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Currently, thanks to the work of breeders, a variety of varieties of fruit and vegetable crops have appeared on the markets. Each gardener can choose for his site exactly the variety of apples that is most suitable for the climatic conditions in which it is planned to start growing a crop. The Leningrad Region is a northwestern region of Russia characterized by inconsistent weather. The sharp changes in temperature inherent in this area are an unfavorable factor for many plants. The soil is not endowed with enough nutrients. Therefore, when choosing a suitable apple variety, it is necessary to pay attention not only to taste characteristics, but also to the level of winter hardiness and disease resistance.
Columnar apple trees
The columnar apple tree for the Leningrad region (suburbs of St. Petersburg) must be resistant to northern conditions. This type of apple tree relatively recently began to gain its popularity among gardeners. The crown of the columnar apple tree is practically absent, there are only short branches. Outwardly, the tree resembles a pillar or column (hence the name), which is completely hung with fruits.
The history of the appearance of this variety of apple trees goes back to 1964, it was then that a Canadian gardener, finding a straight branch in his garden area without side shoots, but strewn with apples, took cuttings from it and grafted onto an apple stock. This is how the world's first columnar apple tree appeared.
Columnar apple tree
There is a huge variety of columnar apple varieties. All of them differ from each other, which lie in the color of the fruit, taste characteristics, as well as their shape. Apples can be both sweet and sour, astringent, juicy and with a wonderful aroma.
Columnar apple trees have a number of features that distinguish them from fruit trees that are already familiar to us:
- the first harvest can be expected in 2-3 years after planting the seedling;
- there is no spreading crown;
- undersized trees;
- have early maturation.
Apple varieties for the northwest description of varieties
There is a wide variety of columnar apple trees for the Leningrad Region, varieties differ from each other in a number of characteristics. In the northwest, winter varieties of apples, which are the most resistant to frost and can best adapt to a given place, take root best.
Antaeus
This is one of the most popular apple varieties. Antey is a hybrid bred by pollination of the Belorussky raspberry variety and the Babushkino and Newtosh hybrids, and can be grown in a columnar form. The fruit tree is highly cold-resistant. The fruits are burgundy with a slight blush. Apples weigh up to 200 grams.From the first day of planting to harvest, at least 2-3 years will pass. The crop is harvested in September - October. One apple tree gives up to 50 kilograms of apples per season. The apples are tasty, juicy, have good keeping quality, can be stored for six months.
Apple tree Antey
Arbat
It has a high degree of keeping quality, therefore, it is excellently suited for long-term storage, as well as transportation over long distances. In the second year after the seedlings are planted, the first crop can be harvested. Late ripening variety. Fruits are medium in size, juicy and sweet.
Arkhangelsky, or Zhukovka
The apple tree of this variety is frost-resistant, resistant to various kinds of diseases and pests. With proper care, the harvest can reach 40-60 kilograms of apples from one fruit tree. The fruits weigh from 150 to 200 grams.
Garland
The variety has high immunity. The apple tree is large-fruited, from one tree you can harvest up to 14 kilograms. The fruits are juicy and sweet. The color of the fruit is yellow-green with pink streaks.
Apple Garland
Amicable
This variety was bred specifically for the Leningrad region. The apple tree is resistant to disease and frost. Will delight you with its regular fruiting. The apples are round, large, weighing up to 170 grams. Fruits are yellow-green with a slightly reddish-orange blush. The taste is sweet and sour.
Ostankino
It is a dwarf fruit tree. The main difference from other columnar varieties is the abundant foliage of the apple tree trunk. Fruits are light green, large. The harvest begins to ripen in early autumn.
The president
The apple tree was bred by crossing two varieties: Vozhak and Abundant. It belongs to early-growing varieties, the peculiarity is that when planting an apple tree in spring, it is possible to harvest the crop in the same year. Fruits with excellent taste are used for making desserts. The semi-dwarf tree can rightfully become a real decoration for any garden. It is often planted for decorative purposes. The peel of the fruit is yellow, medium size, with a wonderful aroma and excellent taste. Harvesting begins in late summer.
Apple tree President
Nectar
This variety is unpretentious in care and growing conditions. Refers to summer varieties of apple trees. The height reaches two meters. It has a high immunity, is able to resist fungal spores and rot, including a disease such as scab. Apples are large, very juicy, long shelf life.
Welsey
A disease-resistant and winter-hardy variety that annually brings a bountiful harvest of apples, distinguished by their dessert taste and juiciness, with a strawberry aroma. The Welsey apple tree is considered one of the most popular among gardeners. They have a high degree of keeping quality, well suited for long-distance transportation.
Apple Wellsey
After the choice of the most suitable variety has been made, you can proceed to the selection of seedlings. This procedure must be approached with all care, due to the fact that if you choose not a good enough seedling, you can not wait for the harvest. A young tree should be healthy, bark free from damage and any signs of disease. The apple variety is most suitable for growing in the north.
The root system must be healthy with no signs of damage or disease. Choosing between a closed and open root system, the first option is preferable, due to the fact that such apple trees take root faster. You can determine whether a seedling was actually grown in a special container in the following way: slowly pull the tree trunk and, if the roots come out of the soil without difficulty, this means that the seedlings were planted in containers just before the sale.
It is not recommended to take such seedlings, because the root system will be seriously injured when planted in open ground, becauseonly recently transplanted into a container.
Features of growing in the Leningrad region
The rules for caring for columnar apple trees in the Leningrad Region directly depend on the climatic conditions of this region:
- Often watering the apple trees is not required. Watering is necessary only if stable hot weather has come.
- If the soil on which the apple trees grow has an elevated level of groundwater, then it is necessary to drain the soil.
- To protect fruit trees from severe frosts, it is recommended to mulch them.
- The soil must be regularly loosened and periodically cleaned of weeds.
The soil in the Leningrad region needs periodic feeding with nutrients. It is necessary to fertilize the soil with organic matter and minerals at least three times in one season.
To avoid the death of the tree due to any disease, it is recommended to periodically inspect the leaves and the condition of the trunk. If spots appeared on the leaves, or the leaf plates began to turn yellow, then you need to treat them with a medicinal solution or insecticides.
The main condition for growing apple trees in the northwestern region of the Russian Federation is the correct choice of apple variety and seedling. With proper care of fruit trees, proper watering, timely fertilization of the soil and processing of the crown, despite unfavorable climatic conditions, it is quite possible to grow healthy apple trees with good yields.
