President columnar one of the most demanded varieties in our country.
Proper care and adherence to growing conditions contribute to a bountiful and tasty harvest.
Description of the variety
The variety was bred by the famous geneticist and breeder V.V. Kichin in 1974, with the help of crossing the abundant and Vazhak varieties, which has a columnar crown.
President columnar unlike other types of apple trees has a small stature, up to 2 m and a crown width of no more than 20 cm... It tolerates cold well, is a frost-resistant variety.
Ripening period, growing region
The main advantage of the apple tree is the beginning of fruiting as early as 2 years after planting. A tree at the age of 5 years gives about 6-8 kg of yield, and with good care and feeding up to 16 kg from one tree.
The fruiting period is short; after reaching the age of 15, the apple tree ceases to yield.
This variety was most widespread in the Central region of Russia, Samara, Moscow, Perm regions. The columnar president feels good both in the Black Earth Region and in the Non-Black Earth Region.
Characteristics of columnar trees, their fruits
The shoots of the tree have a strong, rigid structure. Medium-sized elongated foliage. The color is dark green, glossy. During the beginning of fruiting, the formation of flowers almost completely and evenly covers the tree trunks.
Thanks to durable and solid wood the apple tree is not afraid of strong winds and any other bad weather conditions... The branches are able to withstand even a bountiful harvest. The distance of the fruits relative to the ground is 30-40 cm.
Apples of this variety are considered large, approximate weight is 150-250 g, very aromatic. The color is greenish yellow or pale yellow with a slight reddish blush.
The shape of the President fruit is columnar, round and symmetrical. There is no axial cavity, the skin is shiny, very thin and dense. The stems of the variety are not large.
The apples taste sweet with sourness, the pulp is white and juicy.
Benefits of the variety:
- small compact size, ideal for small areas;
- early-growing variety;
- good productivity;
- good pest resistance;
- beautiful appearance.
disadvantages:
- short fruiting period;
- lower frost resistance compared to other varieties.
How to store apples
Fruit ripening occurs at the end of August and mid-September.... The shortest shelf life is 2 months from the date of harvest.
Subject to all storage rules and room temperature (from -2 to 5C), in which the harvest will be located, apples can lie until the end of December.
Variety President columnar is great for eating in any form (dried fruits, soaked), as well as for preparing any kind of homemade products.
Apple tree planting rules
Apple trees are planted in spring or autumn. In autumn, this is done in good weather before the onset of cold weather.
Late September is the perfect time to board, the tree will have time to get stronger and strengthened by the roots before the onset of winter.
In spring, planting is carried out in April, as soon as warming comes and the buds have not yet had time to bloom.
Columnar apple trees are usually planted tightly in a row, close proximity to each other will only benefit them. The distance between the apple trees should be 50 cm, and between the rows a meter is enough.
The trees are not planted one at a time. The best location is considered a place near the fence of the site or near a path. Such a dense arrangement of trees needs full fertilization and feeding.
Basic planting rules:
- Seedlings are bought in specialized stores, it is better to take annuals with a leafless trunk and damp roots. Young trees with dry roots need to be soaked in warm water for 10 hours.
- The soil must be well fertilized before planting. A medium-sized hole is pulled out, a seedling is placed there. The roots should be well spread, and the root collar should be 5-6 cm from the ground.
- All trees are neatly tied to pegs to avoid breakage from strong winds.
- Columnar apple trees are very water-loving, but they do not tolerate strong stagnation at all. Therefore, they need to be watered in moderation, avoiding excessive accumulation of moisture. Enough once every 3 days.
Tree care
You need to cut the apple tree only in the following cases:
- There are varieties that grow shoots, they must be cut. Fruit branches are cut every year into several buds. It is best to do this in the spring when they are still green.
- For any damage to the fruit bud. In the event that several tops will grow, the weakest of them is removed. It can be used as a vaccine.
The yield of the President columnar apple tree does not depend on the number of circumcisions, therefore this procedure is carried out only if necessary.
For good yields it is necessary to fertilize and feed the apple tree in a timely manner.
This is done in the spring with:
- manure or poultry droppings (for 1 apple tree-5 buckets of fertilizer, once a month);
- potassium-phosphorus mixture (for 10 liters of water - 70 g of sulfate and 100 g of superphosphate, 4 buckets for 1 apple tree once a month).
Apple pruning President:
Diseases and pests
Aphid
I lay eggs on the bark, mainly in autumn or spring. They feed on young shoots, preventing them from growing and getting stronger.
Control methods:
- Kinmix - for 10 liters of water - 2 ml of the drug;
- Intavir - for 10 liters of water - 1 tablet.
The drugs are used before the apple tree blossoms, first kinmix, after 2 weeks intavir.
Apple podzhorka
Caterpillars live under the bark of a tree, laying eggs on leaves or ovaries of apples. Podzhorka can destroy half of the crop, one caterpillar can spoil up to 3 fruits.
Control methods:
- Mitak - for 10 liters of water -30-40 g;
- Biorin - for 10-10 ml of the drug;
- Sumi-alpha - for 10 liters - 5.
Spraying is carried out 15 days after the flowering of the apple tree, repeating the procedure every 2-3 weeks.
Apple honeydew
Small individuals 2.5 mm in size live and winter in the bark of a tree and its cracks. Contribute to a sharp decrease in yield, interfering with the normal growth of the apple tree and sucking out all the juice from the leaves and buds.
Control methods:
- Fas - for 10 liters of water - 5g;
- Mitak - for 10 l - 20-40 ml;
- Sumi-alpha - 5 g per 10 liters.
Also, spraying apple trees with a solution of ash with soap and tobacco helps in the fight against the pest.
Apple blossom beetle
A beetle with a long proboscis, lives in the bark and cracks of wood. It can appear on an apple tree in early spring, before the leaves appear. The apple blossom beetle is capable of destroying most of the flowers or buds.
Beetle larvae hatch 2-3 weeks after the egg is laid and hide in the bark until buds appear.
Control methods:
- Fufanon - for 10 liters of water - 10 ml of the product, treated at the time of the appearance of the kidneys;
- Inta-Ts-M - for 10 l - 1 tablet, treatment with the agent is performed during the appearance of buds.
Reviews of gardeners about the variety President columnar
Olga P.: “This variety was planted recently, 3 years ago. I really liked the apples from the neighbors, I decided to try it too. She planted, as it should be, in rows, keeping a distance. I love the President columnar very much, the apples are tasty and juicy. There are no problems with harvesting, we collect in September, the main thing is that the scab does not start. "
Dmitry N.: “My President has been making me happy with his harvest for 5 years already. In the second year after planting, only 4 apples were fully ripe, it was not a fruitful year. But the next one a lot, but sour. In general, I noticed that the taste is more dependent on the weather conditions. The rainy the weather, the sweeter the harvest. "
Maria K.: “I have 3 varieties of columnar apple trees. All bear fruit almost equally, but not too much. The taste is almost the same. I like the President for his size. It takes up little space, the small distance between the apple trees allows you to plant the site more economically. And their appearance is very pleasant, especially during the flowering period. We use apples in different ways, but they don't stay here until winter. "
Roman V.: “The variety is not whimsical enough, it can also easily cope with pests and scab. The only negative for me is the low frost resistance of apples. And so, it's not even a bad apple tree. "
The variety President columnar has many advantages, which were appreciated by gardeners from different regions.
Due to its miniature size and the early start of fruiting, this variety has remained a favorite among summer residents of our country for many years.