Columnar apple tree: varieties for the Moscow region with a description, the best with a photo

Columnar apple trees save space on the site, reduce the time until the first harvest, simplify care. For horticultural farms, they are a real find, but not all varieties are suitable for growing in the Moscow region. Varieties of columnar apple trees for the Moscow region must meet the following requirements - resistance to frost, humidity, disease, high adaptability.

Climatic characteristics of the Moscow region

The temperate continental climate of central Russia, to which the Moscow region belongs, is distinguished by severe winters, hot summers, and long rainy seasons. In different directions from the capital city, the average annual seasonal temperatures can vary by several degrees.

The climate of the Moscow region in different directions has some differences:

• In the northwest it is closer to Tverskoye.
• Northeast to Yaroslavl.
• East to Vladimirsky.
• Southeast to Ryazan.
• In the south - Tula.
• In the southwest - Kaluga.
• In the west - Smolensk.

The capital is located in the center of the Moscow region, where climatic conditions can be considered average, but when planting and caring for fruit trees, you will have to focus on the climate of a particular area. The southeast of the region has the most severe winters and high summer temperatures.

The landscape of the region is flat, only in the western direction there are hills that rise to a maximum of 160 m.Accordingly, the soils in different parts of the Moscow region are also strikingly different from each other, which must be taken into account at the stage of preparing the site for planting apple trees, as well as the fact that Moscow lands do not differ in fertility.

What is the advantage of columnar apple trees for this region

Given that partly cloudy and cloudy summer weather is typical for the regions of the region, apple trees with thickened crowns do not always have enough sunlight to pick up sugars with apples. Columnar apple trees do not hide their fruits with foliage, each apple receives its portion of heat and light in full.

Despite the relatively short fruiting period, the best columnar-type varieties near Moscow begin to bear fruit the very next season after planting, by the fifth season they already give the maximum possible yield for a particular variety.

In a relatively small area, columnar apple trees can be placed at a distance of 80 cm from each other, they will not shade neighboring plants, because this type of plant does not have skeletal branches.

To many diseases, columnar apple trees have high immunity, but not the highest frost resistance, which is compensated by their low height, which allows plants to be completely covered by winter.

The small size of the plant is the convenience of harvesting and carrying out preventive and therapeutic spraying.

Types and characteristics of varieties

Every year, thanks to folk and professional selection, new varieties of columnar-type apple trees appear for cultivation in the Moscow region.

When breeding varieties, scientists set themselves different tasks:

• increasing yields;
• resistance to disease and frost;
• acceleration of ripening;
• obtaining keeping fruit, not afraid of transportation;
• improved palatability.

Each variety has its own characteristics, including the timing of the growing season, harvesting. Conventionally, all columnar apple trees can be divided into three large categories - summer, autumn and winter.

Summer

This category includes varieties with ripening dates from mid-July to August 19. The fruits of this category are not intended for long-term storage, their pulp is friable or medium degree of friability, high sugar content.

Medok

The height of the tree is 2 m, the trunk with foliage and fruits does not exceed 30 cm in diameter. Until the maximum height is reached, the seedling is pulled out annually by 10-15 cm. The alternation of fruit-bearing plots ensures the regularity of the harvest from year to year. Up to 15 kg of marketable fruits with a high tasting score obtained for a pleasant honey aroma and taste are removed from an adult plant.

This cultivar's disease resistance equates to tall apple trees.

Malyukha

Apple, bred in Canada, rarely exceeds 180 cm in height. The fruits are large (up to 250 g), green with a pinkish blush. At the age of 5 years, the tree reaches its maximum endurance, produces 13-15 kg of juicy, fragrant, sweet and sour apples annually. The variety is demanding for proper care. In the absence of it, fruits from this variety of apple trees cannot be obtained.

Vasyugan

The variety was bred in 1987 in Russia, its ringlets are quite hardy, just like the trunk, literally twined with fruits. The size of the fruits cannot be called uniform, the weight of apples varies from 100 to 200 g. Dense granular sweet-sour pulp and high aesthetic characteristics of the plant make the frost-resistant Vasyugan apple tree a desirable planting on a plot in the Moscow region.

Slightly elongated pink fruits with washed out red stripes decorate the garden and fill it with fragrance. The maximum height of the plant is 3 m, the columnar structure of the crown is achieved using standard pruning.

Autumn

Autumn varieties include columnar apple trees of medium ripening - from the last decade of August to mid-September.

Titania

During the planting season, up to 1 kg of apples can be removed from a young tree, but more often an apple tree begins to bear fruit in the 3rd season. From one adult plant, 8-10 kg of fruits are removed. It has a high degree of regeneration after frostbite.

Jin

Typical columnar variety with bright apples that appear in the first season. The main advantage among equals in this variety is its high frost resistance.

Winter

Maturation of winter varieties of apples in the Moscow region falls on the last ten days of September - mid-October. They are collected at the stage of technical maturity for storage. The fruits of winter varieties often decorate the New Year's table, delighting the hosts with the unsurpassed taste of summer

Currency

Apples of this variety are different in size and weight (from 100 to 250 g). The frost resistance of the variety is such that it can be grown even in Siberia. In the Moscow region, fruit ripening occurs in the last ten days of October.

Moscow necklace

Fruits are even, red, medium size with a weight of 110-120 g. Harvesting takes place in mid-September, but marketable and taste qualities remain until the end of February.

President

In terms of frost resistance, this variety is not inferior to Antonovka, despite the fact that the fruits are removed from it about a month earlier.

Amber necklace

Variability of the size of the tree depends on the chosen type of rootstock - dwarf, semi-dwarf, vigorous. The minimum height is 1.5 m, the maximum is 3.5.Columnar apple trees are grown on dwarf and semi-dwarf rootstocks. By the age of 5, the plant reaches its limit in growth, gaining strength for full fruiting. Up to 17 years old, you can take 15-20 kg of crispy, juicy apples from it annually.

How to plant and grow an apple tree

Planting apple trees in the suburbs falls on the second half of October and the end of April. Regardless of the time of year chosen for planting, the planting hole is being prepared for seedlings since autumn. Growing an apple tree, crown formation, fruiting depend on the rooting of the plant, its adaptability. Given the close location of the roots to the soil surface, for columnar varieties it is better to choose a spring planting. Over the summer, the seedling will take root and gain strength for not the mildest wintering.

Date of planting

From the average period in the Moscow region, landing work in the northwest and southeast of the region may differ by 1-2 weeks.

Spring

The following factors will be the guideline for planting an apple tree:

• full snowmelt;
• establishment of positive air temperatures day and night for at least a week;
• descent of melt water, drying of the soil.

Autumn

When planting in autumn, it is necessary to focus on average statistics. It is necessary to plant a seedling 2 weeks before the onset of frost, no later!

Preparation of seedlings

After purchase, the seedling must be dug on the site so that it gets used to new conditions - climate, soil features. Before planting, the rhizomes of seedlings with a not very branched open root system are recommended to be soaked for 12 hours in water with a growth activator dissolved in it. This will help the plant take root and grow faster.

Required soil composition

The soil should be saturated with minerals, which give organic fertilizers - manure, humus, humus. Nitrogen-containing fertilizers are not used for autumn planting, but the soil can be improved with potash and phosphorus complex foliar dressings hidden under a layer of ordinary soil.

Seating chart and pit depth

A distance of 80-100 cm is maintained between columnar apple trees, the same distance should be between rows. The recommended width and depth of the landing hole is 80 cm. A third of it is filled with broken bricks or other material that creates a drainage layer. Another third of the space will be needed for soil enriched with mineral-organic composition.

Care for young animals

Before the plant reaches 5 years of age, scheduled pruning is carried out in spring and autumn, which is necessary for the formation of the crown and planning the next year's harvest.

Irrigation

Soil is moistened at least 4 times a season:

1. Before flowering.
2. During the formation of the ovaries.
3. At the moment the apples are juicing.
4. At the stage of preparing the tree for winter.

For most plants this is sufficient. Abundant watering is necessary on soils that retain moisture, but it is useless on sandstones, which pass water like a sieve. On such soils, apple trees need to be watered in small doses, but regularly, about once a week.

Fertilizer

At the initial stage of vegetation, the apple tree needs nitrogen, it is applied twice - before flowering and at the stage of ovary formation. When the fruit ripens, the tree needs phosphorus and potassium, they are applied as root and foliar top dressings.

Treatment from pests and infections

Universal insecticides will help to prevent fungal infections of the apple tree and protect the garden from the invasion of insect pests of fruit trees. The first treatment is carried out on a bare trunk, before bud break, the second (with a less saturated solution) at the time of fruit set.

Formation of the correct crown

With planned autumn pruning, growths are shortened so that no more than 2 fruit buds remain on each ring. Spring pruning will help correct the crown, at this stage weak and frozen shoots are removed from the tree.

Shelter for the winter

It is not difficult to pack low trees in a plastic sleeve and tie it so that the air gap inside it protects the plant from contact with the frosty air of the environment.If necessary, burlap and a second layer of polyethylene are put on top of the sleeve. The root system is protected by a 10-15 cm layer of mulch mixed with peat.

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