Columnar apple tree Currency - photo and description of the variety

The small, neat and beautiful forms of columnar apple trees have attracted the interest of many breeders from all over the world.

And now more than a hundred varieties of their hybrids are known.

In this article we will talk about the columnar apple tree Currency and its characteristics, but for now a short introduction...

When they talk about a garden, not everything is immediately clear. What kind of garden are we talking about?

It could be:

Garden on the plot of an amateur gardener.
Industrial gardening company (agricultural holding).
Farmer's garden.
A garden on a plot of land covering an area of about a hectare, where there is a greater emphasis on decorativeness.

These are different concepts.

But all cases necessarily imply the presence of columnar apple trees in any garden.

They are very popular these days. And they quite achieved this popularity and fame .

And yet, some gardeners are worried about their comparative novelty (although they may even be the same age) and the unknown:

How to grow (especially if you do not live in the Black Sea area)?
What do they taste like?
Where to buy?

From the history. In 1964, a farmer in Canada discovered an amazing branch on a McIntosh apple tree:

No new shoots with very dense foliage.
The apples were placed tightly next to each other.
The properties of the fruit remained the same.
Practical experiments have shown that it reproduces well by vaccination. And even seeds.
They called the new variety Vazhak.

Historical branch - which became the beginning of varieties of columnar apple trees.

Important! Work on creating new varieties does not stop.

What may interest you:

View. They compare it with a pyramidal poplar, and with a cypress, and with columns. They are good not only for their harvests of delicious apples, but also for their very beautiful decorative forms.
Size . Compact forms allow you to plant a large number of varieties in one area. Which makes gardeners with limited planting area rub their hands with pleasure.
Who thinks what ? But instead of an apple tree on a medium-sized rootstock, it is possible to plant 12-15 columnar apple trees.
Amazing precociousness and annual fruiting . Already in the second year after planting, you will be able to taste the apples yourself. 10-15 pieces is not much, but it’s already there.
Convenience of all tree care work due to their small size (pruning, treatment for diseases and pests, watering and fertilizing, harvesting).

Let us now move directly to the description of the Currency variety with photos.

Description of the columnar apple tree Currency

In Russia, the first columnar apple trees appeared by crossing the Korichnevoye Polosatoe and Vazhak varieties.

And the Currency apple tree is the result of many years of testing and testing. And it should be noted that the result is excellent. Read on for detailed descriptions, photos, reviews.

Apple tree “Currency” (columnar).

The variety was bred in 1986 by scientists and specialists of the All-Russian Selection and Technological Institute of Horticulture and Nursery Science under the leadership of V.V. Kichin and N.G. Morozova.

Since 1994 it has been in variety testing, and since 2004 in the State Register. We tested it for a long time! But he passed the test.

Harvesting apples "Currency" at the dacha.

You might be interested in:

About the creator: Viktor Valeryanovich Kichina. Professor. The founder of two directions in the selection of fruit and berry crops. Creator of 30 varieties of apple trees. Since 1972, he has created 20 varieties of columnar apple trees. Most of them are winter-hardy and scab-resistant. Widely known and recognized varieties of large-fruited raspberries. There are 25 of them in total and are grown in more difficult conditions in Russia. Prepared a shift for myself - 32 candidates of science!
About the variety: A low-growing tree with a small crown, which is only 20 cm.
The dark green foliage that densely covers the trunk even falls off in the fall before it turns yellow.
Round apples of golden color with a scarlet blush on the side are not uniform in size: Starting from 110-140 grams.
And large ones weigh 230-250 grams.

The dessert taste and sweetness are felt more than the sourness.

Juicy snow-white pulp with a slight aroma.

additional characteristics

Advantages and disadvantages

all the best qualities of columnar apple trees in the Valyuta variety. And also:

Very tasty and attractive for sale. They can even sit under the counter and on display for up to 2 weeks without any problems.
Scab-immune variety with the Vf gene. More than 10 years of observation of the variety in the Moscow region confirmed its ability to resist this dangerous and widespread disease of apple trees. No cases have been reported! Just don’t think about juggling the results; this is confirmed by the description of the variety, photos, and reviews.
The columnar apple tree variety Currency begins to bear fruit early.
Productivity is high.
Suitable for cultivation in central Russia without any problems.

Advice!

Think about tree replacement ahead of time. After all, after 15 years there will be several apples on the tree.
Write it down in your calendar: As soon as the trees are ten years old, plant a new garden of weeds .
Consider replacement plantings. After all, I definitely liked the variety!

Dimensions of an adult tree

A naturally short, semi-dwarf tree. Even closer to dwarf. Therefore, even an adult tree is a little more than two meters . And their average height is 2.1-2.3 m. This also determines the annual growth . It's insignificant.

But if your tree grows 20-30 cm every year, then you take good care of your trees. And he's fine.

Frequency of fruiting

With a variety like Valya you will have to forget about the frequency of fruiting .

You are guaranteed to have problems processing and consuming fresh apples. Or rather, not problems, but pleasant concerns. You can even prepare a little drying. But fresh apples are better.

Productivity

You can often find that the main characteristic of columnar apple trees is their productivity. Not productivity.

And this is understandable. 5-6 kg of fruits from a mature tree is somehow not impressive. Not even a bucket. And the bucket. And the same 10 kg with good care. But for columnar apple trees this is a good yield.

But 100 tons per hectare is already a powerful argument. But it can be 150 tons with intensive care.

Important! Such productivity can be up to 14-16 years of age. The trees are then replaced with new plantings.

To set the mood:

I once read that “cunning” gardeners manage to get large harvests. Than in the price lists.
Sure! Not tricky ones, but real ones. Smart. Not lazy. Creative... You can continue further yourself.

Tasting assessment

Dessert taste. And the sweetness is good. There is also sourness.
But sweeter than the President and Vasyugan varieties (if you ate these columnar apples).
And the rating is 4.5 points out of five. And that's a lot!

Self-fertility

There are judgments that the apple tree does not bear fruit:

I don't think it's because it grows on its own . Although this is possible.
My columnar apple tree has not produced fruit for more than ten years. Recognized pollinators grew nearby (I only found out later).
This means that we still don’t know everything about columnar apple trees! There is something to work on.

Winter hardiness

even compare it with the famous Antonovka . And the comparison is not in Antonovka’s favor:

They can withstand even 38 degrees of frost . This is a very high figure!
That’s why they are grown in the difficult conditions of central Russia. And not only there.
But there are columnar varieties with higher winter hardiness (for example, Vasyugan and Iksha). But this is not a reproach to Currency.

Disease resistance

Immunity to scab provides high resistance to other diseases. Especially to rot. But it is better to carry out preventive treatments .

Columnar apple trees in the garden.

Summer ripening varieties

Representatives of this group will delight you with a harvest in mid-summer. Summer varieties reach full maturity by the end of August. These include:

Nectar;
Dialogue;
The president.

Nectar

The Medoc apple tree got its name not by chance. The variety has very juice-rich pulp. It tastes sweet with a recognizable honey taste and smell. This is an early ripening sweet apple variety. The average amount of harvest obtained is about 8 kg per tree during the growing season. Although Medoc is a summer variety, it tolerates severe frosts very well. This apple tree is suitable for the northwest. She is not afraid of weather changes and sudden temperature changes.

Dialogue

Bright yellow apples with pulp rich in juice are characteristic of the Dialog species. Their size is small, but it is compensated by excellent taste characteristics and long storage. This variety loves good soil moisture and timely fertilizing.

Reviews

Sergey Karasev: After the appearance of the first columnar apple tree, I was carried away. I wanted to plant more and more. This is despite the fact that you can’t take boxes and buckets of apples from them. But how beautiful they are in the garden. I recommend it. Planting is not just for the sake of having it in the garden. And so that it decorates your garden. To be visible. This is how Currency appeared in the garden. This variety further fueled my desire to plant and grow them.

Maxim Egorov: Apple tree Colon The currency suits me completely. Do whatever you want. I created a unique row near the fence. Beautiful. And also with very tasty apples. Experimented with their ability to persist. Just in the cellar. They remained good in February. And juicy.

Stepan Okrainsky: I’ve heard a lot of stories about the fastidiousness of columnar apple trees. And the soil needs to be fertilized. And water more often. Drip irrigation solved almost all my problems. And the taste of late apples convinces Valyuta to plant a couple more of these. Or maybe a different kind. But winter ones. The look and size completely satisfies me. The taste is excellent. Especially in February.

Planting a columnar apple tree.

How to plant and care

Deadlines

As soon as spring comes, I want to plant trees . So drop off the Currency:

For her, spring is preferable . Manages to get stronger by winter.
Provide sunny or slightly shaded places for it.
Pay attention to groundwater . Their high location is unacceptable.

Technology

Anyone who has planted at least one tree considers himself an expert in planting trees. And rightly so.

Attention! Follow the recommendations of specialists and then you will have more guarantees in the successful planting and survival of the seedling.

Just a few nuances:

Choose a planting site, which you definitely did before you buy an apple tree.
Select healthy seedlings. Better with a closed root system.
Prepare planting holes (or trenches when planting a large number of trees). In autumn for planting in spring. Or 20 days before landing. Their size should ensure free placement of the roots. No twists or bends. Fill them with fertile soil and fertilizers.
The grafting site should be 6-8 cm above ground level.
Insert a stake and tie up the seedling.
Don't forget to water and mulch thoroughly.

Distance

There are many planting options. And it’s not just the availability of space and area that determines this. We talked about their magnificent decorative appearance. Anyway:

There must be at least one meter between rows.
40-50 cm in a row is sufficient.

Features of columnar apple trees.

Features in Siberia

The weather conditions of Siberia oblige you to pay more attention to all stages of planting and growing an apple tree.

Eg. Same cut. Freezing of branches more and more often. But they have a good ability to recover. And the presence of snow allows for better cover.

Advice! In general, I would not undertake to advise Siberians and Urals on how to grow apple trees in their country.

Agricultural technology

Includes the above-mentioned selections of location, planting dates.

And also a number of agrotechnical actions . Regular watering and fertilizing for a columnar apple tree are of great importance. The high location of the root system obliges you to carry out them regularly:

Water twice a week (if summer is dry).
Feed . Organic and mineral fertilizers. Just like during the growing season. The same is true when fruits ripen. Top dressing can be root or foliar.
Loosen and mulch . After watering. But don't overdo it. Remember your roots.
Sow with cereal plants.
Protect from pests and diseases. Even immunity to scab requires preventive treatments against diseases in early spring and autumn. And the pests themselves will remind you of themselves. Treatments can be carried out with compatible tank mixtures of insecticides and fungicides.
Including from rodents . Or whatever you want to call the bunnies. The crown of columnar apple trees is very vulnerable and tasty to bunnies.
Prepare trees especially carefully for winter. And they are a serious test.

Trimming and shaping

Included in the complex of agrotechnical techniques for caring for apple trees . Many people believe that a columnar apple tree does not need to be pruned. That's why they buy them.

This is a misconception. The shape of the column (or pyramid) is precisely what pruning allows you to preserve:

Leave 2-3 buds from the side shoots .
Next year two shoots will grow.
Leave the more horizontal one.
And cut the second one again into 2-3 buds .
The next year, remove the fruiting branch.
And with two escapes the actions are repeated.

Trimming diagram.

Moreover, it is necessary to remove damaged and dry ones.
And don't forget about the apical bud . Even take care of her. Its preservation will be ensured by its columnar shape. Damage to the bud leads to the growth of 3-4 shoots. Your task is to leave one of them. And then do this every year.
And if you miss this moment and leave a few of them, grow a dwarf tree with a pyramidal crown. And you will increase your productivity.

Columnar apple trees planted along the fence.

Rootstock

You can purchase this :

In the regions of the South - Paradise Belorusskaya (PB-4).
In central Russia - Baby Budagovsky.
This means they will grow up slowly, without haste.

Important! Due to their natural affinity for dwarfs, it is not advisable to graft them onto low-growing rootstocks. Because they will be small. As you can see, they vaccinate and sell.

Pollinator varieties

For good fruiting, use varieties with similar ripening periods. And these are late autumn or winter varieties.

Aftercare for the apple tree

In the first year, the apple tree is watered 1-2 times a week; the roots of the Valyuta variety are strong and quickly accepted.

From May, every 3 weeks, you need to feed the seedling. Organic fertilizers are used for this. To ensure dense flowering and ovaries, potassium-phosphorus fertilizer is used per 1 sq.m. accounts for 40 - 60 gr.

In the second year, the side branches and excess ovaries on the seedling are cut off, the latter remaining in the amount of 5–6 pieces. This process preserves the development of the root system. Every year, several buds are removed from the fruiting branches.

Before frost, a young apple tree is treated with a chalk solution and covered with spruce branches. The adult trunk of the Currency is whitewashed with lime mortar, then covered with spruce branches, sawdust, and fallen leaves.

Diseases and pests, methods of control and prevention

Columnar apple tree disease can be prevented by preventive spraying. This process is carried out in early spring or late autumn, when the harvest is harvested. For this, Bordeaux mixture or a solution of the drug Nitrofen is used.

Rodents tend to eat the trunks and roots of the columnar variety. For protection purposes, the lower part of the trunk should be wrapped in paper, straw, roofing felt, spruce branches, and scraps of fabric soaked in creolin.

Features of ripening and fruiting

What year does it bear fruit?

Currency is a leader in early fruiting even among columnar apple trees. An annual seedling planted in spring may bloom in May.

Experts do not recommend leaving flowers for fruit formation . So that the apple tree gets stronger this year. And she gave her strength to the fruits. They will come later.

Columnar apple trees Currency and Moscow necklace.

Ripening time

It is a winter variety and ripens in its own time - early October . If something didn’t work out for you with the removal of the fruits, you don’t have to worry. Apples don't fall off for a long time. Even ripe ones.

Features of fruiting

Consists of regulating flowering and ovary formation:

First year of planting - remove all flowers
Second year - leave 6-8 set fruits.
In the future , leave 2-3 flowers on the fruit link.
Of the formed ovaries, leave only one.

Important! Adult fruiting begins at 5-6 years and up to 14-16 years.

Shelf life

Your usual storage conditions in basements will ensure their long-term preservation. Until February.

If you want to eat on March 8, take care of improved storage conditions.

Annual seedlings of a columnar apple tree in the garden.

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

The main advantages of the Currency variety:

unpretentiousness of trees;
stable yield;
increased frost resistance;
marketability and taste qualities of fruits;
compactness of trees;
long storage period for apples.

Among the disadvantages of the Currency apple tree, the following are noted:

fruiting period does not exceed 15 years;
average yield compared to other columnar varieties.

Features in regions

In outskirts of Moscow

All of the above applies precisely to the Moscow region and North-West Russia.

In Siberia and the Urals

Columnar apple trees are becoming increasingly popular here:

Their frost resistance is among their priority qualities.
The columnar apple tree Currency is not just included in the list of varieties that can be grown in these harsh regions . She occupies a leading position.
And if we take into account the possibility of growing them in flowerpots , this opens up additional prospects. Not only for Currency.

Landing

The Currency apple tree is planted in a prepared place. Work is carried out in spring or autumn. The procedure for this does not depend on the planting period.

Selecting a location, preparing the pit

An open area that is protected from the wind and away from buildings, fences, and other fruit trees is suitable for an apple tree. The culture prefers light, fertile soils.

The planting hole for the Currency apple tree is prepared 2-3 weeks before work. This period is necessary for the soil to shrink. A hole measuring 50x50 cm is sufficient for the seedling. The depth depends on the length of the root system.

in autumn

The columnar apple tree Currency is planted in September or October after leaf fall. The plant will have time to adapt to new conditions before the onset of cold weather.

When planting in autumn, substances containing nitrogen are not added to the soil. Such fertilizers stimulate the development of shoots.

in spring

For spring planting, it is better to prepare the hole in the fall. The soil is fertilized with compost (3 buckets), potassium sulfate (50 g) and superphosphate (100 g). Until spring, the soil will compact and the nutrients will dissolve.

Planting of the Currency apple tree begins after the snow has melted and the soil has warmed up. The work is carried out before the buds open.

Nuances and questions from readers

What to do if it doesn't bear fruit?

This is what happened to me.

But the variety of columnar apple tree is different. What I did:

Barrel constrictions.
Driving nails into the trunk.
Threats with an axe.
Increased attention to care (especially more watering and fertilizing).
Apples have appeared. What specifically helped? Don't know. And there are many more options (root system, even errors with the variety).