Sweet cherry Skazka: description and characteristics of the variety, planting and care, photo

Description of the variety

Cherry fruits Fairy Tale

Many summer residents and gardeners prefer the Skazka cherry variety, noting the unique taste properties of the fruit and the winter hardiness of the seedlings. The ripe fruit has a characteristic garnet-red hue (sometimes even black) and a very sweet taste. The pulp is homogeneous, fairly dense consistency.

Skazka is one of the relatively new varieties of cherries, bred quite recently. It was obtained by crossing varieties such as Valery Chkalov and Drogana Zheltaya. As a result, breeders received a new “black” cherry variety, with large fruits, the weight of which can reach 14 g or even more.

The fruits ripen relatively early, which is very beneficial for professional gardeners selling berries. Already in May you can safely harvest. Skazka is considered one of the high-yielding varieties. In the third year, the gardener will be pleased with a harvest of approximately 3-5 kg, the fourth 20-25 kg, and the fifth – up to 30 kg of aromatic deep red berries.

History of selection

The Skazka variety was obtained as a result of the breeding activities of scientists from the Melitopol Institute.
For crossing, two varieties of cherries were used - Drogana Yellow and Valery Chkalov. The new variety has improved many characteristics of its predecessors, the main ones being the large size of the fruits.

Selection and planting of seedlings

Cherry seedlings of the Skazka variety, just like other varieties, are recommended to be planted in spring or autumn.

It is important that the air temperature is firmly established at the positive mark, otherwise there is a high risk of seedling death. It is recommended to choose planting sites protected from the wind.

If you intend to plant a tree near buildings and structures, it is better to choose a sunny, south-facing location.

Cherries love the sun and light very much, so on the shady side they can quickly die or not produce a harvest.

And the way

Spreading cherry tree with a dense pyramidal crown. The flowers are large, collected in “bundles” of 3-4 pieces. The berries are medium-sized, heart-shaped. They are dark red in color and when ripe they become almost black. Iput cherries are good for making juices and jams. With proper care, the tree produces an incredible harvest and can withstand cold winters well.

Rules of care

Planting a cherry seedling

This variety is not afraid of cold weather, so it can be safely grown not only in the southern regions, but also in central Russia, as well as in Ukraine.

The tree must be watered and fertilized with phosphorus fertilizers in preparation for the winter season. It is easy to care for, is not afraid of parasites, and is resistant to most diseases that often affect fruit and berry trees.

Care should include a clear watering schedule, approximately 10 liters of water per tree:

• the first - in the spring before the buds open;
• the second - two weeks after flowering;
• third - two weeks before harvesting the fruits;
• the fourth - in October-early November.

Prevention

Let's get acquainted with the diseases of this fruit crop and find out how to solve the problems.

Clusterosporiasis

This fungal disease causes small brown spots to appear on the leaves of the cherry tree, which then become holes. It is recommended to fight the disease with Bordeaux mixture: spraying should be carried out in two stages.

As a preventive measure in the spring, spray the crown of the cherry tree with Nitrafen. The kidneys should not yet open at the time of the procedure.

Moniliosis

Also a fungus, leading to drying of buds, ovaries, and rotting of fruits. In this case, treatment with the drug HOM (copper oxychloride) is suitable as an effective method of treatment. To avoid disease, treat cherries with Bordeaux mixture (0.5%) in the spring.

Cherry aphid

This pest causes considerable damage to fruit trees - cherries and cherries. Aphid larvae suck juices from young foliage, causing the blades to curl and dry out. Treating the cherry tree with Confidor will help get rid of the scourge.

Reviews from gardeners

Cherry branch Fairy tale

The Skazka variety is becoming increasingly popular among summer residents and gardeners. If you carefully study their reviews regarding this variety, you will notice that almost everyone notes such qualities as:

• unpretentiousness and high degree of survivability of seedlings;
• possibility of growing in the middle zone;
• high resistance to cold;
• early harvest;
• high productivity;
• excellent taste and high demand in the market.

You can read about the Ovstuzhenka cherry variety here.

You may also find this article useful on how to care for cherries.

On average, the life and fruiting period of the variety ranges from 90-110 years. The fruits tolerate transportation well and are stored well frozen.

How to prune one-year-old cherries correctly, see this video:

Silvia

Sylvia is a columnar cherry variety, so it is compact and does not take up much space in the garden. The tree grows no more than 2.5-3 m in height. The trunk has almost no side branches, all shoots grow vertically. The crown is cylindrical and practically does not require annual pruning. The flowers are able to withstand night frosts down to –2°C.

The fruits are large, dark red in color. The skin is dense, glossy, and resistant to cracking. The pulp is rich red, juicy, dense, with small veins. Has a sweet taste. Berries can be stored in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.

Description of culture

Early cherry Skazka, due to its good cold resistance, is recommended for cultivation both in the southern territories and in the conditions of central Russia.

The glossy fruits have a round, slightly elongated shape and are colored a rich garnet-red color, sometimes very dark, almost black. The homogeneous pulp with a dense juicy consistency has a pleasant sweet taste with a hint of honey. The Skazka variety is especially valuable because of its rather large size and weight of up to 12 grams. The bone is small.

Read also: Cladosporiosis of tomato: methods of control and drugs for treatment

The average height of the Skazka cherry tree is 3.5 – 4 meters. As it grows, it forms a dense crown with a characteristic pyramidal shape.

Oval leaf blades with sharp tops and jagged edges have a slightly wrinkled surface. Their various shades provide the tree with a high degree of decorativeness throughout the entire growing season.

Farewell

A vigorous tree with a slightly spreading crown. The fruits are very large, slightly flattened. When fully ripe they are dark red. The pulp is dense, yellowish in color. The bone separates well. The taste of the fruit is sweet and wine, the aroma is very strong.

Thanks to their thick skin, the berries have good transportability. The variety is valued for the universal purpose of its fruits, but most often they are consumed fresh.

Characteristics

The large-fruited Skazka cherry, being a successful result of targeted selection, has received improved characteristics of its predecessors.

Drought resistance, winter hardiness

The tree easily tolerates temperatures down to -25˚C, which makes the Skazka cherry popular in areas with unstable climatic conditions in the center of Russia.

For flowering cherries, severe night frosts can pose a danger, negatively affecting the buds.

With good indicators of drought resistance, the crop requires timely watering, which has a beneficial effect on the activation of fruiting.

Pollination, flowering period and ripening time

Since the Skazka cherry is a representative of self-sterile varieties, when breeding it, it is necessary to provide for the placement in the vicinity of varieties that can provide the pollination necessary for the formation of large berries.

Pollinators suitable for the growing season for the Skazka cherry are Tyutchevka, Ovstuzhenka, Iput.

In warm climates, flowering trees decorate the garden already in mid-April. Gardeners are attracted by such a characteristic of the Skazka cherry variety as early fruiting. Fragrant ripe berries begin to be picked from the branches in May.

Productivity, fruiting

Planted seedlings of the Skazka variety begin to bear fruit at the age of five. From young trees you can remove 5 kg of fruit.

As the fruit crop develops, the yield increases. An adult Skazka cherry plant produces an average of 30 kg of excellent large berries.

Area of ​​application of berries

The collection of fully ripe Skazka cherries is carried out with care to avoid deformation of the juicy drupes.

They are consumed fresh, appreciating the piquant honey sweetness. They are most often prepared in the form of compotes, jams, jelly, and marmalade.

Resistance to diseases and pests

The Skazka cherry, even under unfavorable conditions with high atmospheric humidity, demonstrates good resistance to infections characteristic of this fruit crop.

This variety is rarely affected by pests, which allows for a stable annual harvest.

Advantages and disadvantages

Gardeners who have experience growing early cherries Skazka appreciate its many advantages:

• winter hardiness;
• the excellent taste of dense honey berries, distinguished by their large dimensions and spectacular dark skin with a pomegranate tint;
• fairly abundant and stable yield;
• good transportability;
• resistance of berries to cracking;
• rare damage by harmful insects and diseases.

A minor disadvantage of this fruit crop is the need to plant a number of pollinating varieties.

Disease and pest control

Despite Skazka’s resistance to diseases and pests, it is, of course, impossible to say that such problems completely bypass the tree. In particular, cherries can suffer from the following troubles:

However, since the immunity of the variety is quite stable, to prevent diseases and pests it is enough to adhere to general sanitary recommendations for garden care (in autumn, remove plant debris from the entire area around the tree, do not leave fruits either on or under the cherry tree, monitor the condition of the trunk, if necessary, treat it and whitewash it, fight weeds and ants - the main carriers of aphids), and also carry out preventive treatment of the tree in the spring with insecticidal and fungicidal preparations.

Read more about the fight against cherry diseases.

If you do all this on time, you can select a treatment agent that is minimally toxic, in this case you can not only keep the crop environmentally friendly, but also prevent harm to the environment (including bees, which are the main pollinators of the garden).

In particular, spring spraying of cherries is carried out with such preparations as:

• Bordeaux mixture or copper sulfate (both products have the same active ingredient);
• urea (at the same time will provide nitrogen fertilizing);
• “Brunka” (a modern drug that has a complex fungicidal, insecticidal and acaricidal effect, and is not very aggressive);
• "Mikosan" (biofungicide, harmless to both warm-blooded animals and insects).

Landing Features

Although the Skazka cherry is considered an unpretentious crop, when planting it, it is necessary to take into account the characteristics characteristic of this variety.

Recommended timing

Saplings of early ripening cherries Skazka are planted in prepared areas after winter before sap flow. It is important to choose periods when the night temperature does not drop to below zero and the soil has warmed up sufficiently. The advantage is the ability to prepare a young tree for the winter season, so the spring planting season is recommended for central Russia.

Strong, with well-developed rhizomes, Skazka cherry seedlings successfully take root when planted in autumn in warm southern territories. They have time to adapt to new conditions and become sufficiently strong before the winter cold.

Choosing a suitable location

To grow Skazka cherries, select an elevated area that is not subject to flooding. The place should be sunny and have protection from the north.

This crop prefers fertile and loose soil. Cherry Skazka develops poorly on clay soil and poor sandy loam.

What crops can and cannot be planted next to cherries?

To ensure the predicted yield, you should carefully select the plants adjacent to the Skazka cherry.

Cherries, which can participate in the pollination process, bring undoubted benefits. Crops such as rowan and hawthorn do not hinder the development.

It is not recommended to grow raspberries or sloe next to cherries. They create unfavorable conditions for apple, plum, and pear trees. These fruit trees must be at least 6 meters away from the cherries.

Selection and preparation of planting material

Skazka cherry seedlings are carefully inspected at the acquisition stage. They should be free of signs of disease, damage to shoots and bark, and dry branches.

Trees with elastic, developed roots take root well. The buds on the branches should be well defined and dense. The vaccination site is examined. On a viable cherry seedling Skazka it is neat, without sagging or rough cracks.

Read also: Japanese and Chinese method of growing tomato seedlings - what is the essence and advantages

On the eve of planting, if necessary, shorten the roots slightly and cut out dry shoots. The planting material is kept in a growth stimulant solution for two hours.

Landing algorithm

If you plan to plant several Skazka cherry seedlings, mark the selected area so that there is a gap of at least 3 meters between the trees.

Planting algorithm:

1. Before planting cherries, planting holes with a diameter of about a meter and an average depth of 80 cm are prepared 14 days in advance.
2. The excavated soil is mixed with rotted compost in equal volumes. Add the same volume of sand to heavy loam. Sandy loam is enriched with organic matter and mineral complex.
3. A wooden or metal support is strengthened into the bottom. Lay the drainage and add a little soil substrate, forming a mound.
4. Place the cherry seedling vertically, straightening the roots, and fill the hole with the prepared soil mixture in layers, lightly compacting them. Make sure that the root collar is above the surface.

The young tree is tied to a support with soft twine and watered. Mulch with dry humus or leaves.

Cherry "Bull's Heart": characteristics of the variety, the best pollinators

Cherry - this garden tree is found in almost every garden plot. Many people love its fruits for their wonderful rich sweet taste and juiciness. Of course, any gardener, even the most experienced one, strives to grow only the best varieties of crops on his plot, and cherries are no exception. Today we will present you with a description and pollinators of one of the most popular varieties of cherries called Bull's Heart, according to reviews from gardeners.

Cherry variety Bull's heart: characteristics, advantages and disadvantages, best pollinators

This variety of cherry gets its name from the shape of its fruit. The variety is actually the record holder for fruit size among all cherry varieties grown in Russia.

The trees of this cherry tree are small in height; the crown grows compressed, with not very dense foliage. The tree's shoots are straight and light brown in color. Fully ripened cherry fruits have a round, slightly flattened shape and a dark red (wine) color, closer to black. The pulp of the fruit is red, not very dark, quite dense and juicy. The fruits have a delicately sweet, very pleasant taste.

You can eat the ripe fruits of the “Bull's Heart” cherries either fresh or prepare excellent compotes and jams from them: they will have a wonderful sweet taste with a slight sourness and a deep red color.

Almost all varieties of cherries (and Oxheart is no exception) are self-sterile, meaning that without outside help they will not be able to set fruit because their own pollen is “sterile.” Therefore, for high-quality pollination of cherries, several trees should be planted at a distance of at least 4 m from each other. At the same time, it is not necessary to plant trees of the same variety - the main thing is to use high-quality pollinators as neighbors. Among all the varieties of cherries, these are the following: Ovstuzhenka, Tyutchevka, Iput.

Let's consider the main advantages of the Bull's Heart cherry variety:

• excellent taste characteristics of the fruit and their considerable size;
• very high resistance to low temperatures (and even severe frosts);
• immunity to one of the most common cherry diseases - coccomycosis;
• very high yields.

Despite all its attractiveness, the Bull's Heart cherry variety also has disadvantages: in long-lasting wet weather, which begins to alternate with dry and hot winds, the ripening cherry fruits can simply crack, which will lead to significant yield losses. In addition, cherry fruits can burst when overripe, so this should be monitored very strictly. The fruits do not tolerate transportation very well due to the very juicy pulp.

Advice. Since the berries are very large and juicy, they do not store very well even in the refrigerator, so try to eat them almost immediately after they are picked from the tree.

Useful tips for growing cherries of the Bull's Heart variety

In the process of growing cherries (and absolutely any variety) there is one paradox: this fruit does not require practically any care, but if you do not follow some rules, then you can forget about a good harvest.

Below are the most valuable tips from experienced gardeners that will help you grow luxurious cherries that produce a rich harvest:

• Please note that the cherry tree is a light-loving tree, so in no case should you plant it next to the house or other fruit-bearing (or simply large) trees, so as not to cover the cherry tree with their shadow. The best option is the south side of the site.
• Avoid aluminas and sandstones. If you have only such soil on your site, then be sure to prepare it accordingly: add sand to clay soil, and, on the contrary, add clay to sandstone.

Advice. Under no circumstances should you plant cherries in swampy areas - this soil is strictly contraindicated for them.

• If you are not sure that you can choose a high-quality seedling that will give a rich harvest, remember two main points: the tree must have a massive and well-branched root system, and the grafting mark must be visible on the trunk.
• Sweet cherries love a lot of moisture, so don’t forget to “delight” the tree with water. The optimal watering schedule for cherries is once every 30 days, but keep in mind that situations vary, so carefully monitor the condition of the soil and adjust the watering schedule accordingly.

We introduced you to one of the most popular varieties of cherries called Bull's Heart. The variety is unpretentious, unique and produces unusually tasty fruits. If you try to grow it in your garden, we are sure you will not regret it. Good luck!

Subsequent care of the crop

As part of caring for Skazka cherries, timely watering is organized at least four times during the entire growing season:

• before swelling of the kidneys;
• half a month after flowering;
• 14 days before the planned harvest;
• in early November.

Each tree requires about 10 liters of water.

Young plantings of the Skazka variety are fed with a mineral complex in April. In June, phosphorus-potassium fertilizers are applied. Loose compost is additionally added to mature trees in the fall.

Pre-winter preparation of cherries includes whitewashing skeletal twigs and trunks. Repeat it after the snow melts. To protect young cherries from freezing in the winter, plantings are laid with spruce branches. The salvation from rodents is the compaction of the snow cover around the base of the trunk.

Formative pruning with shortening of shoots by about a third is practiced annually until the buds emerge. Regular sanitary removal of dry, damaged branches is required.

Diseases and pests, methods of control and prevention

If serious violations are allowed in the organization of care, the Skazka cherry tree may experience damage from pests and diseases. In such a situation, effective measures should be taken quickly.

Mayskaya

The tree of this variety is quite vigorous, resistant to many diseases characteristic of cherries, and tolerates cold well. The fruits are small (round, with a stripe on the “abdomen”), but they ripen quite early. The pulp is dark, dense, juicy, sweetish. The berries are unsuitable for canning and all types of processing, and also do not tolerate transportation well.

Photo and description of the Skazka cherry variety

The Skazka variety has the following characteristics:

1. Self-sterility.
2. The crown of the formed tree is dense and pyramidal.
3. The leaves are oval with serrated edges and a rough surface. Shades of the main green color give it some decorativeness.
4. The fruits are spherical, slightly elongated. The color is garnet red, almost black in low light. The pulp has a dense, homogeneous composition. The taste is sweet with a honey aftertaste. The bone is small. Fruit weight 12 g.

The advantages of the Skazka variety are as follows:

• winter hardiness;
• large fruits;
• fruit flavors with a honey tint;
• stable yield;
• resistance to diseases.

The disadvantage of the Tale cherry is represented by the need to plant other varieties of cherries nearby for complete pollination of flowers.

Mature tree height

Skazka belongs to the category of medium-growing varieties. The height of a fully formed tree is between 3.5-4 meters.

Flowering and ripening period

Early variety Skazka. Subject to average seasonal climatic conditions, it begins to bear fruit in May. Cold spring with periodic frosts of ripening shifts the ripening of fruits by a week.

Productivity

The beginning of active fruiting of Skazka cherries is considered to be five years of age. During this period, up to 5 kg of fruit can be removed from one plant. The average yield of an adult Skazka cherry tree, when growing all the requirements for maintenance and care, is 30 kg.

Transportability

Transportability is good. When collecting and preparing for transportation, care should be taken, since the fruits are juicy and excessive force leads to loss of presentation.

For transportation and temporary storage, use shallow boxes with ventilation holes on the sides.

Drought resistance

The average annual precipitation provides sufficient conditions for the development and fruiting of the tree. During particularly dry periods, Skazka cherries require periodic watering when the soil dries out.

Frost resistance

Cherry Skazka is a frost-resistant variety. Cooling down to -25 0 C does not cause fatal damage, and sharp seasonal changes in temperature remain without consequences, with the exception of the spring flowering period.

Read also: HOM - a plant protection product

Advantages and disadvantages

Let's briefly go through all the positive and negative qualities of this variety.

pros

• The culture is quite winter-hardy, despite its predominant cultivation in the south.
• The delicious taste and appearance of the fruit leaves no one indifferent.
• Productivity is high and stable.
• The fruits tolerate transportation well.
• The berries do not crack even when overripe.
• The crop is rarely affected by diseases and insects.

Minuses

• Self-sterility leads to the need to plant pollinators nearby.
• Without sufficient insulation, it happens that branches freeze slightly in winter.

How to plant cherries Fairy Tale

The progressive development of the vegetative system of the tree and the result of fruit harvesting largely depend on the choice of planting site. For Skazka cherries they recommend:

• choose a place with deep groundwater, low probability of flooding in the spring-autumn period;
• direct exposure to northern winds is undesirable;
• refrain from planting in soil with a high content of clay or depleted sandy loam.

How to choose a seedling

The rules for choosing a Skazka cherry seedling are similar to the requirements for other fruit trees:

1. You should not purchase specimens with damaged trunk bark or branches.
2. Roots and shoots should not be dry or show signs of disease.
3. A healthy trunk and root system are resilient.
4. The kidneys should be elastic and easily visualized.

Planting dates and scheme

For the Skazka variety, autumn and spring planting of seedlings in the ground is allowed. In the central regions of the country, it is recommended to plant cherries at a time when night frosts have stopped, the earth has warmed up, and the movement of juices has not yet begun. In the south, seedlings with a good root system are planted in mid-autumn. In mild conditions, this gap is enough for complete adaptation before the onset of the first winter cold.

When planting seedlings in the garden, it should be taken into account that individual trees and shrubs adversely affect the growth and productivity of Skazka. You should refrain from being close to raspberries or thorn bushes, and the distance to fruit trees: apple trees, plums, pears should be at least 6 meters.

Homestead yellow

The tree is characterized by intensive growth and can reach 4-5 m in height. The crown is spherical, well leafy, with tiered shoots.

The fruits are round in shape and yellow in color. The pulp is juicy and dense. The stone is elongated and easily separated from the pulp. The fruits have a pleasant sweet and sour taste. Resistant to cracking in rainy weather.

The Homestead Yellow variety is self-fertile, however, to increase productivity, it is recommended to plant several pollinating trees nearby.

Pit preparation

Preparatory activities for planting seedlings of Skazka cherry trees are presented as follows:

1. Pits. It is recommended to dig planting holes with a diameter of 90 cm and a depth of at least 80 cm in about 14 days, dividing the soil into an accompanying and fertile layer.
2. Planting mixture. Mix fertile soil with compost in equal proportions, and loamy soil with sand.
3. Support stand. At the bottom of the funnel, near the middle, install a metal rod or wooden block at least 1 meter high.
4. To ensure a tight fit of the seedling, a mound is formed in the middle of the hole from a previously prepared mixture. The height should ensure free placement of the root system along its slopes.

The seedling is placed at the planting site, all branches of the roots are carefully straightened. Layers with light tamping are poured to the level of the root collar. Tie the trunk to the support and form a watering ditch.

Caring for Cherry Fairy Tale

From the moment of planting and subsequent time, this variety requires seasonal and preventive care. Activities include timely watering, soil cultivation, fertilizing and control of crown formation.

Feeding and watering

Watering recommendations are presented as follows:

• the first immediately after planting the seedling in the ground – 10-15 l;
• the beginning of kidney swelling;
• two weeks before the time of expected fruit harvest;
• at the end of October–beginning of November.

Fertilizing of Skazka cherries is done:

• mineral complex fertilizers in mid-April;
• phosphorus-potassium additives - when watering in June;
• organic fertilizers - in preparation for the cold season.

Weeding and loosening

Constant removal of weeds and periodic weeding ensure that the horse system is supplied with the maximum amount of moisture, which has a positive effect on the development of the vegetative system and fruiting. The interval is determined visually, depending on the condition of the garden area.

Crown formation

Crown formation is an event aimed at creating comfortable conditions for the growth and development of healthy branches and improving fruiting. Regardless of the season, sanitary removal of dried or damaged branches is necessary. When the juices are actively moving, the cutting sites are treated with garden varnish. The rules and procedure for pruning fruit trees are presented in the following video:

Cherry pollinators Skazka

Since the Skazka variety is self-sterile, when planting, care must be taken to place nearby cherry varieties that are capable of fully and efficiently producing pollination. The flowering periods coincide for the varieties: Tyutchevka, Ovstuzhenka, Iput.