Columnar plum: 20 best varieties with descriptions, planting rules and care, pruning

Many have not heard of Colon-shaped plums, but experienced summer residents managed to appreciate the variety. The variety is compact in size, the trees bring a bountiful harvest. The main feature of the plum is the absence of lush branches and wide bushes. To properly grow a crop, you should familiarize yourself with all its features, a detailed description of the varieties.

Description

Columnar plums are trees with a narrow but dense bush, directed upwards in a vertical direction. The plant is shaped like columns. Almost all branches take part in fruiting.It is practically not required to form a culture. The variety was bred artificially. The tree belongs to the rose family. The height does not exceed 2.5 meters. Fruit color is yellow, purple-purple, blue.

Plant varieties

Varieties of dwarf plums have different ripening periods, differ in fruit color, and the ability to self-pollinate. There are many varieties of this crop, all of them do not require painstaking care, they are great for growing in the country.

Imperial

Imperial. The subspecies is famous for large fruits up to 55 grams in weight, delicate, aromatic taste. The shape of the fruit is rounded, the top is squeezed, with a wide base. The skin is dense, but this does not affect the taste. The tree grows up to 2 meters high, bears fruit by mid-late August. The variety is self-fertile, the fruits are pinkish-purple, but can also be with a red-brown color. Of the negative features, the need for abundant watering, the likelihood of pollen in the first year of life are distinguished.If this happens, cut off the inflorescences, as an early harvest can deplete a young tree.

Blue Sweet

Blue Sweet. The fruits are large, reaching a mass of 75 grams. They are oval, flattened. There is a wax coating on a dense skin. The tree grows 2 meters high. The taste is refreshing, sweet and sour. During the season, you can collect up to 15 kg of plums from one tree. Pods ripen by August, need pollination. Blue Free, Stanley varieties act as pollinators. The shade of fruit is purple, the flesh is slightly pinkish.

Among the disadvantages is the risk of bifurcation of the top of the tree due to frost. Also, the variety may bloom in the first year of life.

Yellow

Yellow plum brings the harvest earlier than other varieties. Harvested by the end of June. The fruits are large, round, yellow, with the smell of honey. They are eaten raw or canned.Plum pollinates itself on its own, but with constant rains, diseases, nearby pollinators are required. The tree is large, growing up to 2.5 meters in height. The variety is resistant to frost, disease.

Honey

Honey plum gives golden yellow fruits, sweet taste, weighing up to 50 grams. The fruits ripen at the end of July. The variety does not self-pollinate. Nearby you need to plant plums Hungarian, Renklod Karbysheva. The plant tolerates severe frosts, shows resistance to attacks of harmful insects, diseases.

Mirabella

This is one of the fastest maturing varieties of plums, which brings a lot of harvest. From one tree, you can collect up to 15 kg of medium-sized fruits. Each of them weighs more than 40 grams, but this does not affect the taste, fruity aftertaste. The fruits are similar to apricots in appearance, only on one side they are covered with a blush. Pulp of dense structure, pleasant, sweet taste.Fruiting occurs at the end of August. Ripe fruits do not fall off the tree for a long time. The variety is resistant to diseases, harmful beetles.

Russian

Russian plum belongs to dwarf varieties, since the growth of these trees does not exceed 1.7 meters. Fruits grow small - up to 40 grams, ripen by mid-August. Plum is pollinated with the help of cherry plum. The fruits are purple, sweet.

Ruby

Ruby plums grow red in color with a sweet and sour taste. The tree grows up to 2 meters high. Fruit should be harvested in early September. Ruby belongs to large-fruited varieties, the weight of one plum is 60 grams. The variety is self-fertile. Among the disadvantages are the late ripening of fruits.

Commander

Commander plum variety differs from others in reddish and purple color of the skin. The tree bears juicy, sweet fruits of large size.The pulp is tender, yellow in color with a sweet taste. Fruits are harvested for the winter or eaten fresh. The variety ripens in mid-July, earlier than other plums. The tree grows up to 2 meters high.

Oscar Plus

The Columnar Plum Variety Oscar Plus is famous for its round, slightly depressed fruits. The plant ripens by September, the fruits are brown or purple. The tree shows winter hardiness, resists diseases and beetle attacks.

Angers

Angers is a mid-season Columnar Plum variety. The fruits are purple-purple, weighing 40 grams. They have a nice fig flavor. Among the advantages stands out the possibility of self-pollination, easy tolerance of cold weather.

Olenka

Plum variety Olenka gives fruits of a bright red hue, small sizes. The weight of one fruit is 25 grams. The variety is self-fertile, but if there is a Stanley or Blue Free nearby, there will be a lot of harvest. The tree endures frosts, is resistant to the development of diseases, beetle attacks.

Features of growing a tree

Columnar plum does not involve unique growing techniques. The variety is unpretentious in care, it is necessary to look after him in the same way as for his brothers. The main thing is to pick up a good seedling, water the plant in time, loosen the soil.

Pick up time

Planting Columnar plums should be carried out in the fall, if we are talking about the South. In the northern latitudes and in the Urals, postpone landing until spring, when the snow melts, there will be no night frosts.

Choosing a seat

You need to plant a plum in a place where the sun shines strongly, there is no shadow. Culture loves good lighting. The variety should not be exposed to north winds, the landing site should be without melt water. The desired groundwater level is 1.5 meters. If you ignore the above requirements, the rhizome will not form, the trunk will be damaged, the plum will get sick.

Principles of planting

Agricultural work must be carried out in accordance with the following stages.

1. Dig a hole 3040 cm, determine its length by the number of seedlings. There should be a distance of 50 meters between them.
2. In industrial plantations, the width between rows should be 1-1.5 meters.
3. Pour a fertile substrate - compost on the bottom, 3-4 kg is shown for one seedling. It is impossible to use mineral dressings when planting, the rhizome is tender, easily damaged by chemicals.
4. Place the planting material in the prepared hole, carefully straightening the root system. The neck should be 2.5-4 centimeters above ground level.
5. Cover the trees with earth, lightly tamping the soil. Use root growth stimulants - Heteroauxin. A solution is prepared in the proportion of 1 g of the product per 3 liters of water. Pour the seedlings with the mixture immediately after planting and after 2 weeks.

When using root growth enhancers, it is important to strictly follow the instructions. Otherwise, the plant may get a chemical burn.

How to care

Care after planting the Columnar Plum is almost the same as the standard. To stimulate rooting, feed seedlings with growth stimulants. Pruning should be carried out sanitary, so that the plant gives a lot of harvest.

Pruning plum tree

Crown formation is required for all fruit trees, so that only those branches that have berries will grow, without excessive thickening. Pruning of the Colon-shaped plum is carried out in the spring, before the first buds swell. Since the tree is stunted, the top should not be removed. Removal of dry, damaged or diseased branches is required.

Fertilize the Columnar Plum

In order for the plum to grow actively, bring a lot of harvest, it is necessary to fertilize it. Use urea, dilute 50 g in 10 liters of water. One plant needs 2 liters of solution. The first feeding is carried out during the active growing season, the second - 2 weeks after the first fertilization. The third time to feed the earth 14 days after the previous one. Mullein infusion, s altpeter are widely used.

Irrigation

It is necessary to irrigate the plum regularly, paying attention to the moisture content of the earth. Water the tree no more than once a month. If severe drought, pour water under the root 2-3 times weekly. Set aside the liquid so that it is not ice cold. Otherwise, the plant will drop fruit.

Preparing the tree for winter

Young trees do not survive frost well, you need to prepare trees carefully before frost. Close the trunk part with fallen leaves, straw, cover the lower part of the trunk with needles. This will help protect the tree from rodents. Cover with additional snow from above.

Processing plants from diseases and pests

Columnar-type plums are resistant to disease, but if the rhizome and branches are deformed, the tree can become sick. Prophylactic treatment with copper sulphate, spraying with Bordeaux liquid or Topsin-M is necessary

Collection and storage

Harvest time depends on the variety, the climate of the region. In the Urals and Siberia, plums ripen by late summer or September. In southern latitudes, the crop will ripen by the end of June. Early varieties of fruits are harvested over several weeks, and late varieties are harvested immediately. The procedure is carried out only in weather without precipitation. If the variety is early ripe, remove fruits from the branches in several passes, as they ripen unevenly.

You need to store the plum in a place with an air temperature of 0-2 degrees Celsius, humidity not lower than 85%. Save fruits in low trays with paper on the bottom or in wooden boxes.During transportation, try not to damage the wax coating. Plums that will not be stored, eat immediately or make preparations for the winter.

Unripe fruits should not be stored in the refrigerator, this will slow down the ripening process, worsen the taste. Fruits will keep intact for 3 weeks at a temperature of no more than 7 degrees Celsius.

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