Cherries can often be found in household plots and gardens - they bloom beautifully, the juicy berries are good both fresh and in compotes and preserves. Thanks to the work of breeders, columnar cherry varieties are becoming increasingly popular. These attractive, compact and productive trees thrive in mild climates and do not cause problems with care.
Features of the view
The expressive feature of the variety is reflected in the name - the tree trunk is shaped like a column, from which short branches extend.It does not take up much space in the garden; dwarf subspecies are grown in open ground, as well as in pots. The largest variety, Columnar Queen, reaches a height of no more than 2.5 m.
Columnar trees are miniature, they will decorate any garden and complement the composition in landscape design. Suitable for growing in a greenhouse or winter garden. At the same time, the advantages of the variety are not only in appearance, but also in the yield and taste of the berries.
The best varieties
Columnar cherries are represented by several varieties with slight differences. Popular ones include Delight, Little One and Columnar Queen. According to the requirements for conditions and care, they are suitable for growing in the Moscow region.
Baby
The dwarf tree grows about 2 m, the crown has a pyramidal shape, 50-80 cm wide. It is good during the flowering period, in early spring. The inflorescences are lush, double, light pink, very fragrant.
Gives a bountiful harvest, large berries - 8-10 g each, juicy, sweet and sour. Suitable for fresh consumption, for desserts, baking and canning. The little one is often used as an ornamental tree; it decorates the garden during flowering and fruiting periods.
Requires insulation for the winter; with excessive air humidity, it can suffer from fruit rot and fungal diseases.
Delight
This variety causes real delight with its productivity - about 25 kg of berries are harvested from one mature tree, while its height does not exceed 2 meters. The cherries are large, 10-15 g each, and sweet, ripening in the second half of July. They are good to eat fresh and give to children.
Delight is also suitable for planting in special closed containers. Resistant to diseases, suffers from frost in the cold season.
Queen
These trees are the largest of the columnar trees, reaching a height of 2.5-3 meters. The berries are smaller than in the description of the Malyutka and Vostorg varieties - on average 7 g each. Cherry is very beautiful during the flowering period, has a strong aroma and pink inflorescences.
The advantages include ease of care, good winter hardiness and immunity to diseases.
Planting and care
Columnar cherries do not require complex care, but you should be careful when choosing a place for seedlings.
Trees love sun and warmth. A sunny area protected from the wind is suitable for them. It should not be large, minimal distance between cherries - half a meter. The composition of the soil also matters; too wet will have a negative effect on tree growth. Loose, fertile black soil is suitable. Before planting a seedling, the hole for it is fertilized with organic and mineral fertilizers.
When selecting planting material, pay attention to the integrity of the upper bud. While the seedling is taking root, it is necessary to maintain soil moisture, and then water it as needed.
Cherries are fertilized in the spring with nitrogen complex fertilizers, for example, ammonium nitrate, and in the fall with phosphate fertilizers. Once every two to three years, during autumn loosening, the soil is enriched with humus or manure.
To protect trees from fungal diseases and pests, preventive spraying is carried out twice a year. It is important that the funds do not accumulate in future berries. Leaves and fruits with traces of disease are removed and burned at the stake.
The rules for planting and caring for columnar cherries are simple; the main points are:
- choosing a place for seedlings;
- timely watering;
- removal of weeds in the root zone;
- periodic feeding;
- prevention of fungal diseases;
- insulation of the trunk and root zone for the winter.
Trimming
The problem of how to prune fruit and berry trees worries gardeners. The big advantage of columnar varieties is that the straight trunk does not require additional crown formation.
