Colon-shaped apple tree Ostankino: description, cultivation and care

What do you know about such a tree as the column-shaped apple tree "Ostankino"? Every time someone talks about a garden, our brain draws a picture of a beautiful garden plot, which is planted with many trees with lush crowns. It was like that in the old days. Now the situation has changed, and scientists have brought out such varieties of apple trees, which occupy little space, but yield an excellent harvest. Information on such varieties, processing of apple trees and tips for planting are collected for you in this article.

History of appearance

The history of the appearance of such a peculiar tree is quite simple. It all started in Canada, when someone saw a strange apple tree that did not have any side branches, and there were a lot of fruits on the central strong trunk. Having studied in detail such a tree, scientists took it as a basis and brought out many different varieties. Colon-shaped apple tree "Ostankino" is one of such species. The further the gardeners worked with her, the more they liked him. After all, the main advantage of the tree is the saving of space on the site without losing the amount of harvested crops.

general information

On average, trees of this kind grow to a height of two and a half meters with a crown width of only half a meter. The tree has a main trunk and there are absolutely no lateral branches. Fruits ripen very quickly, and a year after planting, you can harvest. Colon-shaped tree can be:

• Dwarfish;
• Semi-dwarfish;
• High.

Often such a tree is grown not in an open area, but in a pot. And although earlier such plants could be found only in special nurseries for the cultivation of trees, now anyone can buy and plant them. The apple tree "Ostankino", the description of which we present below, is one of the most popular varieties of this kind of fruit trees. The taste of apples and a convenient form attract both domestic and foreign gardeners.

Column-shaped apple tree "Ostankino"

This variety was bred in Russia and became very popular gardeners of the country. What is the characteristic of such a tree? Kolonovidnaya apple tree "Ostankino" is one of the semi-dwarf species, can grow to a height of 2 meters. It resembles a column in shape. A special feature of the variety is the high density of fruits, which begin to be tied practically from the very bottom to the top. You can also find the apple tree by a large number of leaves. On average, one tree gives from ten to sixteen kilograms of fruit, but the barrel easily withstands such a load. The life span of such apple trees is from ten to fifteen years. Aging, the trees become weaker, the harvest is significantly reduced, and this is a signal to start rejuvenating the garden.

The apples themselves are small and weigh not more than one hundred and fifty grams. Round and slightly flattened fruits differ yellow-green skin with purple-red sides. To taste, the fruit is sour with a hint of sweetness, while the flesh is white and juicy. Due to their qualities, apples are often used for canning.

Advantages and disadvantages

The apple tree "Ostankino", about which we carefully studied, has a number of definite advantages. Based on the statements of the owners, the following conclusions were drawn:

• Trees are compact in size, which allows you to plant a significant number of plants on a relatively small plot of land;
• Small size of roots allows to grow a tree in a pot;
• The variety is very resistant to frost, so it is allowed to plant it in spring and autumn;
• The apple tree rarely gets sick, which makes it possible to have many beautiful fruits without additional treatment with chemicals;
• Even in the absence of a sufficient amount of sunlight during the ovary season, the "Ostankino" apple tree forms a large number of them, this does not affect the quality of the crop.

From all of the above, it becomes clear why this plant is so popular among gardeners. Although there are also negative reviews:

• High cost of seedlings;
• Limited service life. Gardeners are disappointed by the fact that in seven or eight years the harvest becomes more scarce, and it is necessary to replace the old tree with a young one.

Planting and care

What do you need to know when planting such a tree as the column-shaped apple tree "Ostankino"? There are several recommendations for the cultivation of this particular plant species:

• Choosing a seedling, carefully study its appearance, it should not be damaged, suspicious insects, the roots should be whole, and the tree itself fresh;
• Planting a tree on the site, properly arrange the seedlings, when planting a large number of the distance between them should not be less than 1 meter;
• Digging a pit for planting, consider the size of the root system, it should be spacious in the pit;
• Regularly feed the soil, as the apple tree likes to grow in fertile soil, and the first make-up must be done before planting;
• Watering the tree is also mandatory, while it is recommended to take standing warm water;
• Watch out for the shape of the tree, although there are no crowns in such trees, but you need to look beyond the top: if it is damaged, two or three new ones will grow in its place, from which you need to choose the healthiest and remove the rest;
• When the lateral branches appear, they must be removed immediately, and the place of the cut should be lubricated with linseed oil.

Top dressing and pest control

Processing of apples is necessary in the event that you notice a problem. Due to resistance to diseases, this variety does not need to be constantly sprayed. If necessary, it is necessary to use the recommended standard means, depending on the problem. Another thing is with feeding. It must be carried out constantly. In the spring you can fertilize the land with manure. The application rate is 2.5-3.5 kg per plant. Use only last year's manure, as fresh will burn the roots. An excellent way of fertilizing trees is urea - 50-80 g under a tree. And in the summer it is recommended to apply potassium-phosphorus fertilizer - no more than 100 g of substance for one apple.

In the end, I want to add that this species has become a real salvation for gardeners who are experiencing a shortage of space on the site. A rich harvest and the ability to plant trees in pots make this sort even more attractive.