Popular varieties of columnar apple trees
Probably, anyone wants to pick juicy and sweet summer, fragrant autumn and strong, stored until the new year, winter apples in their own garden. But how many favorite trees can be placed on 6 acres? It turns out that there are many, if these are columnar apple trees. Consider the main varieties and their description.
Columnar apple trees
Features of apple trees
In 1964, a strange apple tree was found in Canada: there were no side branches on a thick, straight, vertical shoot, but there were many apples growing right on the trunk.
This genetic disorder (the predominance of a gene that suppresses the development of side branches) led to the creation of a whole group of apple trees, the varieties of which were called columnar (from the word colon, which means "straight").
The amazing creations of breeders conquered gardeners. Small (up to 2.5 m) trees with a narrow crown (only 0.5-0.7 m), they will fit up to 10 pieces at once in the area where one ordinary fruit tree could grow.
Another pleasant difference between this group is early maturity. Some varieties produce a crop in the year of planting. Up to 20 kg of delicious fruits can be harvested from one tree. At the same time, there is no periodicity in fruiting.
True, their fruit age is short-lived - after 10-15 years, the trees need to be replaced: this is the payment for the intensity.
In a relatively short time since the appearance of the first apple tree, breeders have created more than 100 varieties.
Classification
Columnar apple trees are large-fruited and small, distinguished by an exquisite taste and simple sweet and sour, winter-hardy and drought-resistant.
For every taste, size and growing conditions. To choose among this variety the best variety that suits your requirements, you need to take into account several factors:
- ability to withstand climate problems;
- taste qualities;
- yield;
- the beginning of fruit formation;
- immunity to disease;
- keeping quality.
The latter property is determined by the time of reaching the marketable ripeness of the fruit. There are varieties: winter, summer and autumn.
Winter varieties
Their difference is a late ripening period and a long storage time. Some of them can last until the new year, and in specially equipped rooms - until spring.
Ripening of apples occurs in the first decade of October (mid-winter) and in mid-October (winter).
The shelf life for different varieties is from 2 to 7 months. The fruits have a dense, crispy, juicy pulp, strong skin and strong aroma.
However, not all of them are immediately ready for fresh consumption. Some need to lie down for 4-6 weeks to fully mature.
The best varieties
| Name | Height, m | Frost resistance | Early maturity | Fruit weight, (g) | Fruit taste | Productivity from 1 tree, kg |
| Trident | 0,8-1,0 | average | For 1-2 years | 100-120 | Taste 4.3 points out of 5, sour, sweet when ripe | Until 6 |
| Gothic | up to 2.5 | high | 2-3 years | from 100 to 250 | Sour-sweet, dessert. | Up to 8 |
| Arrow | until 3 | high | for 2-3 years | Up to 160 | Sweet and sour, 4.5 points out of 5. | To 10 |
| Priokskoe | until 3 | average | For 1-2 years | Up to 150 | Sweet and sour | 14 |
| Cascade | 2,5 | high | 3-4 years | Up to 200 | Sour sweet | Up to 20 |
| Lukomor | 1,8 | average | 3-4 years | 80-120 | Sweet | 5-8 |
| Favorite | Up to 2.0 | high | In the second year | 110-130 | Dessert delicious | To 10 |
| Taskan | 2,0-2,5 | high | 2-3 years | 140-180 | Tasting score - 4.9 out of 5.0 points. Sweet sourish aftertaste. | 15 |
| Bolero | Up to 2 m | 1-2 years | 200 | Taste rating 4.8 out of 5 | 15 | |
| Raechka | No more than 2.5 m | Average | 2-3 years | 30-40 | Sweet, with a slight bitterness | 3-4 |
Autumn varieties
Characteristic features of the fruit:
- ripening terms (end of August-September);
- storage periods (up to 2 months), although new varieties can lie until January-February.
Apples of autumn varieties are intended primarily for fresh consumption and for homemade preparations: jams, compotes, cider, dried and in the form of a marshmallow are good.
They have a juicy flesh and a relatively thin skin, due to which transportability is average.
The best varieties
| Name | Height, m | Frost resistance | Early maturity | Fruit weight, (g) | Fruit taste | Productivity from 1 tree, kg |
| Ray | Up to 2.5 | high | In the second year | 135-210 | Taster rating 4.65-4.79 | 50 |
| Titania | More than 3 m | high | 2-3 years | 100-110 | Wine-sweet taste. | About 10 |
| Carmelita | 1,0-1,2 | average | For 1 year | 25-35 | Dessert taste, sweet with sourness | 3-4 kg |
| Teleimon | 2.0 - 2.5 m | high | In the second year | 170-250 | Sweet with noticeable sourness, taste 4.75 points | 25-35 |
| Ideal | Up to 2 m | High | From 1 year | 200-250 | Sweet and sour | Up to 25 kg |
| Senator | Up to 1.8 m | Very high | 150 | Sweet with sourness | Up to 15 kg | |
| Black tycoon | Up to 2.5 m | high | 2-3 years | 250g | Jonagold type, but sweeter | 15 kg and more |
| In memory of Blynsky | Up to 2.5 m | Average | 2 year | 140 | Sweet and sour | Up to 15 kg |
| Barguzin | Up to 2.5 m | Very high | 2 year | 90-130 | After ripening - sweet with a slight sourness | 25-35 |
| Scorpio | Up to 2.5 m | Average | 3-4 years | Up to 100 | Sourish, refreshing | 8-10 kg |
| Ostankino | Up to 2 m | Very high | In the second year | Up to 200 | Sweet, dessert taste, tasting characteristic - 4.7 points | Up to 16 kg |
| Pedestal | 2,2m | High | 2-3 years | Up to 210 | Taste sweet and sour, tasting score 4.2 points | 16-18 kg |
| Saturn | Up to 2.5 m | Average | For 1-2 years | Up to 230 | The taste is sweet with a slight sourness. Evaluation by German and English tasters 4.8 - 4.9 points | Above 20 kg |
| Delight | Up to 2 m | Average | 2-3 years | Up to 130 | Sweet and sour taste, tasting score 4.4 points | 18 Kg |
| Mascot | Up to 3 m | High | For 1-2 years | Up to 150 | The taste is sweet and sour, after ripening the sweetness increases | Up to 12 kg |
| Sweet Wikich | Up to 2.3 m | High | 2-3 years | 150-190 | Sweet and sour, tasting score - 4.2 points | The yield is good and stable |
| Ballerina | Up to 2.5 | Average | In 1 year | 60-80 | Sweet | 8-10 kg |
Summer varieties
A feature is increased winter hardiness: in the period between the end of fruiting and the onset of cold weather, the trees have time to prepare for winter.
However, before spring return frosts, they are defenseless, so their trunks should be covered from frost breaks.
Summer varieties of columnar apple trees are popular because they bear fruit that ripens after a long winter. Apples have a light loose texture, thin skin and small size. The sugar content in them is maximum.
Ripening period - end of July-August. You need to eat them within a week or a month, depending on the variety. Transportability and keeping quality is low.
As a rule, they are harvested only in the form of mashed potatoes - they are boiled during heat treatment.
The best varieties
| Variety name | Height, m | Moroso sustainability | Early maturity | Fruit weight, (g) | Fruit taste | Productivity from 1 tree, kg |
| Flamingo | About 2 m | Average | For 1-2 years | Up to 100g | Sweet, according to tasters' assessment 4.2 | Up to 5 kg |
| Scarlet Sails | Up to 2 m | Low | For 4-5 years | 50-70 | The taste is pleasant, with a honey flavor. Score - 4.6-4.7 points | 6-8 kg |
| Obelisk | 2.0 -2.5 m | High | In the second year | About 200g | Sweet, with a little acid | Nice and stable |
| Cheburashka | Up to 2.5m | High | In the second year | Up to 180 | sweet and sour, tasting score -4.2 | 12-13 kg |
| Iksha | Not higher than 2.2-2.4m | Very high | In the second year | 140-210 | sweet with subtle sourness, dessert | Up to 45 kg |
| Alluring aroma | Up to 2 m | High | 2-3 years | 40-60 | sweet and sour, slightly astringent, with a nutmeg note. | 12 Kg |
| Medoc (Honey) | Up to 2.3m | High | In the second year | 150-240 | Honey flavor with a slight sourness | Up to 15 kg |
Approximate dimensions
All columns are limited both in height and in the diameter of the crown. This is how they attract gardeners and landscape designers. However, even among these babies there are record holders for diminutiveness.
According to habit, columnar apple trees are:
- superdwarfs - 1.3 - 1.5 m;
- dwarfs - up to 2.0 m;
- semi-dwarfs - up to 2.5 m;
- medium-sized - up to 3.0 m;
- vigorous - above 3.0 m.
Among amateur gardeners, the most popular are dwarfs and medium-sized trees.
Dwarf columns have the Co gene, which suppresses the growth of lateral branches, instead of them, fruits, spears or ringlets are formed. Trees grow slowly, all energy is spent on creating fruits.
The crop is formed from the first year of planting. Fruits appear along the entire trunk. Dwarfs have fragile wood, they need special care and reliable support.
Medium-sized plants are obtained artificially by grafting ordinary varieties onto super-dwarf clonal rootstocks and then form them as columns up to 3.0 m in height. Fruiting occurs in 2-3 years.
The best dwarf varieties
These include: Trident, Raechka, Malyukha, Medok, Carmelita.
These varieties retain all the properties of "ordinary" apple trees. However, dwarfs, due to the small area of the root system and its shallow occurrence (up to 50 cm), are very demanding on watering and feeding.
Particular attention should be paid to them in preparation for wintering: the tender bark of these babies is loved by mice and hares.
Recovery after frost and damage by rodents is low.
Dwarf varieties are grown in containers, used in landscape design. However, it should be remembered that they need a period of rest with sub-zero temperatures. Therefore, growing at home is possible if cold content can be organized from October to March.
Varieties for the Moscow region
The climate of the Moscow region with summer heat, harsh winters and prolonged autumn rains dictates special requirements for columnar apple trees:
- they must tolerate the heat and dryness of the Moscow summer well;
- survive in subzero temperatures of little snowy winters;
- firmly endure returnable spring frosts;
- be resistant to fungal diseases affecting plants in rainy autumn weather.
These conditions are maintained by varieties:
- Ray;
- Titania;
- Cascade;
- Lukomor; Pedestal;
- Cheburashka;
- Iksha;
- Vasyugan;
- Nectar;
- Ostankino;
- The president;
- Bolero;
- Baby;
- Moscow necklace;
- Gin.
In terms of ripening, they:
- summer: Medok, President, Cheburashka, Iksha;
- autumn: Vasyugan, Jin, Ray, Titania, Pedestal, Vikich;
- winter: Moscow necklace, Bolero, Cascade, Lukomor.
Varieties for Siberia
Neat trees
The main thing for fruit trees intended for planting in Siberia is high frost resistance and immunity to diseases, ripening during a short summer and the ability to produce crops in difficult climatic conditions.
Most of the columnar plants have a higher winter hardiness or comparable to the usual varieties of the Middle Strip.
Some of them endure significantly lower temperatures, up to 42 ° C, which is unattainable for ordinary branched apple trees common in Russia.
- For the Western Region, dwarf species that can withstand strong winds are suitable. In addition, due to the short summer, summer and autumn varieties show the best harvest. These include Vasyuta, Iksha, Triumph, Dialogue, Medoc, Jin, Ostankino.
- In the Eastern region, where winters are less severe, but in summer there is a scorching heat, it is better to plant columnar apple trees of heat-resistant varieties, the roots of which are more developed and are able to get water from a greater depth. Their leaves are lanceolate, evaporating moisture at a slower rate.To them Currency, Delight, Gin, Alluring aroma and President.
Where can I buy seedlings
Columnar apple trees are in high demand, which is why they are often offered for sale. Seedlings can be bought:
- in the Internet;
- On the market;
- on a roadside garden break;
- in the nursery;
- in the garden center.
High-quality columns are safest to buy from nursery gardens or reputable centers. Although the price for them there is quite high - starting from 600 rubles per one-year-old seedling, this money will not be wasted, and the risk of getting a low-quality plant will be minimal.
Employees will provide comprehensive information on planting and caring for a seedling, recommend zoned varieties and accurately indicate the period of its fruiting.
To avoid mistakes in choosing, you should pay attention:
- for the presence of an accompanying note (tag) with a description of the variety, winter hardiness, fruiting, disease resistance;
- for annual seedlings up to 65 cm high - they are distinguished by quick engraftment;
- on the stock: only the varieties Paradizka Belorusskaya and Malysh Budakovsky are suitable for columns (they have a characteristic bark color - greenish and reddish, respectively);
- on seedlings with a closed root system: the likelihood of their survival when transplanted into the ground is much higher.
Gardeners reviews
All who planted this miracle of breeders talk about the convenience of caring for the tree. Even vigorous specimens, 3 m high, are convenient to handle, harvest, and pest control.
At the same time, gardeners note the exactingness of these varieties for fertilizing and abundant watering. "Columns" refer to plants with an intensive development protocol, so keeping them on a "starvation" ration will not work. Hence the increased consumption of fats.
There are many enthusiastic words in the reviews about the unexpectedly harmonious taste of apples taken from such young trees.
90% of the varieties have a tasting score higher than 4.5 points (out of 5), while Saturn, Theleimon, Ballerina have the maximum score. This is understandable: it spends all the nutrients received by the plant not on the development of the trunk and branches, but on the ripening of the fruits.
Gardeners especially emit increased resistance to Russian frosts. Striking with its winter hardiness Barguzin (up to -42 °), Senator (-35 °), Ostankino (-30 °), Iksha (-30 °).
However, elementary frost protection operations still need to be carried out. And above all, to protect the peak point of growth. Beginners often forget about this, resulting in branched dwarfs so-called "candelabra".
Gardeners share their joy about the opportunity to plant an apple orchard where it was previously impossible because of the nearby groundwater. So even a disadvantage - a shallow root system - can be an advantage.
Blooming apple trees is the best decoration of the site. Now varieties have been bred both with traditionally white and pink shades, and with original red-violet and burgundy colors: Carmelita, Alluring aroma.
The only thing that gardeners note as a disadvantage is a short fruiting period and a gradual death of fruit buds in the lower part of the plant.
Summarizing
Apple-tree columns are conquering our gardens. According to gardeners, these are very promising varieties. They do not require much space, are resistant to diseases, easy to care for, winter-hardy and drought-resistant.
They have no periodicity in fruiting. With proper agricultural practices (regular feeding and watering), it is able to provide an annual harvest of tasty fruits.
Gardeners like the variety of varieties - you can have fresh apples from your own garden almost all year round - from summer to late winter, which can lie until April.
The high price for these plants is justified by the high yield and ease of maintenance. With columnar apple trees, the garden will be not only useful, but also elegant.