Fruit for little space: columnar fruit grows narrowly upwards

Created: 05/06/2022, 11:30 am

By: Joana Lück

If you have little space in the garden or on the balcony, you don't have to go without fruit that you have grown yourself.

Pillar fruit grows in a particularly space-saving manner.

Munich – Do you love fruits and vegetables, but don't have your own garden?

Then you should grow columnar fruit.

Because columnar fruit trees get their name from their property, instead of growing in width upwards - and with many delicious fruits.

Where there is no space for a normal fruit tree, columnar fruit such as currants, apples, cherries or plums can be placed wonderfully.

Fruit for little space: columnar fruit grows narrowly upwards

Fruit types that grow naturally narrow are also called columnar fruit.

(Iconic image) © Stock&People/Imago

A few fruit trees in your own garden: that is a dream for many gardeners.

But especially for trees like apple or cherry you need a large piece of land, because they not only grow in height, but above all in width.

But with the following columnar fruit varieties, you don't have to say goodbye to the dream of your own harvest:

• Apples: Since the crowns of apple trees often grow up to ten meters wide, it is practical to have a compact alternative.

  Columnar apples are only half a meter wide and up to three meters high.

  With their robust and aromatic fruits, they are a special treat that can be harvested in autumn.

  Pillar apples are also less susceptible to diseases.

• Currants: It is best to buy a plant that has already been prepared as a column.

  With a height of one and a half meters, the blackcurrant grows slender and compact with its sweet and sour taste.

  Like columnar apples, it is perennial, hardy and likes sun or partial shade.

• Plums: The blue columnar plums can be harvested as early as July - and in a confined space.

  With a width of about 40 centimeters, the columnar fruit fits into every corner on the balcony, no matter how small.

  Since they grow so tautly upright and can reach a height of up to two and a half meters, the small trees also make a good privacy screen.

  A regular topiary is an advantage.

• Cherries: Whether for smaller gardens or balconies - the columnar cherries impress with their delicious fruits and their characteristic white flowers.

  The plant does not require complicated pruning measures.

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Fruit for little space: Vegetables for little space

In addition to the above varieties, you can also grow nectarines, peaches or apricots as columnar fruits.

Some retailers even offer special varieties of blackberries or pears.

But you can not only grow and harvest sweet fruits with little space - aubergines can be grown wonderfully in tubs, as can many types of tomatoes.