The columnar type of apple tree bred by Canadian breeders is interesting for its structure. On thickened shoots, the leaves are located so close to each other that the trees look like green columns with a dense, compact crown. Thanks to this, you can plant a garden in a small area and get high yields of fragrant apples. Among the tree varieties, one can highlight the columnar apple tree Elite, which is valued for a number of positive qualities.
Description and features
The Elite apple tree variety has many advantages:
- The columnar semi-dwarf forms a compact crown, developing intensively during the first 3 years of life.
- The straight shoots are greatly thickened, and the trunk is densely covered with ringlets.
- Turnip-shaped fruits appear from the 2-3rd year of life. They reach full maturity at the end of September - mid-October.
- The average weight of ruddy apples reaches from 100 to 150 grams.
- The fruits have a sweet and sour dessert taste and are stored throughout the winter. The taste of the harvest only improves with time.
- The apple tree is not affected by scab and is resistant to pests, like the best standard varieties.
The columnar apple tree Elite is also valued for its decorative properties. With the help of plantings, they create alleys and hedges in suburban areas. The fruit tree is unpretentious in care.
History of variety selection
Elite was bred by Russian breeders under the leadership of Professor V.V. Kichina through crossing.
There are several varieties of the variety, differing in the donors used. Elite:
- 224/8 from the Vazhak variety and donor of scab immunity;
- 310/3 - donor of columnarity and resistance to scab;
- 368/139 was obtained by crossing the Ivanovskoe apple tree and the KV9 form;
- 384/168 - through sowing KV102 seeds using the open pollination method;
- 385/185 was obtained after sowing KV103 seeds also by open pollination;
- KV22 through the connection of columnar donor material with immunity to scab;
- M38/35 due to crossing the Cinnamon striped apple tree and the Vazhak variety.
Fruit hybrids have been produced since 1982. Over the course of 10 years, new variants of the elite variety were created. They differ in different winter hardiness.Therefore, it is necessary to choose those varieties that will survive and bear fruit in a given region.
Characteristics of the columnar apple tree Elite
It is worth studying the main characteristics of the variety in more detail in order to make the right decision.
Tree dimensions
The Elite variety is a semi-dwarf tree, reaching 2-3 meters in height at maturity. The tree is distinguished by its compact crown. The small dimensions of the plant allow it to be planted in small summer cottages. The tree's shoots are powerful with short internodes. There are many ringlets on the trunk, which allows the apple tree to bear fruit abundantly, starting from the 2-4th year of life.
Frequency of fruiting
The first fruits appear after 2-3 years of tree life on the ringlets. At first there will be few of them, from 2 to 5 pieces. Fruiting increases intensively every year. The variety bears fruit best in the 3rd and 4th year of budding and bud grafting.
The hybrid is classified as an autumn-winter species, since the apples reach technical maturity in October. They can be stored from a month to 4.
Productivity and fruit evaluation
The productivity of garden crops depends on care. With proper cultivation techniques, Elite can produce up to 30 kilograms of apples from one tree.
Fruits are rated from 4 to 5 points, having:
- pleasant aroma;
- dessert sweet and sour taste;
- juicy yellow-green pulp;
- ruddy skin.
The fruits are smooth, without ribbing, are well preserved and do not spoil. And their taste becomes better the longer they are stored.
Frost resistance
Many varieties of the Elite variety are frost-resistant at the standard level. Elite 224/8 and 284/168 do not tolerate low temperatures well. Very often the top of a columnar apple tree freezes slightly, because due to prolonged growth it does not have time to ripen.If you avoid watering the tree in time and add nitrogen in moderation, this will not happen.
Diseases and pests
The advantage of the Elite columnar apple tree is its absolute resistance to scab. Rarely, fungal infections can occur if the tree is not properly cared for. This can be avoided by protecting the apple tree from frost damage. The winter sun causes harm by burning the trunk and dehydrating the bark cells. They protect the tree by whitewashing the trunk with lime, tying it with brushwood or cloth.
Dangerous among pests codling moth, whose caterpillars damage fruits. Many gardeners prepare containers with kerosene diluted with water in a ratio of 1:15. Containers illuminated at night attract butterflies, and they die when they get into the liquid. Aphids also harm fruit crops. They get rid of it by spraying the trees with tobacco infusion.
Growing regions
The columnar hybrid Elite is suitable for growing in gardens in the Moscow region. You can plant it in the regions of the Urals and Siberia, but wrap it up for the winter. Varieties with low frost resistance, 224/8 and 284/168, are suitable only for the southern regions.
