Columnar peach: description of varieties, pruning, planting and care with photos

Such an exotic plant as the columnar peach attracts the attention of gardening enthusiasts with its high decorative effect and high yield. The name of the culture fully corresponds to its shape - the crown looks like a column. This is a great option for small areas - a fruit tree does not require large spaces, while it bears fruit and develops abundantly. In order for the cultivation of the columnar peach to be successful, it is necessary to study in more detail its requirements for growing conditions and care.

General characteristics and description of columnar peaches

This fruit variety is a dwarf plantation, the height of which is no more than 1.5 meters. Its crown has a cylindrical shape, 40-60 centimeters wide. A miniature fruit tree looks spectacular not only in group plantings, but also when grown in single copies. It looks especially beautiful in the flowering phase and when the fruits reach their consumer maturity.

In the columnar peach, the side shoots do not form branches, their growth is directed directly from the central conductor. It is this feature that explains the fact that the fruits are very close to the trunk, surrounding it. Their weight can reach up to 250 grams. The palatability is high: the pulp is juicy, moderately dense, sweet and with a pronounced aroma.

They contain vitamins, essential oils, saccharides, vegetable acids and mineral compounds.

The leaf mass is distinguished by a dark green color.The shape of the plates is oval-oblong, the ends are pointed. The flowering stage occurs in mid-spring, the inflorescences are distinguished by a pale pink color. From one columnar peach, it is possible to collect from 6 kilograms of fruit. Winter hardiness is excellent, down to -40 degrees.

Advantages and disadvantages

Among the positive characteristics of a miniature peach tree, experienced gardeners highlight:

• does not take up much space on the site;
• does not shade other fruit crops;
• has sufficient frost resistance;
• does not require special care;
• has increased immunity to major ailments, pests;
• high consumer qualities of fruits;
• good performance;
• does not require additional pollination (self-fertile).

But there are some drawbacks to the dwarf peach, including:

• short fruiting period;
• need for frequent planting updates;
• high cost of seedlings.

Popular varieties

The list of the best columnar peach varieties includes:

1. Gardener totem. The plant is characterized by medium height (height - no more than 1.7 meters), large-fruited (up to 290 grams) and high yield. Up to 14 kilograms of rounded and slightly crushed fruits are harvested from one tree. They attract attention with the presence of a red blush and incredibly juicy flesh. The harvest is not afraid of transportation and retains its marketable qualities for a long time.
2. Steinberg. The plant grows well and develops regardless of the amount of sunlight. In height, it does not exceed 2 meters. The mass of fruits is 155 grams, they are juicy and pleasant to the taste. The color is yellow-orange, there are places with a raspberry tint.
3. Anniversary of the capital. The ripening period is early, the height of the tree is 1.5 meters, the yield is up to 12 kilograms. The weight of one fruit is 230-250 grams, the shape is round. The tree is distinguished by stable immunity to fungal infections, parasitic individuals.
4. Golden triumph. With a tree height of 1.4 meters, its yields are 10-12 kilograms of delicious fruits. The mass of one is 280 grams. The color of the fruit is red, the pulp is juicy, the aroma is pronounced. The columnar peach variety has good resistance to cold, drought and most major diseases.
5. Honey. The plant is mid-season, tall (up to 2 meters), its productivity is at the level of 10-12 kilograms. The mass of fruits, on average, is 180 grams. Taste characteristics are high: honey taste, sweet and juicy pulp. The color is yellow-red on the outside, yellow on the inside.

Features of cultivation

To get the desired result, you need to know the basic subtleties of the process of planting columnar peaches.

Timing

The timing of planting dwarf peaches directly depends on the climatic conditions in a particular region. In the southern regions, seedlings should be determined for a permanent place in the fall, but in the northern regions - in the spring. Young plantings need time to adapt, take root, so that they can painlessly survive sub-zero temperatures. It is better to purchase annual seedlings, paying attention to the condition of the root mass.

Preparing the landing site

To make the planted trees feel comfortable and grow faster, you need to choose an area with a sufficient level of lighting - sunny.

If you land in shaded areas, near various buildings, in wetlands, then there is a high probability of developing various diseases, oppressing the general condition of the columnar peach.

Preparatory work should be done in advance, removing all excess vegetation and debris from the site. The place for planting a columnar peach must be dug up, enriched with useful components, adding humus or rotted manure to the soil. If the planting time of the columnar peach is spring, then the preparation should be done in the fall. When planting in the autumn, work must be done a month in advance.

Planting seedlings

The size of planting holes for planting a columnar peach is determined by its root system. In most cases, the pit is 50 centimeters in diameter, and the depth is in the range of 50-60 centimeters. To avoid moisture stagnation, drainage should be laid on the bottom: brick battle, expanded clay, crushed stone. The layer thickness should be 7-10 centimeters, the same layer of fertile soil is poured over the drainage.

To tie a columnar peach into the hole, you need to install a peg made of wood.

The columnar peach seedling is placed vertically, spreading its root system. Sprinkle a layer of earth on top, gently tamping it down to prevent the formation of voids in the landing pit. In conclusion, the columnar peach is watered abundantly (10 liters of water per plant), tied to a support, mulched.

Tree care rules

The list of basic measures for the care of the columnar peach includes: the introduction of nutrients, weeding, irrigation, preventive procedures against diseases and harmful insects.

Feeding

In order for the columnar peach to bear fruit abundantly and more easily endure the cold period of the year, it is necessary to fertilize the soil in the near-trunk circle in a timely manner. It is better to use for these purposes not chemical preparations, but self-prepared nutritional mixtures from natural ingredients.

In the spring, before bud break, the columnar peach is treated with urea, using a working solution of 700 grams of the product and 10 liters of water. At the stage of fruiting and flowering, it is necessary to spray with a decoction of orange peels, lemon balm, onion peel, red pepper, burdock. For a better effect of the working fluid, it is worth adding household crushed soap to it. Thanks to such feeding, it is also possible to prevent the invasion of parasitic individuals and the development of dangerous diseases. The frequency of procedures - 1 time in 7 days.

Autumn feeding procedure for the columnar peach should be done with a 10% urea solution. Suitable for these purposes and rotted manure, bird droppings.

Irrigation

Moisten the soil in the near-stem circle should be as the top layer dries. Water consumption per plantation is 10-20 liters. For better aeration, the soil after each irrigation must be loosened, oxygen starvation of the root system of the columnar peach must not be allowed.

Cutting

During the spring and autumn pruning of a columnar peach, all incapacitated shoots with traces of diseases are removed. Pruning fruit trees should be before the start of sap flow. Manipulations with the removal of dry and damaged shoots contribute to the growth of new branches, high productivity rates, and a decrease in the likelihood of developing diseases. Annually it is recommended to shorten the shoots by 15-20 centimeters.

Diseases and pests

Among the frequent ailments that affect the columnar peach are: fungal diseases, clasterosporiasis, leaf curl. It is possible to prevent the development of diseases through preventive measures, using copper sulfate 3% for processing.

Once again, the procedure is repeated until the kidneys awaken. Before the flowering phase, Horus, Skor, Strobi are used. Appropriate insecticides (Akarin, Fitoverm) should be used against aphids, mites, weevils.Pruning makes trees hardy and resistant to adverse environmental factors.

Columnar peach is a great solution for a small garden. The main thing is not to violate the rules of agricultural technology and plant he althy planting material.

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