Due to the harsh climate in Siberia, not all varieties of fruit crops are able to adequately withstand sub-zero temperatures and sudden cold snaps. But thanks to breeders, frost-resistant plants have been developed that not only have a high degree of resistance to adverse environmental factors, but also produce a bountiful harvest. The main thing is to choose the right columnar apple trees for Siberia.
Characteristics of apple trees for Siberia
A distinctive feature of columnar apple trees is the absence of lateral branches, which is explained by the presence of a special Co gene. In such trees, branches grow from the central conductor at an acute angle, almost along it. Due to their appearance they resemble pyramidal poplars.
The trunk of columnar apple trees is quite thick; small branches are formed on it, at the tops of which flower buds are located. Often, instead of lateral branches, fruitlets, spears or ringlets are formed. Thick shoots have shortened internodes.
In dwarf varieties, the tendency to branch is less; if compared with medium-sized plants, it is 1.5-3 times, and with tall plants - 4 times.
After the third or fourth year, the growth of lateral branches in columnar apple trees stops. If the apical bud is injured, the growth of the tree stops and active formation of lateral branches begins. Therefore, it is recommended to protect the growing point of the apple tree at least in the first 2-3 years.
Columnar apple trees attract the attention of gardeners with their early fruiting; the first fruits can be collected already in the 2-3rd year of the tree’s life. After the fifth year, the harvest becomes more abundant, and from the seventh year it becomes consistently high, but this is subject to proper agricultural technology and care.
The duration of the ability to actively bear fruit in such apple trees is 15-20 years, after which most of the ringlets die. Extending the life of a tree is only possible if strong or medium-growing varieties are grown on seed rootstocks through the grafting procedure.
How to choose a variety?
To choose the right variety for the difficult Siberian conditions, you must adhere to the following recommendations:
- Frost resistance indicator.Plants with a high level of endurance and winter hardiness that are not afraid of sub-zero temperatures of -50 degrees are suitable for cultivating apple trees in Siberia. In addition, they must be distinguished by their ability to bear fruit even with a lack of sunlight and moisture.
- Productivity indicator. The best option is high-yielding varieties that bear fruit 2-3 years after grafting.
- Apple ripening time. For planting in the northern regions, it is recommended to choose varieties with early and medium ripening, the fruits of which can already be harvested at the beginning of the summer or autumn season. It is not advisable to purchase winter varieties, otherwise at the end of August, due to night frosts, the crop may deteriorate and not be stored for a long time.
Varieties with a high level of frost resistance, excellent immunity and the ability to produce a bountiful harvest with minimal care are suitable for cultivation in Siberia.
For information! Early ripening varieties are not intended for long-term storage. The fruits are harvested in July and last until August; the shelf life of such fruits is low.
Planting and care
To grow a quantitative crop in Siberia, you need to know all the intricacies of planting and caring for columns.
Selection of seedlings
Correctly selected planting material will allow you to get rid of troubles with a young apple tree in the future. Annual plants purchased from specialized retail outlets and nurseries take root best. When choosing seedlings of columnar apple trees, you should pay attention to:
- the presence of tags explaining the age and rootstock of the tree;
- root system, it must be of a closed type. The seedling will tolerate further transplantation more easily and will quickly adapt to the new location;
- the presence of several buds on a tree.Annual seedlings do not have lateral shoots; they are replaced by buds;
- state of the root system is open. It should not show signs of disease or mechanical damage. When transporting, the roots of such seedlings must be in a moist substrate.
For information! For successful cultivation in Siberia, it is more effective to choose zoned varieties that are distinguished by their ability to quickly adapt to harsh climatic conditions.
Landing dates
In order for the young plant to take root better, it should be planted in the spring, when the soil is sufficiently warm. The main thing is to be in time before the intense sap flow begins.
Growing technology
The planting pit is prepared 14 days in advance. The soil extracted from the pit is mixed with 3-4 buckets of organic composition, superphosphate (100 g), potassium fertilizer (100 g) and a handful of dolomite flour. Then drainage in the form of small crushed stone and broken bricks is laid at the bottom of the pit. Part of the prepared soil mixture is laid on top.
On the day of planting, you should inspect the root system of the young apple tree again. If it is slightly salted, then the seedling is placed in a container with water for 10 hours. Trees in containers are watered abundantly, this will make it easier to remove them from them.
For better survival in harsh Siberian conditions, experienced gardeners advise trimming the roots of a columnar apple tree. When planting plants, they need to be tilted slightly, which will allow them to be bent when covering them for the winter. When landing in Siberia with a mild climate, you can do without this technique; it is enough to do everything according to the traditional scheme.
Having placed the seedling in the hole, straighten its roots and carefully sprinkle it with earth. The root collar should be above ground level.Having compacted the soil, it is abundantly moistened and mulched with leaves, peat, and sawdust. To support the young plant, a support is installed nearby.
Agricultural technology
Unlike other regions, columnar apple trees in Siberia require slightly different care, especially when preparing plants for winter. To obtain tasty and juicy apples, you need to regularly moisten the trees. To improve the quality of moisture supply to the roots of the plant, it is necessary to make sides along the edge of the tree trunk circle. Water consumption per apple tree is 1-2 buckets.
You should not moisten the trees too much; the signal for watering will be the drying of the top layer of soil by 4-5 cm. In the dry summer season, the frequency of watering is increased, the moistening procedure is carried out every day. The sprinkling method has a particularly beneficial effect on plants.
When grown in Siberia, columnar apple trees are fed three times. The first feeding procedure is carried out in the spring during the active growing season (nitrogen compounds), the second after 3-4 weeks in the bud formation phase (phosphorus and potassium mixtures) and the third after 3-4 weeks during fruit set (potassium and nitrogen). There is no need to apply fertilizer in the fall.
Preparing for the winter
Even when planting frost-resistant trees, there is no guarantee that they will be able to withstand severe Siberian frosts. Columnar apple trees are recommended to be protected with covering material by wrapping the trunk with chain-link mesh or spruce branches.
Shaping and trimming
In the first year after planting on trees, all ovaries should be removed, except 1-2 pieces for fruit sampling. In 2-3 years, half of the ovaries are cut off, leaving more and more flowers every year.Pruning is performed in order to free the tree from deformed and weak branches. In Siberia, the top of the apple tree is often shortened before the first strong shoot.
Apple tree varieties by region of Siberia
Considering that Siberia has a fairly large territory, where climatic features vary somewhat, it is worth choosing the right variety for a particular area.
Eastern Siberia
For planting, varieties with winter hardiness above 40 degrees are used. Iksha and Vasyugan have proven themselves well.
Western Siberia
The recommended option for columnar apple trees is semi-dwarf varieties, no more than 2 m high. President and Medok are especially popular.
Reviews
Columnar apple trees, according to reviews from Siberian gardeners, are quite suitable for growing in harsh climates. The main thing is to choose the right variety and provide the plant with proper conditions and care.
