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A compact fruit tree - a columnar cherry, is considered a rare guest in the gardens near Moscow. It is not as popular as the columnar plums and apple trees. But experienced gardeners believe that the columnar cherry deserves attention and will find its niche in gardening, thanks to its early maturity and taste. This compact tree plays an important role in the interior of a summer cottage or personal plot because of its decorative effect.
Description and features
An adult columnar tree is much shorter than a regular sweet cherry. It has a straight-growing trunk, almost hidden by foliage, with short skeletal branches. Its height is up to 3 meters. The breadth does not grow, and the crown consists of skeletal and fruit branches along the entire height in the form of a cylinder.
In the garden, such a tree actually does not take up much space, and this was appreciated by gardeners and summer residents. The distance between columnar trees can be small, it is enough to plant them at a distance of up to one and a half meters from each other. Despite its small size, the yield of the tree is high. Three of these trees, planted on the site, may well replace an ordinary tree.
Many owners of household plots in Moscow and the Moscow region liked the unpretentious and productive columnar trees. Gradually, these trees with a beautiful cherry blossom began to appear in the gardens of summer residents.
Varieties and types
Columnar cherry
Breeders have developed several varieties intended for cultivation in central Russia, the Urals and Siberia. The popular varieties of columnar cherries that are as close as possible to the conditions of cold winters for the Moscow region are Helena and Sylvia. The selection continues. So, in the bred Little Sylvia variety, the properties of the Sylvia cherry are preserved, only the tree is its mini copy, up to 2 meters high.
Silvia
Sylvia was bred in Canada in 1988 by crossing Lambert Compact and Van. This variety received recognition in the northern regions of Canada, and then in the United States.
The trees are up to 3 meters high, with short side shoots. The fruit can be described as large, dark red in color, firm skin and firm juicy pulp.
Large fruits
Professional tasters highly appreciated the pleasant taste of the berries. The possibility of long-term preservation of the fruits is noted with proper storage (in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks).
Sylvia is a variety that is perfect for breeding in central Russia and has frost resistance. This allows the species to be cultivated in the north of Russia, but in case of severe frosts, experts recommend insulating the trees so that the flower buds do not freeze. Cherry Sylvia is cross-pollinated. Gardeners are planting cherries next to her for Helena and Sam.
The main characteristics of Sylvia are high yield. The first stable harvest, about 15 kg, can be obtained in 2-3 years of life.She is ready to bear fruit in the first year, but experts recommend removing the ovaries so that the tree takes root well in a new place.
High yield
Helena
Of the new varieties that have recently appeared on the garden plots of summer residents - an early hybrid of Helena cherry. The seedling only grows upward, reaching a maximum height of 3.5 meters. Along the entire length of the trunk, there are small side branches with fruit shoots. Helena has proven herself well in central Russia.
Helena belongs to the dessert varieties. The berries are large (12-15 g) with a characteristic honey aroma, belong to the species with dark red pulp with pink veins. The appearance attracts with a glossy sheen with a ruby tint.
The tree is highly resistant to frost (up to -40 ° C), but gardeners recommend covering it for the first two years of life so that the crown bud that gives growth is not damaged. Being immune to frost, Helena has taken root well in the summer cottages of the Urals. It belongs to partially self-fertile varieties, therefore, for good pollination, experts advise planting trees of a different variety nearby. Sylvia will be the best for pollination of Helena.
Helena
Helena is a high-yielder. It blooms profusely and gives its first harvest in the third year of life. In the middle lane, the fruits ripen around the end of June. Gardeners remove more than 15 kilograms of wonderful fragrant berries from the tree. The tree is resistant to diseases and pests.
Sabrina
Sabrina belongs to self-fertile columnar varieties that are successfully grown in central Russia. The tree is not tall, it is 2.5 meters high. The crown, in comparison with the columnar cherries described above, is more spreading - up to one and a half meters in diameter. The berries are of a bright red color. With good care, the fruits reach a weight of 15 g, are excellent in dessert, compote and fresh.
The tree has stable immunity, breaking through infectious diseases, and, according to gardeners, is rarely exposed to bird raids and insect infestations.
Insect resistant
Yellow and Black
Columnar cherries are represented not only by species with different shades of red fruit. There are trees with yellow fruits, abundant productivity and longevity (up to 25 years). Cherry Yellow columnar bird raids are not scary. As summer residents note, birds do not peck yellow berries.
The Black Cherry variety is unpretentious in care, but fruitful. It is a winter-hardy variety that grows well in the harsh Siberian climate. The berries belong to the type of dark red cherry, with an almost black glossy sheen, large.
Requirements for agricultural technology
While cultivating columnar cherries, experts note that the maximum yield of trees depends on agricultural technology. The first is the choice of seedlings. They should be examined for damage and signs of illness. It is better to purchase seedlings in containers. They ensure the integrity of the root system. Make sure that the top bud is not broken, otherwise the tree is considered defective.
Saplings
Of no small importance in agrotechnical measures is the choice of the future place where the seedlings will grow. It should be well lit by the sun, without drafts. They do not like trees of nearby groundwater. If the likelihood of their occurrence is present, gardeners recommend creating a thick drainage layer at the bottom of the hole. Fertilize the soil at least two weeks before planting by mixing the soil with trace elements, which include potassium and phosphorus. The hole for planting should be larger than the size of the root system, and the distance between seedlings should be from 1 to 2 meters.
Abundant watering is carried out 3-4 times in the first year. If the weather is dry, without rain, the amount of watering should be increased. If the season is rainy, naturally artificial irrigation is stopped.
In the conditions of the Moscow region, gardeners recommend planting seedlings in the spring for better rooting. The planted tree must be tied to the support.For the first 3 years of life, trees are fed twice a season. Ash fertilizers are introduced in combination with nitroammophos. For older trees, fertilization rates are increased. Fertilizers are applied at a distance of half a meter from the trunk by plowing into the ground, followed by watering.
Watering
Pruning and disease prevention
Experienced gardeners, who have been growing columnar cherries in their gardens for several years already, note that many of them do not require pruning, mainly, this is the adjustment of side branches, if necessary. At an older age of trees, a sanitary procedure for cutting dry branches is carried out.
As a prophylaxis and in order to avoid infection with diseases, it is recommended to whitewash the cherry trunk with lime in the spring, and treat the tree itself with a fungicide solution or Bordeaux liquid before flowering. If necessary, the processing is repeated after harvesting.
Shelter for the winter
In the harsh winter of the northern regions, young trees need preparatory measures, consisting in abundant autumn watering and mulching of the trunk circle, as well as sheltering the trees. To do this, experts propose to install a pyramid frame made of planks around the tree and wrap it with any non-woven material.
Shelter for the winter
Varieties for the Moscow region
The best varieties in all their characteristics for growing in the gardens of the Moscow region are Helena and Sylvia. The variety Sem has also become widespread, which is a pollinator for the above varieties. A new bred variety - Little Sylvia, as well as Black and Yellow cherries - has perfectly taken root in the dachas near Moscow.
Varieties for the Urals
The winter-hardy varieties Helena, Sylvia, Chernaya and Zheltaya show good yield indicators in the northern regions of the Urals. But winters in the Urals are harsh and therefore, in order not to risk it, gardeners recommend making shelters for these varieties of cherries.
Growing cherries on the balcony
The low growth of the columnar cherry tree allows it to settle in apartments in the form of a decorative tree. For example, Little Sylvia has a height of up to 2 meters with a crown width of 0.5 meters, which does not prevent her from settling on a balcony, loggia or covered terrace. Agricultural technology is no more difficult than growing flowers. Moreover, the tree does not need to root, it can grow in a container, which means it will bear fruit in the first year of planting. Top dressing is done during the same periods as for trees growing in gardens.
Breeding work does not stop, which means that varieties that are even more resistant to frost and disease will be bred.
