The dream of having fruit from your own garden or even from your terrace does not always have to depend on the availability of space. Even on a small area, you can achieve yields with columnar fruit that will make the heart of vitamin-loving garden lovers beat faster.
How do I plant columnar fruit correctly?
Pillar fruit saves space and is well suited for small gardens or patios. Choose resistant varieties, plant them in sunny locations with loose substrate, make sure that the grafting area is not covered by soil and keep a planting distance of approx.one meter.
How to choose the right plants?
There is now quite a selection of columnar fruit available to purchase from specialist retailers. However, it is important to know that not all of these plants retain their columnar shape on their own. Pruning measures are often indispensable for these trees, especially if the plants should not exceed a certain height. Also pay attention to whether the plants are described as being resistant to certain diseases, for example.
Which locations are suitable for columnar fruit?
Basically, the columnar varieties of apple or pear trees also need a location that is as sunny as possible for he althy growth. If one is not available, raspberries, blackberries or, as their name suggests, morello cherries can thrive in partial shade or shade. Very windy locations can be dangerous for columnar fruit trees in pots. However, these can sometimes simply be stabilized with an appropriately sized planter and stones inserted into it.
What should you consider when planting and transplanting columnar fruit?
When planting and transplanting columnar fruit, you should always ensure that the roots of the plants are not injured and that they do not dry out. The planting hole in the garden should always be dug out slightly larger than necessary and then filled with loose substrate. At this point, long-term fertilizers such as compost and horn shavings can also be mixed in. After planting or repotting, the soil must be gently pressed down and the air around the roots flushed out by watering vigorously.
How can columnar fruit be propagated?
Since columnar fruit, like other types of fruit, has to be grafted onto a specific “support”, propagation is not as easy as with many other garden plants. However, if you would like to embark on the adventure of trying your own cultivation, the members of regional fruit and horticultural associations are usually happy to assist you with helpful tips and practical steps. The subtleties of refining are easier to understand in practice than through mere theory.
What planting time is best for columnar fruit?
Ideally, columnar fruit is planted in autumn, but commercially available container fruit can now be planted almost all year round in frost-free weather. Extreme heat and dry periods should be avoided, and the roots must not dry out when planting and transplanting.
What should you pay attention to during the flowering and harvest season?
During the flowering and harvesting period you should:
- water enough
- check regularly for pests
- sometimes remove some of the fruit early
Since columnar fruit often produces a lot of fruit, problems can arise when ripening. You will therefore get better quality if you avoid some of the fruit from the start with a heavy heart.
Which substrate is suitable for columnar fruit?
Since the term “pillar fruit” is a collective term based on the shape of the plant, the question of the right substrate cannot simply be answered in general terms. However, it usually doesn't hurt to enrich the normal garden soil with mature compost when planting and also to avoid waterlogging as much as possible.
At what distance can columnar fruit be planted?
Most columnar fruit trees develop side branches over the years, which you as a gardener can shorten to a length of around two to four pairs of leaves. So that sufficient light and air can reach all the leaves, even if they are intended to be used as a privacy screen, the planting distance between the plants should not be less than one meter.
Tip
When planting columnar fruit, always make sure that the clearly visible grafting area is never covered by soil. Otherwise, rot can occur, which can sometimes cause plants to die completely.
