ᐉ Low-growing cherry varieties for the middle zone

Advantages and disadvantages of dwarf varieties

Low-growing cherries are more reminiscent of a lush, beautiful shrub, the height of which reaches 1–2 m (depending on the variety).

The dwarf variety has a number of advantages over regular cherries:
small sizes;
rapid tree growth;
strong branches and a small crown that can withstand strong gusts of wind;
ease of care;
easy harvesting process;
drought resistance and, most often, frost resistance;
small size of the root system, which is suitable for soil with high water content.

At the same time, the yield of dwarf cherries is not inferior to their large relatives.

A few disadvantages include rather small berries (about 1 cm in diameter and no more than 5 g in weight), whose taste can be sour and even tart. However, the latter depends on the variety form.

Characteristics of culture

The main difference from the main cherry varieties is the compact size of the fruit crop. A dwarf tree can be grown even in the smallest garden or vegetable garden, and tasty and healthy berries can be collected every year.

Dimensions and external description of the tree

Dwarf trees grow quickly and in appearance are more like a voluminous, spreading bush. The maximum height of an adult cherry tree rarely exceeds 2 m level. The branches are thin but strong, reddish in color with small leaves pointed at the ends, changing their color depending on the time of year.

During the flowering period, the tree is completely covered with large, white flowers with a pleasant, light aroma.

Nuances of placement on the site

The dwarf tree is planted on the south side of sunny areas. The compact plant easily takes root between large garden trees. The fruit crop is not picky about soil, but shows the best yield on fertile soil.

Pollinator varieties

Among the varieties of dwarf crop varieties, there are both self-fertile ones and those requiring pollinator neighbors. Cherry varieties with similar flowering periods are suitable as pollinators.

Flowering and fruiting

The tree enters the flowering phase in May. The flowering period of the fruit crop ranges from 15 to 25 days. Dwarf cherries are capable of bearing fruit after 2-3 years of growth.

Fruit ripening occurs based on climatic conditions and the variety of dwarf cherry variety. Some berries ripen as early as mid-July, while there are varieties that ripen only in early autumn.

Where are the fruits used?

Ripe berries of dwarf cherries contain a large amount of vitamins, minerals and amino acids. The use of berries is universal. In industrial quantities, the fruits of dwarf cherries are processed into juices, nectars, jams and confitures, canned and frozen.

Gardeners and vegetable gardeners make compotes from berries, make jam, and add them to desserts and baked goods.

Dwarf cherry varieties, their description and characteristics

The key to growing dwarf cherries is choosing the right variety . Otherwise, the tree will not produce a harvest and may die. In the southern regions, you can plant cherries with average frost resistance (Lyubskaya, Vstrecha), and for the Moscow region, forms with high resistance to frost and, ideally, immunity to coccomycosis (a dangerous fungal disease widespread in this area), such as Tamaris, Anna, are suitable , Rusinka, Bystrinka. Let's look at some of the most famous varieties.

Anthracite

The fruits of this cherry become almost black when ripe, which explains its name. Large (about 5 g) sweet berries, easily separated from the stone, give Anthracite a resemblance to cherries. This is a high-yielding mid-season variety that ripens in the second half of July.

The harvest will be richer and the berries sweeter if the cherries are planted in an area well lit by the sun.

Bystrinka

Super productive early variety. The first berries can be eaten already at the beginning of July, and in total up to 20 kg of dark red berries can be harvested from the tree, which looks like a spherical shrub, per season. Bystrinka tolerates frost, transportation and storage well, but is prone to moniliosis.

Mtsenskaya

A good technical variety with beautiful dark red berries weighing up to 4 g. Their pulp is juicy, the taste is average, and transportability is high, which makes Mtsenskaya an ideal raw material for juices, liqueurs, compotes and other processing. Mtsenskaya is also valued for the durability of its trees, reaching a height of 2 m.

Winter pomegranate

This is a fairly new variety, bred through the selection of so-called sand (steppe) cherries, widely cultivated in America. Winter pomegranate is exceptionally frost-hardy, self-pollinating and resistant to pests and diseases.

Its taste is good: the pulp is sweet, with a slight sourness. To enjoy the taste of Pomegranate to the fullest, you need to wait for its consumer ripeness, which occurs in August: that’s when the berries turn dark burgundy.

A pleasant bonus is the high preservation of the fruits - they can hang on the branch until the end of September. Winter pomegranate is very decorative and its trees, reaching a height of 1.5 to 2 m, will decorate any garden.

If the cherry tree has stopped producing crops, you can try to attract bees for pollination artificially

Bead

Beads trees reaching 2 m can easily withstand severe frosts. The variety is high-yielding and causes little hassle associated with care and protection from pests. The berries live up to their name: they are very small (no more than 3 g), but juicy and tasty. Cherries are great for making compotes, juices and jam.

Early ripening varieties for the Moscow region

The fruits of early cherry varieties ripen in early July. Early cherries differ from each other in taste, juiciness, appearance of the tree and fruit, and other characteristics.

Renaissance

The variety is characterized by high immunity - this cherry almost never gets sick. Fruits abundantly and consistently. Grows on any soil. The first fruits are produced in the 4th year of planting. The variety, due to its high immunity, is popular in many regions of Russia. Recommended pollinators – Coral, Lyubskaya, Crystal. Productivity is high - up to 25 kg per tree.

The cherries are dark burgundy with small, well-separable seeds, and excellent taste - the fruits are given 4.5 points out of 5. The berries are large, sweetish, and juicy. Weight - from 2.5 to 3.5 g. Transportable well - even in a fully ripe state. Product quality is excellent. Low maintenance requirements - water the tree only in early June and during drought.

Toy

This hybrid with large fruits is created on the basis of the Amateur cherry and the Solnechny Shar variety. Recommended pollinators are Samsonovka or Shalunya cherry, Krupnofrodnaya cherry, Valery Chkalov. The height of the hybrid is up to 7 m. The first fruits are in the 3rd year after planting. The harvest from a tree is up to 45 kg, maximum – 72 kg. Fruits up to 25 years.

The fruits are dark red, very large, weigh 7-9 g. They have red tender pulp, the taste is sweet and sour. Rating score – 4.5 out of 5. The fruits are eaten fresh, juices and wines are prepared. The stone is easily separated from the pulp. Tolerates frosts up to 25 °C. In the conditions of the Moscow region it requires insulation.

Memory of Enikeev

This self-fertile variety is considered mid-early. The tree reaches 3 m. 9-10 kg of berries are collected from the tree, maximum 15 kg. They bear fruit from 3-4 years. The fruits ripen together.

The fruits are medium-sized, weight – 5 g. The berries are oval and dark red in color. The taste is dessert, sweet and sour. Tolerates winter satisfactorily, drought resistance is average. The bones are large and oval in shape. Resistance to coccomycosis is average.

Rastorguevskaya

Early-mid ripening variety. On one tree they collect 8-10 kg of cherries. The first fruits appear in the 3rd year. The variety is self-fertile. Harvests are friendly, plentiful, stable.

The cherries are round, dark red, weighing 4 g. The taste is sweet and sour, rating - 4.4 points. The seeds are large, well separated from the pulp. Relative resistance to coccomycosis. Recovers well after freezing.

Silvia

A productive variety with an early-medium ripening period. From 1 hectare – 460-660 c. From 1 tree – 12 kg. The plant is medium-sized, up to 3 m, the crown is spreading, rounded. Self-fertility is high.

High resistance to coccomycosis. The berries are round-oval, dark red, almost black. The berries are small. Weight – 2 g. The taste is sweet and sour, the purpose is universal. Winter hardiness is high. Poor resistance to disease.

Crystal

Compactness is the main feature of this variety. It is also valued for its winter hardiness and high resistance to coccomycosis. The height of the tree is about 3 m. It is recommended to plant Lyubskaya or Coral varieties nearby. Fruiting occurs in the 4th year of planting.

The berries weigh 5-6 g. Ripening is early or mid-July, depending on the weather. The downside is low immunity to moniliosis.

Collection and storage methods

Dwarf cherries begin to bear fruit 3-4 years after planting . Due to the small size of the tree, harvesting is simple, done manually and does not require the use of stepladders. Harvesting time depends on the specific variety. Collect cherries carefully, without breaking off the bouquet branches. Most of the dwarf varieties have good transportability.

The berries can also be frozen, dried in the oven, or made into jam, jam or compote.

Dwarf cherry trees will not take up much space in your garden, will not require complex care, and will consistently delight you with beautiful flowering and tasty harvests year after year. You just need to choose the right variety, the most popular of which were discussed in the article.

Landing Features

Planting cherries of this variety does not differ from planting other stone fruits. Gardeners' opinions differ only regarding planting time. Some summer residents believe that it is best to plant in the fall so that the rooted seedling develops in the spring. And some, fearing the return of spring frosts, suggest planting annual cherry trees after the snow melts, before the buds open, believing that this way the seedling will develop in more comfortable conditions and become stronger by winter. In any case, seedlings with an open root system are usually planted in the spring, but for containerized ones, the time of planting is not important.

Cherry seedlings that are 1–2 years old take root best.

The cherry seedling should not be older than 2 years

For the tree, you need to find a sunny area that rises above the underlying groundwater by at least 2–2.5 m. Cherries are not planted in lowlands. If you plan to plant cherry seedlings near buildings, then you need to orient yourself to the south side of the buildings so that the tree is protected from northern winds. Cherries prefer slightly acidic or neutral soils. The composition is sandy loam or loamy. Before planting, it is recommended to add 1 bucket of sand to the planting hole to improve the mechanical composition of the soil.

Cherry planting process:

Dig a hole with a diameter of 80 cm and a depth of 60 cm.
The top fertile layer is separated.
Gravel is poured onto the bottom for drainage.
Add 3–5 kg of dolomite flour to deoxidize the soil and provide the tree with calcium.
Mix humus with the surface layer of soil and dolomite flour.
Cherries are planted without deepening the root collar, so as not to provoke the appearance of root suckers.
Tie the seedling to a planting peg.
Compact the soil around the tree, forming a watering hole.
Pour in 1-2 buckets of water.
After the water is completely absorbed, the soil is mulched with dry peat, rotted sawdust or humus.

After planting and watering, be sure to mulch the soil.

When adding humus or compost to the planting hole, there is no need to add mineral fertilizers. In the future, cherries will need to be fed no earlier than after 2–3 years.

Experienced gardeners recommend plucking up to 80% of the leaves in the first year after planting for better survival of the seedling.

Top 5 sweetest cherry varieties

Adding an article to a new collection

Many people are accustomed to the fact that cherries are sour. But not everyone knows that there are varieties with very juicy and very sweet fruits. Try them - and you will forever change your attitude towards cherries for the better!

It is noteworthy that these varieties were appreciated not only for the sweet taste of rather large berries. They are also distinguished by high yields and excellent presentation. These plants can be cultivated in central Russia and enjoy delicious fruits every year.

Volochaevka

This is a hybrid of popular cherry varieties - Lyubskaya and Vladimirskaya. With proper care of the plant, you can annually collect about 15 kg of juicy berries from one tree.

The tree is medium-sized, with a rounded crown of medium density. The leaves are dark green and shaped like an inverted egg. The fruits are medium size, deep red in color. Sweet to taste, with a slight sourness.

There is a small seed inside the berry, which is easily separated from the very juicy and aromatic pulp, which has an excellent dessert taste.

This variety has a drawback: it has average frost resistance and, under unfavorable growing conditions, can be affected by fungal diseases. In rainy summers, he often suffers from coccomycosis.

The variety is self-fertile - does not require pollinators

Sap

This is a hybrid of cherry and sweet cherry, bred in Belarus. The mid-early variety Zhivitsa is loved by many gardeners for its excellent frost resistance and plant resistance to coccomycosis and monilial blight.

The tree is medium-sized, with a rounded crown. The fruits of the so-called cherry are medium-sized, round, dark red. They have a small stone, which is easily separated from the juicy dark red pulp with a pleasant sour-sweet taste. The juice also has a rich color and good taste.

It is thanks to crossing with cherries that this hybrid has sweeter berries than ordinary cherries. And besides, they contain many useful organic acids.

End of June – beginning of July

cherry varieties that bloom simultaneously with Zhivitsa (for example, Narodnaya, Syubarovskaya)

Tamaris

The closest relative is the Black Cherry, which also has good taste. However, this variety is self-sterile (does not pollinate on its own) and produces a small harvest.

Therefore, Tamaris is a more improved version, which is distinguished by rather large oval-shaped berries with very juicy and tender pulp (with a slight sourness) of a dark red color.

The tree itself is not tall, but has a spreading crown of an inverted pyramidal shape. For this reason, the plant is easy to care for and there is no need to build a high stepladder when harvesting. Another advantage of this variety is that it is resistant to frost and coccomycosis.

Despite the fact that the Tamaris variety is self-fertile, it is recommended to plant pollinating varieties such as Turgenevka, Zhukovskaya, Lyubskaya next to it. This will significantly increase productivity.

Late July – early August

does not need pollinators

Possible diseases and pests

Morozova's dessert cherry has a strong immune system, but if prevention is not carried out, it can be overcome by diseases and pests.

Coccomycosis affects the foliage of dessert crops. Dark spots appear on it, and then holes form. For treatment, drugs containing copper are used. In autumn, the tree is treated with iron sulfate.

Cherries are also affected by the disease moniliosis. The plant shows signs of burns. Branches and leaves dry out and fall off. To cure cherries, diseased shoots are pruned and burned. The tree is sprayed 2 times with copper sulfate at intervals of 2 weeks (40 g per 10 liters of water). The wounds are covered with garden varnish.

Among the insects that can attack Morozova cherry are aphids. Insects are green and black. They suck the sap out of Morozova's species, after which the tree becomes sticky and begins to dry out.

If there are few insects, the plant is treated with a soap solution (50 g per 5 liters of water).
If a large accumulation of aphids is detected, use the drug "Bifenthrin" according to the instructions.

Prevention is necessary in spring and autumn. Fallen leaves are removed from the site and burned. Don't forget about tree trimming. Thickened planting has a negative effect on crop development. Remember, pruning, spraying with Bordeaux solution after harvesting and attracting birds to the garden are measures that will save the dessert cherry harvest.

Chocolate girl

This variety got its name for the very beautiful, chocolate color of the berries. The plant quickly gained popularity not only for the excellent taste of the fruits and their attractive appearance, but also for its good winter hardiness and short stature.

But keep in mind that a rich harvest can be reaped if the tree receives enough light. Therefore, it is best to choose a place for a seedling on the south side of the site and not “settle” tall trees nearby that will create shade. Then from one mature cherry tree you can collect about 12 kg of delicious berries.

Shpanka

Shpanka is a hybrid of cherry and sweet cherry, which has several varieties. The most popular are Shpanka dwarf, Shpanka early, Shpanka large-fruited, Shpanka Kursk, Shpanka Shimskaya, Shpanka Bryansk and Shpanka Donetsk. These are mainly zoned varieties, which practically do not differ in their characteristics. In central Russia, Shpanka large-fruited is usually grown.

This is a vigorous tree with a dense crown of reverse pyramidal shape. The fruits have a round, slightly flattened shape and a dark, burgundy-brown color. They, like cherries, hang on the tree in garlands or along the entire annual growth. The pulp of the berries is sweet, with a hint of sourness, and light yellow in color. The juice is almost clear.

Shpanka tolerates harsh winters with frosts down to –35°C and drought. And, as a rule, he does not suffer from coccomycosis.

This variety is considered self-pollinating, but the level of self-fertility is no more than 10%, therefore, to increase productivity, it is recommended to plant trees of pollinating varieties nearby.

Types by type of tree

Let's consider the varieties of cherries taking into account the type of tree.

There are also varieties that are self-fertile and require pollination.

Tree-like

Tree cherries are those that bear fruit on bouquet branches. Since they retain the ability to bear fruit for 5 years or more, rapid denudation of branches and an increase in yield taking into account the length of the shoots cannot be observed. Varieties:

Rusinka is a tree up to 2 meters high with a rounded, medium-thick crown and drooping shoots. The stem is dark gray, there are deep longitudinal cracks. The side branches are directed horizontally, the shoots have a light brown tint. The fruits are not very large, dark red, heart-shaped, the stalk is medium, the stipules are large. The pulp of the variety is sweet and sour.
Turgenevskaya - gardeners love these cherries for their high quality and excellent nutritional value. The bark is grayish-brown, the leaves are shiny, dark green, narrow oval in shape. The fruits are small, sweet and sour. Productivity is high, resistance to frost is high.

Full ripening of Turgenevskaya cherries occurs at the end of July.

Zhukovskaya is a frost-resistant variety with large fruits. He is not afraid of diseases and pests, and is not particularly fussy about care. The tree is a medium-sized tree; it usually does not grow to a height of more than 3.5 m. The crown is round, spreading, 2-3 m in diameter. The berries are heart-shaped, have an oval top and a rounded base, the flesh is sweet and sour, the peel is dark burgundy and shiny.
Shubinka - trees taller than 4 m with pyramidal, spreading, but not very dense crowns. The shoots are light brown, thin, have a green tint and a faint gray coating. The flowers are small, growing in groups of several. The berries are round, small, the flesh is aromatic, dark, viscous. The fruits are suitable only for processing.

Intermediate or felt

Felt cherry, like ordinary cherry, belongs to the plum class and can grow together with other crops of the direction.

Felt cherry came to us from Central China, which is why it is often called Chinese. The trees have high decorative qualities, are frost-resistant, produce stable yields, and bear fruit early. They bear fruit early, the fruits practically do not fall off.

Varieties:

Alice - an adult plant does not grow more than 1.5 m, the foliage is dense, the branches are straight and thick. The pulp separates from the seed poorly, but it is tasty and sweet. The variety propagates best by cuttings; it produces fruits in the third year of life at 9 kg per bush. Harvesting can be done in July. The fruits are small and do not tolerate transportation very well.
Leto is a slow-growing variety native to the Khabarovsk and Primorsky territories. The plant is straight, compact, has sparse branches and oval leaves, and small fruits. The pulp is tasty, the color is uneven. The yield is slightly less than that of Alice, ripening occurs in July.
Salute is a tree up to 1.5 m in height, with a dense crown, and does not need frequent watering. The fruits are round, ripen almost simultaneously, have a pink tint, and the flesh is sweet and sour. Fruiting begins at the age of three. The variety is durable and suitable for fresh consumption and processing.

Bush or dwarf

Bush-like plants include those plants, a significant part of the harvest of which is on annual branches. There are usually few fruit formations; they appear only on one-year-old shoots. If the annual growth is less than 30 cm, the lateral buds usually turn out to be flower buds, but the apical bud is actively growing. Popular varieties:

Molodezhnaya is a bush plant with a drooping, rather low crown. The fruits are large, the peel and pulp are dark burgundy, the stone can be separated without problems, and the taste has a slight sourness. The first harvests usually appear on five-year-old trees.

Molodezhnaya berries are ideal for freezing and canning. The stone separates well, the flesh is slightly sour.

Troitskaya is a multi-stemmed crop with 5-6 trunks and a total height of no more than 3 m. The crown is oval pyramidal, has medium density, and excellent foliage. The inflorescences usually contain about 5 to 7 medium-sized flowers, their diameter is 2.6 cm. The petals grow freely and can overlap slightly one after another. The fruits are wide-round, small, the pulp is very juicy and tasty. The fruits do not crack.
Vladimirskaya is a multi-stemmed bush-like cherry that can grow up to 5 m. The bark is gray, ashy, covered with cracks, and peels off. The crown is spherical, weeping, and practically not leafy. The fruits are black and red, with a large number of gray specks, sweet and sour, with small seeds. They can be quite large or small. Ripening – second half of July. Grafted plants usually bear fruit in the second year after planting. The crop needs pollinators.
Fairy is a low-growing tree with a spherical, medium-dense crown and raised branches. The flowers are large, white, and there are many of them. The peduncle is of medium thickness, short, with a semi-dry detachment. The fruits are not very large, red or light pink, the pulp is tasty and juicy. Ripening - end of June. The variety tolerates low temperatures well, and caring for it is quite simple.

Also considered low-growing are the Vocation and Radonezh cherries.

The best varieties of cherries for Central Russia

The State Register identifies three types of cherries that are approved for cultivation in Russia. These are felt cherry, common cherry and steppe cherry. There are also ornamental cherries and Sakhalin cherries, but since they are non-fruitful, they will not be considered here.

Most varieties of felt and steppe cherries are unpretentious and frost-resistant, therefore they are approved for cultivation in all regions, including in the Middle Zone. Common cherry varieties are most often heat-loving and can grow only in the southern regions, but there are also frost-resistant ones.

Self-fertile and self-pollinating varieties

Usually, for good fruiting, cherries need proximity to other varieties of cherries or sweet cherries for cross-pollination. But there are so-called self-fertile (or self-pollinating) varieties that have both female and male flowers, due to which dependence on neighbors is significantly reduced. Some have flowers of such a shape that pollination can occur inside an unopened bud. This property allows you to get a harvest even under unfavorable conditions - strong winds, low activity or absence of bees and other insects, neighbors for pollination.

By definition, self-fertile varieties include those in which 40% (or more) of the ovaries of the total number of flowers are independently formed. In partially self-fertile people this figure is 20%.

But in any case, if possible, it is advisable to plant pollinating trees next to the cherries, which will significantly increase the number of ovaries, and as a result, the harvest.

When choosing a variety for planting, you must also remember that self-fertile varieties are often susceptible to fungal diseases. Of course, you need to give preference to trees that are resistant or moderately resistant to diseases.

Amorelle Pink

The variety is relatively old; it has been listed in the State Register since 1947. You can expect the first harvest from a short tree 4 years after planting.

Amorel Pink cherry begins to bear fruit in the 5th year after planting

This is a table variety with low transportability. The harvest, depending on growing conditions, ranges from 4 to 15 kg.

Youth

A well-known cherry variety with high drought and frost resistance.

The young one will be pleased with the harvest for 15–20 years if it receives the necessary care. It has large, fleshy berries of a dark burgundy color.

You can achieve a harvest from Molodezhnaya cherries for 15–20 years

Volochaevka

The variety was included in the State Register in 1997. A medium-sized tree has good frost resistance, but at temperatures below -30°C the buds suffer. Therefore, in severe frosts, it is advisable to use smoke bombs or fires to save the berries.

The yield of the variety is up to 70 c/ha. Cherry fruits are dark red.

Volochaevka cherry has good yield

Bush cherry varieties for the Middle Zone

Bush cherry varieties are distinguished by the absence of a main trunk (standard), instead of which several equivalent shoots grow from the root. They usually have a small height, rarely reaching 3 m, and more often 1.5–2.5 m.

As a rule, bush cherry varieties are felt and steppe cherries. As already noted, these species are frost-resistant and are distributed throughout Russia.

Features of growing cherries in the Moscow region

Once upon a time, the gardens near Moscow were full of cherries, but today this fruit tree is extremely difficult to grow due to fungal diseases. When choosing a variety for the Moscow region, they take into account, first of all, immunity to disease and frost resistance. Cherry varieties for the Moscow region must be resistant to return frosts.

Factors influencing the choice of cherry varieties for cultivation in the Moscow region:

Climate. In the Moscow region, frosts reach minus 35 °C.
Diseases of fruit trees in the region. Moniliosis and coccomycosis are the most widespread.
Self-fertility. In cool and damp summers, bees stop working, so it is profitable to plant self-fertile varieties in the Moscow region that do not require third-party pollination.
Productivity and fruit characteristics. The variety you like should correspond to the climate of the Moscow region.

Terms of ripening. In the Central regions, varieties of all ripening periods are grown - early, middle and late. When choosing, it is more important to consider the flowering period rather than the ripening period. Preferable varieties are those that bloom after the threat of return frosts - mid-season and late.

Tree height. Gardeners especially appreciate low-growing varieties - they are convenient and decorative .