Columnar

Columnar apple trees represent a unique and revolutionary form in modern fruit growing. They originated in Canada in the 1960s as a spontaneous natural bud mutation on a McIntosh apple tree, known as McIntosh Wijcik. Through many years of subsequent scientific work and hybridization, a full range of purpose-bred columnar varieties was developed, including domestic and European selections such as Rumeno Vreteno, Zeleni Dragulj, Vesna, Polka, Bolero, Valcer, and others, enabling high aesthetic value and easy cultivation.

Most columnar apple varieties are cross-pollinated, or self-sterile. They cannot reliably set fruit with their own pollen, so cross-pollination is essential. The best pollinators are other columnar apple varieties that flower at the same time, planted together in the same row, while classic diploid apple varieties such as Gala, Golden Delicious, or Idared also serve as excellent pollinators. They flower abundantly in spring.

The tree grows strictly upright, forming a compact columnar shape. Genetically, lateral branches are reduced to a minimum in the form of very short fruiting elements. All flower buds and fruit are formed directly along the central trunk, or leader. Due to this growth habit, pruning is minimal and consists only of shortening any overly vigorous lateral shoots that may appear. This form is absolutely ideal for small gardens, home gardens, urban spaces, growing in pots on terraces, as well as for commercial super-high-density orchards where trees are planted at a spacing of only 50 cm.

Fruit ripening depends directly on the individual variety within the assortment. The selection is divided into summer, autumn, and late winter varieties, so ripening takes place successively from the beginning of August to the end of October.

Harvesting, depending on the choice of varieties on the plot, takes place from mid-summer all the way to late autumn, providing an extended period of fresh consumption throughout the entire season.

Fruit storage time varies depending on the ripening period. Early summer columnar varieties can be kept fresh for a shorter period, only 2–3 weeks, while late autumn and winter varieties can be successfully stored in modern cold storage facilities for 3 to even 6 months, retaining full flesh firmness.

The fruit of columnar apple trees does not lag behind that of classic varieties and is characterized by medium to exceptionally large size, with an average weight of 150–220 g. Depending on the selected variety, the skin may be intense bright red, lemon-yellow, or pure green and glossy. The flesh is pale yellowish to white, exceptionally firm, compact, fleshy, and very juicy. The taste is premium and refreshing, varying from intensely sweet with a honey aroma to pleasantly balanced sweet-acidic.

Overall disease resistance is high. Most modern columnar hybrids possess high genetic resistance, or complete immunity, to apple scab on leaves and fruit, Venturia inaequalis, and powdery mildew, which drastically reduces the need for chemical treatments and makes them ideal for organic and ecological production in home gardens. They are characterized by outstanding resistance of the wood to winter frosts.

Our columnar apple fruit trees are produced on highly compatible, certified rootstocks M9 and M26. The use of these low-vigor rootstocks is crucial, as they perfectly control tree height, keeping it at an optimal 2 to 2.5 meters, prevent excessive growth and the formation of undesirable lateral branches, and enable successful cultivation in pots and planters.