tree can produce up to 15 kg of fruit. It can pollinate on its own.
Angers
A mid-ripening variety with burgundy-purple fruits weighing up to 40 g each, and has a pleasant sweet-sour taste. Advantages: self-fertility, good tolerance to low temperatures.
Yellow
Description of the Yellow columnar plum looks like this - this is a variety up to 2.5 m tall with the earliest fruiting. Drupes ripen by the end of June. The plant produces round and large golden fruits with a honey taste and is self-pollinating.
Oscar plus
A tree with round red or dark brown fruits of 45 - 55 g each.Ripening time falls at the beginning of September. The variety requires pollination from trees with similar flowering periods.
Columnar yellow plum
What qualities make reviews of the columnar yellow plum so positive?
- Early ripening - harvesting can begin in late June or early July.
- Sweet honey taste of fruits with fruity notes.
- The weighty dimensions of the drupes are on average from 40 to 70 g per fruit.
Varieties of yellow columnar plum are represented by Mirabella, Medovaya, Pamyat Timiryazev plants.
Self-fertile columnar plum
The main reason why gardeners prefer self-pollinating columnar plums is that there is no need to plant extra trees. This is especially true for small gardens, where it is difficult to place several even small trees at once.
This category includes many varieties, for example:
- Imperial;
- Angers;
- Ruby.
Columnar plum varieties for the Moscow region
The Moscow region is considered quite mild for plum trees, from a climate point of view. In the Moscow region, plants receive enough light and natural precipitation, but sometimes cold winters and sharp frosts in the spring occur in the region.
Columnar plum varieties for the Moscow region are represented mainly by Imperial, Honey, Blue Sweet, Mirabella and others.
Columnar plum varieties for the Leningrad region
The main climatic characteristics of the North-West region are high humidity and cold, which can last until May. Southern varieties or varieties zoned for regions with low humidity should not be planted here.
Imperial and Russian are best suited for the Leningrad region.
Columnar plum varieties for the Urals
The peculiarity of the Ural region is that the climate here is sharply continental, winters can be very cold, and frosts can occur even in May.
The cherry plum or Russian plum variety is ideal for cultivation in this region. Blue Sweet and Angers varieties can also take root in the region.
Columnar plum varieties for Siberia
Siberia is the harshest region for growing crops. Winters here are long and frosty, and summers are hot but very short. Spring frosts occur late, autumn frosts come early. The description of the Rubin plum corresponds to the conditions of the region; the Honey and Russian cherry plum varieties are also suitable.
Planting and caring for columnar plum
Basic rules that are the same for most types of plants will help you plant a columnar plum correctly in the spring.
Site selection and soil preparation
The soil for the plant is light, not swampy, preferably sandy loam. The tree feels good in southern sunny areas.
Caring for a columnar plum begins in advance - fertilizer must be added to the hole for the seedling. You can do this immediately before planting, but it is better to do this several months before planting the columnar plum in the spring.
Selection of columnar plum seedlings
The main requirement for a young tree is one thing - it must have healthy, well-developed, strong roots.
How to plant columnar plum
Planting a columnar plum in the spring is carried out because in the fall the plant may not take root before the onset of cold weather. For a seedling, dig a fairly spacious hole, lower the tree onto soil mixed with fertilizers, and cover the roots with soil.
After this, the plant must be immediately watered and the circle near the trunk mulched.For even growth, it is recommended to additionally tie the plant to a support.
Feeding columnar plum
For the first 2 - 3 years, the tree receives enough fertilizers applied initially. Then fertilizing is introduced three times a year: with nitrogen substances in the spring, potassium substances in the summer, and phosphorus-containing substances in the fall.
How to prune a columnar plum
You can see pruning columnar plum in the spring in a video for beginners. Briefly, the basic rules look like this:
- The formation of a columnar plum is usually carried out in the spring before the buds swell.
- When pruning, the top is not touched, but the side shoots are thinned out.
- In the first year of life, pruning a columnar plum includes removing flowers so that beneficial substances go to strengthen the root system.
- In spring or autumn, you need to prune the plum for sanitary purposes.
Watering, mulching and preparing columnar plums for winter
The tree needs to be watered once a month; in severe drought, more often as the soil dries out. To retain moisture, the tree trunk circle can be sprinkled with mulch. However, it is impossible to over-moisten the roots of the tree - the plant does not tolerate waterlogging.
Preparing the plant for winter consists of final autumn watering, applying phosphorus and organic fertilizers under the trunk. It is recommended to cover the trunk and the ground around it with spruce branches - this will prevent the roots from freezing.
Columnar plum diseases
The plant is quite resistant to diseases, but you should still remember about columnar plum diseases and their treatment. The tree strikes:
- gommosis;
- coccomycosis;
- Clusterosporiosis.
Illnesses can be avoided if you take good care of the columnar plum. If symptoms of disease occur, it is necessary to eliminate the affected parts of the plant and treat the tree with copper sulfate, Bordeaux mixture or antifungal drugs.
Conclusion
Columnar plum is ideal for small gardens in any region of the country. High frost resistance, early ripening and abundant fruiting provide it with love from gardeners.
Reviews
