About colonic plums, many hear for the first time. But knowledgeable gardeners have already managed to appreciate this compact and very productive type of plum trees.
After all, its main advantage is precisely the absence of lush branches and a wide crown. We will try as much as possible to acquaint you with these wonderful plums.
What is so special about colonic plums?
The reproduction and planting of plums by the columnar appeared much later than the reproduction of columnar apples and pears. This is the reason for the lack of awareness of the existence of this type of plum among many gardeners. What is the way this variety of plum was bred and what is it?
The history of columnar trees
Kolonovidnye trees appeared completely by accident. In particular, back in the 60s of the last century, one American breeder found a very strange branch on the tree of the Macintosh apple tree.
It was much thicker than the others, grew vertically upwards and was covered with a plentiful amount of fruit. Naturally, the scientist tried to propagate this branch, and after 2 years he managed to get abundant and large harvests from small column trees. Thus, the first variety of the columnar Apple Leader was born.
Having ascertained how planting garden-shaped garden trees can be profitable, the scientists were able to create a columnar pear and columnar plum, the varieties of which we will describe below.
In this way, colonic plums not the result of breeding or genetic engineering. The tree-column is simple natural mutation, which was seen and successfully propagated by man.
Description of the columnar plum
The columnar plum can be described as a small tree, with an underdeveloped crown and with virtually no branches. Its crown is formed in the form of a narrow pyramid. This crown consists of fruitful spear and ringworms, which are capable of yielding sufficiently large and abundant crops, which any other tall plum tree can envy.
Despite the fact that the tree looks very fragile, its wood is very durable. In particular, she able to withstand yields from 6 to 12 kilograms (although it is still worth tying up the trees).
The columnar plum is characterized by its precociousness: this tree can bring the first crop 2 years after planting.
Productivity during the first 6-7 years is constantly increasing, further, even for 7-10 years it remains at the highest level. And at the age of 13-17 years old the tree stops producing crops, although the tree itself can decorate your garden for a long time.
Colony-shaped plum variety "Imperial"
The biggest advantage of the variety is its unusually tasty and large plums. In their mass, they leave behind all the largest fruits of ordinary plums, since on average one fruit of the plum "Imperial" weighs 55 grams.
The shape of the fruit are rounded. The base of the fruit is slightly wider than the main part and also has a small recess. Top of fruit slightly depressed. The skin is very dense in its structure, but does not affect the basic taste of the fruit.
Color plums "Imperial" may be different. Pink-purple fruits are most common, but there are plums with a brown-red color.
The flesh of these fruits is simply amazing for its taste. It has a golden yellow color and a very delicate structure, contains a large amount of juice.
The composition of the pulp contains a sufficiently large amount of sugars, which allowed the tasters to put the grade top marks for taste its fruits. According to its purpose, plums are suitable both for fresh consumption and for canning.
Terms of ripening of the fruits of the colony-shaped plum "Imperial" are average. The most The best time for fruit removal is mid-August..
The tree of the plum variety "Imperial", like that of the other columnar variety, has a very weak growth. Fruiting tree reaches the height only 1.5-2 meters. The crown consists of annual fruit-bearing spears and ringworms, which is why it turns out to be very compact and compact.
But still, the small size of the tree does not prevent him from bringing abundant crops, for which the variety is valued. The tree can enter fruiting in the second year after planting. Crop can please up to 15-17 years.
The most advantageous when planting this variety is the abundance of fruiting and compactness of the tree itself. In addition, due to the compactness of the tree is much easier as the process of caring for the tree, and the harvesting process.
The imperial “konorovidnaya” pruning is practically not needed, only damaged and broken branches are to be removed. In addition, the fruits of this variety are very large and tasty, but due to its thick skin they can be transported over long distances.
The variety is skoroplodny. Suitable for cultivation in industrial gardens and on home plots.
Weak and small sizes wood requires constant backwaterotherwise it may bend over the weight of its own fruits. Also, it is very susceptible to low temperatures and requires good and thorough preparation for the winter. Winter seedlings are especially difficult to tolerate, so they should be covered before the onset of cold weather.
The disadvantages include the fact that already in the first year after planting the tree can begin to bloom. However, on this occasion you should not rejoice, because such an early harvest can greatly deplete the tree, which is why first flowering is advised to pick off.
It is also interesting to read about the care and planting of self-fruited varieties of plums.
Blue Sweet Collar Variety
The size of the fruits of the variety “Blue Sweet” delights even the most experienced gardeners. Their weight very often reaches 75 grams. The ripened fruits of this variety have a dark purple color, for which reason they sometimes appear black.
In shape, these plums are oval, slightly flattened. The skin is dense, it also has a very strong wax coating. Are characteristic also hypodermic points, they are very small in size, but are presented in large quantities.
The pulp of the plums “Blue Sweet” has a yellow or pink color (especially near the skin), it contains a large amount of juice. The taste of pulp - sweet and sourable to refresh well.
The small size of the stone is very easily separated from the pulp. Fruits of universal purpose, can be used fresh in food and for processing on various compotes, jams, jams.
Mature fruits of this variety in the middle of August.
Naturally, the tree of this variety is not large. Maximum height adult fertile the tree is only 2.2 meters. The crown has a narrow pyramidal shape and reaches a maximum diameter of 70-90 centimeters.
Thus, the tree is compact and very comfortable in gardening. The branches of the tree are presented in the form of fruit-bearing spears and ringworms, which are thickly covered with fruits during the fruiting period.
Yield this grade is high, in one season allows you to collect about 12-15 kilograms large fruits. The wood of the tree is strong enough to withstand such quantities of fruits, but excessive care and tying the plum to the stake will significantly reduce the load on the tree and save you from trouble.
It is also worth noting that the frequency of fruiting for this variety is practically not observed, which is ensured by the fact that the fruiting on kolchatka can alternate.
Beautiful, large and tasty fruits of good refreshing taste are the main advantage of the variety "Blue Sweet". Fruits have not only a good presentation, but are also suitable for transportation over short distances.
It is important to note that the compact tree allows you to concentrate on a small area a very rich garden of columnar plums, which require almost no maintenance and are very practical when harvesting.
Varietal varietal, brings yields in the second year of growth. The resistance of the variety to frost is high, although it is significantly inferior to tall fellows.
Plum "Blue Sweet" incapable of self-pollinationFor this purpose, it is recommended to use pollen from such varieties of plum as “Stanley” or “Blue Free”. In addition, the top of a tree can often suffer from frost, as a result of which it can split in two, which creates a lot of trouble to restore the normal shape of the crown of the tree.
In this variety, like the plum "Imperial" often bloom in the year of its planting. Therefore, you need to very well monitor the condition of the tree and, in this case, cut off all the flowering.
How to care for the columnar plum
Pruning pruning tree
In terms of pruning, you will not have to bother too much, since the columnar drain practically does not need it, and even the events held will not bring much trouble.
It is only important to carefully observe the growth of the tops and make sure that the winter frosts do not damage it. If everything is in order with her, then during one growing season only one shoot will develop from it, which will be a continuation of the conductor.
In case of damage to the conductor appear competitors in the form of 2 or 3 shoots. If they are not removed, the crown will not develop correctly, in the form of horns. Therefore, from emerging competitors need to choose one of the most developed, and the rest to remove.
Pruning can also be carried out in order to graft shoots to the rootstocks of other trees. A branch can even be grafted to the rootstock of ordinary tall plums.. For this, 15 or 20 centimeter shoots are used.
We fertilize the columnar plum
In fertilizers, the columnar tree is not particularly whimsical, but should be regular feeding. From the beginning of spring to late autumn, the columnar plum needs to be fed three times with urea. At the same time, only 50 grams of fertilizer is used for 10 liters of water.
One tree is enough 2 liters of the resulting solution. Feeding is carried out with the following frequency:
- 1st - after the blooming of a tree and its entry into the growing season;
- 2nd — two weeks after the first;
- 3 rd - in another two weeks.
In the second year of growth, the process of formation and growth of the root system of a tree can be stimulated artificially with the help of extra-root feeding. For this, a solution of a drug such as heteroauxin is most often used.
It is necessary because already in the second year the tree can bear fruit and in order to produce good fruits, it needs to absorb nutrients from the soil as intensively as possible, and this is facilitated by an extensive root system.
Summer (first half of June) and spring dressing may also include watering the tree with slurry. You can also use saltpeter in the calculation of 1 tbsp. on 1 bucket of water.
Now about watering
You need to water the plum regularly., controlling the state of soil moisture. At what, it should be done both in spring, and in summer and autumn. Watering is often carried out no more than once a month, but with strong droughts, the intervals are reduced.
Protection against diseases and pests
Colonlike plums are sufficiently resistant to disease and various pests.
However, if the tree lacks fertilizer, water, or is affected by frost, it will become very susceptible to disease. Therefore, they are recommended prophylactic treatment with the help of preparations intended for ordinary drains.
By spraying, it is also possible to increase the total yield.
Preparing a tree for winter
Colonic discharge, especially at the age of 1-2 years is very afraid of low temperatures and therefore requires a lot of attention. For the winter, you need to prepare the wood well, using all possible means at hand.
It is best to wrap the trunk of the tree with fresh snow, and on it to lay a large amount of straw, hay, fir tree branches. Such measures will save the plum not only from the cold, but also from various rodents, whose appetite is especially intense with the onset of frost and snow.
Rules and features of the colony plum planting
How to choose a sapling
Column-shaped seedling is better to choose one-year. After all, a more mature tree will take longer and more difficult to take root to a new place, it can become susceptible to diseases. Very carefully you need to inspect the root system of the seedling and choose a tree with healthy and not dried roots, otherwise the tree will not be accepted.
Layout of the colonic garden of plums
The distance between the two seedlings of the columnar plum in the same row can be 30 or 40 centimeters. This distance will be quite enough for them to develop well and bear fruit. However, the aisle should not be less than 1 meter, the best option would be a distance of 1.5-2 meters.
Direct landing
The pit for planting a colloidal plum seedling is dug in advance. In size it should be twice the size of its root system, because at the bottom before planting we pour out a mixture of soil with fertilizers.
Up to 100 grams of superphosphate and up to 80 grams of potassium can be used as mineral fertilizers. Also, based on one pit should be used about 3-4 kilograms of humus. At the same time, all fertilizers with soil are poured to the bottom directly on the day of its preparation, so that by the time the seedling is planted this soil has time to settle.
We lower the seedling into the pit so that the grafting site remains above the soil and we fall asleep with the earth without adding fertilizers.
Immediately after planting, the tree should be watered very well, because the plum loves well-moistened soil.
Go to the landing terms
Planting a tree is recommended in spring, because a tree planted in autumn may not tolerate winter porosities. If you, after all, decided to plant a sapling in the fall, then it is better to tilt it up with earth in such a way that the snow that has fallen completely covers it.
Spring planting is carried out after complete thawing of the soil. The best time is 4-5 days after the snow melts. But, with the landing is not to delay, it should happen in the next 1-2 weeks.
