Columnar cherry and its best varieties for the Moscow region
Among the many fruit trees, the columnar cherry is gaining more and more popularity with gardeners. It is a stunted plant that not only has an attractive appearance, but also abundant fruiting. With proper care and planting, the tree can delight its owners with a large number of fragrant and juicy berries (see. cherry chocolate - variety description with photo).
The main varieties of columnar cherries
The best variety of columnar cherries for growing in the Moscow region is "Ashinsky hybrid".
Variety "Baby"
This species has a good yield and attractive appearance. It is "Baby" that is often used to create an unusual interior. The berries of this variety are juicy, bright red. Ripe fruits weigh up to 10 grams. Due to their good taste, they are excellent for various processing. Flowering is observed in early spring.
The buds are pink. A distinctive feature of this variety is its good yield and the ability to self-pollinate. The tree grows up to two meters high, which makes it possible to plant it even in small areas. The trunk is straight with many shoots.
Columnar cherry "Delight"
This variety is the work of Dutch breeders. It was bred in 2015, but in a short time managed to win the hearts of many gardeners. Good varietal characteristics and impressive yields contributed to this popularity. From an adult tree, you can pick up to 35 kg of berries per season. Fruit weight ranges from 10 to 15 grams. The berries are deep red in color. The pulp is very juicy and sweet. Ripening of this variety falls in mid-July.
Columnar cherry "Delight" belongs to the group of dwarf plants. With proper maintenance in the garden, the tree can grow up to 2 m tall. Due to its decorative effect, it is often planted in pots and containers. The crown of the plant has a narrow pyramidal shape, on which there are practically no branches. The first fruiting can be observed in the second year of life. Caring for this variety is very simple. Cherry copes well with many diseases, but is quite sensitive to low temperatures.
Columnar cherry "Queen"
It is one of the largest columnar cherry varieties. The tree grows up to 2.5 meters high. The plant blooms colorfully, giving off a pleasant, rich aroma that can spread over a significant distance. The fruits are dark red in color. Their weight reaches 7 grams. This variety does not need pruning and special care.
This is a late maturing species. "Koroleva" is a columnar cherry variety that is suitable for growing in the Moscow region. The tree tolerates low air temperatures well and is resistant to various diseases.
Columnar cherry "Ashinsky hybrid"
This is one of the new varieties, which was bred from cherries under the name "Ashinskaya". The plant tolerates difficult weather conditions and severe winters. The tree is small. Its height does not exceed two meters.This plant is grown both for harvesting and as an ornamental tree. Self-pollination of the "Ashinsky hybrid" occurs partially, therefore, in order to increase its fruiting, a pollinator "Voshischenie" should be planted side by side. The ripening period of the berries falls on the second part of July. Mature trees are capable of producing up to 30 kg of harvest. The berries are sweet and very aromatic. They tolerate transportation well over various distances.
All of the above varieties are very easy to care for. It will not be difficult to grow a young dwarf tree on your site. The minimum rules - and your plant will become the best decoration of the estate.
Care and planting of a columnar cherry
In relation to standard trees, undersized trees have a different structure of the crown and root system. Such plants do not need much space. In order for them to feel good, it is enough to adhere to a distance of 0.5 meters between seedlings. Such a gap will not affect the fruiting of cherries in any way.
Planting the plant should be carried out in a specially prepared hole. At the bottom of the recess, you need to lay a layer of a mixture of black soil and humus. If the area where the cherry will grow has high acidity, then a little wood ash should be added.
It is necessary to plant a tree only in loose soil. It is not necessary to dig up the site much, since the roots of dwarf plants lie at a depth of about 15 cm.
During the first two years of their life, it is recommended to carry out regular and abundant watering... Water should be used only warm, preferably rainwater. On hot days and during the period of fruit formation, increase the number of procedures.
Columnar cherry prefers slightly acidic soil.
You should also consider the distance of groundwater. Excess moisture can greatly harm the tree. Therefore, it is best to plant such cherries on the hills.
Fertilization rules:
- In spring, use ammonium nitrate. Such preparations contribute to a good harvest.
- It is recommended to apply potash formulations from August to October. They need to be diluted in a 2: 1 ratio.
- After flowering, each tree must be watered with mullein infusion. For greater effect, a small amount should be added to the prepared liquid wood ash.
After applying any kind of fertilizer, it is necessary to water the tree. These plants develop very slowly, therefore, if you adhere to the rules of feeding, you can get a good harvest in two years.
Columnar cherry is a unique tree that pleases everyone with its appearance. Compliance with the rules of planting and care, it is able to give a good and high quality harvest.