The best varieties of columnar cherries

The range of compact fruit trees is expanding. Columnar cherries are still a rarity in the gardens near Moscow, and there are few varieties. The varietal properties of the column are transmitted by the seeds. Therefore, cherries can be propagated by a seedling on a cherry stock and sowing seeds. A tree grows up to 3 meters in height. Fragile wood may not withstand, it is required to provide a support.

Features of columnar trees

Columnar cherry is a trunk that grows only upwards due to the conductor. Skeletal branches are short, together with fruit branches, they create a crown, the shape of a vertical cylinder. When buying a seedling, you need to make sure that the upper bud is alive, otherwise the column will not be able to grow.

Columnar cherries require better lighting and wind protection. They do not require pruning, but they do not tolerate drying out of the earth and close standing of groundwater. The compact tree easily shelters from the cold. In industrial horticulture, cherry orchards from columnar varieties of cherries are preferred.

Advantages:

• the early maturity of the tree is high, fruiting in the year of planting the grafted seedling, but it is blinded;
• the taste of berries is excellent, not inferior to trees of ordinary formation, often self-fertile;
• compactness makes it easier to care for the column, only light sanitary pruning is required;
• decorativeness is high - columnar cherries are still a rarity; they create an unexpected accent in landscape design.

Despite the declared self-fertility, several cherries of different varieties need to be assembled, the yield will increase significantly if the CEM variety is used as a pollinator.

Columnar varieties of cherries in industrial gardens

The creation of columnar varieties of sweet cherries is a requirement of industrial horticulture. Scientific methods of influence when obtaining a variety are used:

• selection in biological form;
• chemical;
• agrotechnical techniques;
• surgical and mechanical influences.

As a result, the early maturity and productivity of the orchards increases. Cherry industrial orchards are formed everywhere with the prospect of a yield of 8-10 kg for each column. Schemes are used:

• planting density up to 13,300 trees per hectare:
• landing schemes - 2.0x1.5 and 3.0x2.5 meters;
• column height up to 2 meters.

Special compact trees are grown that can be cultivated in containers and trays to protect trees in winter and promote industrial gardening north.

Sweet cherry in the gardens of the Moscow region

The varieties Helena and Sylvia are considered the best for the Moscow region. Cherry Sylvia is very fruitful, has large ruby ​​berries with the same taste as Iput. The tree is of medium frost resistance, but in the conditions of the Moscow region it is better to protect it from frost and wind. The berry ripens on June 12-18.

The Helena variety has the same resistance and productivity. But her berries are tougher, the flesh is red, with pink veins. The harvest ripens a week later. Dessert variety. Columns grow under 3 meters in height, in a section up to a meter. Fruiting lasts 15-25 years.

Variety Sem is a pollinator, has berries weighing 10-12 grams, but tasty. The trunk is the same height as the large boat. Fruiting for 15 years. In addition to the already recognized varieties, Queen Mary, Little Sylvia, Black columnar are becoming popular. These varieties are less tall - up to 2.5 meters.

Planting and leaving

Columnar cherry seedlings are grown on a cherry rootstock in containers or with an open root system. When choosing a seedling, you should make sure:

• the kidney of the superior conductor is alive, not broken;
• the trunk is even, the bark is smooth, without damage;
• roots without rot, alive - not visible in the container, the seller must be reliable;
• leaves are healthy, characteristic color without tonal stripes.

Several trees must be selected of the same age.

When choosing a place for trees, remember that you cannot plant cherries in the lowlands, in the wind and in the shade. Each tree should be planted in fertile soil, without nitrogen fertilizers. Planting of columnar cherries is carried out in the spring, and the fruit pit is prepared in advance. The soil should be fertile, loose, neutral.

Planting in a flower bed will give the roots more heat, the ground on the mound warms up earlier. With prolonged heavy rains, there will be no stagnant dampness. The flowerbed should be sown with cultivated grasses, mowed and mulched around the trunk circle.

Care columnar cherry loves easy. The earth must be kept moist. Pruning is not needed, the plant itself only grows upward. The trunk must be whitewashed with chalk in the fall. The main thing is to prevent diseases. Where the columns grow, there should be no weeds, all plant residues are harvested in the fall to a clean field. The earth is loosened, saturated with oxygen. In the spring, protective measures are carried out as for all fruit trees.

Fruiting of a young columnar cherry - video

Many residents of the Moscow region today are interested in the growing conditions, features of care and the yield of columnar cherries. The line of new varieties is a compact form, minimum cost of useful area, high yields. You can choose any tree according to the photo and description, and study the benefits and features of care just here!

Columnar cherries: what are the features and advantages

So, what does every gardener want from his garden? Excellent quality of fruits, minimum labor costs and maximum yield, which can be "taken" from 6 acres! And the beloved by many, aromatic and velvety cherries are no exception. Therefore, breeders are trying to create a compact variety for a garden with an intensive cultivation load and one that takes up a minimum of free space.

Columnar cherries have become exactly the innovation that takes root well on the lands of the Moscow region and other territories with a similar climate. The name itself speaks of the shape of the tree: the trunk grows (due to the conductor) upward by 3-4 m, the fruit / skeletal branches are short, form a horizontal cylinder. Any of the varieties can be shaped!

But the external shape is far from all the advantages of columnar sweet cherries. Its main advantages are:

• 0.5 m2 of land for growing 1 tree. Therefore, on a plot of 6 acres, you can grow a whole cherry orchard;
• resistance to temperature and humidity extremes typical for the Moscow region;
• high early maturity. Berries can be obtained already in the first year of cultivation, but this will affect the further development of the tree, therefore, it is usually "blinded";

Cherry orchard

• excellent taste and transport qualities of berries;
• ease of maintenance, which includes only sanitary pruning;
• high decorative effect.

Attention! It is better to plant varieties of columnar cherries in the area with other varieties of the same flowering phase. The trees will pollinate each other and the owner will have a better chance of getting a good harvest!

It becomes clear why breeders pay so much attention to this variety. It is an excellent solution for growing both in your own garden and on an industrial scale!

Cherry varieties, or how to choose and not miscalculate

Probably, there is no such person who would not adore cherry berries. Especially those that have a rich ruby ​​(almost black) color, sweet, dense, juicy, with a uniform pulp. Among the varieties of columnar cherries, there are some, and there are also pink-colored fruits. But about each in order!

Variety Silvia - early maturing, the first fruits ripen in early June. An adult tree reaches a height of 4 m, a crown - up to 1.5 m in diameter. High-yielding, has large (up to 6 g) ruby-colored berries. Frost resistant, but worth protecting from the elements.

Sylvia columnar

The variety has similar characteristics. Iput, the berries of which are 20-22 mm in diameter, the color is dark burgundy, the weight is 5.5-5.7 g. The uniformity of ripening of fruits, their sweetness and juiciness, easy separation of the seed from the pulp and the stalk from the berry, excellent transportable characteristics allow grow commercially. It belongs to the early varieties, ends fruiting by June 18-22. A striking advantage is its excellent resistance to fungal diseases.

Delicacies include berries of the variety Jealous, which have an amazing sweet taste, juiciness and high transportability. The berry has a wide funnel with a round top, the weight of one varies from 5 to 8 g. It belongs to mid-season varieties: flowering occurs in May, the first berries ripen by the first days of July. The obvious advantages include not only the taste of berries, but also frost resistance, resistance to fungal infections and sunburn.

Also among the middle grades is the variety Tyutchevka, but he already has dark red fruits with pink veins, denser skin and softness. The berry weighs 3.5-4.5 g, its shape is broadly rounded. The petioles are short and thick, the bone is well separated from the pulp. The positive aspects include high yields due to the self-pollination of the tree. The tree bears fruit for 18-25 years.

Unique variety Helena, which lately is more and more loved by gardeners, will delight with ruby ​​fruits, uniform, fleshy, sweet and juicy. A characteristic feature of the variety is the weight of the berry, which reaches 14 g! The yield of one tree is up to 15 kg, the maximum duration of fruiting throughout the entire life period is 14-15 years.

Attention! Due to the fact that many varieties are not self-pollinated, there must be sapo-pollinated cherry varieties in the garden. Well, or an apiary.

Growing columnar cherries: TOP-5 rules

So, having chosen the variety you like for your garden, having purchased it in the nursery, you can start planting. The best time is the end of March and autumn, after the first frost. And although planting and caring for a cherry tree is a simple matter, in order to get an excellent harvest without interference, the following rules should be observed:

Cherry blossom

1. Choosing a wind-protected, sunny location.
2. The soil is slightly acidic, with rich admixtures of humus.
3. Lack of closely spaced groundwater.
4. Loosening and watering - at least 3 times per season, top dressing: in the spring - nitrogen, in the fall - potassium-phosphorus.
5. Pruning and disease / pest control.

And your tree or your whole garden will be grateful! And they will give you a rich harvest of delicious, juicy, ripe berries!

Columnar cherry: video

Column-shaped cherries are still a rare guest on personal plots, but gardeners have already appreciated its merits.This type of cherry grows vertically upward, without horizontal branches, which allows you to grow a real garden even in a confined space.

Description and characteristics of columnar cherries

Columnar cherry is a shoot that grows exclusively upward due to the guide. The culture has short skeletal branches, which, along with fruit branches, create a crown in the form of a vertical cylinder. Columnar cherries are very easy to care for, they do not require pruning, and thanks to their compact shape, several trees can be placed on the site.

According to the rules of the Russian language, the word "columnar" is written with two letters "n" in the first case, since it is a derivative of the word "column". However, more and more often in the literature on gardening can be found the term "columnar" in relation to the compact forms of apple, pear, cherry and sweet cherry.

Columnar cherries are not inferior to the fruits of classic varieties either in appearance or in taste

These compact plants have a number of differences from conventional crop varieties.

1. Unusual appearance. Dwarf columnar varieties differ from ordinary cherries in the cylindrical shape of the crown. They can become an unusual and original garden decoration.
2. Due to their small size, the trees are very convenient to harvest.
3. Columnar cherries are much easier to cover before wintering and protect them from frost.
4. The plant begins to bear fruit early.

Columnar cherries yield large yields of excellent fruits.

Table: advantages and disadvantages of culture

Video: Columnar Cherry

Popular varieties: choosing the right ones

Columnar forms of fruit trees have many advantages and are becoming more and more popular among gardeners, so breeders are intensively working to create new varieties. Currently, several varieties have been bred, the most popular of which are:

• Silvia. An early ripe cherry variety, the first berries ripen in early June. The plant is high-yielding, large fruits are ruby-colored;
• Little Sylvia. Reduced copy of the Sylvia variety. The cherry grows in height up to 2 m. The crown is very compact and does not grow over 50 cm in diameter. The fruit ripens at the end of June;
• Helena. A unique variety with ruby-colored berries. Fruits - juicy, fleshy and sweet - are real champions, their weight reaches 14 g, and the yield of one tree is about 15 kg;
• Sam (Sam). Berries of dark burgundy color reach a weight of 10-12 g. Fruits are distinguished by excellent transportability and ripen almost simultaneously. Early variety. Fruiting ends in the 20th of June.

Columnar cherry in the photo

Planting columnar cherries

Despite the fact that the dwarf columnar cherry is unpretentious, in order to obtain an excellent harvest of delicious berries, it is necessary to plant the plant according to all the rules and provide good care in the future.

Due to its compactness, a large number of columnar cherry seedlings can be located on the site

Selection of both plot and seedlings

When choosing a seedling and planting site, several important points should be considered:

• when purchasing seedlings of columnar cherry, inspect them and make sure that the apical bud is not damaged. Only under this condition will the crown grow upward, acquiring a cylindrical shape;
• find a sunny spot on the property. The seedlings should be protected from cold winds and well lit from all directions;
• the soil in the area chosen for planting columnar cherries must be loose and fertile. Landing in lowlands and in areas with a close location of groundwater is unacceptable;
• the planting pit should be sized to match the root system of the sweet cherry seedling.

Step-by-step instruction

1. The best time for planting columnar cherries is spring.In this case, the procedure is recommended to be carried out after the threat of recurrent frosts has passed. If you purchased a seedling in the fall, dig it in, and plant it in a permanent place in the spring.
2. Dig a hole 60 cm in diameter and depth.

   The size of the planting hole must be at least 60x60 cm

3. Mix the top fertile layer with humus and pour the mixture onto the bottom of the pit. Then put a layer of black soil so that the delicate cherry roots do not get burned.
4. Moisten the substrate and place the seedling.

   The seedling is placed in the center of the planting pit.

5. Spread the roots and cover them with earth so that the root collar protrudes 5 cm above the ground level.

   The root collar is not buried when planting

6. Make a roller around the seedling and moisten the soil.
7. Stick a peg next to the cherry and tie the plant to it.

In the first 2-3 years, the growth of the seedling will not be intense. At this time, make sure that the top is not damaged and does not freeze in winter. Otherwise, the plant will lose its original column shape and grow like a common cherry.

Cultivation of columnar cherries

Columnar cherries are easier to care for than conventional varieties. It comes down to watering during dry periods, periodic feeding and shelter for the winter.

Watering and feeding

Sweet cherry is a moisture-loving plant, but the tree does not tolerate both stagnant water and waterlogging of the soil. Watering the columnar cherries is necessary only on hot days, in addition, the amount of moisture should be increased at the stage of berry formation.

In the fall, before the onset of cold weather, water-charging irrigation is carried out, which will help the plant to endure frosts. This is done in early October after falling leaves.

The best care option is to combine irrigation with fertilization. They do it as follows:

• in the fall, it is recommended to add 150 g of phosphorus fertilizers and 60 g of potash fertilizers to the soil;
• in the spring, a nitrogen type of fertilizer is introduced into the trunk circle: ammonium nitrate or urea;
• after the cherry blossoms and 2 weeks after that, a diluted mullein with a small amount of wood ash should be added under the tree. It is recommended to pour 0.5 buckets of mullein infusion with ash under each cherry, and then immediately water it abundantly.

Mineral fertilizers are applied when digging a near-trunk circle in spring and autumn

Pruning and shaping columnar cherries

Unlike conventional varieties, the crown of the columnar cherry grows almost vertically. This form does not require shaping. However, if the crown of the plant becomes thickened, some branches can be cut. In the spring, before the start of sap flow, you can also remove all frozen and dried shoots. These activities will be enough.

Columnar cherries only require sanitary pruning; you do not need to form the crown of the tree

Shelter for the winter

The most important step in caring for a columnar cherry is preparing the plant for wintering. So that it does not lose its original cylindrical crown shape, it is necessary to ensure that the apical bud on the central conductor does not freeze over.

After carrying out water-charging irrigation in the fall, the near-trunk circle is mulched with a thick layer of sawdust or peat. The fallen snow is shoveled closer to the trunk and trampled down. Then a layer of sawdust is poured over the snowdrift, which will help prevent snow from melting during the thaw.

Columnar cherries are compact in size, so it is very easy to insulate them. For this, supports are installed around the trunk in the form of an impromptu pyramid and wrapped with burlap or non-woven covering material.

Non-woven covering material will provide comfortable conditions for cherries in winter

Gardeners reviews

Columnar cherry becomes a real find for summer residents. Due to its compact form, several specimens can be placed on the site and a real cherry orchard can be grown.In addition, caring for the plant is quite simple, cherries can be insulated without any problems before the onset of frost, which will allow them to grow and get an excellent harvest of sweet fruits not only in the southern regions, but also in central Russia.

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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. Columnar trees are still rare in private gardens. The most common are apple and pear trees, but columnar cherries are still considered a rarity. How does this tree differ 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.

Advantages of columnar trees

Columnar cherry has a lot of advantages when grown on the site. Among them:

Decorativeness

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 anyone indifferent from amateur gardeners.

Compactness

Due to the small diameter of the crown, the trees allow you to use significantly less space for fruit trees. They are much easier to handle, care for and harvest.

Taste and early maturity

Columnar cherries of the varieties developed 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 already at the beginning of summer. The column height does not exceed two meters.

Columnar cherry is in demand in industrial gardening. When obtaining a new variety, scientific methods of influence are used:

• selection;
• agrotechnical and chemical techniques;
• mechanical and surgical effects.

Thanks to these techniques, the yield and early maturity of trees are increased. 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.

Compact trees are also grown in trays and containers. This allows trees to be protected in winter and thus promotes industrial horticulture north.

Popular varieties: Black cherry

Highly productive, unpretentious variety, which is highly decorative. During flowering, this slender tree is completely covered with lace of light pink petals. After flowering, they cover the ground with a solid carpet.

A slender, tall, upright tree with no horizontal branches. The height does not exceed two meters. It is a self-pollinating variety, so its yield does not depend on pollinating neighbors. 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 the varieties of the mid-early ripening period. The tree grows no more than 2.5 meters in height. The crown in diameter is 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 pulp is dark red, with small pink blotches, very juicy.The plant is resistant to many diseases typical of stone fruits.

Columnar cherry for 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 the inhabitants of the Moscow region and the middle zone of our country are interested in columnar cherries: they are high-yielding, early ripening and, moreover, take up very little space on the site.

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 berries appear in the first half of June. The fruits are burgundy. The pulp is dark red with thin pinkish veins. This variety is self-fertile, but if you want to increase yields, plant a sapling next to Sylvia.

Silvia

It is very similar in its main characteristics to the previous variety. Large, ruby ​​colored berries. Helena and Sylvia are considered to be varieties with medium winter hardiness, so it is advisable to cover them for the winter.

Jealous

Today, columnar cherries can be successfully grown in the Moscow region. The varieties that breeders have developed today are distinguished by an amazing sweet taste, juicy berries that have excellent transportability. An example of this is the Revna variety.

Its berries are distinguished 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

A pollinator variety with berries weighing six grams. The tree is the same height as the large-fruited varieties. The seed bears fruit for about fifteen years.

Preparing for landing

What should be the seedlings of columnar cherry? What should you look for when buying? First of all, inspect the main bud, which is located at the top, since it is this that has the greatest influence on the development of the tree. If the tree already has leaves, then they should be healthy, not damaged by pests.

When to plant a tree?

It is advisable to carry out this work in the spring, when the temperature is above zero at night, and before the start of sap flow. In the southern regions, the fall planting is no different from the spring planting. 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 advisable to dig it in until early spring, and then determine its permanent place.

Seat selection

Coloniform sweet cherry is a light-loving culture. She needs an abundance of sunlight and protection from winds and drafts. The southern sides of buildings, fences are perfect, but avoid low-lying places and close groundwater. Stagnant moisture will destroy the tree and significantly reduce the characteristics of winter hardiness.

Columnar cherry: planting

To plant a seedling, you need a pit 60x70x70 cm in size, since the root system in these species is rather weak. Make a homogeneous mass of compost, thin twigs and manure and lay it on the bottom of the pit in a layer of 30 cm.Pour ten centimeters of sand on top, which will eventually become a 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 fertilizers, but organic rather than mineral fertilizers are better.

Depending on the size of the seedling, it is watered abundantly (from 20 to 30 liters of water). The contents of the pit are tamped, a hole is made and a tree is planted. After that, fill up the earth in such a way that a small mound about fifteen centimeters high is formed. It is advisable to make a support and a sapling garter for stability. When planting, the distance between cherries can be from 2.5 meters.

Fruiting

Since in the first year, experts recommend removing the ovaries during flowering, the columnar cherry will delight you with the first small harvest in the second year after planting. Although when growing some varieties, fruiting can occur in the year of planting, which is especially attractive to gardeners.

Cherry care

These small, slender trees do not require much effort from you - pruning is done quite rarely if necessary, the crown is formed with the help of a central shoot. In the first year, three to four abundant watering is sufficient, since excess moisture reduces the level of air in the soil, which the plant needs to strengthen the still fragile root system.

Despite the plant's resistance to most diseases, to prevent the appearance of pests or if they are detected, treat the trees with special means, but always in the evening.

There are two ways to propagate a culture: by a bone 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, plant a ripe berry seed in a pot with earth and sand, after it sprouts, dig in it.

Gardeners reviews

Despite the fact that columnar cherry is still not 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.