Planting a columnar pear: tips for growing productive varieties

Not many garden plots in the Moscow region and the Moscow region can boast of a sufficient number of meters of land. Sometimes it is not even possible to plant one tree. What can we say about a whole orchard, with an assortment of fruit crops. Columnar varieties of fruit trees help solve the problem of limited space and still grow an orchard. Today, pears also have such varieties. All that remains is to find out how to plant a columnar pear.

Features and advantages of culture

Significant space savings without loss of quality and size of fruits - this is the highlight of columnar crops. Such trees grow not in width, but in height, and their branches, despite their small number, produce an abundant harvest of tasty and sweet fruits. And this despite the fact that planting and caring for a columnar pear does not require specific knowledge and skills. Important agrotechnical nuances of planting this crop are described in detail in our article.

Descriptions of columnar pear varieties can be summarized and highlight the following criteria that clearly characterize them:

1. These are dwarf trees 1.5 meters high.
2. The tree trunk is thicker than that of a regular pear.
3. The compactness of the crop allows seedlings to be planted in sufficient quantities in small areas.
4. We owe the appearance of the variety in our country to the breeder Kachalkin.
5. Tree branches are located along the trunk and do not grow in breadth. Leaves grow both on the branches and on the trunk.
6. Columnar varieties bloom in spring, producing clusters of white, fragrant flowers.

Depending on the variety, the fruits ripen. It is worth emphasizing that the fruits of columnar pears are larger, some of them can reach 400 grams of weight.

General description of the columnar pear

Columnar pears belong to dwarf trees; they got their name for the unusual shape of the crown in the form of a column, when very short skeletal branches with many shortened shoots - ringlets with fruit buds - are placed on the trunk. As a result, it seems that the flowers and fruits are located directly on the trunks. At the same time, the size and taste of the fruits remain the same as those of tall pears. The maximum height of the tree is about 2–2.5 m.

Columnar pears bear fruit abundantly and look very decorative

According to the method of production, all varieties are divided into seed varieties (natural dwarfs) and grafted onto a low-growing clonal rootstock. The trunks of young seedlings are much thicker than those of ordinary pears of the same age, and they also completely lack lateral branches.

Columnar pear is a partially self-fertile crop. It bears fruit without third-party pollination, but to increase productivity it is better to plant pollinating trees nearby. Any varieties of pears with the same flowering period are suitable for this.

Currently, there are not many varieties on the market that can be classified as columnar.

Video: what columnar apple and pear trees look like in autumn

Advantages and disadvantages of dwarf pears

When choosing fruit tree seedlings and their dwarf varieties at the nursery, you will probably want to know about the benefits of the variety and how to ensure proper planting and care for them. Speaking about the columnar pear, it can be noted that basically the culture has only advantages, the disadvantages are insignificant.

The popularity of dwarf varieties is due to the following criteria:

• compactness;
• increased yield - about 8 kg per tree;
• rapid fruiting - in the second year of growth;
• juiciness and large size of fruits;
• resistance to frost and pests;
• ease of care.

Among the disadvantages of dwarf varieties, the following should be highlighted:

• decorativeness and the need for regular crown pruning;
• short lifespan - only 10 years;
• insufficient range of varieties.

Considering the fact that dwarf trees are still just gaining popularity in our country, breeders have developed a limited number of varieties.

Features of the tree

The pear tree can reach a height of about 25 meters, the crown can be pyramidal or round. The leaves are ovate or broadly ovate, dark, glossy. Flowering depends on the varietal characteristics and occurs in April-May.

The pear crop is grown for its fruit.

They are most often pear-shaped, slightly elongated. But there are also spherical representatives that look like apples. The fruit can be eaten fresh or used to make preserves, marmalade or dried.

The pear tree is an excellent honey plant and decoration.

Which varieties of columnar pear deserve attention?

Of course, breeders are actively working on developing new varieties. For now, in our nursery you can purchase columnar pears of the following varieties:

• "Sapphira";
• "Carmen";
• "Tenderness";
• "Decor";
• "Honey";
• "Nai-Vert";
• "Sanremi";
• "Northerner".

The varieties listed above are both early autumn and late autumn, as well as summer and winter. They differ not only in ripening time, but also in the size of the fruit, their taste and juiciness. You can purchase seedlings of columnar pears in the nursery in an assortment of varieties and competitive prices.

The best varieties

Columnar pear can be winter, early ripening, autumn, summer-autumn, late autumn. The varieties most often used by breeders are:

• Sanremi, which is characterized by ripening in early October. This variety belongs to the category of fruit trees and is unpretentious to the soil. The tree is very resistant to a variety of diseases. The weight of large aromatic fruits of the tree is more than 400 grams.
• Sapphira is a winter-hardy autumn variety, which is characterized by the presence of blush on the sides of the fruit. They are characterized by a fairly long shelf life and also have a pleasant and sweet taste.
• Decor, which has a slightly sour, slightly refreshing taste. The weight of the fruit is about 200 grams, and their color is bright yellow. The pulp is characterized by a pronounced aroma and juiciness. The fruits of this plant do not last long.
• Night-Vert is characterized by resistance to low temperatures. Fruiting of this plant begins the next year after planting. The weight of one columnar pear fruit is about 200 grams.
• Honey, which ripens in August. This variety is characterized by a high level of frost resistance. The fruits of this plant are large in size and weigh more than 400 grams.

Absolutely all varieties of pear are characterized by a pronounced sweet taste and a high level of resistance to pests. This allows them to be planted in any area.

Proven methods for propagating columnar pears

According to experts, getting a harvest from columnar pears quickly is quite possible. Only in this case, we are talking about purchasing planting material that is ready for replanting.

The fact is that pears reproduce by seeds, grafting, and cuttings - but all these processes often require not only time, but also specialized knowledge, experience, and the availability of conditions for their implementation.

1. If you are going to propagate a crop using seed, take some time. It will take more than one year until you get a truly high-quality fruit-bearing tree.
2. The grafting method involves grafting dwarf varieties onto quince or serviceberry rootstocks. As a rule, vaccination is carried out in the spring, in the morning or evening. Cuttings for the procedure must be prepared in winter.
3. The cutting procedure is also a troublesome process - the sprouts must be prepared in advance, treated with Kornevin, dug into the prepared soil, and wait for rooting.

The easiest way to plant columnar varieties of pears and wait for the harvest is to purchase planting material from a nursery. You can also order seedlings of coniferous plants and other plantings there.

Tree propagation

The most ideal option for propagating this species is to plant seedlings. But there is also the way of cuttings or planting seeds.

Seeds are not the most popular type, since it takes too long to wait for growth and then fool around with the rootstock.

Cuttings for columnar pears are a popular type of propagation, but only green cuttings should be used.

Proper planting of a columnar pear - stages of cultivation

It is necessary to carefully prepare for the transplantation of this unusual guest. It is important to decide in advance on the planting location and select suitable varieties, taking into account the zoning of the region.

Selection of seedlings

It is recommended to choose in nurseries: planting material adapted to growth in specific regions is sold here. Preference is for annual seedlings, they take root better. It is advisable that they be dug out before your eyes. Pay attention to the tree trunk - clean and neat, the root system - healthy and without rotting.

Regionalization is another selection criterion. In the Moscow region it is good to grow varieties such as “Carmen”, “Severyanka”, “Tenderness”. In the south of Russia - “Sanremi”, “Nai-vert”.

Best place to land

Despite the fact that dwarf varieties are not picky, it is important to consider the following points when choosing a planting site. Location – sheltered from the wind, secluded and remote, along a fence or garden paths.

Ideal soil

Columnar pear is not picky about soil. Even heavily limed soil is not a problem for its growth. Before planting, it is necessary to thoroughly fertilize the soil with fertilizers. To do this, prepare the soil in the fall by adding humus and digging it up.

Bere Gardi

Entry into fruiting	Tree height (m)	Fruit weight (g)	Harvest	Shelf life (days)
For the 4th-5th year	3-4	150-180	Early to mid September	85-120

The autumn-ripening dessert variety Bere Gardi also belongs to the ancient varieties of French selection. It is unpretentious to soil conditions, the fruits have high taste qualities. However, the variety is not winter-hardy enough, so it is recommended for cultivation in the southern regions.

A tree grafted onto a quince grows small in height and forms an elongated pyramidal crown. The size of the fruit varies as the tree matures from medium to large. The shape of pears is oval-conical. The color of the fruit is grayish-green; in ripe pears it is golden with a large number of brown dots.

The pulp is white, very juicy, oily consistency with a dessert, wine-sweet taste. The variety is resistant to scab, but is often affected by white spot. The fruits are consumed fresh and dried, and are sometimes used to make jam and juices.

Agricultural technology for planting columnar pear

The technological process of planting seedlings of dwarf varieties in the ground is described below:

1. The planting hole is prepared in the spring - a week before planting; its dimensions are 80 cm deep and 60 cm wide.
2. The distance between holes is 50 centimeters, between rows - 1 meter. These numbers are the key to the health of future trees.
3. Water is poured into the prepared hole, and after absorption, humus and sand are added.
4. Before placing the seedling in the hole, its root system must be moistened with water.
5. The bottom of the hole is partially covered with soil flavored with potassium and phosphorus fertilizers.
6. A seedling is placed on top of the amended soil and the roots are carefully straightened.
7. The soil remaining after digging the hole is poured into the hole, compacted by hand and watered.

How and when boarding takes place

In terms of time, it is better to choose not autumn, but spring. The root system of this species is located quite close to the surface of the earth, so planting in winter is risky - the plant must get stronger and take root. And, as usual in gardening, it is advisable to prepare the holes in advance. This is done as follows:

• The distance between them should be at least 50 cm, and between the rows - at least 100 cm. If you leave a very small area for seedlings, insufficient light and air will reach it, and there is also a high probability of parasites appearing.
• In the hole, at the bottom, you need to pour a mixture of compost, soil and humus, and pour a bucket of water on top.

Now about the landing process:

• After all the moisture has been absorbed, a seedling is placed in the hole. The roots are straightened out in all directions, and a stake is driven somewhere between them.
• First, the earth is poured out so that only half of the hole is filled with it. It is compacted well, then the rest of the soil is poured in and compacted again.
• When the tree is planted, you need to carefully water it. This is done gradually so that the moisture is immediately absorbed.
• If the ground settles, add more.
• Lastly, the seedling is tied to a previously installed peg.

Secrets of caring for columnar pear varieties

This dwarf beauty needs competent and proper care. Only in this way will she please her owners with juicy fruits and a rich harvest. Care tips are as follows:

1. Regular watering - preferably once every three days, and in case of heat - daily.
2. Mulching and loosening is required periodically, at the same time all weeds are removed, and the ground around the tree trunk is mulched with sawdust.
3. Fertilizer feeding - three times per season, the first after the leaves appear with spraying with urea, the second in June, the third in August. In addition to urea, you can use copper or iron sulfate.
4. Sanitary pruning - in the first year of tree flowering, all flowers must be removed. In the second year of growth, the flowers are partially removed, leaving 2 blooms on the branch. Side shoots are also pruned by leaving two buds on the branch. The cutting areas must be treated with garden varnish.

Subtleties of care

Compact trees are unpretentious in care, but they still need to be regularly monitored and all procedures carried out in a timely manner in order to get a good harvest.

Watering

The regularity of watering depends on weather conditions. If the weather is cool, then irrigation procedures are carried out every three days; in hot weather you need to switch to daily watering. Water must be poured through grooves or holes so that it does not stagnate.

Top dressing

For normal fruiting, the tree is fed three times during the spring-summer period. It is recommended to apply nutrients for the first time when the first foliage appears. Urea (10 g in 2 liters of water per tree) or chicken droppings are suitable as fertilizers. After 14 days, the second feeding is carried out and after another 28 days - the third.

Video: fertilizing pears

Loosening and mulching

After each watering, it is necessary to loosen the tree trunk circle. It is necessary to promptly remove all weeds growing nearby, as they quickly deplete the soil. To loosen the soil less often and fight weeds, you can mulch the tree trunk circle with straw or sawdust.

Important! Only the thin top layer needs to be fluffed, since the roots are located close to the surface and can be easily damaged.

Trimming

The correct formation of the crown and the intensity of fruiting depend on pruning. If formed correctly, the top of the tree will increase by 10–15 cm annually, and 2-3 side branches will appear.

This growth is ensured by following the rules for pruning a columnar pear:

1. In the first year of life, all flowers are cut off so that the plant takes root better. For the next season, 5-6 flowers are left. Every year their number must be gradually increased. If the fruits have become smaller compared to the previous season, then in the new season it is necessary to better normalize the harvest so as not to overload the tree.
2. When pruning in spring, all side shoots growing sideways are shortened to two buds.
3. When the apical bud is damaged, additional branches begin to grow. In this situation, only one branch is left.
4. After each pruning, treat the “wound” with garden varnish.
5. Every third spring you need to remove a branch that bore fruit last season.

Important! The more often a tree is pruned, the more intensive the growth of its remaining parts.
Moreover, those branches that are directed vertically and not deviated to the side grow stronger.

Preparing for winter

Most columnar varieties have excellent frost resistance, but they still need to be covered for the winter, especially young ones. First, after the leaves fall, you need to remove all the debris under the tree to prevent pests from infesting. Until the age of three, the seedlings are covered to the very top of their heads - burlap is used for this purpose. The tree trunk circle is also insulated: it is covered with spruce branches, straw, and sawdust. It is advisable to wrap the lower part of the trunk with roofing material to protect it from rodents.

Video: preparing pears for winter

Possible diseases and pests

It is easier to prevent diseases than to cure a diseased tree later. The main pests of this crop are aphids, mites and copperheads. Insecticides, as well as tobacco or lemon balm planted next to the tree, will help to cope with them.

As for diseases, the columnar pear is susceptible to the following diseases:

• rust - leaves and fruits become stained, they must be removed and the tree sprayed with sulfur;
• scab - you can defeat it by treating the seedling with urea in the spring;
• powdery mildew - the affected shoots are removed, and the tree is treated with special insecticides.

Now you know almost everything about planting and caring for columnar pears. All that remains is to contact the nursery, select varieties and start planting.