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Owners of small suburban areas have to choose compact plants so as not to clutter up the area with unnecessary plantings. Columnar cherries are exactly what you need. With a small size, the culture allows you to get plentiful harvests. We will talk about what a plant is and how to grow it in our article.
Description and characteristics of columnar cherries
The columnar culture was not called in vain. At one time, breeders drew attention to the apple tree in the form of a column, which is found in the wild. Since then, this beneficial mutation has been used in the breeding of various fruit plants.
Description of the tree and root system
The tree has the shape of a cylinder with a crown directed upwards. By cutting off the side branches growing to the sides, it is possible to form a slender column no more than 1 m in diameter. In height, the tree stretches 2-3 meters, there are few leaves.
The roots of the tree penetrate to great depths, but they do not grow in breadth beyond the crown. This allows you to plant several crops close to each other on the site to save space.
Productivity
A young tree begins to bear fruit 3 years after planting, and it is advisable to cut off the formed ovaries for the first couple of years. The entire crown is strewn with ripe dark red berries. From one plant it is possible to remove 13-15 kg (and some specimens give up to 50 kg) of fruits. Berries densely cover the branches, making them look like corn cobs.
Life cycle – from 20 to 30 years, depending on climate and care. Juicy fruits have a delicate taste and a dense peel, which allows them to be transported without problems.
Resistance to diseases, pests, frost
Although it is desirable to grow a crop in a warm climate, with proper care, good yields ripen in the northern regions (some varieties can withstand temperatures down to -30 ° C). Here, the culture is necessarily covered with the onset of cold weather.
The culture does not like excessive drought, as well as excessive watering. A moderate amount of water is required, only on dry days during the flowering season it is increased.
Scientists managed to instill immunity to most plant diseases and pests in the columnar cherry, but the use of special security measures will not be superfluous. The tree is most often attacked by:
- coccomycosis;
- scab;
- drone
In addition, the plant is vulnerable to attack:
- aphids;
- long-nosed;
- fruit cake;
- caterpillars.
To control pests, special reagents are used, from the disease they are sprayed with Bordeaux liquid.
Advantages and disadvantages of culture
Gardeners appreciate the culture for its small size and decorative properties. Having a sparse and slightly leafy crown, the tree gives a little shade without interfering with other garden crops.
However, it is worth mentioning the disadvantages:
- low, in comparison with other sweet cherry crops, productivity;
- short shelf life of the collection;
- low frost resistance, which is solved by the correct selection of varieties for specific conditions.
Popular varieties of columnar cherries in horticulture
Consider the most popular varieties, their advantages and disadvantages.
Delight
In terms of maturation, it belongs to medium-early hybrids. The trunk grows up to 2,5 m. The yield is the same from year to year, large cherries, weight 11-14 g, dark red color. The heart is juicy. Resistant to many diseases.
Yellow
The fruits are bright yellow, thick fleshy. Birds do not spoil the harvest, preferring red fruits. It grows up to 3 m, the crown occupies half a meter in diameter. Culture is a long-liver, gives stable yields for about 25 years.
Ипуть
Popular for its high yield. The fruits are medium in size, burgundy, sweet and tasty, the core is easily separated from the stone. They tolerate transportation well, because the culture is massively grown on an industrial scale and is widely used in agriculture.
Ripens early, ends in the second half of June. Good resistance to many diseases.
Queen Mary
Low yield (about 15 kg), refers to dessert varieties. Afraid of the cold, common in the south and in the middle lane.
Baby
One of the most compact varieties of the species. The trunk grows up to 1,5 m, the crown – up to 80 cm. With small sizes, it gives an abundant harvest.
The fruits are sour-sweet, but pleasant in taste, with a fragrant smell. Harvest suitable for conservation. It is frost-resistant, therefore it is able to grow even in Siberia, although it requires mandatory shelter with the onset of frost.
Revna
No less popular is the Queen Mary variety, as it produces sweet and juicy fruits that can be stored for a long time. Suitable for transportation, resistant to Siberian frosts. The size of sweet cherries is average, weight is 5–8 g. The crop ripens in early July.
Helena
Dessert variety. The fruits are bright red, weighing from 2 to 14 g. The trunk grows up to 3,5 m, the crown is meter in diameter. High collection, ripens by June 15-20. The life span is about 20 years. Distributed in the Urals and in central Our Country.
Sabrina
Self pollinating hybrid. The trunk is high (up to 2 m), the crown is voluminous. Gives abundant harvests of sweet and large (13-14 g) cherries at the end of July. Good resistance to diseases and pests. Poorly perceives cold, suitable only for warm regions.
Silvia
According to the characteristics (height, volume, weight of berries, collection, taste) it is similar to the Helena variety. Ripens early, mid-June. The life span is short – 15 years. It is afraid of drafts, but tolerates cold well, although it needs shelter.
There is a variety of Little Sylvia, which reaches a height of no more than 2 m.
Sam
It belongs to very early varieties, the crop ripens by mid-June. Fruit weight up to 12 g. Fruits for about 15 years. It plays the role of a pollinator for other hybrids of this crop and also needs a pollinator (such can be Helena, Hedelfinska, Van Bing). Disease and frost resistant.
Tyutchevka
Late maturity. The crown is spherical, the height is medium. The leaves are massive. The fruits are large, weighing 5–7 g, 2,5 cm wide. The peel and flesh are red, the taste is juicy-sweet (tasting score 4,9 out of 5). Universal use, easy to transport. Productivity is 16-40 kg per tree. Winter hardiness is high. Resistant to moniliosis, clasterosporiasis and coccomycosis. Needs a pollinator (raditsa, Revna are suitable).
Black
Gives abundant harvests, massive fruits. Frost-resistant. Unpretentious, grows up to 2 m. The color of the berries is black.
Video “Planting seedlings of columnar trees”
This video shows how to properly plant seedlings of fruit crops.
Features of growing columnar cherries
To obtain good yields from a gardener, it is required to correctly select a variety suitable for growing conditions. First of all, take into account:
- resistance to cold;
- the time of picking berries;
- fruiting period.
Then it remains only to follow the rules of agricultural technology, which are mandatory for growing cherries and cherries.
In areas where frost occurs early, late-ripening varieties should not be planted.
Advice from the author
Site selection and seedlings
When buying columnar cherry seedlings on the market or in a specialized store, carefully inspect them. In order for the crown to grow straight up, gradually forming an oval or cylinder, the apical bud of the seedling must be intact.
A well-lit area is suitable for planting a crop. Make sure that he will not be afraid of drafts.
Fertile soil must be loosened. Do not choose a site in the lowlands or in places with high groundwater.
Landing scheme and rules
Planting is recommended in the spring, when the risk of return frosts has passed. We present the sequence of actions.
- A hole is dug according to the size of the root system of the seedling – about 60 cm deep and wide. Humus is poured on top, a layer of black soil is placed to protect the tender roots from burns.
- Moisten the soil with water, then place the seedling in it.
- The roots are straightened and added dropwise with soil, leaving about 5 cm of the root neck sticking out above the surface.
- An earthen roller is being built around, the soil is moistened.
- A peg is stuck into the ground, a sprout is tied to it.
The first couple of years, the seedling will not grow much. The task of the gardener is to ensure that the top remains intact and the culture does not freeze.
Watering and feeding
Cherry loves water, but at the stage of formation, both an excess and a lack of moisture are harmful to a young tree. It is necessary to water the culture only on especially dry days, as well as during the formation of fruits.
Before the onset of cold weather, watering will be needed so that the soil accumulates moisture for the winter. This will help the crop survive the cold. Organize watering after the leaves fall from the trees.
It is recommended to apply top dressing according to the following scheme:
- In autumn, a mixture of 150 g of phosphorus and 60 g of potash fertilizers is added to the soil.
- In the spring, nitrogen-containing top dressing is needed – urea or ammonium nitrate.
- Twice: immediately, as soon as the plant fades and after another two weeks, diluted mullein mixed with wood ash is added to the soil. This mass will require half a bucket for each tree. Complete top dressing with abundant watering.
Trimming and shaping
Serious pruning is not required, just cut off the side shoots, allowing the crown to take the desired shape. If it becomes too thick, thin it out a bit. In the spring, until the juices begin to circulate, cut off problematic shoots (dry or frozen over the winter).
Shelter for the winter
Whatever frost-resistant variety is chosen, it must be prepared for winter. On a young seedling, the apical bud should not freeze, otherwise the crown will not take on the original cylindrical shape inherent in the culture, but will begin to resemble an ordinary cherry.
Winter shelter is organized in several stages.
- In autumn, after fertilizing and watering watering, the area around the trunk is mulched, sprinkled with peat or a thick layer of sawdust.
- When snow falls, it is raked closer to the trunk and trampled down. Another layer of sawdust is poured on top, which prevents the snow from melting during periods of warming.
- Since the tree has a small height, it is insulated by building around a support in the manner of a pyramid and wrapping it with a non-woven covering material.
Reviews of gardeners
Five years ago, I planted several varieties of columnar cherries at once. Tyutchevka, and Black, and Yellow and Raditsa grow well. Easy to care for, harvest is fast. My husband and I are satisfied.
For a long time I could not give preference to a suitable variety – it is too cold here in winter. Finally settled on Revna and Sylvia. Both seedlings quickly took root, now they are growing successfully. We are waiting for the abundant harvests promised by the reviews next summer.
Columnar sweet cherry is suitable not only for summer residents of the Moscow region, but also for more frosty regions of the country. From such compact trees, it is possible to lay a cherry mini-garden and enjoy solid harvests every year.