Columnar Apple Of The President Variety: Description And Characteristics Of The Variety, Advantages And Disadvantages, Planting And Care Features + Photos And Reviews

2024 Author: Bailey Albertson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-17 22:26

Column-shaped apple tree President: a delicious garden decoration

The columnar apple tree is a short tree that grows in one trunk. This shape makes it easier to care for the crop and harvest. These trees are mainly planted in rows, which allows not only to receive fruits, but also to decorate the site. The columnar apple of the President variety has all the advantages that are characteristic of this crop.

Content

• 1 Description of the columnar apple variety President

  • 1.1 Characteristics of cultural features
  • 1.2 Video: Overview of Columnar Culture

• 2 Key advantages and disadvantages

  2.1 Table: strengths and weaknesses of the variety

• 3 Landing features

• 4 Plant care

  • 4.1 Nuances of forming a columnar tree
  • 4.2 Video: Practical Tips for Cropping
  • 4.3 Video: master class on pruning an apple tree
  • 4.4 Features of watering
  • 4.5 Table: Irrigation schedule for a columnar apple tree
  • 4.6 Fertilization rules
  • 4.7 Table: order of fertilization under the columnar apple tree
  • 4.8 Preparing for the winter period

• 5 Potential diseases and pests

  • 5.1 Table: diseases characteristic of the President variety
  • 5.2 Photo gallery: typical ailments for the variety
  • 5.3 Table: pests affecting the columnar apple tree
  • 5.4 Photo: insects attacking culture
• 6 Tips for Harvesting
• 7 Reviews of gardeners

Description of the columnar apple variety President

Columnar apple President - semi-dwarf tree of late ripening

The apple-tree President was bred as a result of crossing the varieties Vozhak and Abundant. The authorship belongs to the well-known geneticist and breeder Professor V. V. Kichin. Late variety. Recommended for cultivation on the territory of non-black earth and black earth. The apple tree is widespread in the Perm, Samara and Moscow regions.

Characteristics of cultural features

1. The president belongs to the group of semi-dwarf varieties. The height of the tree is slightly more than 2 m.
2. The crown also has a compact size, its width is 20 cm. The leafiness is strong. Thickened shoots. The leaf plates are large, dark green in color with a shiny surface. Petioles are of medium length.
3. The apple tree has a hardwood, so the branches do not bend under the weight of the crop. The trunk is covered with spears and ringlets. The size of the increments reaches 5–10 cm per year.
4. The fruits are evenly distributed over the entire surface of the trunk. The first tier is located at a height of 30–40 cm from the ground.
5. Large apples - from 100 to 250 g, have a symmetrical round shape. They are colored light yellow with a purple-red blush. The skin is shiny, thin, but relatively tight. The stalks are short.
6. The pulp is white, juicy with a fine-grained structure. Apples have a characteristic aroma and sweet and sour aftertaste.

A feature of the variety is early fruiting, which occurs 2 years after planting. A dense root system ensures high survival rate of seedlings.

The winter hardiness of the variety is good. According to this indicator, the President is equated with Antonovka. The fruiting period of the tree is 12-15 years.

Video: Columnar Culture Overview

Key pros and cons

The columnar apple tree has a lot of impressive advantages

The apple tree President has a significant number of positive properties and only a couple of disadvantages.

Table: strengths and weaknesses of the variety

Advantages	disadvantages
High productivity (up to 16 kg)	Short fruiting period (maximum 15 years)
Compact dimensions
Good winter hardiness.	The need for constant care, which entails a large investment of time and effort
Early maturity (for 2-3 years)
High survival rate of seedlings
Decorative look
Pleasant fruit taste
No branching, so the tree only needs minimal pruning
Early and annual fruiting
Formation of ovaries under adverse weather conditions

Landing features

The columnar apple tree is planted in a light and dry place

Variety President has the ability to bear fruit in an unfavorable environment and without pollinators. The apple tree is recommended to be placed in an area that is well lit by the sun. The soil must be breathable. For this culture, loamy or sandy loam soil is suitable. But with special preparation, other types of soil can be used. In the peat soil, when planting, they add a bucket of sand to the pit, peat or clay is introduced into the sandy soil, and coarse sand or peat is added to the clay soil.

As a rule, columnar apple trees are planted in rows, between which they leave a space of 90 cm, and the trees themselves are placed every 50-60 cm. For plants, a place is selected with underground waters at a level of 2 m from the surface. The acidity of the soil should be in the range of pH 5.5-7.0. Planting is carried out in the second half of April or mid-September.

The seedling must be chosen without leaves, as well as without sagging on the roots and mechanical damage. To check if the tree is healthy, you can perform the following procedure. Scrape off the bark layer and look at the color of the wood. In a good plant, it will have a white color.

Planting an apple tree President is carried out in loam or sandy loam soil

The planting process has the following features:

1. The preparation of the hole begins a month before planting in autumn and in autumn if the tree is planted in spring.
2. Despite the fact that the size of the columnar apple tree is quite compact, it has a well-developed root system. Therefore, a hole is dug for a tree 90-100 cm wide and deep.
3. The top layer of soil is mixed with 5 kg of humus or compost, 100 g of superphosphate and 50–70 g of sulphate or potassium chloride. If necessary, add clay, sand or peat to the hole.
4. Then the hole is 2/3 filled with a fertile composition. In the hole, at a distance of 20 cm from the center, it is advisable to install a peg, which for the first two years will hold the seedling in case of strong gusts of wind.
5. Next, a tree is placed in the hole, the roots are straightened and covered with soil. The apple tree is buried so that the root collar is 5 cm above the surface.
6. At the final stage, the apple tree needs to be watered. For this, a hole with a diameter of 30 cm and a depth of 10 cm is prepared around the trunk, and 10–20 liters of water are poured into it.
7. After that, the soil is covered with a layer of straw, sawdust, humus or peat.
8. The plant is tied to a peg with a soft cloth or twine. Wire for this purpose should not be used, as it can damage the seedling.

Plant care

To avoid overloading the apple tree with the harvest, it is recommended to cut off all flowers during the first year. As a result of this procedure, the tree will direct the main forces to rooting, which will increase its survival rate. Attention should also be paid to maintenance measures such as watering, pruning, tree feeding and winter protection.

The nuances of forming a columnar tree

Scheme of pruning the crown of a columnar apple tree

Pruning a columnar apple is carried out in several cases:

1. If the upper fruit bud is damaged, the tree begins to develop two upper shoots. In this situation, it is necessary to remove the weaker one.
2. Pruning is also performed if the apple tree gives lateral growth. In the first year at the beginning of the spring period, they are shortened to the level of two buds.
3. In addition, crossed and damaged branches are eliminated.

In the future, two shoots will be formed from each cut off branch. Of these, you need to leave the one that occupies a horizontal position. The second is cut at the level of the two buds. On a horizontal growth this year, fruits will form, and on a vertical one - two branches. In the next season, the sprouted shoots are removed in the spring.

Otherwise, pruning is carried out in a similar manner. Fruit links are removed per ring every 3-4 years. It is during this period that apples are formed on them. Then the link loses its ability to bear fruit.

The growth rate of shoots depends on the pruning level. If the branch is shortened by half its length, 3-4 eyes will remain on it. Subsequently, the same number of shoots will be formed from them. If you cut off a third of the branch, the number of branches will reach 7-8 pieces. With proper pruning, two or three lateral buds are formed annually on an apple tree, and the growth is 10-15 cm.

Video: Practical Tips for Cropping

Video: master class on pruning an apple tree

Watering features

Watering is a prerequisite for growing apple trees President

This type of apple tree needs frequent watering, which is due to the structure of the root system of plants. It has a superficial location and is placed within 25 cm from the trunk. For watering, a groove is dug around the tree, which, after the procedure is completed, is covered with soil and mulched with organic material.

Humidification is carried out until August. Then the procedure must be stopped so that before the winter period the tree stops growing and the formation of buds. You should also hose the crown of the tree twice a month.

Table: watering schedule for a columnar apple tree

Regularity of watering		Water rate per plant
In dry sunny weather	In cloudy weather
In one day	Every three days	50 l

Fertilization rules

Top dressing should be done on schedule

The apple tree is fed three times a year. At the same time, the tree needs both root and foliar application of nutrients.

Table: the order of fertilization under the columnar apple tree

Type of feeding	Period	Nutrients
Root	When the leaves bloom	50 g of urea per bucket of water. Consumption per plant is 2 l
	In two weeks
	14-15 days after the second application
Foliar	In the period after the blooming of the leaves until mid-July	Urea solution 0.1-0.2% concentration

Preparing for the winter period

Shelter for the winter will allow the tree to comfortably endure frost

In autumn, the near-trunk zone is cleared of leaves, and the soil is dug up. In October or November, the top of the plant is wrapped with thick paper or rags. The stem is covered with wood chips or spruce branches. After the snow falls, they should huddle the base of the trunk.

Potential diseases and pests

Given the necessary care, the President's columnar apple has a fairly good resistance to diseases and pests.

Table: diseases characteristic of the President variety

Ailment	Symptoms	Treatment methods	Prevention
Scab	Fruits and leaf plates are covered with small brown spots.	Processing in spring and autumn of the crown and soil in the near-stem zone with a urea solution (500 g per 10 l of water). Spraying the apple tree before flowering and after the formation of ovaries with copper chloride (40 g per 10 l).	Removing damaged branches.
Bacterial burn	Blackening, curling of leaves. Shrinking and rotting of fruits, their subsequent falling off.	Removing damaged branches, processing the cuts with garden varnish or 1% Bordeaux liquid. In case of severe damage, the plant must be uprooted.	Use of healthy planting material. Purchase of seedlings at specialized points of sale. Disinfect tools with alcohol before trimming. Destruction of pests.
Milky shine	The formation of a silvery plaque on the bark and leaves. Discoloration of sheet plates. The appearance of brown spots on the surface of the branches and trunk.	Cutting out diseased areas of the bark, patching up damaged areas with pitch.
Dry top	Drying and falling off of the upper branches.	Zinc sulfate treatment (50 g per 10 l of water).	Timely feeding.

Photo gallery: ailments typical of the variety

A bacterial burn causes the fruit to fall off

Milky sheen damages bark and leaves

Scab damages both leaves and fruits of the tree

Table: pests affecting the columnar apple tree

Pests	Signs	Ways to fight	Preventive measures
Flower beetle	Insects eat the buds, then the contents of the buds, where they lay their eggs. The larvae glue the petals together, causing them to dry out and turn brown. A month later, young beetles appear that gnaw the buds and spread throughout the site.	At the stage of kidney formation, spraying with a solution of Fufanon (10 ml per bucket of water). The next treatment is carried out at the stage of the rosebud (1 tablet Inta-Ts-M per 10 l).	Autumn harvesting of leaves around the trunk.
Medianitsa	The larvae feed on the sap of buds, buds and leaves. Pests hold the affected parts together with a sticky mass, which prevents the growth of the plant. The fruits are deformed. With a strong defeat by copperhead, the yield of the apple tree decreases.	At the stage of budding, the use of one of the insecticides: Mitak (20 ml per 10 L), Fas or Sumi-alpha (5 g per 10 L).
Fruit moth	Butterflies lay eggs on ovaries and leaf plates, after 2-3 weeks caterpillars appear, which penetrate into the ovaries and feed on their contents, as a result of which they fall off. The fruit moth is capable of halving the yield of a tree.	20 days after the flowers fall, treatment with Mitak (30–40 ml), Biorin (10 ml), Kinmix (2.5 ml), Inta-vir (1 tablet), Sumi-alpha (5 hectares per 10 l of water).	Digging the soil around the trunk in the autumn. Destruction of plant residues.
Aphid	As a result of the activity of aphids, the shoots are bent, the leaves curl and turn yellow. The affected tree lags behind in growth and loses its winter hardiness.	Before flowering, the tree is treated with Kinmix solution, after 15–20 days, Inta-vir is used.	Fighting ants in the area that contribute to the spread of aphids.

Photo: insects attacking culture

Copperhead reduces the yield of the tree

The moth eats the pulp of the fruit

Aphids cause leaves to curl and dry out

The flower beetle destroys the foliage of the apple tree

Harvesting tips

President apples are used for jams, drinks, desserts and baked goods

Apples begin to ripen in the last decade of August, fruiting continues until mid-September. The productivity of a tree with appropriate agricultural technology is 10-16 kg per year. In the absence of the necessary care from the apple tree, up to 5-8 kg of fruits are harvested per season. The variety is characterized by early ripening. Fruits can be harvested 2–3 years after planting.

The apples are stored at a temperature of 0-2 ° C. It is advisable to place the crop in a cellar or basement. Fruits of the President variety have a fairly high keeping rate. They remain in good condition until the end of December. These apples can be eaten fresh, canned, used for the preparation of dried fruits, preserves, pickled fruits.

Gardeners reviews

The columnar apple tree is a decoration of the garden, the fruits of which can be enjoyed in early autumn. But the yield of the President variety largely depends on care. If the necessary agrotechnical rules are not followed, the productivity of trees is halved. Despite the fact that the President variety is positioned as winter-hardy, it is advisable to cover the plant for the winter, since it cannot withstand severe frosts.