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Thanks to selection, it became possible to successfully grow apple trees and get a stable harvest even in regions with difficult climatic conditions. After all, new types of culture have increased resistance to temperature extremes and frost. Therefore, now both the standard type and the columnar apple tree are found everywhere in the Urals. The latter is characterized by a compact crown size, which makes it possible to grow a fruit tree even in small household plots.
Columnar apple trees are distinguished by precocity
The best varieties of columnar apple trees for the Urals
The climate of the Urals is sharply continental. However, the length of the mountain range is more than 2,5 thousand km, which has a significant impact on the weather conditions in different parts of the region. Therefore, when buying an apple tree, you need to take into account the possibility of growing it in the southern, middle and northern Urals. Since not all types of crops can be successfully grown in different climatic zones of the region.
Columnar apple tree for the southern Urals
The climate of the southern Urals is characterized by a frosty winter, which lasts from mid-November to March with sharp temperature fluctuations. During the cold period, sunny days prevail, there are snowstorms and snowstorms, especially in February. Spring is cool with frosts, sleet, with a constant alternation of sunny and cloudy days. Summer in the southern part of the Urals with heavy rains and temperatures from +19 to 34 °C. And autumn is cold, mostly cloudy, with strong winds.
Recommended varieties of columnar apple for the southern Urals, taking into account the climate of this part of the region:
- Chervonets. This hybrid was entered into the State Register in 2008. Chervonets apple tree is a semi-dwarf, its height barely reaches 2 m. It begins to bear fruit 2-3 years after planting. The productivity level of the tree is 6-8 kg. Apples are large, weighing about 180g. The tree retains a high life potential for 15-17 years. Chervonets is an autumn view of a columnar apple tree. Harvest tolerates transportation and storage for 2-3 months.
Chervonets apple tree is resistant to scab
- Waltz. The variety is summer. Harvest ripens at the end of August. The height of the tree is 2,5-3 m. Apples are medium in size, rounded. The hue of the fruit is light green, the integumentary in the form of red strokes on most of the surface. The high life potential of the tree is maintained for 15 years. Harvest suitable for fresh consumption and processing.
The columnar apple tree Waltz is characterized by an accelerated growth rate
- Dialog. This is a variety of a columnar apple tree of early ripening, which is great for the southern Urals. The fruiting period begins in late July-early August. With standard care, the yield of a tree reaches 5-6 kg. The height of the Dialog apple tree is 2,5 m. The crown is dense and compact. The tree withstands temperatures as low as -40 °C.
Harvest apple trees Dialog retain consumer properties for one month
For the Middle Urals
The climate of the Middle Urals is continental and is characterized by a sharp change in weather conditions not only for several days, but also for days. Winter in this part of the region lasts for five months, namely from November to April. And already from the beginning of the cold period, a stable snow cover appears. Spring in the middle Urals is characterized by regular frosts that last until the end of May. Summer is mostly rainy, cool, dry weather is established only in July. In autumn, drizzling rains and cloudiness are not uncommon.
Recommended varieties of columnar apple trees for the Middle Urals, taking into account the climate:
- Amber necklace. A late ripe apple variety suitable for long-term storage. The height of the tree reaches 2 m. The yield level is 5-7 kg. Fruit picking is recommended at the end of September, but they acquire a balanced taste after a month of storage. Fruit color is greenish-yellow. The pulp is white, juicy, sweet with a slight sourness.
Apple tree Amber necklace begins to bear fruit in the second year after planting
- Iksha. The variety has not yet been included in the State Register of Our Country, but has already gained wide popularity due to its endurance and excellent fruit qualities. The tree grows up to 2,2-2,5 m. The shoots are thickened, attached at an acute angle to the trunk. Crown of medium foliage. The variety belongs to the category of early autumn. Harvest can be harvested in early September. The fruits are flat-round, medium in size. The color is yellow, but the integumentary skin in the form of red stripes occupies most of the surface.
The tasting score of the columnar apple tree Iksha is 4,5 points
- Nectar. Autumn self-fertile variety. It is highly resistant to disease and frost. The fruits are yellow in color, weighing 120-250 g. The yield is 9-15 kg, depending on the care. The taste of the fruit is sweet, with a honey aroma and aftertaste. The keeping quality of the crop is a month.
The columnar apple tree Medoc is able to form an ovary in the year of planting
For the northern Urals
The Northern Urals has a sharp continental climate. In this part of the region, winters are severe and long, and summers are short and cool. Also, spring is much longer than autumn. Therefore, for the northern part of the Urals, it is necessary to choose varieties whose crop is able to ripen even with a minimum number of sunny days during the season.
Suitable types of columnar apple tree:
- Ranet Mazherova. The height of the tree barely reaches 2 m, and the width of the crown is only 40 cm. It begins to bear fruit in the third year after planting. Apples are small up to 80 g, rounded, yellow in color. Harvest suitable for fresh consumption and processing. The pulp is creamy, juicy, sweet and sour. Harvesting is recommended in early September.
Ranet Mazherova withstands frosts down to -45 degrees
- Ostankino. High yielding self-fertile variety. The height of the tree reaches 2,5 m. The fruits are round, slightly flattened, weighing 150-200 g. The color is greenish-yellow with a purple-red blush. The pulp is white, fine-grained, dessert taste. The variety is considered autumn, harvesting is recommended at the end of September.
Harvest Ostankino lies well until December
- Arbat. This is one of the first columnar apple varieties. It is characterized by unpretentiousness and stable fruiting. The height of the tree is 2,5 m. The yield of the apple tree is 12 kg. Medium-sized fruits weighing 85-100 g. Apples are flat-round with a slight ribbing at the top. The tasting score of the variety is 3,8 points out of a possible five.
In the fruits of the Arbat variety, the content of ascorbic acid reaches 4,5-6,4 mg per 100 g
How to plant columnar apple trees in spring in the Urals
From how correctly the planting of an apple tree will be carried out, its further development and level of productivity directly depend. Therefore, it is recommended that you familiarize yourself with the features of this procedure in advance.
Selection of seedlings
When buying seedlings, you need to carefully examine their appearance. Young apple trees should have a well-developed root system, and there should be no signs of mechanical damage or disease damage on the trunk. Also, the underground part of the plants should not have swellings and thickenings. The roots of a healthy tree bend well, and on the cut they have a light shade.
One- and two-year-old seedlings are suitable for planting, which guarantees their quick adaptation in a new place.
Terms of planting
Planting a tree in the Urals is recommended in the spring before the start of the growing season. In this case, the columnar apple tree will be able to fully take root and get stronger before the arrival of the cold period. Planting a columnar apple tree in the fall in the Urals is also possible if done in advance. In this case, the procedure should be carried out in September, namely in the middle of the month. But planting a columnar apple tree in the fall in the Urals is recommended only as a last resort, since the probability of a seedling freezing in the first winter is very high.
Site Selection
For planting a columnar apple tree in the Urals, it is recommended to choose a sunny area, well lit throughout the day. The best option is the southern or southwestern part of the garden. At the same time, it is important that the place is protected from cold gusts of wind. Therefore, it is allowed to plant an apple tree near a fence or buildings at a distance of 2 m, if they do not form a shadow for it.
The columnar variety, like ordinary types of culture, prefers loose nutrient soil with a neutral level of acidity. Therefore, loams are well suited for it. At the same time, on the site, groundwater should be located 1,5-2 m below the soil surface.
Landing technology
To plant a columnar apple tree in the Urals, you need to prepare a hole measuring 80 by 80 cm. This must be done at least two weeks in advance, and preferably in the fall. At the bottom of the planting pit, it is necessary to put a layer of drainage 10 cm thick, which will prevent constant contact of the roots of the seedling with moisture, even in prolonged rainy weather. The rest of the hole must be filled with a nutrient substrate consisting of turf, humus, peat, sand in a ratio of 2: 1: 1: 1. Additionally, 40 g of superphosphate and 25 g of potassium sulfide should be poured into the recess, and then the fertilizer should be thoroughly mixed with the ground.
The day before planting, the seedling must be placed in water to nourish the roots.
Algorithm of actions:
- Make a slight rise in the center of the hole.
- Next to it, install a wooden support 1,2-1,5 m high.
- Put an apple tree on a raised platform, gently straighten the root shoots.
- Water generously and wait until the moisture is completely absorbed.
- Sprinkle the roots with earth, fill all the voids.
- Compact the soil at the base of the seedling.
- Tie it to the support with elastic twine.
Caring for a columnar apple tree in the Urals
This fruit tree does not require complex care, but the observance of simple rules of agricultural technology allows you to accelerate the pace of its development and fruiting. Therefore, you need to familiarize yourself with them in advance.
Watering
In the conditions of the Urals, it is rarely necessary to water a columnar apple tree, only with a long absence of precipitation. Humidification should be carried out in the root circle with wetting the soil up to 10 cm. Watering regularly once a week.
Feeding
To maintain the high productivity of the columnar apple tree in the Urals, it is necessary to carry out its top dressing in a timely manner, taking into account the stage of tree development. Therefore, it is recommended to apply fertilizers for the first time in early spring before the start of the growing season. During this period, you can use ammonium nitrate or urea at the rate of 30-80 g. The second and third feedings are recommended after flowering and at the stage of ovary formation. At this time, superphosphate 40-100 g and potassium sulfate 25-60 g can be used.
It is recommended to apply fertilizers to the root circle of the tree, followed by their incorporation into the soil. You can feed a columnar apple tree after rain or watering to avoid root burns.
Trimming and shaping
To maintain the high life potential of a young seedling, it is necessary to normalize the load. Therefore, in the year of planting, it is recommended to remove all the buds on the apple tree, and leave no more than five pieces for the second season. In the future, in order for the tree to bear large fruits, it is recommended to leave up to three ovaries on one branch.
When growing a columnar apple tree in the Urals, it is important to correctly form the crown. It should be understood that the trunk should be only one. In the case of the appearance of 2-4 shoots, it is recommended to select the strongest one, and completely remove the rest.
In the first season after planting, you need to shorten the side branches to two buds. And in the second and third year, carry out a similar pruning on new shoots that have appeared. In the future, as the apple tree grows older, it is recommended to remove branches older than five years from below, which gradually lose their potential.
Pruning should be done in the spring before active sap flow begins.
Preparation for winter
When growing a columnar apple tree in the Urals, the tree must be insulated for the winter. To do this, in the fall it is recommended to lay a layer of humus 10 cm thick in the root circle. It is also necessary to wrap the crown of the apple tree with agrofiber in several layers and fix the protective layer so that it is not blown away by the wind.
Throughout the winter, it is recommended, if necessary, to spud the tree with snow, which will allow it to endure severe frosts without much difficulty.
Diseases and pests
Columnar apple trees are distinguished by increased immunity to scab and other common crop diseases. They are also less susceptible to pests. But to maintain the high resistance of trees, it is recommended to carry out preventive treatments in spring and autumn with Bordeaux mixture or copper sulphate.
Conclusion
The columnar apple tree in the Urals is becoming more and more popular every year. After all, this species is able to grow even in a small area and regularly bear fruit. Moreover, the tree is undemanding to care, it is enough just to adhere to the standard rules of agricultural technology and update it in a timely manner with a decrease in productivity.
Reviews of columnar apple trees in the Urals
