Description of the plant
Columnar cherry belongs to the category of unpretentious garden plants that do not require care. Such cherries, unlike tall varieties, can very harmoniously complement almost any landscape.
Variety "Baby"
Characterized by high yield and sweet and sour, very fragrant, large fruits. The plant is unpretentious and belongs to the category of self-pollinating. The self-fertile columnar cherry of this variety is represented by a compact columnar tree with a height of 1.5 to 2.0 meters with a crown diameter of no more than 0.8 meters.
The fruits are suitable for fresh consumption and canning.
Variety "Delight"
The plant of this variety is characterized by early-medium ripening. The tree does not exceed 2.5 meters in height with a crown diameter of no more than one meter. The variety is characterized by consistently high yield. The berries are large, ruby red in color and weigh from eleven to fourteen grams. The pulp of the berries is dark red, with slight pink veins and very juicy. The plant is resistant to most diseases. The fruiting period begins in the second or third year after planting.
There are also a number of winter-hardy varieties bred by private breeders. However, they are not yet included in the register and are not zoned.
Peculiarities
Columnar cherries do not require special care , but look very attractive and aesthetically pleasing. In addition, the low-growing plant is very convenient for most activities, including harvesting. The standard height of a columnar cherry can vary from one to two meters.
Disadvantages include insufficiently high yields from one garden plant, as well as the fragility of ripened fruits.
Gardeners who decide to cultivate columnar cherries on their plot should remember that this plant tolerates frosty winters quite hard and, with the exception of a few frost-resistant varieties, is not recommended for cultivation in the northern regions of our country, as well as in areas with little snow cover at sharply negative temperatures .
You should also take into account the exactingness of columnar cherries to the composition of the soil. The soil must be fully provided with minerals, and the area for this type of cherry should be located in the most illuminated place. Winter-hardy varieties of columnar cherries should be protected from the negative effects of the north wind. A good option is to plant plants on gentle southern or southwestern slopes, as well as flat areas located on the south side.
conclusions
- Saratovskaya Malyshka is a low-growing, high-yielding variety, adapted for cultivation in the Volga regions and central regions of Russia.
- Cherries are unpretentious and require only regular pruning and timely watering in dry summers.
- The taste of the fruit is rated 4.4 points out of 5 possible. The taste of cherries is sweet and sour, rich, the pulp is very juicy. Thanks to its thick skin, it is easily transported, but cannot be stored for more than 2 weeks.
- Saratovskaya Malyshka is an early ripening variety; the berries can be collected by the end of June.
- The cherry tree lives for 15–16 years, grows in 3 years and begins to bear fruit already in 3–4 years. Under favorable conditions, one tree produces up to 25 kg of fruit.
Planting and care
Despite its unpretentiousness, planting, as well as subsequent care of columnar cherries, should be carried out correctly, which will allow you to obtain a high yield of high-quality berries.
Landing Features
- Before purchasing columnar cherry seedlings, you should make sure that the apical bud is intact.
- Seedlings need to be planted in areas protected from cold winds. The place should be located on the south side, well lit and without shading.
- The soil for planting columnar cherries must be loose and fertile. Close proximity to groundwater and planting in lowlands are unacceptable.
- The planting hole must have dimensions that correspond to the root system of the seedling.
- The bottom of the hole should be refined with a small layer of a mixture of chernozem and humus.
The presence of too acidic soil requires neutralization with wood ash or dolomite flour. It is not recommended to use mineral fertilizers during planting in order to protect the root system of seedlings from burns.
- Immediately after planting, the columnar cherry grows quite slowly for the first two to three years, and special attention is required to the apical bud, which should be properly and promptly prepared for the onset of winter frosts. Freezing of the top point will make it impossible for the plant to bear fruit further.
- In addition, the necessary care measures for any stone fruit should be carried out, which include periodically loosening the soil, watering and following the scheme for using protective and preventive measures against diseases and pests.
Loosening the soil and removing weeds should be carried out starting in spring and throughout the entire active growing season.
Watering and fertilizing
The plant is characterized by moisture-loving properties, but does not tolerate too much waterlogging and stagnation of water. On especially hot days, as well as at the stage of fruit formation, the volume of irrigation should be increased.
The best option is to combine watering with fertilization.
- In the autumn, the soil should be enriched with phosphorus fertilizers in the amount of 150 g and potassium fertilizers in the amount of 60 g.
- Nitrogen type fertilizers in the form of ammonium nitrate or urea should be applied to the plant in early spring.
- During the growing season, it is important to carry out two feedings.
- At the flowering stage and two weeks after this point, you need to add diluted mullein with a small amount of wood ash under the plant. Under each cherry you should add half a bucket of infused fertilizer and then immediately water the plant abundantly.
The last irrigation is carried out in the first ten days of October, immediately after all the foliage has fallen from the plant.
Trimming
Unlike classic varieties, the crown of columnar cherries grows almost vertically, in an upward direction. There are no side branches. Such a crown does not require mechanical shaping in the form of pruning.
Growing
Cherry is a heat-loving and sun-loving plant. Although it tolerates frost well, in short and rainy summers the fruits do not ripen well and the tree weakens.
Planting dates depend on climatic conditions. In the south, it is preferable to plant seedlings in the fall, around mid-October. 2 months before the onset of cold weather, the cherry tree has time to take root and tolerates the winter well. In more northern regions, it is better to plant the plant in the spring, so that the seedling has time to grow mature wood before winter.
Climatic conditions
An important condition for obtaining a harvest is a sufficient amount of heat and light.
Cherry easily tolerates short summers, since it is an early ripening plant. But the lack of sunlight leads to a noticeable deterioration in taste. Accordingly, areas with cloudy and rainy summers are absolutely not suitable for cultivation. The variety is zoned in the Lower Volga region. Its cultivation is allowed in the central regions. The main criterion in the latter case is winter cold. If the temperature drops below -30 C, it is better not to plant the hybrid. Firstly, in such frosts the kidneys freeze. Secondly, the root system is damaged, since in cherries it is located close to the surface of the earth.
The soil
Neutral soils are most suitable for cherries. It grows well on chernozem soils, floodplain loams, sandy loam soils, and chestnut soils. Since the tree’s root system is superficial, the soil structure must be loose and breathable to ensure oxygen access to the roots.
Cherry does not tolerate wetlands. It also grows poorly on heavy clay and sandy soils.
The second requirement is the groundwater level. The permissible level is 1.5 m. For higher groundwater levels, it will be necessary to organize drainage, since too high humidity leads to rotting of the roots.
You need to choose not only the soil, but also the planting site. The baby cannot stand the shade; for the rapid growth and ripening of such a mass of berries, it needs sunlight.
With slight shade, the tree will grow, but its branches will be thin and weak, as they will stretch towards the illuminated area. In such cases, berries are set only in sunlight, usually at the ends of branches. Accordingly, the harvest will be much smaller than the cherry can produce.
Landing
Planting cherries is carried out according to the usual scheme. It is recommended to purchase Saratov Baby seedlings from a nursery. There is a very high probability of buying shoots from your hands. The best option for planting is considered to be an annual seedling with good roots - at least 30 cm in length. You also need to pay attention to the bark: the stem should already be woody.
Cherry pits should be prepared in advance. If planting is planned in the spring, then a trench is dug and prepared in the fall. If it is in the spring, then the hole needs to be prepared at least 3 weeks before planting.
- The dimensions of the trench are determined not so much by the root system as by the density of the soil. On loose, light soil, it is enough to dig a hole with a diameter of 60 cm and a depth of no more than 50 cm. If the soil is clayey and does not conduct water well, then dig a trench with a diameter of 80 cm and a depth of 60 cm.
- When digging, the top fertile layer of soil is immediately put aside. Then mix with compost or humus in a 1:1 ratio and add 0.5 liters of wood ash. The rest of the soil can be used for household needs.
Under no circumstances should soil be mixed with fresh manure, especially if planting will take place in 2-3 weeks. Manure will burn the roots of the plant, and the cherry will not take root.
- The prepared soil mixture is placed back into the hole and filled with 2 buckets of water so that the soil settles and compacts.
- Before planting, the soil is partially removed from the prepared hole, forming a mound at the bottom of the trench. A support peg no more than 1.5 m high is installed in the pit.
If the roots of the seedling have dried out at the time of planting, the tree is placed in warm water for 3–4 hours. A tree with a lump of earth does not need preparation.
- The seedling is placed in the center of the mound. Straighten the roots and gradually cover them with soil, making sure that the space between the roots is filled with soil evenly and that no voids arise.
- When the tree is half covered with soil, pour out half a bucket of water and continue to fill the hole with soil. If the soil mixture is not enough, you can put the remaining infertile soil on top. The root collar of the seedling should rise 5–6 cm above the ground level.
- The earth around the trunk is compacted. The seedling is tied to a peg. Then water the plant with 2 more buckets of water and mulch the tree trunk circle.
- It is recommended to immediately form a groove around the trunk according to the diameter of the tree crown. This makes it easier to water the plant.
Diseases and pests
Most often, cherries are affected by clasterosporiasis, characterized by perforated spots on the leaves, as well as the fungal disease coccomycosis and fruit rot or moniliosis.
The most common pests of this crop include plant parasites such as:
- cherry weevil;
- cherry sawfly;
- leaf aphids;
- hawthorn caterpillar.
Treatment
If special fungicides are most often used to treat fungal infections, then pest control must be carried out with the following chemicals:
- drug "Piriton";
- drug "Aktelik";
- drug "Rovikurt".
To kill aphids, use an infusion of tobacco with the addition of grated laundry soap.
You can learn more about cherry diseases and their treatment options here.
Prevention
In order to prevent the occurrence of rot and other diseases of columnar cherries, it is recommended to collect and destroy all affected foliage and fruits throughout the growing season. A good result is obtained by using Bordeaux mixture or special fungicides for prevention.
How to properly grow columnar cherries: advice from gardeners
The smell of cherries is familiar to many from childhood. These aromatic, juicy berries have a refined taste and are used both for fresh consumption and for preparing various dishes. But often the problem becomes that the trees grow quite tall, and it becomes more difficult to get berries. Columnar cherries can solve this problem, guaranteeing a good harvest and not taking up much space on the site. We suggest considering the characteristics of such crops, the rules for planting and caring for them, as well as popular tree varieties.
Description of columnar cherries
The first thing that interests inexperienced summer residents, or those who have not encountered such trees before, is whether columnar cherries exist. There really is such a variety; it consists of small cylindrical trees that develop only upward. The crown is formed through lateral branches; it does not reach more than 1 meter in diameter. The lateral branches send out many fruiting shoots, and strong branching is leveled out.
The columnar cherry has few leaves, but it provides a good harvest. During fruiting, the trunk begins to be abundantly covered with berries. The main advantages of culture include the fact that it is different:
- decorative, able to fit into any landscape design of the site;
- compactness, thanks to which the tree is easy to trim, process, and the harvest is easy to harvest;
- good taste, since the varieties were bred while preserving the basic taste qualities of the classic species.
In addition, the best varieties of columnar cherries guarantee early fruiting; the berries begin to ripen in June, which gives a boost of vitamins at the beginning of summer.
How to plant columnar cherries in spring
The first thing you need to do is buy columnar cherry seedlings. It is better to give preference to trusted nurseries or garden centers. When choosing planting material, be sure to inspect the bud of the apical shoot. He must be alive and undamaged. Choose a trunk without unevenness, curvature, and with smooth bark. Inspect the root system. There should be no signs of rotting on it.
Columnar cherries are planted in the spring, since they may not take root in the fall. The only regions where it is preferable to plant a tree in the fall are the southern ones. Trees take root there well.
When choosing a place where the tree will be planted, keep in mind that it does not like winds and prefers light areas with loose, nutritious soil. The ideal solution would be southern areas where groundwater is deep.
Planting is carried out in pre-prepared holes (2-3 weeks in advance), the diameter of the hole is made at least 0.8 meters, depth - 0.7 meters. When planning to plant several specimens, make a distance of 1 meter between them.
To fill the hole, a special soil mixture is created. It is based on humus, black soil (1:3). Potassium and phosphorus fertilizers are also added to the composition - 16 and 12 grams, respectively.
The root system of the seedling must be moistened, then placed in the hole, covered with soil, and a support is formed nearby. The top of the soil is compacted slightly.
Proper care of columnar cherries
Any type of tree needs proper care. It consists of timely watering, fertilizing, and pruning. If the summer is very dry, the tree must be additionally watered. 4-5 liters of warm water are added to each tree. This procedure is also carried out during the first two years of cultivation. In the first year, formed ovaries must be removed, this increases the chances of survival.
Do not forget to whiten the trunk with lime or chalk. This will prevent the appearance of pests. In the spring, you will need to apply fertilizing containing nitrogen substances. In the autumn, plantings are fertilized with compounds based on potassium and phosphorus.
Why don't cherries bear fruit?
It is very important not to plant juniper in close proximity to garden plantings of columnar cherries. It is juniper that contributes to the defeat of cherry bushes by diseases such as rust, which is carried by the wind and can quickly destroy young plantings.
Despite the fact that currently the columnar cherry belongs to the category of rare plants in summer cottages and personal plots in the central zone of our country, there is a tendency to change this situation. The first varieties developed were aimed at growing in warm climates. However, in recent years, breeders have managed to develop more cold-resistant and promising hybrid plants that can be successfully cultivated in most regions of Russia.
Peculiarities
Like any other variety, Malyshka has its own characteristics. Some of them provide the benefits of the variety, while others make care and planting somewhat more difficult.
- Winter hardiness - the hybrid tolerates frost well. At temperatures down to -20 C, only very young trees are wrapped for the winter, but at temperatures closer to -30 C, the buds begin to freeze, which greatly affects the yield.
- Disease resistance – The baby is resistant to coccomycosis and moniliosis and other fungal diseases. However, for insect pests like cherry moths, weevils, and aphids, the tree is almost a favorite “delicacy.” It is very important to spray cherries against insects and treat them with insecticides on time.
- Pollinators – Malyshka is a self-fertile variety, so to get a harvest it is necessary to plant pollinator varieties in the garden. These include cherries that coincide with Malyshka in terms of growing season. The varieties Molodezhnaya, Turgenevskaya, Chernokorka, and Nord Star are considered the best. Sweet cherries are also quite suitable, since the variety is early ripening.
- Ripening period and yield - cherries begin to bloom in early to mid-May, and ripe berries appear after June 20. Cherries begin to bear fruit at 3–4 years of age. The average yield is 15 kg per tree. However, under favorable conditions, it is not difficult to get 25 kg.
- Transportability – the skin of the fruit is quite dense, so the berries tolerate transportation well.
However, they do not have great shelf life: cherries can be stored for up to 2 weeks, then they become too soft and begin to rot.
