About Melitopol cherries: description and characteristics of the variety, planting, care

Melitopol black cherry: description of the variety

Melitopol black cherry: photo of variety

The Melitopol cherry variety is considered one of the best representatives of relatively late varieties, which grows in the southern part of Russia, the Moldavian Republic and Ukraine. In these countries, cherries are used in the food industry. The variety was obtained by breeder M.T. Oratovsky from the Zaporozhye Institute of Irrigated Horticulture. The ancestor was the open-pollinated seeds of the French black cherry. It was added to the register for the North Caucasus region in 1997. During this period, the variety has proven itself well.

Melitopol sweet cherry: photo of the variety

The fruits of the Melitopol cherry are all approximately the same, attractive, large in size, weighing 6-8 g, ovoid. The surface of the berry is glossy burgundy-black, which is why the name of the variety is associated. You can see many subcutaneous eyes on the skin. The pulp is dense and juicy, dark red in color, the juice has a darker color. The knuckle is not large; the stalk is easily torn away from the fruit. The surface of the berries is durable, does not crack, and they do not fall off prematurely.

The black cherry variety Melitopolskaya ripens in the regions in mid-late June. In the most productive years of life, about 16 years, one tree can produce up to 80 kg of harvest. Fruiting is constant, without interruptions. In nurseries, technical gardens and similar areas, mechanical harvesting is allowed.

The fruits are suitable for transportation by transport without being damaged. They have a comprehensive purpose - depending on their taste, they can be consumed fresh and as offal after heat treatment.

The trees grow quickly and forcefully, are massive, reaching a height of 6 meters. The crown has the shape of a ball, the shoots diverge in different directions and are directed slightly upward, with a large number of leaves on them. The leaves are green, oval, with sharp tops and large jagged edges.

Variety: Cherry

The variety was isolated at the Institute of Irrigated Horticulture named after. M.F. Sidorenko UAAN among seedlings French black from free pollination. Breeder M.T. Oratovsky. Entered into the State Register in 1977 for the North Caucasus region.

The tree is large and fast growing. The crown is wide-rounded, raised, dense. The bark on the trunk and skeletal branches is gray-brown. The angle of origin of the skeletal branches is 54-62°. Shoot-forming ability is good. The shoots are straight, yellowish-greenish-gray. The buds are large, oval, 7 mm long. The foliage is good. The leaf is large, broadly ovoid in shape, measuring 16.0 x 9.5 cm. The serration of the leaf edge is double-toothed. The petiole is thick, 40 mm long. The glands are large, oval, colored, arranged in groups of 2-3.

The fruits are large, one-dimensional, with an average weight of 6-8 g, round-oval, dark red, almost black. The apex of the fruit is round, the base of the fruit is indented. The hole is small and wide. The abdominal suture is small and inconspicuous. The stalk is 45-49 mm long, of medium thickness, easily separated from the branch. Attachment to the stone is fragile, separation from the fruit is dry. The skin is thin, dense, dark red, and when the fruit is fully ripe, it is almost black, shiny, and easily separated from the pulp. There are many subcutaneous points, they are gray in color and hardly noticeable. The pulp is dark red, dense, gristly, juicy. The juice is dark red. The stone is small, round, free. The taste is sweet with pleasant acidity. Insufficiently ripe fruits have a bitter taste inherent in the original form - French black. The fruits contain 18.2% dry matter, 13.3% sugars and 0.71% acids. Tasting score 4.4 points. It is distinguished by its transportability and versatility of use.

The variety is self-sterile. The best pollinators are Cosmic, Resort, Surprise, Franz Joseph, Bigarro Oratovsky, Daibera black, Large-fruited. The average long-term date for the beginning of flowering is April 24. In the conditions of Melitopol, the fruits ripen, the fruits ripen on June 17-24. Grafted trees begin bearing fruit in the 4th year and quickly increase their yield. The average yield of the variety at 16 years of age is 78.0 kg per tree. The variety is resistant to moniliosis. Winter hardiness is high. In a harsh winter, when the air temperature dropped to minus 25.1°C, the average freezing point in trees reached 0.44, and the death of buds in the buds reached 40.5%. During spring frosts, the death of pistils in flowers reached 52%. The variety is distinguished by moderate growth and good branching of seedlings in the nursery.

Advantages: high marketability and taste of fruits, high productivity and transportability.

Disadvantages: large plant habit.

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Melitopol cherry: characteristic features

Cherry variety Melitopol black: photo

• The fruits are burgundy.
• They grow in height from 4 to 6 meters.
• Tasting rating of fruit taste 4.4 points out of 5.
• The berries are quite large in size.
• The mass of fruits collected from one bush is 80 kg.
• The berry ripening date is mid-June.
• Resistance to winter temperature changes is low.
• Has good immunity to fungal diseases.

Planting and care

It is better to buy seedlings of Melitopol black cherry and other varieties in specialized retail outlets and nurseries. When purchasing, you should take one-year-old or two-year-old seedlings. How to distinguish them?

Annual plants have practically no branches and have a thin trunk. Two-year-old seedlings have only a few thin branches. If you plant other seedlings that are, for example, three years old, then there is a risk that they will take root much worse in the new place.

Particular attention is paid to the bark of the seedling and its roots. The bark can only be smooth, green when cut. The roots are developed, the neck is smooth, without spots.

Pollination, conditions for keeping Melitopol cherries

Due to the fact that the Melitopolskaya black cherry variety does not have the ability to self-pollinate, it is worth planting trees together with suitable pollinating plants, such as Surprise, Kurortnaya, Kosmicheskaya, Krupnoplodnaya or Bigaro Otarovsky. Cherries begin to bear fruit 4-6 years after planting in the growing area.

The Melitopol black cherry variety easily tolerates the most famous fungal diseases, such as moniliosis or cancer. It has high resistance to low temperatures, but when it drops to -20 degrees there is a possibility of serious damage to flower buds. Also, the variety does not tolerate late spring frosts that coincide with the moment of flowering.

Advantages and disadvantages

Melitopol cherries are winter-hardy, tolerate forced drought, have excellent yields and excellent fruit taste. The berries are distinguished by their commercial qualities and dietary properties. However, the Melitopol variety also has disadvantages:

• self-sterility;
• at very low winter temperatures, many flower buds freeze;
• spring frosts destroy most of the pistils.

For gardens and household plots, Melitopol cherries will be the right choice if they are cultivated in an area suitable for them. With proper crown formation and proper care, you can be sure of a huge harvest of large, sweet and healthy berries.

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Early Melitopol sweet cherry: description of the variety

Simultaneously with the first species, another variety was obtained - early Melitopol cherry. It was created by merging two similar species: Early Mark, Franz Joseph.

The fruits of the Melitopol early cherry variety are medium-sized, with an uneven surface, round, slightly flattened, and of a bright scarlet hue. The pulp is juicy, fleshy, with small white veins. The taste is sweet and sour; professional tasting score - 4.5 points. Cherries begin to bear fruit 2-3 years after planting. The berries ripen in the last quarter of May or early June. Due to the fact that the variety does not pollinate on its own, it requires pollinators that are suitable in all respects, such as Rubinovaya Rannyaya, Valery Chkalov, Bigaro Burlat.

Reproduction occurs either by grafting seedlings or by Magaleb rootstock. Suitable soil type is chernozem, saturated with oxygen; Plantings should be located away from groundwater. Before planting trees, it is worth adding some more fertilizer. The methods of planting and operating these two varieties have slight differences, but are generally similar.

It is necessary to water the Melitopol Early variety of cherries during the breeding season, with the exception of the moment when the berries ripen. The circles around the trunks should be left covered until the tree grows. Subsequently, gardeners can take advantage of grassing, that is, planting the space between the individuals with herbs. If excess weeds appear, they must be removed from the planting.

Photo and description

A detailed description of the variety and photos make it possible to distinguish Melitopol cherries from other species by characteristic features. It is precisely this that residents of the southern regions most often settle in their garden plots to obtain a harvest of healthy berries.

general description

Large-fruited cherries are the dream of any gardener. If at the same time it does not require much attention and shows sufficient resistance to diseases, then there will not be much trouble with cultivation. Black Melitopol is exactly the variety that thanks for minimal care with a generous harvest.

Advantages

Melitopol cherries have significant advantages, thanks to which they remain a favorite among gardeners for a long time. These include:

• increased drought resistance;
• frost resistance;
• high yield rates;
• excellent taste of fruits;
• good product characteristics;
• high resistance to diseases;
• low susceptibility to the negative effects of pests.

Flaws

Despite its great advantages, Melitopol cherries are not without some disadvantages:

• self-sterile tree;
• unsuitability for cultivation in harsh climates;
• when the temperature drops greatly in winter, flower buds die;
• During return frosts in the spring, most of the pistils are destroyed.

Bud

Melitopol cherries form small cone-shaped buds that do not tolerate return spring frosts.

Leaf and flower

The Melitopol leaf blade is large, with pointed ends and characteristic jagged edges, rich green in color.

The cherry blossom period occurs at the end of May. The petals are snow-white, open wide. The flowers themselves have a strong, pleasant aroma.

Fetus

Melitopol fruits are valued not only for their excellent taste, but also for their excellent commercial qualities, large size, and universal use.

Weight

Ripe cherries weigh about 8 g, but larger specimens are also found.

Height

The height of the Melitopol berry reaches 2.7 cm.

Width

The width of the fruit ranges from 2.5 to 3 cm.

Thickness

The wall thickness of cherry fruits is large; the pit occupies less than 5% of the total volume.

Color

When ripe, the flesh of Melitopolskaya acquires a beautiful dark red color, and its skin becomes red-black with a glossy sheen.

peduncle

The stalk of this cherry variety is medium in size and divided into 2-3 glands.

Bone

The Melitopol seed is small, occupies about 4.5% of the total volume of the fruit, and has a beige color.

History of selection

There are several varieties of Melitopol cherries: large-fruited mid-early black, large-fruited mid-late, red. They were bred by Ukrainian breeders for cultivation on the territory of Ukraine and differ in terms of ripening, appearance of trees and fruits. In the article we will focus on the most popular variety - large-fruited black early ripening. It was brought out by an employee of the Institute of Irrigated Horticulture (Melitopol, Ukraine) M. Oratorsky.

Reviews from gardeners about growing

With proper care, cherries will be very tasty (photo)

Valentina: I have been growing Melitopol cherries at my summer cottage for many years. I really like its taste and am pleased with its constant high yield. The trees do not require special care; I process and fertilize cherries in the same way as other fruit crops. The only negative for me is the height. My mature cherries have grown to 5-6 m. It is not very convenient to treat them against pests and pick the fruits.

Nikolai: I always wanted to grow cherries myself. When purchasing a seedling, I settled on the Melitopol Early variety. The tree has grown very quickly and really produces a high yield. Cherries look attractive and the flesh is sweet. The only negative is that the abundance of the harvest depends on fertilizing. It is imperative to fertilize the soil under the tree every year.

Vladimir: Early Melitopol cherry has been growing in my yard for about 8 years now. The tree is unpretentious, but new branches grow very quickly. Therefore, it must be constantly trimmed. The crown should especially not be allowed to thicken, as the cherries become small.

While watching the video you will learn about planting cherries.

Early Melitopol cherry is highly popular among gardeners. This crop does not require special care and at the same time produces a constant harvest of sweet, juicy fruits.

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Description and characteristics of the variety

Before choosing this variety, we suggest you get to know it better, learn about its preferences, necessary conditions, positive and negative qualities.

Tree

The tree of this cherry variety grows tall - up to 6 m. It is characterized by rapid growth rates. The crown has a wide-round shape. It is very thick. The branches are straight. Many large, broadly ovate-shaped leaves are formed on them. Their length is 16 cm, width - 9.5 cm. The flowers are white and consist of 5 petals.

Fruit

The berries of Melitopol cherries are large, weighing 6–8 g. They are round-oval in shape. The peel is characterized by density. It is thin and colored a very dark red. When fully ripe, it becomes almost black. The pulp is dark red in color. It is characterized by density, juiciness, cartilage, sweet taste with a slightly perceptible sourness.

According to the tasting scale, the berries were given 4.5 points. The bone is small, round in shape. Since the fruits have dense skin and pulp, they tolerate transportation well without losing their high taste and presentation. Even after full ripening, they hold tightly to the stalks and do not fall off. Another advantage of the berries is that they are not prone to cracking.

Pollinators

Since cherries are not capable of self-pollination, it is necessary to plant 1-2 representatives of varieties in the garden that are capable of pollinating them. In close proximity, no further than 50–60 m, you should place Cosmic, Resort, Black Daibera, Large-fruited, Surprise and others cherries, which bloom at the same time as the variety described in the article.

Frost resistance and productivity

Trees of the Melitopolskaya variety tolerate frosts down to –25°C well and recover quickly after them. Flowering occurs early. It usually falls on the 20th of May.

Fruiting begins in mid-June. The first harvest ripens 4 years after planting. Usually it is small. However, in subsequent years, the tree’s productivity increases rapidly and by the age of 16 it can reach 78 kg per plant.

Story

Disbandment of "Olkom"

The “Melitopol Cherry” team was created by the “Melitopol Cherry” trademark, the founder of which Sergei Minko (who later became the mayor of Melitopol) once played football himself.

In February 2011, due to financial problems, the Olkom football club, which played in Group B of the second league of the Ukrainian football championship and was the only professional football club in Melitopol, was disbanded. Some of the Olkom players joined the Melitopol Cherry team, in particular, Alexander Kapusta, Yuriy Rybalchenko, Vladimir Makarov, Evgeniy Tkachev, Yuriy Ponomarenko, Bogdan Bosetsky.

Alexander Kapusta, captain of Olkom and the first player to score 100 goals in the second league of Ukraine, also became captain of Melitopol Cherry. Former Olkomov member Yuri Rybalchenko became the team’s player-coach. Konstantin Dudchenko, also a former Olkom player and later a player for major league teams in Ukraine, Russia and Kazakhstan, also often plays for Melitopol Cherry in the Melitopol futsal championship, which occurs during the winter break in professional league games.

Season 2011

Even before the disbandment of Olkom, in January 2011, Melitopol Cherry became the champion of Melitopol in mini-football, winning 9 victories in 10 matches.

Melitopol Cherry then had a very successful season in the regional championship and became the champion ahead of schedule 3 games before the end of the championship, ultimately beating their closest rivals by 13 points.

In May 2011, Melitopol Cherry won the Zaporozhye Region Governor's Cup. And in November she also won the Melitopol Cup, beating the TSATU team in the final with a “hockey” score of 9:2.

Season 2012

The team started the year by winning the city mini-football championship.

The Zaporozhye region football championship in 2012 was held in 2 stages. First, 16 championship participants were divided into 2 divisions of 8 teams, and in each division the championship was played in 2 rounds. The first 4 teams of each division advanced to the regional premier league, and the teams that took 5-8 places entered the major league. “Melitopol Cherry” played the first stage of the championship poorly, taking 5th place in its division and ending up in the major league. Each league also held a championship in 2 rounds. Having lost only 1 match out of 14, Melitopol Cherry took first place in the major league of the Zaporozhye region.

In the spring of 2012, the team took part in the Zaporozhye Region Governor's Cup games. Having reached the final, Melitopol Cherry lost to Volnyanskaya Vector in a tense fight with a score of 2:3, becoming the silver medalist of the cup.

In November 2012, Melitopol Cherry won the Melitopol Cup for the second time.

Season 2013

In the Championship of the Zaporozhye region, the intrigue remained until the last match, and only after beating the Tavria-Skif team from Razdol on November 16, Melitopol Cherry was able to get one point ahead of the Vector team and become the regional champion for the second time.

In addition, the team won all city tournaments: Melitopol Championship, Melitopol Cup, Oleg Oleksenko Cup and Melitopol Mini-Football Championship.

Season 2014

The team started the season by winning the city futsal championship (for the fourth time in a row). The team came fourth at the regional championship.

Season 2015

At the beginning of the season, the team won the city mini-football championship for the fifth time in a row, and the city mini-football challenge cup remained with the team forever. After four rounds of the Zaporozhye region football championship, “Melitopol Cherry” headed the standings, but according to the results of the entire championship it was only fourth.

Selecting the best seedlings for planting

Seedlings should be purchased from trusted reserves or reputable specialized stores. When buying second hand, there is no guarantee that they will sell you exactly the variety that you want to plant.

When purchasing, preference should be given to planting material that is 1–2 years old, but not older. Adult specimens adapt less well to new conditions. Annual seedlings may not have branches. “Two-year-olds” should have several shoots formed.

Preparing a seedling for planting: - 1, 2 - normal length; 3, 4 - shortened. (The dashes indicate the cut line). It is necessary to carefully examine the root system of the planting material and pay attention to the condition of the bark. The roots must be strong and well developed. There should be no growths or spots on the root collar. A healthy seedling has smooth bark that is green when cut.

Landing Features

Choosing a good seedling

Planting material must be purchased before planting - then the roots (especially if the root system is open) will not have time to dry out. The best place to buy is a specialized nursery. When choosing a seedling, you need to inspect it and make sure that it has 3-4 branches at least 40 cm long, bark without growths and wrinkles, and healthy roots. The best age is 2 years, height is about 0.5 m.

Do we need pollinators?

Iput is a partially self-fertile cherry variety, so for optimal yield it is necessary to artificially pollinate or plant nearby other varieties - Tyutchevka, Revna, Bryanskaya rozovaya. The distance between trees should be at least 3 m, and between rows - about 5 m.

Place

To grow cherries, you need to choose a well-lit area of ​​the garden with loose sandy loam or loamy soil. Stagnant water is unfavorable for trees, so the groundwater level should be at least 2 m from the soil level.

Preparing the planting hole

2 weeks before planting the seedling, dig a hole with a diameter of 1 m and a depth of 0.8 m. Mix the earth with 4 buckets of humus, adding 250 g of superphosphate. Return this mixture to the pit.

Step by step landing

1. Inspect the roots of the seedling, cut off dry and damaged ones.
2. In the prepared area, dig a hole 0.8 m deep.
3. Form a mound at the bottom, place a peg in the middle (it will serve as a support in the future) and place a seedling next to it, spreading the roots along the slopes of the mound.
4. Sprinkle with soil, lightly tamping.
5. Tie the trunk to a peg.
6. Form a hole with a side around the tree.
7. Pour 30 liters of water.
8. Mulch with peat or humus.

The last stage of planting is mulching the soil near the trunk

Preparatory work and selection of a suitable location on the site

Melitopol cherry will be able to grow well and bear fruit only if it is provided with the necessary conditions - light, warmth, suitable soil.

Lighting

The place where the cherry will grow should be illuminated by sunlight most of the day. It must be protected from winds, especially from the north. It is advisable that the tree be covered by a building on this side.

Priming

The best soils for growing cherries are loamy, sandy loam, well-conducting soils for moisture and oxygen, and having a neutral or low acidity level. It is recommended to prepare the area for planting in the fall.

Preparation consists of thoroughly removing plant debris, deep digging and applying fertilizer. If the soil is acidic, then lime should be added to it. At this stage, the best fertilizer will be humus. You will need to add 2 buckets to the planting hole. The pit is equipped with a diameter of 80 cm and a depth of 70 cm.

Basic feeding methods

Regular feeding of cherries is necessary to stimulate tree growth and abundant fruiting. The quality of the fruit and its taste also depend on the nutritional composition of the soil.

The main feeding of cherries is carried out twice a year:

In early spring, in March, it is recommended to apply nitrogen-containing fertilizers to the cherries. The most commonly used is urea.

Proportions per square meter of area are calculated depending on the age of the tree: up to 3 years - 40 g, 4-5 years - 130 g, for trees older than 5 years 170 g. Granules are scattered at a distance of 0.5-0.7 m from the trunk .

Late autumn. In order not to activate the growth of young shoots, nutritional components must be added just before frost, in October or early November. During this period, the soil is enriched with both mineral and organic fertilizers.

With this feeding, rotted manure, compost, and peat are used. They are scattered under the crown in a layer of 7-10 cm and dug up the tree trunk area. Also in the fall, mixtures containing nitrogenous fertilizers and superphosphates are added to the soil.

Cherry ripening (photo)

If the soil on the site is very depleted, it is recommended to add additional nutrients in the summer season. After harvesting, in the second or third decade of July, foliar feeding is carried out.

It uses potassium and phosphorus fertilizers. In August, mineral fertilizer is also applied to the tree in the form of a mullein solution. It is diluted with water in a ratio of 1:8.

When fertilizing cherries, nutrient mixtures are selected depending on climatic conditions, crop volume and soil composition.

Features of care

In order for the cherry tree to delight you with a bountiful and tasty harvest every year, it needs to be provided with high-quality care in the form of watering, loosening, weeding, mulching, fertilizing, pruning, shelter for the winter, prevention and treatment of diseases and pests.

Watering, loosening

Trees of the Melitopol variety tolerate short droughts well. However, it is still important for them to establish the correct watering regime. During the season you will need to make at least 4 humidifications. They are needed before the flowers bloom, after flowering, during the appearance of the ovaries, in October. For 1 m² it is necessary to consume 20–30 liters of water. The soil should be moistened 30–40 cm deep.

Each moistening should be combined with loosening and mulching. Loosen the soil shallowly. This procedure allows you to improve the quality of the soil and improve the supply of moisture and oxygen to the root system. Peat, humus, hay, and sawdust are used as mulch. It is laid in the tree trunk area to inhibit the growth of weeds and conserve moisture. This procedure allows you to reduce the number of weedings and waterings.

Top dressing

Fertilizer application begins in the third year after planting. Until then, the tree will have enough of the substances that were added to the planting hole. In spring, nitrogen-containing fertilizers will be needed, for example urea (200–300 g); in autumn - potassium and phosphorus containing: superphosphate (400 g), potassium salt (200 g).

Preventative treatment

The Melitopol cherry variety is characterized by resistance to moniliosis and gray rot. It must be protected from other diseases by observing preventive measures. In the fall, you should thoroughly clean the tree trunk area of ​​plant debris and dig it well. In the spring, preventative spraying will be required.

They should be carried out in early spring, before sap flow begins. It is recommended to use urea solution (700 g/10 l), copper sulfate (100 g/10 l), Bordeaux mixture (3%), iron sulfate (300 g/10 l), Fitoverm, Healthy Garden preparations. Birds cause great damage to berries. Trees can be protected from them with nets or covering material.

Trimming

Cherries, like other fruit trees, require annual pruning. They are necessary for two purposes: sanitary and formative. The crown is formed on a plant that has not reached five years of age. In the future, only sanitary and supporting trimmings are required. For Melitopol cherries, the most suitable pruning is like a Spanish bush.

It is produced as follows:

In summer, form skeletal branches by removing all shoots, leaving only 4, placed on top and growing in different directions.

When the skeletal branches reach a length of 50 cm, trim them so that their length is at the same level.

Remove vertical shoots (tops) as necessary.

In the flowering phase, cut second-order branches to 30 cm.

In the summer, when third-order growth appears and reaches a length of half a meter, fix the lower shoots on them horizontally with stakes. Trim all other shoots to 30 cm.

Preparing for winter

Preparation for winter involves water-replenishing watering, whitewashing, covering and mulching. In October, moisture-charging humidification is carried out. This procedure is necessary so that after the water in the upper layers of the soil freezes, the plant feeds on the moisture remaining in the depths. One tree requires about 100 liters of water.

Whitewashing is carried out before the onset of the first frost. It protects cherries from diseases, pests, sunlight, frost damage, and cracks in the bark. For it, you need to purchase a solution in a specialized store or mix it from fluff lime (300 g), PVA glue (2 tbsp.) or milk (0.5 tbsp.), water (2 l), copper sulfate (1 tbsp. l.), dust (1 tbsp.).

Heat-loving cherries require mandatory shelter. This is especially true for young trees under 5 years of age. The trunk is wrapped in agrofibre, roofing felt, spruce branches, and burlap. The tree trunk area is mulched with peat in a layer of 30 cm.

Disease and pest control

Melitopol sweet cherry usually resists diseases well.

But if there are errors in agricultural technology, it can be affected by the following ailments:

1. Coccomycosis. It manifests itself in the formation of spots on the foliage and the falling of leaves. Treatment is carried out by spraying with “Skor” (2 ml/10 l), “Chorus” (3 ml/10 l).

2. Clusterosporiasis. When infected, holes and spots appear on the leaves. They fight the disease with the drugs “Hom” (40 g/10 l), “Ridomil” (20 g/10 l).

The following harmful insects pose a danger to cherry trees:

1. Weevil . Harmful to flowers, leaves and ovaries. To get rid of the insect, insecticides are used, which are applied after flowering. Treatments with karbofos (70 g / 10 l of water), trichlorometaphos-3 (70 g / 10 l) are also effective.
2. Aphid. The invasion of this insect occurs from May to July. You can tell that it has affected the trees by the wilted leaves. To get rid of the parasite, spray with garlic infusion, Fufanon (10 ml/10 l), Confidor (1.5 g/10 l), Fitoverm (1.5 ml/10 l) preparations.

3. Mol . Attacks cherries in May. Damages the kidneys. Treatments on buds with Confidor (1.5 g/10 l), Fitoverm (1.5 ml/10 l) are effective against insects.
4. cherry fly. In May–June it damages berries. They fight it with the drugs “Actellik” (2 ml/2 l), “Fufanon” (10 ml/10 l), “Karate” (4 ml/10 l).

Step-by-step planting technology

Cherries are usually planted in the spring - in early April. When planted in spring, the tree will have time to get stronger, adapt and prepare for the winter cold. Autumn planting is allowed only in regions with warm winters, provided there is good insulation. At this time, it is better to plant planting material with a closed root system, which is moved to a permanent place by transshipment - without destroying the earthen coma.

Familiarize yourself with the rules for planting cherry seedlings in the spring.

Planting a seedling is done as follows:

1. 2–3 weeks before planting, the soil extracted when digging a hole is mixed with superphosphate (300 g), potassium sulfate (100 g), and wood ash (1 kg).
2. On the day of planting, the seedling is inspected and, if necessary, damaged roots are removed.
3. If the roots are dry, place them in a bucket of water for 2 hours.
4. A garter stake is installed in the hole.
5. Two-thirds of the hole is filled with fertilized soil, forming it into a hill.
6. The root system of the seedling is placed on the hill so that the neck rises 5–7 cm above the soil level.
7. The voids are filled with earth.
8. Compact the soil so that it settles a little.
9. Irrigation is carried out using 20–30 liters of water.
10. Tie the trunk of the seedling to the stake.
11. Cover the tree trunk area with mulch.

Fruit tree planting scheme. If you plan to plant several trees, then there should be a distance of 3.5–4 m between them. From the nearest building or barriers, you need to maintain a distance of 4.5–5 m.

Harvest and storage

The berries should be harvested when their pulp becomes juicy, the skin turns dark red, but the stalk remains green. The most sugar and juice are in fruits that are almost black in color. The fruits are carefully harvested by hand or using scissors. The stalk is left on the berries. This way they will last longer. If you plan to immediately put the fruits into processing, then you don’t have to leave the stalks.

Collection and storage are carried out in plastic boxes. It is important, before placing the berries for transportation or storage, to inspect them and remove any damaged, rotten or stained ones. In cold conditions, cherries can be stored for up to 2 weeks. The Melitopol variety berry is suitable for fresh consumption and for processing - making compotes, jam, canning. To preserve healthy fruits for the winter, they can be frozen.

So, early Melitopol cherries have a number of positive characteristics that allow them to be grown both for personal purposes and for sale. Among them are the formation of a large number of large, appetizing-looking berries with an expressive taste, high frost resistance, and the ability of the fruit to withstand transportation well.

Ways to control pests and diseases

There are several diseases that Melitopol cherries are susceptible to.

Melitopol black cherry (video)

Different varieties of cherries from the Melitopol selection differ from each other, but they are all frost-resistant and produce a good harvest. The fruits are sweet and large. There are several varieties of cherries.

Melitopol black cherry variety description

This variety is also called bird cherry, as birds love to feast on it.

The tree grows up to six meters, the crown is spherical, with a large number of branches and leaves.

The leaves are large, ovate, pointed at the ends.

The flowers are white, five-petaled, and appear in May.

The tree bears fruit already in the fourth year after planting. The fruits are large and red when they ripen, appearing almost black, with a reddish tint. Acidity is low, 12 -13%. The pulp is elastic, juicy, burgundy in color. The berries are easily separated from the stalk and transported successfully.

The disadvantage is the need for other trees for pollination . First of all, Surprise and Large-fruited are suitable; Cosmic and Resort are also used.

Early Melitopol sweet cherry variety description + photo

The Melitopol early cherry variety has its own advantages. This is a tall tree up to 7 meters with brown branches.

Cherry blossoms begin to bloom before the buds open. The flowers are collected in umbrella inflorescences, several in each.

Melitopol black cherry

Melitopol black cherry is one of the best mid-late varieties, common in the south of Russia, Moldova and Ukraine. It is of industrial importance in these regions. It was bred at the Institute of Irrigated Horticulture in the Zaporozhye region, the author is registered breeder M.T. Oratovsky.

The parent form is French black seedlings, the new one was created by open pollination. It has been in the State Register since 1977, zoned in the North Caucasus region. During this time, cherries received many positive reviews.

Melitopol black

The variety is recommended for cultivation in the southern regions and the North Caucasus District. People call Melitopol cherries Bird Cherries and Sweet Cherries because of the great love of birds for them, which destroy up to 40% of the harvest.

Description

Melitopol black cherry grows quickly, often reaching a height of 6 m. The spreading, dense crown of a spherical contour is densely leafy, formed by raised branches.

Cherry Melitopol

The foliage is serrated and has pointed tips. It will take a seedling only 4 years to produce its first harvest. Black cherries are well preserved and suitable for transportation. That is why Melitopol cherries were cultivated on an industrial scale.

Berries

Ripe berries have a dark, almost black color. All are covered with barely noticeable gray specks. In their native region, cherries ripen from mid-June. Fruit sugar content is more than 13%, acidity is minimal.

Sweet cherries are large with thin but fairly dense skin, about 8 g, but they are also found weighing 12 g. Ripe fruits can stay on the branches for almost a month without rotting or falling off. They come off the stalk easily without damage.

The dark red flesh is elastic; when crushed, a rich burgundy juice is released. The bone is small and comes off effortlessly.

Cherry berry

Pollination, yield

This cherry variety is cross-pollinated. In order for the ovary to appear, other cherries or sweet cherries are needed in the neighborhood. The only condition is that the trees bloom at the same time. The best pollinators are Large-fruited, Surprise. The varietal crops Kurortnaya, Kosmicheskaya, and Daibera black pollinate well.

Important! The characteristics of the Melitopol cherry guarantee an average yield of an adult tree of 16 years (almost 80 kg).

Description

The fruits are very beautiful, large, equal in size, weighing 6-8 grams, oval in shape. The skin is shiny dark burgundy, which is where the name of the variety comes from. Numerous subcutaneous points appear on the surface.

The pulp is elastic, fleshy, dark red, the juice is also cherry color. The bone is small. The stalk is easily detachable. Resistant to cracking and shedding. The taste is wonderful, richly sweet, with barely noticeable harmonious acid.

Ripening of Melitopol black at the latitude of breeding occurs in the second ten days of June. At the most active age, at about 16 years old, up to 80 kilograms of fruit are harvested from one tree. The yield is regular; the trees do not take breaks to rest. In industrial plantings it is possible to collect by mechanization.

Transportability is good. The purpose is universal: cherries are very tasty fresh and are a high-grade raw material for processing.

Trees of great growth vigor, powerful, tall, up to 6 meters. The crown has a spherical outline, formed by raised branches and densely leafed. The leaves are jagged, pointed at the ends.

a brief description of

Pollinators and care

Due to self-sterility, the variety should be planted in combination with pollinators, for example, Bigaro Otarovsky, Krupnoplodnaya, Kurortnaya, Kosmicheskaya, Surprise. It begins to bear fruit 4-6 years after planting.

Melitopol Black has high resistance to such common diseases as bacterial cancer and moniliosis. Winter hardiness is also good, but at frosts above -20°C the flower buds are damaged quite severely. Does not like return frosts that occur during flowering.

general characteristics

Melitopolskaya is a variety with an average harvest ripening period. The fruits begin to be harvested in mid-June. Also, to obtain a bountiful harvest, it is necessary to plant pollinating varieties nearby. The first fruits are enjoyed 5 years after the seedling is planted in the garden.

Taste qualities

Melitopolskaya has excellent taste. The fruits have the perfect balance of sweetness and acidity. Tasters rate their merits at 4.9 points.

Nutrient content

The Melitopol variety of cherries is a real storehouse of vitamins and nutrients. It contains:

• zinc;
• copper;
• manganese;
• cobalt;
• iron;
• phosphorus;
• magnesium.

The predominant vitamins in cherries are B1, B2, B6, B9, A, E, P and, of course, vitamin C.

Tree height and growth rate

The Melitopolskaya tree grows very quickly and rapidly, but its height does not exceed 3 m, which allows harvesting without special equipment.

Flowering and ripening period

Melitopol cherry blossoms begin in mid-May, and the harvest ripens in the second half of June. The fruits ripen together, almost simultaneously.

Productivity

An adult cherry tree of the Melitopol variety, subject to the conditions of agricultural technology and proper shaping, can produce up to 80 kg of high-quality ripe fruit.

Transportability

Dense pulp and skin make cherries suitable for transportation over long distances without loss of commercial qualities.

Frost resistance

Cherry of this variety has good frost resistance. In winter, it can withstand temperatures as low as -25 °C.

Disease resistance

Melitopol has increased resistance to moniliosis and gray rot. It is affected by fungal infections only in conditions of high humidity and in the absence of preventive treatments. But the plant needs mandatory prevention against coccomycosis.

The most common pests that attack cherries are:

• cherry fly;
• caterpillar;
• aphid;
• kidney weevil;
• sawfly.

Variety Melitopol early

The same research institute also bred the early Melitopol cherry. It was obtained by crossing the varieties Franz Joseph and Early Mark.

Medium-sized fruits are bright red, lumpy, flat-round in shape. White veins are visible in the pulp. The taste is sweet and sour, rated by tasters at 4.5 points. Fruiting is mixed and occurs 3 years after planting. Harvesting occurs at the end of May - beginning of June. The self-sterile variety is pollinated by others that bloom at similar times: Bigaro Burlat, Valery Chkalov, Rubinovaya early.

Cherries are propagated by grafting onto seedlings, most often - magolebki. Soils that are best suited are aerated, without nearby groundwater, and fertile. Before planting the garden, they are further enriched. Planting and care methods for both varieties are practically no different.

Watering is carried out during the entire growing season, except for the ripening of fruits. The tree trunk circles are kept mulched while the plants are small. In the future, you can sow grass between the trees; this technique is called grassing. If weeds appear in the early stages of growth, they have to be weeded.

How the variety was bred

This variety was obtained thanks to the work of Ukrainian breeders from the city of Melitopol. It is to this place that the cherry tree owes its name. A feature of these climatic conditions is a long, dry summer and little snow in the winter. The resulting plant is best adapted to such conditions.

Today there are 3 varieties of Melitopol cherries known:

• black (registered 1969), obtained by pollinating the French black variety;
• early (registered in 1976), bred by crossing the Franz Joseph and Early Mark varieties;
• red (registered in 1996).

These varieties differ not only in the external characteristics of the fruits, but also in the timing of their ripening. For the first time, a famous breeder from the Institute began working on obtaining this variety. M. F. Sidorenko UAAN M. T. Oratovsky.

Feeding

Cherries are fertilized like other fruit trees: in the spring - with nitrogen, later - with potassium compounds, and in the second half of summer or autumn - with superphosphate. By pruning, a sparse crown is formed, and dry, broken branches growing inward are removed. To combat diseases and pests, preventive and therapeutic spraying is carried out. These manipulations are known to every gardener.

For early cherries, you will additionally have to take care of protection from birds. To do this, a special net is placed over the crown or various repellent devices are hung.

About diseases and pests of Melitopol black

Melitopol black does not suffer from moniliosis, and is not afraid of gray rot. The fruits are more likely to dry out on the branches and turn into dried fruits than to rot. All fungal diseases develop in conditions of high humidity, and the south of Russia is famous for its warm and dry summers. Therefore, it is not surprising that gardeners’ reviews of the variety do not mention diseases. But many people complain about birds, which spoil up to 40% of the harvest or more.

There are two effective ways to protect against feathered pests:

1. Mesh or covering material. The cherry tree needs to be wrapped entirely; clever birds can fly in from below or into any crevice.
2. Mulberry. Plant this tree on your property or behind a fence. Birds will not be interested in cherries until they eat the mulberries.

There are testers who have verified the effectiveness of the ultrasonic mouse repeller. Also, bioacoustic devices of the brands Korshun, Sapsan and others are now actively advertised. Shiny discs, scarecrows, Christmas tree decorations, spinning plastic bottles have already proven their uselessness. Our feathered friends quickly recognize inanimate objects and stop reacting to them.

Watering and fertilizing cherries

A young seedling does not need fertilizing before it begins to bear fruit; what is added to the planting hole is enough. But the young tree needs to be watered regularly, with such frequency that the soil is always moist. The watering rate is 2-3 buckets for every square meter of the tree trunk circle, which will grow in proportion to the crown as the tree ages. From the year of fruiting, start applying fertilizers.

Combine fertilizing with watering. These two agricultural practices can increase productivity. Water the cherries:

• during the budding period;
• during the growth of the ovaries, when they grow to the size of a pea;
• in the fall, before frost.

If the weather is hot and dry for more than a week, then organize additional watering. Water mature trees in a furrow up to 20 cm deep, which must be made around the circumference of the crown.

Video: watering cherries in a furrow

Combine the first and last watering with fertilizing. In the spring, scatter 200-300 g of urea along the furrow, and in the fall - 400 g of superphosphate and 200 g of potassium salt. Before the onset of cold weather, cover the tree trunk circle with a layer of humus or compost (5–10 cm). Cherry roots will receive protection from the cold and nutrition, which they will begin to absorb in the spring. In addition, once every 5 years you need to deoxidize the soil by adding fluff lime or dolomite flour. The standards depend on the acidity of the soil and are written on the packaging.

Indicators for determining soil acidity can be purchased at pharmacies, pet stores, chemical departments, etc. To do a soil analysis, dig a hole with a shovel bayonet, scrape the soil from its walls, dilute the dirt with rainwater from an irrigation barrel and dip litmus paper into this solution. Compare the color with the indicator scale that should be included in the kit.

Reviews

During the existence of the variety, many gardeners have personally tried Melitopol cherries, growing them in their own gardens. Of course they are willing to share feedback.

Marina Eduardovna: “After studying reviews on the Internet, I decided to purchase two varieties of cherries for the garden: Melitopol and Valery Chkalov. We had to wait a long time for the harvest. When they managed to collect the first fruits, the whole family was very happy: the cherries grew unusually large, sweet and beautiful to look at. There was no big hassle with leaving. We limited ourselves to molding the crown, applying fertilizers and systematic watering. They did not treat for diseases, so as not to once again pollute the earth with chemicals. But I planted flowers with a strong aroma around the perimeter to repel pests.”

Nikolai Grigorievich: “I’ve been growing Melitopol for a long time. There was no need to plant a pollinator, because two varieties of cherries grow on the neighboring plot. I would like to note that in our gardening community there are problems with water supply, so it is not possible to water the garden regularly. But even in such difficult conditions, the tree produces a stable harvest of fruit every year. We eat part of the harvest fresh, and from the rest we make small preparations for the winter.”

Nina Sergeevna: “I planted Melitopolskaya on the advice of friends. After 4 years, the tree produced its first harvest. The soil on my site is depleted, so I constantly have to apply fertilizers and feed the cherries. If this is not done in time, the fruits become smaller and the plant sheds some of the ovaries. Over the course of several years, I have already gotten used to this regime and try to feed on time. The variety suits me: the harvest is enough not only to provide a family of 3 people with fresh cherries, but also to make preparations.”

Source

Secrets of care

To get a good harvest, it is important not only to plant a tree, but also to be able to properly care for it.

Watering

A young cherry seedling requires that the soil around it be constantly moist. This can be achieved through regular watering. An adult tree especially needs watering during the following periods:

Water is poured into the irrigation furrow, which should be done in advance. Its size corresponds to the crown radius.

Top dressing

Immediately after planting, Melitopol cherries do not need fertilizing. Fertilizers are applied for the first time after the tree begins to bear fruit. In the spring, you will need to incorporate urea into the soil, and in the fall, use urea and potassium. Before the onset of cold weather, a layer of organic matter is poured into the tree trunk circle: compost or humus. In areas with acidic soil, a small amount of lime or dolomite flour is applied every 5 years .

Pruning using the Spanish bush method

Since Soviet times, the following method of growing a tree has been used: the crown of the cherry tree is formed according to the principle of a sparse layer: a tree with one main trunk up to 7 m high. However, over the years, fruiting deteriorated, the berries were set almost at the very top and it was problematic to collect them. Modern technologies make it possible to restrain the growth of green mass and direct the forces of Melitopol cherries to the formation of ovaries.

When the crown is formed using the popular Spanish bush type method, the height of the plant does not exceed 3 m, and harvesting is carried out without special equipment.

In the first year, the seedling is pruned at a height of a maximum of 0.7 m. Over the summer, side branches will grow on it. Of these, the 4 strongest are left, growing in different directions upward, and the rest are pinched. As soon as the length of the remaining main branches reaches 0.5 m, they are cut off at the same level. The tops that grow after such pruning of cherries should be regularly cut out.

In the second year, all main shoots of the second order are shortened to 0.3 m so that they are at the same level. In mid-summer, third-order growths should already reach a height of 0.5 m. They are pulled to a horizontal position using weights, and the remaining young shoots are trimmed to a length of 0.3 m. In the third and subsequent years, the cherry tree will already be formed. You will only need to periodically shorten the branches that extend beyond the crown and do a little thinning.

Prevention from birds

To prevent Melitopol cherries from becoming a delicacy for birds, by the time the fruits ripen, a small fishing net or other similar material is thrown over it. If the tree is small, then a frame is first built for these purposes.