Columnar apple President is one of the best domestic varieties
Content
About columnar apple trees
For many gardeners, it is not clear what the columnar apple is, and what is its key difference from ordinary fruit trees. The description should start with the appearance of the columnar trees.
The trees rarely grow taller than 2-2.5 meters, and their crown is very narrow and does not exceed 40 centimeters in diameter. At the same time, trees can be planted quite close to each other, which significantly saves space in the garden while maintaining the amount of harvest. The branches of this variety of apple trees grow exclusively vertically, and there is no lateral branching.
The columnar apple tree grows into one trunk, which every year is densely overgrown with ringlets, fruit spears and twigs. Really high yields of apple trees are combined with their small size, which greatly facilitates the care and collection of fruits.
Description and characteristics
The apple-tree-column “President” was bred in VSTISP when crossing apple trees of the “Vazhak” variety, which has a columnar crown, and the “Abundant” variety.
The "President" variety is well zoned for the following regions: Moscow, Samara, Perm, as well as for the regions of the Black Earth and Non-Black Earth.
The columnar apple of this variety belongs to semi-dwarf trees, rarely growing above 2 meters. The crown of the apple tree is densely covered with leaves, but small, only 20 centimeters in diameter. Among the dense foliage, a large number of ringlets and fruit spears are formed every year. At the same time, the trunk is dense and rigid, which allows the tree to withstand bountiful harvests. The root system lies close to the surface of the ground, but at the same time it has a high density, which allows the seedlings to root faster and easier to adapt.
The fruits are evenly distributed along the trunk starting at 30 centimeters from the ground. The shoots are thick with shortened internodes. The leaves are large, dark green, glossy. The leaf plates are ovoid, flat, crenate along the edge.
The variety is distinguished by early fruiting. Fruits in large apples weighing up to 250 grams. The apples are flattened and rounded in shape. The peel is light yellow, the integumentary color occupies ⅔ of the fruit - this is a blush of light purple with shades of red. The peel itself is thin, taut, with a characteristic shine. Seed chambers of a closed type. The pulp of this variety is fine-grained, white, very juicy, sweet and sour with a persistent aroma.
A columnar apple tree blooms in the first year of cultivation, but due to the youth of the tree, it is better to cut off all the flowers. In the fifth year of growth, a columnar apple tree produces up to 8 kilograms of apples. There are small fluctuations in yield from year to year, both up and down. This is mainly due to the quality of tree care and weather conditions.
Ripening of apple trees of this variety occurs at the end of August and lasts until mid-September. The commercial qualities of apples, if stored correctly, are preserved until the beginning of January.Apples of the “President” variety can be consumed both fresh and used for preservation, making dried fruits and as a filling for baking.
The "President" variety, zoned for the middle zone and some northern regions, is characterized by high resistance to low temperatures. In fact, its winter hardiness is the same as that of Antonovka. Also, the variety shows good resistance to most diseases caused by fungi and viruses.
Planting and leaving
Ideal conditions for apple trees of this variety are a well-lit place, deep groundwater, and no strong wind.
The planting pit must be at least 90 centimeters wide and deep. However, the width of the hole mainly depends on the size of the roots. Remember to straighten them out before planting.
The pit must be filled with a mixture of superphosphate, potassium and topsoil. If you want to supplement the mineral composition with organic fertilizers, do not forget to separate the organic matter from the roots with a layer of earth to protect the seedling from burns. After placing the seedling in the hole, it is necessary to carefully tamp the ground so that the root collar is 5-6 centimeters above ground level, and then thoroughly water the ground.
The variety must be fertilized several times a year, especially while the trees are young. Here is a description of the approximate composition of the dressings:
- slurry, diluted 1:10;
- infusion of chicken droppings, diluted 1:30;
- urea - 1 tablespoon in 1 bucket of water;
- a mixture of superphosphate (120 grams) and potassium chloride (40 grams);
- compost 8 kilograms, superphosphate 75 grams, potassium chloride 24 grams, urea 18 grams (this composition is introduced in early May to ensure good flowering and increase the immunity of the tree).
The columnar apple tree of this variety loves regular and abundant watering, since the root system is located close to the surface of the earth and cannot independently extract moisture from the depths. Watering is best done 2 times a week.
Shoot pruning is carried out in early spring, before the buds have blossomed. Also, in the spring, this variety must be sprayed with fungicides and insecticides of complex action. For the winter, it is better to close the trunk with some dense material in order to protect it from rodents and hares.
Diseases and pests
The variety is less susceptible to fungal diseases than ordinary types of apple trees, but it is simply necessary to carry out preventive treatments against powdery mildew, scab, cancer and mosaic. Especially while the trees are young and more vulnerable to various kinds of diseases. The preparations "Skor", "Topaz", "Fitosporin" have proved to be excellent.
However, the variety can infect not only diseases, but also insect pests. Among them are: Schlechtendahl's tick, apple moth, aphid, red tick, leafworm, fruit moth. As a fight against insects, trapping belts made of corrugated paper are used, as well as insecticides of complex action, for example, "Ecoberin", "Zircon", any preparations such as "Karbofos".
Video "Columnar apple-tree of the President variety"
In this video, we will focus on the “President” apple variety. You will learn all the benefits of columnar apple trees, as well as the features of caring for them.