10 Varieties Of Columnar Apple Trees That I Recommend For The Middle Lane. Names, Descriptions, Care, Photos

2023 Author: Ava Durham | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-11-27 07:13

To date, through the efforts of breeders, according to various sources, from seven to ten thousand (!) Varieties of cultivated apple trees have been bred. But with their enormous variety in private gardens, as a rule, only a couple of popular and favorite varieties grow. Apple trees are large trees with a spreading crown, and you cannot grow many of these in one area. But what if you try to grow columnar varieties of this crop? In this article I will tell you exactly about these varieties of apple trees.

Content:

• When are columnar apple trees the best solution?
• Early (summer) varieties of columnar apple trees for the middle lane
• Medium (autumn) varieties of columnar apple trees for the middle lane
• Late (winter) varieties of columnar apple trees for the middle lane

When are columnar apple trees the best solution?

All garden varieties of apple trees are divided into 3 large groups: early (summer), middle (autumn) and late (winter).

In order for a homemade apple to be present on the table all year round, at least 8-10 varieties of apple trees of different tastes and ripening times must be grown in the garden. But with their spreading crowns in a small area, it is realistic to grow only 1-3 trees, which will take up more than half of the land allocated for the garden.

And the harvest from ten adult apple trees, if you do not sell them, one family, no matter how big it is, can neither eat nor process. Most of the apples in good years will have to be either distributed (well, if there is someone), or in compost.

Therefore, apple trees of a new type are now becoming more and more popular. These are columnar cultures. Each of them occupies up to one meter of area, forms yields, of course, less than their large relatives (you will not have to throw anything away), but their small size makes it possible to grow many different varieties.

The columnar type of apple trees does not form lateral branches, it grows practically into one trunk, on which it forms fruits. Such apple trees are distinguished by their early maturity - the first harvest can be obtained the next year after planting. The maximum yield, with proper care and selection of a variety, is up to 20 kg from a miniature tree.

Like ordinary varieties, columnar are subdivided into early, medium, late, but they have one feature - they are not frost-resistant enough. True, the selection does not stand still and there are already columnar apple trees that calmly tolerate winter temperatures down to -40 ° C.

Early (summer) varieties of columnar apple trees for the middle lane

The technical ripeness of fruits occurs in the period from the third decade of July to mid-August. Storage - 2-4 weeks. Such varieties are used fresh or canned (compotes, juices, jam, etc.).

1. Apple tree "Vasyugan"

Semi-dwarf, reaches 2.5-3 m in height. It is considered the best summer variety. The fruits ripen at the end of August. Stored for 1-2 months. Fruit weight 130-200 g with a pronounced sweet taste, leaves a barely noticeable sour aftertaste. The type of fruit for tasting qualities is dessert. It has a well-defined aroma. The shape of the fruit is elongated-conical.

The apple skin is dense, initially yellow-green, turns into a bright pink-red color. The pulp is white-creamy, grainy, dense.

The variety is characterized by high frost resistance - up to -40 ° C, which allows cultivating the variety not only in central Russia, but also in the more severe conditions of the Urals and the Far East. The yield reaches 5-7 kg per tree, active fruiting lasts up to 15 years, and then decreases rapidly.

2. Apple tree "Medoc"

A cute dwarf, whose height reaches 2.2 m, the crown habit does not exceed 25 cm. It is very popular among gardeners because of the high resistance of the root system to frost (up to -42 ° C).

Depending on climatic conditions, according to the ripening period, it can refer to late summer or early autumn varieties. Ripening of the crop begins in August, and north of the Moscow region falls on September.

A fast-growing variety, capable of forming several fruits already in the first year (it is better to cut off the flowers so that the tree does not weaken the early formation of the crop). Despite its dwarfism, it forms high yields. The maximum yield of 8-10 kg is achieved by a tree in the 5th year of life, active fruiting lasts 15-16 years.

Fruits are round in shape with a bright yellow (honey) or white-yellow color. Fruits weighing from 150 to 250 g. The skin is dense, yellow, elegant. The taste is sweet, honeyed with a unique aroma. The pulp is juicy, white, granular structure. In terms of taste, the fruits are suitable for baby and diet food.

The shelf life of apples does not exceed one month. The variety is immune to scab and other diseases. Used fresh and winter preparations.

3. Apple tree "President"

Semi-dwarf, zoned for the Moscow region and the middle zone, summer variety (2-2.5 m in height, crown habit 15-25 cm). High winter hardiness (tolerates frosts down to -40 ° C). The variety is resistant to disease. Fast-growing. The fruits are placed along the entire trunk, starting at 30 cm from the soil. Fruiting is regular, in some years below average.

Fruits are flattened-rounded, greenish or pale yellow in color with a delicate pinkish blush, sometimes purple-red. The skin is dense, thin with a shiny sheen. Fruit weight 140-250 g. The pulp is juicy, sweet and sour, white, sometimes creamy. Dessert taste (tasting score 4.8-5.0 points).

Ripening - from mid-August to mid-September. The minimum shelf life is 1.5 months. The maximum yields start at 4-5 years of age. The yield ranges from 8-10 kg, and with good care 12-16 kg per tree. The duration of active fruiting is 15 years. It is used fresh, for canning, for making dried fruits.

Medium (autumn) varieties of columnar apple trees for the middle lane

To provide a family with fruits of mid-season varieties, it is enough to have 2-3 varieties on the site. The first fruits are best removed in the 2nd year. Most of the varieties of this group are quite resistant to diseases, they tolerate winter cold well. Fruiting lasts almost all autumn, maximum yields begin at 5 years of age. Fruits are stored for 3 months or more, providing the family with fresh fruit in winter.

4. Apple tree "Gin"

The variety is dwarf, the crown is compact (up to 30 cm), the height of the tree does not exceed 2 meters, which is very convenient for caring for the crop and harvesting. Fast-growing, forms the first fruits in the second year. The variety is resistant to scab and other fungal diseases, it tolerates autumn-spring cold snaps and winter frosts down to -40 ° C.

Fruits are round, weighing 120-150 g. The color of the fruits is bright crimson. The pulp is light, sweet and sour, juicy to crunchy, very aromatic, especially with the biological ripeness, which the fruits reach during storage. The variety is classified as a dessert by taste, the tasting score is 4.7.

The fruits ripen by the end of August and the beginning of September. In the first 3-4 years, the yield ranges from 4-5 kg, and in subsequent years it can reach up to 15 kg per tree. A wonderful property of the variety - the fruits do not fall off, so you can harvest the crop gradually. They are used fresh and for canning.

The variety is short-lived. The period of active fruiting does not exceed 12 years.

5. Apple tree "Triumph"

Semi-dwarf columnar (height up to 2 m), autumn ripening period. The crown is compact, small in size. Fast-growing. Beginning fruiting from the second year of planting, by the age of 5 it forms 5-6 kg of very tasty fruits weighing from 130 to 200 g.

The fruits are flat-spherical in shape. The skin is dense, glossy, bright dark red with a striped blush.

Fruits of sweet-candy taste with gentle sourness and honey aftertaste. Characteristic, well-discernible apple aroma. The pulp is granular, dense, crispy, white.

Differs in resistance to scab, other diseases and pests. Among the disadvantages is the average frost resistance, the variety requires shelter for the winter.

Harvesting at technical maturity begins in mid-September. The storage period for fruits does not exceed 1-1.5 months. The use of fruits is universal: fresh and other types of processing (compotes, jams, juices).

6. Apple tree "Ostankino"

The variety belongs to early-growing semi-dwarfs, the height of the tree does not exceed 2.5 m. The crown is compact, small-sized. Medium to high winter hardiness.

The harvest begins to form from the second year of life. The variety is high-yielding, it reaches a high yield in the 5th year, when it forms up to 16 kg of fruits from a tree. Active fruiting lasts 14-15 years, gradually decreasing. The variety needs pollinators, which can be “President” and others (with simultaneous flowering).

Fruits are formed all over the stem, starting at 40 cm from the soil level. The main number of fruits has an average weight of 100-150 g, but some specimens reach 250-300 g. Harvesting, depending on the growing area, begins in the first or third decade of September.

In shape, the fruits are round, slightly flattened. The skin is firm, smooth. The integumentary color of the skin is bright, red, with an elegant red-violet blush almost all over the apple. The pulp is white, juicy, sweet-sourish taste.

Under optimal storage conditions, it has a long keeping quality - practically until December-January. The variety is universal: it is used fresh and for winter preservation in the form of jams, juices, compotes, etc.

7. Apple tree "Senator"

Refers to varieties of medium ripening. Differs in resistance to weather cataclysms: drought-resistant and winter-hardy variety. It is well resistant to diseases (powdery mildew, anthracnose, septoria blight), from pests - sawfly.

Fruits are medium in size, weighing 130-300 g, very unusual color. The integumentary skin is thin, dark red with pronounced striping, almost black to biological ripeness. The fruits are juicy, with an apple aroma, and the taste is sweet. The pulp is slightly creamy, soft.

The harvest is carried out in September. Productivity up to 16 kg per tree. Duration of storage - until January. Suitable for fresh consumption and canning.

Late (winter) varieties of columnar apple trees for the middle lane

In the garden, late varieties of apple trees are definitely needed. They are distinguished by high keeping quality with the preservation of fruit quality until March. The selection of late varieties is quite large. The following is a description of those that, in my opinion, are most suitable for growing in the middle lane.

8. Apple tree "Currency"

Winter variety, ideal for growing in central Russia. The height of the trees is no more than 2.5 m, the crown habit is about 20 cm. A true decoration of the garden plot. Leaves are bright green until late autumn. The narrow trunk is literally intertwined with rather large rounded apples weighing 100-250 g.

The peel of apples is thin, shiny (with gloss), the fruits are yellow, elegant with a red blush on the "cheeks". The taste is sweet with a light slightly sour aftertaste. The pulp is fragrant, juicy, white. Harvesting in technical maturity begins in the last days of September-first half of October. Apples do not crumble, so harvesting can be extended.

The variety is fast-growing and already in the 2nd year forms the first fruits, a fairly high yield is obtained in the 4th-5th year - 4-5 kg. The yield of trees increases to 10 kg per tree with full care (watering, feeding).

Possesses excellent qualities: winter hardiness, resistance to scab and other diseases and pests, high keeping quality and transportability. Used fresh and for canning.

9. Apple tree "Moscow necklace"

Winter variety, cold-resistant, semi-dwarf. The height of an adult tree is 2-3 m, the crown is very narrow, almost 1 trunk. Needs pollinators, which may be other varieties. Scab resistant. Needs preventive protective measures against other diseases (moniliosis, spotting) and pests (moth, aphid, tick).

A fast-growing variety, in the first year you can test the fruit. Fruiting is annual. The fruits are arranged along the central stem. The peak yield occurs in the 4th-5th year. The maximum yield is on average 10 kg per tree. But after 10 years of active fruiting, the yield drops sharply and by the age of 15 it almost completely stops.

Fruits are round, weighing 170-200 g. The skin is thin, rather dense, at first green, gradually turns red and by autumn the apples acquire a dark red elegant color. The pulp is light creamy, fine-grained, very juicy with a pleasant aroma. Dessert taste, clearly sweet with a slightly noticeable sourness. The crop is harvested in late September and early October. Used fresh and for canning.

10. Apple tree "Amber necklace"

Winter variety. Semi-dwarf, tree height 2-2.5 m, shape, like the previous variety, is very small, which allows these varieties to be planted in a row after 40 cm. A distinctive feature of the variety is its high yield - up to 20 kg per tree. Needs a pollinator, which may be the variety "Moscow Necklace", "Currency" and others (with simultaneous flowering)

It perfectly tolerates the climatic conditions of the Moscow region and even Siberia. The fruits are harvested at the end of September, they are stored for up to 5 months without loss of quality (until February-March).

In contrast to the Moscow Necklace, the fruits of the Amber Necklace are intensely yellow (reminiscent of amber) with a slight, very light blush. The mass of the apple reaches 150-300 g. The taste of the pulp is sweet, with a slight sour aftertaste (almost imperceptible). The pulp is very white, juicy and crispy.