Description of varieties of columnar peaches, their planting and care, rules of agricultural technology

Such an exotic plant as the columnar peach attracts the attention of gardening enthusiasts for its high decorative effect and high yield. The name of the culture is fully consistent with its shape - the crown looks like a column. This is an excellent option for small areas - the fruit tree does not require large spaces, while it bears fruit and develops abundantly. For the cultivation of the columnar peach to be successful, it is necessary to study in more detail its requirements for growing conditions and care.

General characteristics and description of columnar peaches

This fruit variety is a dwarf plantation, the height of which is no more than 1.5 meters. Its crown has a cylindrical shape and is 40-60 centimeters wide. A miniature fruit tree looks spectacular not only in group plantings, but also when grown in single copies. It looks especially beautiful in the flowering phase and when the fruits reach their consumer maturity.

In the columnar peach, the lateral shoots do not form branches, their growth is directed directly from the central conductor. It is this feature that explains the fact that the fruits are very close to the trunk, surrounding it. Their weight can reach up to 250 grams. Taste qualities are high: the pulp is juicy, moderately dense, sweet and with a pronounced aroma.

They contain vitamins, essential oils, saccharides, vegetable acids and mineral compounds.

The leaf mass is distinguished by a dark green color. The shape of the plates is oval-oblong, the ends are pointed. The flowering stage occurs in the middle of spring, the inflorescences are distinguished by a pale pink color. From one columnar peach, it is possible to collect from 6 kilograms of fruit. Winter hardiness is excellent, up to -40 degrees.

Advantages and disadvantages

Experienced gardeners distinguish among the positive characteristics of the miniature peach tree:

• does not take up much space on the site;
• does not shade other fruit and berry crops;
• has sufficient frost resistance;
• It does not require special care;
• has increased immunity to major ailments, pests;
• high consumer qualities of fruits;
• good performance indicators;
• does not require additional pollination (self-fertile).

But there are some drawbacks to the dwarf peach, among which:

• short fruiting period;
• the need for frequent updating of landings;
• high cost of seedlings.

Popular varieties

The list of the best varieties of columnar peach includes:

1. The gardener's totem.The plant is distinguished by medium vigor (height - no more than 1.7 meters), large-fruited (up to 290 grams) and high yield. Up to 14 kilograms of rounded and slightly pressed fruits are harvested from one tree. They attract attention with their red blush and incredibly juicy pulp. The crop is not afraid of transportation and retains its commercial qualities for a long time.
2. Steinberg. The plant grows and develops well, regardless of the amount of sunlight. It does not exceed 2 meters in height. The fruit weighs 155 grams, they are juicy and tasty. The color is yellow-orange, there are places with a raspberry tint.
3. Anniversary of the capital. The ripening period is early, the height of the tree is 1.5 meters, the yield is up to 12 kilograms. The weight of one fruit is 230-250 grams, the shape is round. The tree stands out for its resistant immunity to fungal infections, parasitic individuals.
4. Golden triumph. With a tree height of 1.4 meters, its yield indicators are 10-12 kilograms of tasty fruits. The weight of one is 280 grams. The color of the fruit is red, the pulp is juicy, the aroma is pronounced. The columnar peach variety has good resistance to cold, drought and most major diseases.
5. Honey. The plant is mid-maturing, tall (up to 2 meters), its productivity is at the level of 10-12 kilograms. Fruit weight, on average, is 180 grams. Taste characteristics are high: honey taste, sweet and juicy pulp. The color is yellow-red outside, yellow inside.

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Growing features

To obtain the desired result, you need to know the basic subtleties of the process of planting columnar peaches.

Timing

The timing of planting dwarf peaches directly depends on the climatic conditions in a particular region. In the southern regions, seedlings should be determined for a permanent place in the fall, but in the northern regions - in the spring. Young plantings need time to adapt, rooting, so that they can painlessly survive sub-zero temperatures. It is better to purchase annual seedlings, paying attention to the condition of the root mass.

Preparing the landing site

To make the planted trees comfortable, and they grow faster, you need to choose an area with a sufficient level of lighting - sunny.

If you plant in shaded areas, near various buildings, in wetlands, then there is a high probability of developing various diseases, suppressing the general condition of the columnar peach.

Preparatory work should be performed in advance, removing all excess vegetation and debris from the site. The place for planting a columnar peach must be dug up, enriched with useful components, adding humus or rotted manure to the soil. If the planting time of the columnar peach is spring, then the preparation should be done in the fall. With an autumn planting, work should be done in a month.

Planting seedlings

The sizes of the planting holes for planting a columnar peach are determined by its root system. In most cases, the pit is 50 centimeters in diameter and 50-60 centimeters deep. To avoid stagnation of moisture, drainage should be laid on the bottom: brick fight, expanded clay, crushed stone. The layer thickness should be 7-10 centimeters; the same layer of fertile soil is poured over the drainage.

To tie a columnar peach into the pit, you need to install a peg made of wood.

Place the columnar peach seedling vertically, straightening its root system. Sprinkle on top with a layer of earth, carefully tamping it in order to exclude the formation of voids in the landing pit. Finally, the columnar peach is watered abundantly (10 liters of water per plant), tied to a support, and mulched.

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Tree care rules

The list of the main measures for the care of the columnar peach includes: the introduction of nutrients, weeding, irrigation, and preventive procedures against diseases and harmful insects.

Top dressing

In order for the columnar peach to bear fruit abundantly and endure the cold season more easily, it is necessary to fertilize the soil in the near-trunk circle in a timely manner. It is better to use for these purposes not chemical preparations, but self-prepared nutritional mixtures from natural ingredients.

In the spring, even before bud break, the columnar peach is treated with urea, using a working solution of 700 grams of the product and 10 liters of water. At the stage of fruiting and flowering, it is necessary to spray with a decoction of orange peels, lemon balm, onion husks, red pepper, burdock. For a better effect of the working fluid, it is worth adding crushed laundry soap to it. Thanks to such feeding, it is also possible to prevent the invasion of parasitic individuals and the development of dangerous diseases. The frequency of procedures is 1 time in 7 days.

The autumn feeding procedure for the columnar peach should be done with a 10% urea solution. Rotten manure and bird droppings are also suitable for these purposes.

Watering

Moisten the soil in the near-trunk circle as the top layer dries. Water consumption per planting is 10-20 liters. For better aeration, the soil must be loosened after each irrigation; oxygen starvation of the root system of the columnar peach must not be allowed.

Pruning

During spring and autumn pruning of a columnar peach, all incompetent shoots with traces of diseases are removed. Prune fruit trees before sap flow begins. Manipulations with the removal of dry and damaged shoots contribute to the growth of new branches, high productivity, and a decrease in the likelihood of developing diseases. It is recommended to shorten the shoots by 15-20 centimeters annually.

Diseases and pests

Among the frequent ailments that affect the columnar peach, they note: fungal diseases, clasternosporia, curly leaves. It is possible to prevent the development of diseases by taking preventive measures, using copper sulfate 3% for processing.

The procedure is repeated again until the kidneys awaken. Horus, Speed, Strobi are used before the flowering phase. Use appropriate insecticides (Akarin, Fitoverm) against aphids, ticks, weevils. Pruning makes trees hardy and resistant to adverse environmental factors.

Columnar peach is a great solution for a small garden. The main thing is not to violate the rules of agricultural technology and to plant healthy planting material.