Columnar trees first appeared in 1964 in Canada. On one of the private farms, a natural mutation of the apple tree was identified. She became the basis of selection. Further work on the consolidation of characteristic features has already received results in Europe. In private gardens, columnar trees are still rare. Apples and pears are the most common, but columnar cherries are still considered rare. How is this tree different from traditional species?
Columnar cherry is a tree that has the shape of a cylinder, growing only upwards. The crown is formed by short lateral branches. It does not exceed one meter in diameter. The peculiarity of the lateral branches is the huge number of fruit shoots and the absence of branching.
Virtues of columnar trees
Columnar cherry has a lot of advantages when grown on the site. Among them:
Decorative
These trees are able to maintain the integrity of the landscape direction in the design of the site. Such a selection novelty will not leave any amateur gardener indifferent.
Compact
Due to the small diameter of the crown, the trees make it possible to use much less space for fruit trees. They are much easier to process, care for and harvest.
Palatability and precocity
The columnar cherries of the varieties bred to date have retained the main taste characteristics of the classic varieties. In different varieties, technical ripeness occurs from early to mid-June, and therefore allows you to feast on vitamins at the beginning of summer. The height of the column does not exceed two meters.
Columnar cherry is in demand in industrial horticulture. When obtaining a new variety, scientific methods of influence are used:
- selection;
- agrotechnical and chemical practices;
- mechanical and surgical effects.
Thanks to these techniques, the yield and precocity of trees increase. Industrial cherry orchards are formed with the prospect of a yield of each tree from 8 to 10 kg. When landing, the following options are used:
- trees are planted according to the scheme - 3.0x2.5 and 2.0x1.5 meters;
- planting density up to 13,300 trees per hectare.
Grow and compact trees in trays and containers. This allows the trees to be protected in the winter and thus promote industrial horticulture north.
Popular varieties: Cherry Black
Highly productive, unpretentious variety, which is highly decorative. During flowering it is slenderthe tree is completely covered with a lace of light pink petals. After flowering, they strew the ground with a solid carpet.
Slender, tall, upright tree with no horizontal branches. The height does not exceed two meters. This is a self-pollinating variety, so its yield does not depend on pollinating neighbors. The fruits are maroon, sometimes almost black, large. The berries are juicy and very sweet, shiny. They are distinguished by excellent presentation and high transportability.
Delight
This columnar cherry belongs to varieties of medium-early ripening. The tree grows no more than 2.5 meters in height. Crown in diameter - no more than a meter. The variety is famous for its high yield and winter hardiness. The berries are ruby red, large: weight up to fourteen grams. The flesh is dark red, with small pink patches, very juicy. The plant is resistant to many diseases characteristic of stone fruits.
Columnar cherry for the Moscow region
For gardeners in the southern regions of our country, there are no problems with the choice of high-yielding early-ripening varieties of their favorite berries. And residents of the Moscow region and the middle zone of our country became interested in columnar cherries: they are high-yielding, early ripening and, moreover, take up very little space on the plot.
Helena
A small tree no more than 2.5 meters high, which pleases with consistently high yields (12-14 kg per tree) and tasty large berries. Ripe berriesappear in the first half of June. The fruits are burgundy in color. The flesh is dark red with thin pinkish veins. This variety is self-fertile, but if you want to increase yields, plant a tree next to Silvia.
Sylvia
Very reminiscent of the main characteristics of the previous variety. Large ruby berries. Helena and Sylvia are considered varieties with medium winter hardiness, so it is advisable to cover them for the winter.
Revna
Today, columnar cherries can be successfully grown in the Moscow region. The varieties that breeders have developed today are distinguished by their amazing sweet taste, juicy berries, which have excellent transportability. An example of this is the Revna variety.
Its berries are characterized by a characteristic wide funnel with a round top. Their weight is from 5 to 8 grams. The tree begins to bloom in May, and the first berries ripen in early July. The advantages of this variety include outstanding taste, frost resistance, increased resistance to fungal infections and sunburn.
Sem
Pollinator variety with berries weighing six grams. A tree of the same height as large-fruited varieties. Sem bears fruit for about fifteen years.
Preparing for landing
What should be seedlings of columnar cherries? What should I pay attention to when buying? First of all, inspect the main bud, which is located at the top, since it is she who has the greatest influence on the development of the tree. If the tree already hasleaves, then they must be he althy, not damaged by pests.
When to plant a tree?
This work is desirable to be carried out in the spring, when the temperature is above zero at night, and before the start of sap flow. In the southern regions, autumn planting is no different from spring. Before the onset of cold weather, the root system is strengthened, and in the spring it will give new shoots. In more northern regions, one cannot be sure that the tree will adapt to winter, so it is more expedient to dig it in until early spring, and then decide on its permanent place.
Choosing a seat
Columnar cherry is a light-loving culture. It needs plenty of sunlight and protection from winds and drafts. The southern sides of buildings, fences are perfect, but avoid low-lying places and close groundwater. Stagnation of moisture will destroy the tree and significantly reduce the characteristics of winter hardiness.
Columnar cherry: planting
To plant a seedling, you will need a hole measuring 60x70x70 cm, since the root system of these species is rather weak. Make a homogeneous mass from compost, thin twigs and manure and lay it on the bottom of the pit with a layer of 30 cm. Pour ten centimeters of sand on top, which will eventually become good soil and settle a little. In the early years, this will allow the plant to tolerate frost well and protect against overflow in the summer. The last layer should contain fertilizer, but better organic than mineral.
Depending on the size of the seedling, it is watered abundantly (from 20 to 30liters of water). The contents of the pit are compacted, a hole is made and a tree is planted. After that, add the earth in such a way that a small mound about fifteen centimeters high is formed. For stability, it is advisable to make a support and a garter of a seedling. When planting, the distance between the cherries can be from 2.5 meters.
Fruiting
Since experts recommend removing the ovaries during flowering in the first year, the first small crop of columnar cherries will delight you in the second year after planting. Although, when growing some varieties, fruiting may occur in the year of planting, which is especially attractive to gardeners.
Cherry care
These small, slender trees will not require much effort from you - pruning is done quite rarely if necessary, the crown is formed using a central shoot. In the first year, three to four heavy waterings are sufficient, as excess moisture reduces the level of air in the soil, which the plant needs to strengthen the still immature root system.
Despite the resistance of the plant to most diseases, to prevent the appearance of pests or when they are detected, treat the tree with special means, but always in the evening.
Culture can be propagated in two ways: with a seed or a grafted seedling. In the second case, grafting is carried out using a two-year-old sweet cherry at a height of about one and a half meters. In the first one, plant a seed of a ripe berry in a pot with earth and sand, after it sprouts, dig it in.
Reviews of gardeners
Despite the fact that the columnar cherry is not yet very common in private garden plots, the reviews of the owners of this tree are enthusiastic. In addition to the great taste of berries, simple plant care, it is a real decoration of any garden. In addition, the tree takes up very little space, which is especially important for owners of small summer cottages or garden plots.
