Gardening without a garden is the new trend. Even if you only have little space available, you don't have to go without the delicious home-grown cherries. The columnar cherries make it possible to grow them in a pot.
How to properly plant cherry trees in pots?
Planting cherry trees in pots is possible with columnar cherries. Choose a sunny location, a sufficiently large pot with loose, nutrient-rich soil and ensure good drainage. Regular watering, annual pruning and fertilization according to the dealer's instructions are essential.
Characteristics of columnar cherry trees
Many different and very robust sweet and sour cherry varieties are now available in stores as columnar trees. These require around one meter of space in width and are ideal for terrace or balcony planting, but of course also for small gardens.
It is also important to ensure that there is sufficient height, as the fully grown columnar cherries can reach a height of around 2 to 3.5 m, depending on the variety. The varieties offered are self-pollinating. The small columnar cherry trees can be harvested one to two years after planting, but they do not have a very long life expectancy.
Planting and caring for the columnar cherry
The location for the columnar cherry should be sunny and airy. Depending on the variety you buy, you will need a sufficiently large pot or a bucket filled with loose, nutrient-rich soil. Since the cherry trees do not tolerate permanently wet soil, good drainage should be ensured in the pot. However, the soil in the pot must not dry out completely; regular water supply is important.
The columnar cherries also need annual pruning in order to maintain and promote shoot formation, flowering and a rich harvest. This usually takes place after the harvest. As with a large cherry tree, the removed fruit shoots are shortened.
The fertilization of the columnar cherry trees should be carried out according to the dealer's instructions. The cherry trees planted in pots only have the nutrients available that are added to the potting soil. In winter, the columnar cherries may need frost protection. Not only the tree itself, but also the bucket should be covered with a suitable material.
