Columnar Apple Tree Villandry - Georges Delbard

The Villandry® Delcoti Columnar Apple Tree is a variety perfectly suited for small gardens and cultivation in large pots on the terrace. Standing no more than 4 metres (13 feet) tall, it can easily be kept at a height of 2 metres (7 feet). Very productive and fast-growing, it quickly bears fruit and offers medium-sized apples that are flattened and red with grey spots. The flesh is firm, crisp, and fragrant.

These fruits are harvested in September. They can be consumed immediately, but also have the advantage of being able to be stored until February under proper conditions.

Hardy, the Villandry® Columnar Apple Tree can withstand temperatures as low as -20°C (-4°F) and usually blooms in April. It is a vigorously growing variety that bears fruit quickly. It produces its first fruits 2 to 3 years after planting, sometimes even earlier.

This apple tree, like all espalier forms, requires staking.

Decorative and space-saving, it only requires about 60cm (24in) in width. Like dwarf apple trees, columnar forms are ideal for small gardens, as well as large pots on the terrace. Along with cordons, they are also very easy to install along the edge of a vegetable garden or even in the middle of vegetables, as they do not create excessive shade. Finally, this type of fruit tree is very practical because the fruits are easy to pick.

The Villandry® Apple Tree is self-fertile, but for more abundant fruiting, it can be beneficial to plant varieties that bloom at the same time, such as the 'Reine des Reinettes', which is found in many gardens.

The apple tree (Malus pumila or domestica) is a fruit tree that belongs to the Rosaceae family. It is cultivated almost everywhere in the world and includes countless varieties, both ancient and modern, that produce apples of varying sizes and degrees of sweetness or tartness.

Apple trees are native trees in Europe, particularly in France, where their presence has been documented since ancient times. Hardy, often up to -30°C (-22°F) for the most resistant varieties, they can be grown in most regions.

Domestic apple trees typically reach a height of no more than ten metres, with a similar width. However, their size can be much smaller depending on the vigour of the rootstock used. They generally have a tall trunk that naturally spreads out. They come in various forms (bush, half-standard, standard, etc.) and can be trained in numerous ways (columnar, cordon, espalier, etc.).

Apple tree leaves are deciduous and arranged alternately on the branches. Their lamina is ovate and toothed. They have a dark green upper surface and a whitish lower surface that is slightly downy.

In spring, apple trees bear white or pinkish-white flowers grouped in corymbs. Apple flowers consist of 5 petals, and these white flowers surround a core composed of about 20 stamens. They give rise to fleshy fruits (technically drupes), spherical in shape and filled with pips. Their colour, size, flavour, and storage duration vary depending on the variety.

Apple trees can be grown in many climates, but they particularly thrive in temperate regions, preferably with some humidity, such as Normandy. They prefer full sun and reasonably moist, fertile soil. Traditionally, they are planted in the heart of an orchard, but they can also be grown as standalone trees or even as hedges.

They are easy fruit trees that require at least some thinning pruning. Proper fruiting pruning will prevent the phenomenon of alternate bearing (fruiting every other year). An annual or biennial application of well-rotted compost also enhances apple tree productivity.

Apples are harvested in late summer and autumn and can sometimes be stored for a long period in a cellar and consumed until early spring. Apples lend themselves to a wide range of culinary preparations (compotes, pies, jellies), but they can also be used to make apple juice or cider.

This fruit tree is delivered in a “ready-to-plant” root ball. During planting, the root ball should be planted as is. The biodegradable tontine that surrounds the root ball and preserves the rootlets will decompose naturally as the plant grows. By doing so, you ensure better establishment.