20 best varieties of columnar plum with a description, planting rules and care
Many have not heard of Columnar plums, but experienced summer residents managed to appreciate the variety. The variety is compact in size, the trees bring a bountiful harvest. The main feature of the plum is the absence of lush branches and wide bushes. To properly grow a culture, you should familiarize yourself with all its features, a detailed description of the varieties.
Description
Columnar plums are trees with narrow but dense bushes, directed upwards in a vertical direction. The plant is shaped like a column. Almost all branches take part in fruiting. Practically no culture is required. The variety was bred artificially. The tree belongs to the pink family. The height does not exceed 2.5 meters. The color of the fruit is yellow, violet-purple, blue.
Plant varieties
Varieties of dwarf plums have different ripening periods, differ in fruit color, and the ability to self-pollination. There are many varieties of this culture, all of them do not require painstaking care, they are excellent for growing in the country.
Imperial
Imperial. The subspecies is famous for large fruits up to 55 grams in weight, delicate, aromatic taste. The shape of the fruit is round, the top is compressed, with a wide base. The skin is firm, but this does not affect the taste. The tree grows up to 2 meters high, bears fruit by mid-late August. The variety is self-fertile, the fruits are pinkish-purple in color, but can also be red-brown in color. Of the negative features, the need for abundant watering is distinguished, the probability of pollen in the first year of life. If this happens, cut off the inflorescences, since an early harvest can deplete a young tree.
Blue Sweet
Blue Sweet. The fruits are large, reaching 75 grams in weight. They are oval, flattened. Waxy bloom on dense skin. The tree grows 2 meters high. The taste is refreshing, sweet and sour. During the season, you can collect up to 15 kg of plums from one tree. Pods ripen by August and need pollination. The Blue Free and Stanley varieties act as pollinators. The fruit shade is purple, the flesh is slightly pinkish.
Among the disadvantages is the risk of bifurcation of the tree top due to frost. Also, the variety can bloom in the first year of life.
Yellow
The yellow plum harvests earlier than other varieties. Harvested by the end of June. Fruits are large, round, yellow, with a honey smell. They are eaten raw or canned.Plum pollinates itself on its own, but with constant rains, diseases, nearby pollinators are required. The tree is large, growing up to 2.5 meters in height. The variety is resistant to frost and disease.
Honey
Honey plum gives golden yellow fruit, sweet taste, weighing up to 50 grams. Fruits ripen at the end of July. The variety is not self-pollinated. Nearby you need to plant plums Vengerka, Renklod Karbysheva. The plant tolerates severe frosts, shows resistance to attacks of harmful insects, diseases.
Mirabella
This is one of the earliest ripening varieties of plum, which brings a lot of crops. Up to 15 kg of medium-sized fruits can be harvested from one tree. Each of them weighs more than 40 grams, but this does not affect the taste, fruity aftertaste. The fruits look like apricots in appearance, only on one side they are covered with blush. The pulp has a dense structure, pleasant, sweet taste. Fruiting occurs at the end of August. Ripe fruits do not fall off the tree for a long time. The variety is resistant to diseases, harmful beetles.
Russian
Russian plum belongs to the dwarf varieties, since the growth of these trees does not exceed 1.7 meters. Fruits grow small - up to 40 grams, ripen by mid-August. Plum is pollinated with cherry plum. The fruits are purple, sweet.
Ruby
Rubin plums grow red in color with a sweet-sour taste. The tree grows up to 2 meters high. Harvesting should be done in early September. Ruby belongs to large-fruited varieties, the weight of one plum is 60 grams. The variety is self-fertile. Among the disadvantages are the late ripening of fruits.
Commander
The Komandor plum variety differs from others in its reddish and purple skin color. The tree bears juicy, sweet fruits of large size. The pulp is tender, yellow in color with a sweet taste. They make preparations for the winter or eat fresh from fruits. The variety ripens in mid-July, earlier than other plums. The tree grows up to 2 meters high.
Oscar Plus
Columnar plum variety Oscar Plus is famous for its round, slightly depressed fruits. The plant ripens by September, the fruit is brown or purple in color. The tree shows winter hardiness, resists diseases and attacks of beetles.
Angers
Angers is a mid-season variety of the Columnar plum. The fruits are purple-purple, weighing 40 grams. They have a pleasant fig taste. Among the advantages are the possibility of self-pollination, easy tolerance to cold weather.
Olenka
The plum variety Olenka gives fruits of a bright red hue, small in size. The weight of one fruit is 25 grams. The variety is self-fertile, but if there is a Stanley or Blue Free nearby, there will be a lot of harvest. The tree tolerates frost, is resistant to the development of diseases, attacks of beetles.
Features of growing a tree
Columnar plum does not involve unique cultivation techniques. The variety is unpretentious in care, it is necessary to look after it in the same way as for its brothers. The main thing is to pick up a good seedling, water the plant on time, and loosen the soil.
Boarding time
Planting Column-shaped plums should be carried out in the fall when it comes to the South. In the northern latitudes and in the Urals, postpone the landing until the spring, when the snow melts, there will be no night frosts.
Seat selection
You need to plant a plum in a place where the sun shines strongly, there is no shadow. Culture loves good lighting. The variety should not be exposed to northerly winds, the planting site should be free of melt water. The desired groundwater level is 1.5 meters. If you ignore the above requirements, the rhizome will not form, the trunk will be damaged, the plum will get sick.
Planting principles
Agrotechnical work must be carried out in accordance with the following stages.
- Dig a hole 30 * 40 cm, determine its length by the number of seedlings. There should be a distance of 50 meters between them.
- On industrial plantations, the width between rows should be 1-1.5 meters.
- Pour a fertile substrate - compost on the bottom, 3-4 kg are shown for one seedling. It is impossible to use mineral fertilizing during planting, the rhizome is tender, it will be easily damaged by the action of chemistry.
- Place the planting material in the prepared hole, gently straightening the root system. The neck should be 2.5-4 centimeters above ground level.
- Cover the trees with earth, lightly tamping the soil. Take advantage of root growth stimulants - Heteroauxin. A solution is prepared in the proportion of 1 g of the product per 3 liters of water. Water the seedlings with the mixture immediately after planting and after 2 weeks.
When using root growth enhancers, it is important to strictly follow the instructions. Otherwise, the plant can get a chemical burn.
How to care
The care after planting of the Columnar Plum is almost the same as the standard one. To stimulate rooting, feed the seedlings with growth stimulants. To carry out sanitary pruning so that the plant gives a lot of harvest.
Pruning a plum tree
Crown formation is required for all fruit trees so that only those branches on which there will be berries grow, without unnecessary thickening. Pruning the Columnar plum should be done in the spring, before the first buds swell. Since the tree is undersized, the top should not be removed. Removal of dried, damaged or diseased branches is required.
Fertilizing Columnar Plum
In order for the plum to grow actively, bring a lot of harvest, it is necessary to fertilize it. Use urea, dilute 50 g in 10 liters of water. One plant needs 2 liters of solution. The first feeding is carried out during the active growing season, the second - 2 weeks after the first fertilization. Feed the ground for the third time 14 days after the previous one. Infusion of mullein, saltpeter is widely used.
Watering
It is necessary to irrigate the plums regularly, paying attention to the moisture of the ground. Water the tree no more than once a month. If there is severe drought, pour water under the root 2-3 times weekly. Defend the liquid so that it is not icy. Otherwise, the plant will drop fruit.
Preparing the tree for winter
Young trees do not survive frost well; trees must be prepared carefully before frost. Close the near-trunk part with fallen leaves, straw, cover the lower part of the trunk with needles. This will help keep the tree safe from rodents. Cover the top with additional snow.
Treatment of plants from diseases and pests
Columnar plums are resistant to disease, but if the rhizome and branches are deformed, the tree can get sick. Preventive treatment with copper sulfate, spraying with Bordeaux liquid or Topsin-M is required
Collection and storage
The harvest time depends on the variety, the characteristics of the climate of the region. In the Urals and Siberia, plums ripen by the end of summer or September. In the southern latitudes, the harvest will ripen by the end of June. The early varieties of fruits are harvested over several weeks, and the later ones - immediately. The procedure should be carried out only in dry weather. If the variety is early ripe, remove fruits from the branches in several passes, since they ripen unevenly.
You need to store the plum in a place with an air temperature of 0-2 degrees Celsius, humidity not lower than 85%. Store fruit in low trays with paper on the bottom or in wooden boxes.During transportation, take care not to damage the wax film. Plums that will not be stored should be eaten immediately or prepared for the winter.
Unripe fruits should not be kept in the refrigerator, this will slow down the ripening process and worsen the taste. Fruits will stay intact for 3 weeks at a temperature of no more than 7 degrees Celsius.
