If you only have a small garden or even just a balcony, you can still grow healthy fruit: A narrow fruit tree grown into a pillar makes it possible.
Pillar apples save space
What is a columnar fruit tree?
A columnar fruit tree is a specific growth form in which the tree grows in a columnar shape and develops no or only a few side shoots. A strong growth in thickness can often be observed, whereby the wood becomes very strong and later does not become flexible. In addition, the buds are often very close together. This growth form is more or less genetically determined and cannot be achieved by pruning.
The best columnar fruit varieties
Above all, these columnar fruit varieties are recommended.
Apple
- 'Flamenco': fruit ripening September to October, red, sour
- 'Golden Gate': September to October, reddish, sweet
- 'Polka': September to October, sour
- 'Rondo': September, often striped, sweet and sour
- 'Schwarzer Edelapfel': September to October, deep black-red, sweet
pear
- 'Concorde': September to October, greenish-yellow, sweet and sour
- 'Saphira': September, greenish, sweet
- 'Decora': September to October, green-red, sweet
cherry
- 'Sylvia': June to July, red
- 'Victoria': July, deep red, sweet
plum
- 'Top': August to September, blue, sweet
- 'Imperial': September, blue-violet, juicy
Pruning columnar fruit trees properly
Some columnar fruit trees require almost no pruning, as they only grow upwards and only develop little lateral wood. However, if longer side shoots form, simply cut them back to three to four centimeters. In this way, flowering plants can develop from this. Incidentally, if the columnar fruit tree has reached the desired height, cut it off at an angle above a bud. New shoots that may form there are treated in the same way as lateral shoots.
Pillar fruit in the bucket
Pillar fruit can be excellently cultivated in a bucket. So you can always place it where you want it to be. To begin with, choose a planter with a volume of 10 litres, which will be exchanged over and over again when repotting and enlarged to 25 to 30 litres. In winter, the bucket should be protected against severe cold, which can be done, for example, by covering it with brushwood, straw or bubble wrap. Where possible, the tub can also be sunk into the ground during the winter months.
tips
Shallow bush trees and spindle trees are also very suitable for small gardens, provided they are grafted onto a slow-growing rootstock.