Recently, columnar apple trees are increasingly appearing on personal plots. This is due to rich harvests, convenience, relative unpretentiousness and decorativeness. One of the most popular is the columnar Moscow necklace apple tree, which appeared thanks to the breeder Kachalkin, who originally used the name X-2.

Description of the variety

The tree belongs to semi-dwarf species, reaches a height of 2-3 m. The columnar shape and compact crown allows you to place several seedlings even in a small garden. The foliage is dense, dark green in color, the branches are short, growing vertically upwards.

Globular fruits, the average weight of which is 130-250 g, are mainly placed on the trunk. The fruits are green in color with a slight blush, which becomes richer in the process of ripening up to a burgundy hue. The taste of the fruit is sweet with sourness, the pulp is juicy and dense.

The columnar apple tree called the Moscow Necklace is fast-growing and can bear fruit even in the first year, although one should not expect a large harvest at this time. Yield indicators are gradually increasing, about 10 kg of fruit can be harvested from one tree for 4-6 years. However, by the tenth year, the opposite process is observed, and after 15 years of harvest, it is not worth waiting at all.

Apple-tree Moscow necklace (columnar)

Note! The columnar Moscow apple tree is not self-fertile, which means it needs additional pollinators.

The frost resistance indicators are quite high and allow the tree to endure severe winters with temperatures down to -45 ° C. That is why this species is very popular in the northern regions and Siberia. Although in conditions of prolonged cold weather, in the absence of snow, the buds at the top of the shoot can freeze and provoke the appearance of lateral shoots.

To protect young specimens, it is still advisable to cover the trees, and scatter a layer of mulch between the rows.

A pleasant feature of the apple tree is its high immunity to various kinds of diseases, including the appearance of scab. The absence of the need for processing with chemicals facilitates maintenance and guarantees an environmentally friendly product.

But still, sometimes plants can be exposed to spotting and moniliosis, as well as attack by pests.

If sustainability is a priority, an ash or tobacco solution can be sprayed to stop pest attacks. An environmentally friendly way to kill insects is to attract birds to the garden. To combat the moth, it is enough to plant aromatic herbs under the apple tree.

Agricultural technology of cultivation

Planting a seedling

Apple-tree columnar, varieties for the Moscow region

The most favorable soil for planting a Moscow necklace seedling will be sandy loam or loam. Also important factors for high yields are good lighting, drainage system and aeration, with a groundwater level of no more than 2 m.

Additional Information! In the spring, planting young seedlings is not recommended, since the tree is in a hurry to please with flowering, which weakens it. For disembarkation, it is better to choose the autumn period (September-October).

The rather strong root system of the apple tree provides good survival in a new place even for mature trees.However, it is still better to choose a one year old sapling. The roots must be moist, so if the planting material is transported, it is necessary to provide for their moisture.

Bloom

If the gardener decides to plant several trees, the scheme of 50 cm x 120 cm should be chosen.The depth of the hole should ensure the free arrangement of the roots, and this is at least 90x90x90 cm.When planting several apple trees, it is better to prepare the holes in advance, about 2 weeks in order to ensure the shrinkage of the earth.

In addition to the extracted soil, compost and humus should be added to the pit. It is important to install the seedling so that the root collar is above ground level. Around each tree, you need to form a circular hole with a radius of about 30 cm, pour 1-2 buckets of water into each of them and, after absorbing, mulch the trunk circle.

Important! To ensure the stability of the seedling, a support with a height of 50-70 cm (above the pit) should be placed in the pit and a tree should be tied to it.

Watering rules

After planting, in order for the seedlings to take root better, they need to be watered with warm water for a month. In dry periods, trees need to be watered twice a week. At the same time, crowns should also be sprayed with water twice a month.

Due to the fact that the roots are located quite close to the surface of the earth, loosening the soil can lead to their injury. Therefore, to ensure the proper level of moisture, the trunk circle can be covered with mulch, sown with lawn grass or aromatic herbs.

Top dressing

This point needs to be given special attention, otherwise, you should not count on a rich harvest.

  • The first feeding (early spring) is carried out with nitrogen-containing fertilizers. The most popular is the use of urea at a rate of 20 g / m².
  • The second top dressing (May) - watering a mullein with a concentration of 900 g of manure per 10 liters of water.
  • The third top dressing (summer) is made with wood ash at the rate of 200 g for each tree.

Important! In order for the apple trees to survive the winter better, you need to stop feeding in the second half of summer.

Pruning

The first pruning is carried out immediately after planting the apple tree, pinching the top. Subsequently, if the upper bud is damaged (mainly due to frost), several young shoots may appear, which must be removed, leaving the strongest one. You should also trim the side shoots to the stage of their woodiness.

Large tasty fruits

To prevent the penetration of pathogens, all sections must be treated with garden varnish or drying oil.

Note! In addition to the number of young shoots, the amount of harvest should also be regulated. With very abundant flowering, some of the flowers should be removed, otherwise the next year the harvest will be poor.

Harvesting, storage and use

The fruits ripen by the end of September - beginning of October. You should start collecting, focusing on the burgundy color of the fruit.

Harvest apple tree

After harvesting, the crop is placed in a cool place for 2 weeks, then the damaged fruits are removed and transferred to the cellar or storage room. Average shelf life without loss of taste is a couple of months.

Attention! Since apples are very juicy and can crack when dropped, it is important not to skip harvest time. Plucked fruits must also be handled with care, avoiding damage.

Due to their high taste and attractive appearance, the fruits are mainly consumed fresh, but they are also suitable for the production of jams and confitures.

Advantages and disadvantages of this apple variety

Apple-tree columnar President

Most gardeners (both amateurs and professionals) choose the Moscow Necklace apple tree for their gardens. This is due to the following reasons:

  • high taste;
  • high productivity;
  • early maturity;
  • high frost resistance;
  • resistance to diseases and pests;
  • compactness;
  • decorativeness;
  • high commercial characteristics.

Interesting! The compactness of the trees allows harvesting 100-120 tons of fruit per hectare.

The disadvantages include:

  • short shelf life of apples;
  • short fruitful period.

Taking into account the balance of advantages and disadvantages, experienced gardeners and owners of apple orchards recommend the Moscow necklace for planting in private farmsteads and remote dachas.