Today there are a lot of varieties of columnar apple trees, but literally in the middle of the last century there was an obvious deficit. The apple-tree Arbat columnar appeared one of the first.

This type of fruit tree has its own advantageous characteristics - they bear fruit abundantly and at the same time grow compactly. The tree grows vertically; side branches are practically not formed. As a result, instead of one apple tree, approximately 5-6 columnar trees can be planted at their summer cottage.

Apple tree columnar Arbat: description and characteristics of the variety

A feature of columnar varieties is that they begin to bear fruit already in the first year after planting. Trees of other varieties most often begin to bear fruit only in the fourth year after planting the seedling.

Important:Apple tree Arbat is unpretentious in terms of free space and sunlight.

The fruit tree has the following characteristic features:

  • The tree develops with one trunk; lateral shoots are not formed.
  • The trunk is quite dense.
  • Foliage grows abundantly along the entire trunk. The ringlets are also located there, on which the fruits are formed.

Apple tree columnar Arbat (variety appearance)

Despite the fact that you can pick the first apples almost immediately, the Arbat begins to bear fruit abundantly a little later. As a rule, a decent harvest can be harvested from a tree whose age has reached at least 5 years. Subject to all agrotechnical rules, up to 20 kg of fruits can be harvested from one tree.

Attention! The variety is prone to overload. This is due to the fact that he is not able to distribute the fruits to the branches.

Harvest time is early fall. The crop can be stored until the end of December.

The fruits form on the ringlet, during fruiting the tree looks like a garland with beautiful red balls. The fruits are average in size, the average weight does not exceed 110 g.

The main features of apples:

  • the fruits exude a pleasant aroma characteristic of apples;
  • rounded elongated shape, narrowed base;
  • good taste, sweet flesh with characteristic sourness;
  • the peel has a rich burgundy color, glossy shine is characteristic;
  • the pulp is colored creamy.

The crown has a decorative appearance, narrow, pyramidal in shape. Lateral shoots develop very slowly, and the fruits are formed directly on the trunks. Due to its unusual appearance and good qualities, the variety is in demand among all agronomists in the world.

Planting and leaving

The optimal time for planting is early spring. The buds should not yet bloom. During planting, you must carefully monitor the root system. Shortly before planting, the roots must be soaked and cut.

Planting holes are best prepared in the fall. Rotted manure or compost, mineral fertilizers are placed in the recesses. The size of the pit should be sufficient for the roots of the seedling to fit freely. It is believed that the optimal size of the pit is 1 * 1 * 1 m, the interval between trees is 0.3-0.4 m. As the pit falls asleep, the ground must be tamped (there should be no cavities among the roots). After planting, the plant must be watered abundantly with water.

Shortly before planting, the roots must be soaked and cut

To get a generous harvest every year, the apple tree must be properly looked after. It is necessary to start work in early spring.Before the start of sap flow, nitrogen-containing fertilizers are applied to the soil, preventive measures are taken against diseases and pests. The near-stem soil should be loosened and watered abundantly.

Advice! With the onset of summer, it is necessary to thin out the fruits, as well as monitor the condition of the tree (the development of a disease or pest attacks is possible).

Arbat has no frequency of fruiting. This is due to the diminutiveness of the tree. The vast majority of nutrients are spent on the formation of fruits. The rest is accounted for by the growth of leaves and root system.

After harvesting, in the fall, it is advisable to carry out sanitary pruning, top dressing, and also prepare the tree for the upcoming frost.

The columnar apple tree Arbat has good indicators of frost resistance. However, to protect against severe frosts, the plant needs to be covered with a covering material for the winter.

Important:preparing the tree for winter, it is recommended to tie it to a support, and cover the root space with straw or hay.

Care

An important stage in growing a crop is its formation. On a one-year-old seedling, it is imperative to cut off all blossoming buds. A young fruit tree must accumulate strength for rooting.

The next year it is necessary to carry out rationing of the harvest. This eliminates the possibility of overloading the tree with fruits.

Under favorable climatic conditions, the tree must be watered at least twice a week. Thanks to the mulching of the near-stem space, it is possible to prevent moisture evaporation. For regular feeding, it is recommended to use cow dung or chicken dung.

Abundant harvest of apple trees Arbat

One of the most important maintenance items is tree pruning. Pruning should be done so that the main trunk grows strong. This requires the removal of side branches. They are cut into two buds, in the near future two shoots will form from them. In the next growing season, the fruiting branch is removed completely.

The variety begins to bear fruit early enough. In the first year after planting, no more than 3 apples are formed. Next year, it is already possible to collect up to 6 kg of fruits. A mature and healthy tree brings about 15-20 kg.

Important: apples are stored until the end of December, later on there is a deterioration in the taste of the fruit.

The tree has an average resistance against diseases and pests. For the normal development of the fruit tree, it is recommended to regularly carry out preventive measures, as well as to destroy the pests that have appeared. To do this, they regularly feed and take care of the earth near the trunk. To protect the tree from freezing, the leaf plate is shortened at the 4 upper leaves.

Algorithm for preparing an apple tree for wintering:

  • Organic and / or mineral fertilizers are applied to the soil to restore strength.
  • Treatment of the trunk for prophylactic purposes against diseases and parasites.
  • If necessary, sanitary pruning is carried out. The procedure must be carried out with sharp and clean tools, pruning must be carried out at one time, after the procedure, all cut points must be treated with a solution of garden varnish.

Interesting.Before budding, the trees are irrigated with a solution of Bordeaux liquid (1%). For the destruction of winter parasites, it is advisable to use solutions of copper or iron sulfate.

Advantages and disadvantages

Like any other columnar apple tree, the Arbat variety is quite in demand among domestic gardeners. This is due to the large number of advantages that more than cover the disadvantages. The main advantages of the view:

  • First of all, this variety of apples is famous for its compactness. An adult tree needs no more than half a square meter.
  • The crop can be harvested at the end of summer, the variety is late.
  • The tree bears fruit abundantly and regularly (subject to all agrotechnical rules).
  • There is a high resistance to various diseases (fungal, infectious, viral) and insect pests.
  • Excellent decorative qualities of the species.
  • Excellent indicators of frost resistance.
  • The plant develops rather slowly and stretches into growth (the height of an adult tree does not exceed 5 meters).

The main disadvantages of the variety:

  • Short life span (approximately 14-17 years).
  • Ripe fruits are not intended for long-term storage.
  • Weak transportable ability.
  • Crushing of apples has been observed over the years.

On a note.If you regularly and correctly prune a tree, an agronomist will be able to significantly extend its life expectancy.

The columnar apple tree Arbat is famous for its individual characteristics. The composition of apples is rich in vitamins, minerals, organic acids, macro- and microelements. Thanks to this composition, the fruits have a positive effect on the human body. In growing, the plant is picky; even a novice agronomist can cultivate it.