Columnar peach: description of varieties, growing features

Characteristic

Columnar peach is a dwarf variety, so its height is approximately 1-1.5 meters. The crown of such trees resembles a cylinder. Because of their appearance, such varieties are often planted as ornamental plants. In addition to the high yield, they decorate the garden with their unusual beauty.

The shoots grow directly from the trunk itself and do not have various branches. Thanks to this, there is a feeling that the fruits are adjacent to the main stem. The quality characteristics of these varieties always remain at the highest level.

Features of planting columnar peach

The ideal rootstock for columnar peach is any dwarf variety of this crop. Ukrainian gardeners working in this area suggest using Manchurian peach for such purposes - one of the best rootstocks in terms of compatibility with the scion and winter hardiness.

This plant form was selected in Poland from peach seedlings brought from Manchuria. The growth of Manchurian peach trees on this seedling rootstock ranges from semi-dwarf to medium-sized, depending on the vigor of the grafted variety. It is important that the varieties grafted onto these seedlings not only have no tendency to shred, but also produce larger fruits compared to other known rootstocks.

https://www.agrocounsel.ru/manchzhurskij-persik-podvoj

This is what a two-year-old Manchurian peach looks like

To plant columnar peach, no special skills are required. It is best to place such trees on the south or south-east side of the site on loose, fertile soil - chernozem or sandy with an admixture of humus. Gardeners often plant peaches along walls or fences in a part of the garden where there is enough light and no drafts.

It is recommended to start planting columnar peaches in the spring - from the end of March (in the southern regions) to the first days of May (in areas with a harsh climate). Columnar peaches with a closed root system can be purchased for planting until the 2nd–3rd decade of May. Landing rules:

Peaches with a crown in the form of a column are placed at a distance of 0.6 m from each other, keeping the space between the rows for group planting - 1–1.2 m, dig a planting hole with a diameter of 0.5 m, a depth of 0.6–0.7 m .
A drainage layer is laid at the bottom - crushed brick, medium-sized gravel, expanded clay (layer 8–10 cm). Then pour a layer of fertile soil (equal parts sand, humus, chernozem, garden soil) - 10–15 cm.
If you spill the hole, half a bucket of water is enough.
The peach is carefully placed vertically in the hole, sprinkled with soil, and lightly compacted on top - this is necessary for the stability of the young tree; You can immediately place a wooden peg on it as a support, this is temporary - as soon as the peach takes root, the support is removed.

When planting a columnar peach, the root space is compacted

Video: planting columnar peach

Advantages and disadvantages

Columnar peach has many advantages. The main ones include the following:

Such trees take up little space, so they can be planted in small areas.
They bear quite a lot of fruit; in the first years, up to 7 kilograms of fruit can be collected from one tree.
Peaches also differ in weight from regular varieties of fruit: their weight ranges from 200 to 250 grams.
Ease of care is the main criterion for inexperienced gardeners. Such varieties are very easy to care for and collect fruits: due to the special structure of the crown, it does not require additional formation.
An undoubted advantage will be the taste of the fruits themselves.
Columnar peaches are very frost-resistant; in winter they can easily tolerate temperatures down to -40 degrees.

But they also have disadvantages:

These varieties have a fairly short productive period. And because of this, trees have to be renewed much more often than ordinary varieties.
The high cost of seedlings very often scares away potential buyers. The cost of one plant can reach up to 1000 rubles.

How to care for columnar peaches

In the future, caring for the peach will not be difficult - the tree is watered, fed, treated against diseases and pests, the tree trunk is periodically loosened and weeds are removed:

the frequency of watering depends on the amount of precipitation during the growing season, but at least once every 10 days (1-2 buckets of water), with heavy rainfall - 1-2 times a month;
It is recommended to carry out disease and pest prevention at least 3-4 times a season: treatment with special preparations (Chorus, Skor and others) is organized by:

at the end of March - April;
in early May before flowering;
immediately after fruiting;
in early September;

columnar peach is responsive to feeding:
in the spring, nitrogen-phosphorus fertilizers are applied (for example, 1 tablespoon of superphosphate per bucket of water, after the procedure the tree is watered abundantly);
in early June - potassium-phosphorus complex preparations (according to instructions);
at the end of summer, peaches are fed with organic matter - for example, an infusion of humus (1 teaspoon of humus, 2 teaspoons of water) - take 1/3 of a bucket of fertilizer and dilute it to a full bucket with water (for one tree).

Column peaches lose their flowers the first year they are planted. Only the next year (the 3rd year of growth or the 2nd year after planting the seedling from the nursery) are flowers left. During the first fruiting you can get 3–10 fruits, the next year the harvest can be 2 times more.

Video: formation of the crown of columnar fruit trees, including peach

An ideal columnar peach is driven into one trunk without additional shoots, the branches are cut to 4–7 cm, thus obtaining a columnar peach. If the trunk is not formed, the side shoots will grow and the tree will not be columnar; a bush or cup-shaped crown will form.

For the winter, gardeners advise insulating columnar peaches . To do this, after dropping the leaves (late October - early November), the tree is carefully, without damaging the buds, wrapped with non-woven material or improvised means (as in the video below it is suggested to cover such a peach with dry corn stalks).

Read also How to thresh amaranth at home

Video: sheltering a columnar peach for the winter

Having scoured the Internet, I can say: columnar peach does not require much attention and produces a good harvest. But it is stupid to compare it with classic types of peach - traditional trees bear fruit more abundantly and for many years, and columnar trees - 2-3 years. Even if you plant 10 columnar peach trees in the same space that a peach with a regular crown can occupy, their yield will be lower. Columnar peaches are a crop for intensive gardening; a decent harvest according to the varietal characteristics can be obtained for several years; 6 years after planting they lose their effectiveness. It is not difficult to care for them, but you need to water them more often; in the event of a fungal disease or pests (despite the promised high immunity, no one is 100% insured), the entire tree will most likely die. Therefore, when purchasing a columnar peach, it is necessary to calculate the efficiency of cultivation and costs in advance.

Varieties of columnar nectarine

In addition to peaches, nectarines, which are very similar in taste, but differ in the absence of hairs on the skin, are gaining high popularity.

Fantasia is a small and compact tree up to 2 meters high, with a crown diameter of approximately 50 centimeters. The fruits of this variety are very tender and juicy, easily separated from the stone. Nectarines are orange in color and may also have burgundy spots. Weight reaches 175 grams. The variety is resistant to diseases such as leaf curl and can tolerate temperatures down to -35 degrees. It begins to bear fruit in the second year of life and does not require special attention.
Rubis - this variety of columnar nectarines is easy to care for. The growth of the tree does not exceed 1.5 meters. The ripening period falls in July. The fruits are very large, their flesh is golden in color, and the skin is burgundy-purple in color. Many gardeners say that these trees can be grown both in open ground and in greenhouses. This quality makes the Rubis variety an ideal option for those climatic zones where the outside temperature does not allow growing nectarines.

Feeding peach

When growing this fruit crop, you need to apply a sufficient amount of fertilizer every year, which depends on the nutritional value of the soil. For example, in poor substrates it is necessary to add both organic and mineral fertilizers annually, and if the soil is nutritious, then organic matter is added once every couple of years or three years.

When grown in hot conditions, where frequent watering is carried out, more fertilizers are applied as they are washed out faster.

The first time fertilizer is applied during the period of swelling of the buds, making a complete mineral supplement. For this purpose, urea, nitrophoska or similar fertilizers are used, at a rate of 35 grams per plant.

The second time fertilizer is applied on the 10th of July. This time, phosphorus and potassium are added at 50 and 25 grams, respectively.

When the trees begin to bear fruit, the size of the fertilizing is increased and after a couple of years 150 grams of potassium and phosphorus are added per specimen. Also, before the fruits grow, foliar feeding is carried out by spraying.

In the fall, organic matter is added. In the year of applying organic fertilizers, do not use other nitrogen fertilizers. The procedure for adding organic matter can be replaced by growing green manure in rows.

Columnar peach. The best varieties

Columnar peaches are rapidly gaining popularity among gardeners. And despite the comparative youth of these varieties, Russian breeders have already bred a large number of different types of such trees.

Gardener's totem - an adult plant does not exceed 1.7 meters in height. This variety is characterized by high yield and large fruit size; their weight can reach 270-290 grams. From one tree you can harvest up to 14 kilograms of harvest. Peaches are round in shape, slightly flattened, with a red blush and tender, juicy flesh. Due to its spring appearance and good transportability, this variety is suitable for trade.
Peach Steinberg is distinguished by its unpretentiousness in care and lighting. Even in a season with little sunshine it can bring a large amount of harvest. The tree is of medium height, approximately 2 meters. The fruits are small, weighing about 150-160 grams. But at the same time they are very sweet and aromatic, the skin is yellow-orange with crimson spots.
Anniversary of the capital - the trees are early ripening varieties, their height is approximately 1.5 meters. This variety is characterized by high productivity; up to 12 kilograms can be harvested from one plant. Moreover, the fruits are quite large, reaching 250 grams in weight. The peaches themselves have a regular round shape and are universal in consumption. Based on reviews from gardeners, the Capital's Anniversary is highly resistant to fungal diseases and pest damage.
Peach Golden Triumph - the tree's height does not exceed 1.4 meters, but it produces a decent harvest, approximately 10-12 kilograms. The weight of the ripe fruit reaches 280 grams; they are also distinguished by their bright red color and juicy sweet pulp. The peaches themselves tolerate transportation well. Gardeners claim that such a tree is immune to diseases and is resistant to low temperatures and drought.
Columnar Honey Peach - the tree reaches a height of 2 meters and belongs to the mid-season varieties. The taste of the fruit fully lives up to its name: the flesh has a pleasant yellowish tint, the skin is yellow with a red blush. On average, such a peach weighs 180 grams. The variety is resistant to diseases and frosty weather.

Does anyone grow columnar cherries, peaches, or nectarines? Share your experience!

Discussion in our VKontakte group:

Katerina Sergeevna: Also interesting... I just planted cherries. Svetlana Vetkina: Three years ago I also wanted to plant apricot - a columnar one. I collected information and talked to the sellers))) And those who are competent explained that there are no such people! Just like cherries and peaches! They said only apple trees and some are grafting pears, but they mean nothing))) I planted 2 pears! There were fruits this year - nothing to say the least! Sergey Sergeev: An advertising ploy and nothing more, only columnar apple trees. Growing a stick-shaped seedling for sale is not a problem; moreover, outright illiquid stock can be shoved under the hype, and at increased prices. The tree from this stick will eventually grow, tending to its varietal forms and produce fruit, but it will no longer be a column. Maya Vidyayeva: Cherries don’t grow in the Urals. I planted two bushes, every year they froze to the size of chickens and the result was zero, I suffered with them, suffered and freaked out, dug them up and threw them away. In my opinion, only apple trees are columnar! Columnar apple trees grow well in the Urals. There is a harvest every year, but there are not as many apples as on ordinary apple trees, but you don’t think where to put them and where to bury the excess. Tatyana Gorokhova: Only apple trees are columnar. The gene that gives this form was isolated. It's only near the apple trees. The rest is a scam for money Irina Grebeshkova: We have been growing columnar pears for the second year, so far not a single fruit, they just grow up, they don’t produce side branches, every year they get rust, we treat and wait, the trees themselves are very nice and slender, I’m afraid this is their only thing dignity. We'll look at it a little more and if there's no fruit, we'll remove it! As they say: a negative result is also a result!!! Tatyana Letavina: They are not exactly columnar, rather pyramidal or narrow-crowned, they are not so powerful annual growth and moderate branching (I can judge by my cherry), but I bought it as a narrow-crowned one and I think it’s too early to judge, we need to watch for another couple of years, and then draw conclusions. Tatyana Letavina: Irina, pears are a general topic... we’ve been waiting 5 years for our first pear! This year, 2 pears waited for the first flowering at once and broke off... mid-October, and they are harder than stone and tasteless, let's give them another year... if not, then they will make excellent bush posts for entry...

Tatyana Letavina: Our apple trees.

Natalya Koshcheeva: Before planting a columnar tree in the garden, you need to weigh your strengths, whether you can feed them in sufficient quantities. And these little ones are quite voracious. 100 kg of manure per 1 tree. Irina Grebeshkova: Tatyana, I think it will be the same story! Ma Lg: I have a columnar apple tree - I will re-graft it. Natalya Kurakina: This is a late variety. This year we had our first harvest - 2 boxes. In the past there were 15 pieces, they were put into storage and ripe for the new year!!! Try this...

You can participate in the discussion by going to the page in our VKontakte group.

Fig peach

Currently, fig peaches are in particular demand among lovers of this crop. In their shape they resemble figs, and many such fruits are called “flat”. This variety is distinguished by the fact that its pulp is very tender and aromatic, sweet and juicy. With a total fruit weight of 180-200 grams, the seed weighs only 3-4 grams.

The tree tolerates cold temperatures well, and due to the fact that the flowers bloom quite late, the negative consequences of spring frosts can be avoided. Also, the yield of fig peach is higher than that of other varieties.

The disadvantages include poor transportability.

Features of further care

Caring for a tree will not be difficult even for a novice gardener. As the plant develops, its crown is formed. It is better to prune young shoots in the spring, when the average daily temperature rises above 6 °C. Sequence of procedure:

Choosing a time and place to land

Columnar peaches are distinguished by the presence of varieties that are able to survive and produce a good harvest even in a temperate climate, so you should carefully consider the choice of seedlings. It is better to give preference to those trees that can best take root in the region.

Landing time directly depends on the territorial location. In the south of the country, the best option would be autumn, but in the central or northern regions, this procedure is best carried out in the spring so that the tree can take root in the warm season.

When choosing a location, be sure to consider the following factors:

Regardless of the variety, peaches do not like the cold, so you should avoid low-lying areas where the air temperature is low.
It is best to plant such trees in areas protected from the wind.
A prerequisite for fruit ripening is the presence of sufficient sunlight.

Variety of peach varieties

Owners of personal plots are amazed by the sea of peach varieties, which differ in shape, smell, color or ripening time, height and structure of the crown, and growing conditions. Pomologists distinguish peach trees by the appearance of their fruits and divide them into 4 categories:

True peaches include plants that have pubescence on the fruit and the pit can be easily removed. There is a separate group of pavia - the stone is not separated, but the skin is pubescent.
Fruits with smooth skin and easily separated seeds are nectarines. Those whose stones cannot be removed are brugnons.
The wild Potanin peach has a low crown, up to 2 m.
Fig or Fergana peach with flattened fruits. The name is given because of its similarity to fig fruits.

New trees appear in each group every year. Modern selection is aimed at breeding frost-resistant or drought-resistant, columnar and dwarf trees. The culture differs in terms of ripening. Decorative specimens with burgundy or reddish leaves are popular.

The process of planting columnar peaches

In order for the soil to become more fertile and peach seedlings to take root more easily in a new place, before planting you need to dig pits approximately 80 centimeters deep and 70-100 centimeters in diameter.
They should be supplemented with fertilizers, which include rotted manure or chicken droppings. In this condition, the pit should stand for at least 1-2 weeks.
The distance between rows should be 1 meter, and between trees - 40-50 centimeters.
Before planting, the mound of fertilizer must be covered with fertile soil.
The tree must be placed in a pit and the roots must be carefully straightened.
Next, the hole is filled with soil.
At the last stage, peach seedlings must be tied to a dug-in peg and watered generously.

Peaches cake

For baking you will need:

500 grams puff pastry
Can of canned peaches
50 grams butter
A tablespoon of syrup from canned peaches
1 egg
80 g sugar
80 g ground almonds

Place the puff pastry into the molds. After the syrup has drained from them, place the peaches in the middle of the molds with the dough and put them in the oven for 15 minutes.

At this time, mix butter and sugar, add almonds, eggs and syrup to the mixture. Mix everything well until smooth.

Next, take the molds with the dough and peaches out of the oven, put the whipped mixture in them and put them in the oven again for 10 minutes so that it sets and the dough browns.

Feeding

Columnar peach, like all other cultivated plants, needs timely feeding and processing. It is better to produce them without the use of chemical fertilizers, preparing all the mixtures yourself from natural ingredients.

In the spring, when the buds have not yet blossomed, the plant is treated with urea at the rate of 0.7 kg of the substance per 10 liters of water.

During fruiting and flowering, the tree should be sprayed with a decoction of lemon balm, orange peels, onion peels, burdock or red pepper. The composition must include laundry soap, thanks to which the fertilizer will best linger on the leaves. This treatment will help prevent the development of disease and the appearance of pests. It is best to carry out this procedure once a week.
In autumn, the peach tree should be treated with a 10% urea solution. It is also possible to use manure or bird droppings.

Peach care and feeding

A necessary condition for growth and fruiting is soil moisture. Optimal humidity conditions create the prerequisites for proper nutrition of the tree and the growth of vegetative organs. During fruiting, peach trees are fed 2–3 times during the growing season.

The first feeding is carried out before flowering: dilute 2 tbsp per 10 liters of water. spoons of “Agricola for berry crops” (50 g) and 2 capsules of growth stimulator “Energen”. The solution consumption per fruit-bearing tree is 25–30 liters.

The second feeding is carried out during peach flowering: dilute 2 tbsp per 10 liters of water. spoons of potassium sulfate, azofoska (nitroammofoska) and nitrophoska. Consumption per 1 tree 30 l.

The third fertilizing is carried out after harvesting the fruits; 1 glass of superphosphate and potassium sulfate are scattered under the tree (if it rains).

To increase productivity and increase winter hardiness, trees are sprayed during the summer at intervals of 10 days, starting from the first ten days of May, with natural stimulants “Energen”: 1 capsule per 5 liters of water, alternating with the preparation “Bud” (10 g per 10 liters of water); The trees are sprayed 2-3 times with Agricola Aqua to prevent yellowing of the leaves, 1 time after flowering and 2 times during the fruit-filling period (3 tablespoons per 10 liters of water).

Peach trees need water, especially during the period of flower formation, and most importantly after flowering, during the period of accelerated fruit growth.

Medium loamy soils with good moisture and air exchange, with a neutral or slightly alkaline reaction, are more suitable for peaches. Cultivated clay, loamy soils with normal humus content are also suitable for growing peach.

Excessive amounts of calcium in the soil increases the risk of chlorosis, so lime is applied only to highly acidic soils.

Care

In the first year of life, all flowers must be removed from the peach. This procedure is necessary so that the plant becomes stronger and does not waste its energy on bearing fruit.
The root system must receive a large amount of oxygen; therefore, the soil should be loosened in a timely manner.
To prevent the peach tree from dying, it needs regular watering, after which the soil must be mulched with rotted grass.

Columnar peach is a rather exotic tree. But a huge number of advantages cancel out all the disadvantages of this culture. There are also varieties of columnar nectarine. Therefore, everyone can choose a plant to suit their taste. If you choose a seedling wisely, even a novice gardener can grow a peach tree.

Planting and care

In order for the Steinberg peach to develop well, it needs to create certain conditions, namely:

choose the right landing zone;
prepare the ground;
water the plant in a timely manner;
regularly fertilize the soil;
carry out preventive measures aimed at combating pests and defects;
perform a procedure such as pruning annually.

First of all, let's start by choosing a place to plant this crop. So, in order for the trees to develop well, give preference to places where there is a lot of sunlight and neighboring trees do not create shade with their crowns. When choosing a planting area, make sure that the area is not swampy. Garden soil or black soil is best suited for such a crop.

Before planting such a crop, it is necessary to clean and fertilize the area chosen for planting. This procedure is performed in the fall. To begin with, all weeds and other debris are removed from the site. Then rotted humus is brought into the area and dug up. After completing this procedure, the area is left until spring.

With the onset of April, holes begin to be dug. For such a crop, the size of the planting pit should be 50 cm wide and 35 cm deep.

Then, a glass of ash is added to the dug hole and potassium fertilizer is added. Next, a columnar peach is placed in the hole and buried with earth. After the seedling is planted, it must be watered and mulched abundantly.

The columnar peach is a gardener's totem and needs regular watering. It should be borne in mind that this variety does not like excess moisture. But since the root system of this crop is almost on the surface, the amount of water for this variety should be large, unlike other peach varieties.

As a rule, several waterings are performed approximately according to the following scheme throughout the entire harvest season:

the first moistening is performed in mid-spring;
next time the peach is moistened during the flowering period;
the third watering should be done a week before the peaches begin to ripen;
and the last moistening is performed in October.

It is worth considering that watering such a peach is not done at the root, but in circular grooves that are made around the entire crown. And do not forget that after each moistening, the furrows are buried and the layer of mulch is monitored. The fact is that mulch in this case helps to retain moisture and this has a positive effect on the growth of the tree.

Pruning is another manipulation that is also very important for a crop such as the columnar fig peach. As described above, this peach variety requires virtually no pruning, but sanitary pruning is very important and necessary. This procedure is performed as follows:

It is also necessary to prune all the pagons from which the gardener does not plan to harvest in the future. It should be taken into account that with age, in this peach variety, all the lateral shoots lengthen, and they need to be partially excised. Such pruning will help the peach tree to always be strong and delight with a good harvest of juicy fruits.

Another piece of advice that experienced gardeners give: in the first year of flowering of a columnar peach, the buds are pinched off so that the plant strengthens and gains strength.

Another important point when growing peach varieties is preventive spraying against diseases and parasites.

Therefore, it is necessary to carry out preventive spraying in the spring and in the first half of summer. To fight, they purchase special drugs, which are available in almost every specialized store.

Caring for a columnar peach is easy. Moreover, caring for this variety is not much different from other fruit trees, and in some cases it is also much simpler. Like other varieties, this variety requires regular mineral feeding. Carry out this procedure, adhering to the following schedule:

the first fertilizing is carried out in mid-May using potassium fertilizer;
the next time fertilizers are applied in mid-June using nitrogen fertilizing;
then, fertilizing must be done immediately after harvesting;
and the last application of fertilizers is carried out in October.

Before applying fertilizer to the soil, it should be thoroughly moistened, otherwise the root of the tree will get burned, which will lead to its further death.

And the last rule that must be followed when growing a peach tree is regular weeding. Even if you have mulched every plant, do not be lazy in weeding the rows and loosening the soil. The fact is that various parasites and defects often develop in weeds, which can subsequently affect the peach. Therefore, do not ignore such manipulation.