Description and list of the best cherry varieties for the Leningrad region

Vladimirskaya

Another variety that has earned recognition from gardeners in the Leningrad region is the Vladimir cherry.
Its main advantage is the versatility of the fruit. They have such excellent taste that they were previously served to royal families. They are good both fresh and processed. In addition to the excellent taste properties of the fruit, the advantage of this plant is that it has a shrub-like shape, and this is an undeniable advantage for the northwestern unstable climate.

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Vladimirskaya cherry is a variety that was bred by folk selection. Therefore, the plant does not require any subtleties in care, which is very convenient for the average summer resident who does not have too much time. This plant needs timely feeding and pruning of branches, as well as protection from rodents, who always want to feast on the bark of the tree in winter.

An ancient and popular variety. Frost-resistant, but flower buds may freeze, especially during frosts in spring. Advantages: resistance to dry, hot weather, rot, infections and scab (which is especially important in damp climates).

The first harvest can be harvested 4–5 years after planting the seedling. Self-sterile, suitable pollinating neighbors - Lyubskaya, Shubinka, Turgenevka.

The plant is bushy, multi-stemmed, 3–5 m, but when grafted it grows as a single-stemmed plant. Spherical, slightly weeping crown. The buds bloom in early May. The harvest begins after mid-July. 80–85% of the fruits are formed on annual shoots. In the Leningrad region you can get approximately 5 kg of berries per tree per year.

Ripe fruits are dark almost black, sweet and sour in taste, with small seeds. They are consumed fresh and used for preparing preserves. They tolerate freezing without losing their taste. They tolerate transportation well.

The first harvest can be harvested 4–5 years after planting the seedling. Self-sterile, suitable pollinating neighbors - Lyubskaya, Shubinka, Turgenevka.

Ripe fruits are dark almost black, sweet and sour in taste, with small seeds. They are consumed fresh and used for preparing preserves. They tolerate freezing without losing their taste. They tolerate transportation well.

The best varieties for the North-West region

In addition to the above varieties, ruby (steppe) cherries are also popular. It has excellent breeding qualities. Among them are such as excellent winter hardiness, high yield and excellent quality of fruits. In addition, this variety has received a high production rating. Its fruits are medium in size, weighing up to 4 grams and having juicy, sour-sweet pulp.

And I would like to say about one more variety that has found many fans in the Leningrad region. This is Amorel Nikiforova - a cherry, which was also bred through folk selection. A distinctive feature of this variety is the fairly early ripening of the fruits, which are ready for consumption in mid-June. Plants of this variety tolerate winter very well.

The Denisena yellow cherry variety for the Leningrad region is also famous for its good frost resistance and productivity. Although it is of unknown origin, it has many positive qualities, thanks to which it has become widespread in the gardens and plots of St. Petersburg residents.

Abundant fruiting is not only about choosing the right variety. This can be achieved by good care of this crop. Since most cherry varieties are self-sterile, that is, not capable of self-pollination, a pollinating cherry should be planted on the site or next to it.

It is also necessary to pay attention to feeding cherries, especially during the fruiting period, when the plant requires additional nutrients. But it should be taken into account that in the fall you only need to apply phosphorus and potassium fertilizers, as well as compost, but for nitrogen-containing fertilizers the best time is early spring.

Also, do not forget about watering. Although cherries are considered to be a drought-tolerant plant, they are best given extra water during hot, dry weather. In this case, the berry yield increases, and they become larger in size.

Most summer residents and gardeners want to grow this beautiful tree on their property, covered with delicate white flowers in the spring, and strewn with scarlet balls of fruit in the summer. But choosing cherries for the climate of the Leningrad region is a responsible task; its best varieties must have the necessary characteristics: hardiness, good adaptation to growing conditions and resistance to frost.

The territory of the North-West of the country is the northernmost where cherries can be grown. Therefore, for successful growth, development and fruiting, its varieties must have the following qualities:

unpretentiousness and endurance;
resistance to diseases (in particular, fungal ones);
good adaptation to different growing conditions and temperature swings;
frost resistance, as well as resistance to spring and early frosts;

Moreover, these characteristics are important for Karelia, and for the Tver and Yaroslavl regions.

The best varieties of cherries

In order not to make a mistake when choosing a fruit tree for a northern garden plot, a gardener needs to know the characteristics of the best varieties.

Zarnitsa

Frost-resistant variety, with resistance like felt cherries. Characterized by late fruiting. Zarnitsa fruits are small, on average 2.0 grams. They are dark red, with a balanced, sweet and sour taste. Suitable for processing and fresh consumption.

Dessert Volzhskaya

The cherry is medium-sized - up to 3 meters. It has excellent frost resistance, partial self-pollination and high yield - up to 12 kilograms. The fruits are burgundy in color, with a glossy shine, weighing 3.0-3.5 grams. The berries are tasty, with juicy pulp and easy separation from the stem.

Bagryannaya

Although cherries are zoned for the climate of the Central region, they are successfully grown in the Leningrad region. This is facilitated by high frost resistance and unpretentiousness. A tree with low growth vigor, grows up to 2 meters, bush type. It is characterized by early ripening and requires pollinators. The berries are large, dark red, weighing 3.5-4.0 grams, with good taste.

Amorel Nikiforova

This variety, characterized by high frost resistance, has been known and zoned since the middle of the last century. The tree is medium-sized, 2.5-3.0 meters high, has partial self-fertility and an average start to ripening. The berries are deep red, medium in size and weight - 2.5-3.0 grams. They have a delicate, harmonious taste and juicy pulp.

One of the best cherries suitable for cultivation in the Leningrad region. It can easily withstand temperatures down to -35 C degrees, and blooms during spring frosts. It is distinguished by good immunity to diseases, its high productivity and unpretentiousness. The cherry is vigorous, growing up to 6 meters. The fruits are purplish-red, massive, large, filling up to 5.0-6.0 grams, with a refreshing, sour-sweet taste and thick cherry aroma.

Lyubskaya

A variety with good frost resistance, proven drought resistance and a high level of self-fertility. It has an average ripening period. Lyubskaya cherries are large - 3.5-4.0 grams in weight, rich, burgundy color. They have a sweet but not cloying taste, slight sourness and a pleasant aroma.

Star

A variety suitable for the climate of the Leningrad region. It is distinguished by early ripening and is partially self-fertile, has high growth vigor and forms a pyramidal crown. The cherries are large, weighing 3.0-4.0 grams, bright red.

They have a refreshing sweet taste with slight sourness and juicy flesh.

Ruby

Zoned for the North-West since the 70s of the twentieth century, it is characterized by high frost resistance. It is characterized by medium-late ripening and medium growth vigor - cherries grow up to 2.5 meters. It has large, fleshy fruits, weighing 3.5-4.0 grams. The taste is dominated by sourness, the flesh is juicy and yellowish. The berries are not suitable for long-term transportation.

Vladimirskaya

A popular, early variety of cherry, known for a very long time. The variety is frost-resistant, but the color is susceptible to spring frosts. It is resistant to diseases, including those caused by harmful fungi, and tolerates interruptions in watering. The tree is vigorous, with a bushy, dense crown. The cherries are medium in size, dark, almost black in color, and have a sweet and sour taste. The yield of Vladimirskaya is average - 4-5 kilograms of fruit.

Sadovaya

For cultivation in the Leningrad region, mainly frost-resistant, zoned varieties that tolerate negative weather conditions are suitable. It is desirable that garden cherries have high resistance to disease.

Lotovaya

An ancient variety, also called Lutovka, Lotovka. It has been zoned since the middle of the last century, but has not received wide recognition. It has medium growth vigor and forms a well-leafed, spreading crown. The fruits are dark red, large, weighing 3.5-4.0 grams. The taste is dominated by sourness, the sugar level is 11.7%. It is characterized by high yield - up to 15 kilograms of fruit from 1 tree.

An ancient Spanish variety, zoned in Russia since the middle of the last century. It has high growth vigor, grows up to 4 meters. The cherries are medium in size - 3.0-3.5 grams, dark red, with high taste characteristics.

Amorel early

A “folk selection” variety suitable for cultivation in the North-Western District. The tree grows 2.5-3.0 meters. The berries weigh 3.0 grams, light red, bright, with tender, juicy pulp and a sour-sweet taste.

Self-fertile varieties

When choosing self-fertile or partially self-fertile varieties, there is no need to plant additional pollinating cherries. But, as horticultural practice shows, in the presence of additional pollinators, the yield and quality of the fruits themselves increase.

Therefore, it is desirable to have several varieties on the site that are similar in flowering time.

For small plot sizes, as well as for garden decoration and landscape design, dwarf varieties of cherries are chosen. But it is worth noting that their fruits are inferior to traditional varieties in size and taste.

An interesting choice for a summer residence would be:

Bead;
Low-growing Moscow;
Standard;
Winter Garnet.

The sweetest cherries

It is always a pleasure to harvest not only beautiful, large, but also tasty and very sweet berries. Such qualities are especially appreciated by gardeners in the northern regions, where, due to climatic conditions, many fruits are openly sour.

High decorative qualities, tasty, interesting fruits, good yield and high frost resistance make felt cherries a popular crop among gardeners in the northern regions. The most commonly chosen varieties are:

Natalie;
Alice;
Ogonyok;
Fairy tale.

For the climate of the North-Western region, zoned varieties are chosen that have high winter hardiness and resistance to spring frosts. Only in this case will the tree grow and bear fruit for many years.

Growing cherries in the climate of the Northern and Western regions, provided that zoned varieties are selected, is not particularly difficult, but it does have some peculiarities. Planting is done in the standard way - first prepare the planting hole. It is filled with a substrate, including: mature compost, sand, humus, non-acidic peat, and a mandatory drainage layer is laid on the bottom.

But they are planted in the spring so that the tree has time to take root before the onset of frost. A mandatory procedure for young trees before wintering is to mulch the tree trunk with a thick layer of organic matter (bark, straw, green manure).

It is important to carry out preventive treatments against diseases in a timely manner, and to wrap the seedlings in a thick layer of agrofibre for the winter.

Cherry is a unique fruit and berry crop for the Leningrad region. Its varieties have numerous advantages: frost resistance, self-fertility, unpretentiousness. This made it a popular planting in dachas and farms.

The Leningrad region belongs to the North-Western region. The climate here is continental: winters are mild, summers are warm. A special feature of the region is unstable weather conditions during the warm period. The changing climate creates specific conditions for growing fruit and berry crops.

Cherry is a heat-loving tree. For a long time, the territory for its planting was exclusively the southern regions. Through a series of selective experiments, scientists were able to create and grow varieties for the Northwestern region.

For many years they experimentally proved the possibility of planting, growing, and developing cherries in a changeable climate. Thanks to their work, the fruit and berry crop has firmly taken root in the farming of the Leningrad region. Modern summer residents plant a variety of species on their plots.

Self-fertile varieties

Description of columnar cherries

Externally, the columnar cherry is simply a tree trunk with a small number of leaves, and looks like a column, which is where the name comes from. There are no spreading branches, like an ordinary tree, but there are several branches, also covered with leaves. During fruiting, the trunk and few branches of the tree are densely strewn with cherry berries.

It is beneficial to plant such trees in small gardens, where there is little space, in dachas, where in addition to trees, it is also necessary to grow a variety of garden crops. Columnar cherries do not cast much shade like a simple tree; they are compact and have high yields if they are given proper care.

The columnar cherry tree takes up minimal space on the site

Ruby

Zoned in the northwestern region since 1974. Frost-resistant. It can be affected by coccomycosis, but has good immunity to moniliosis.

The height of the tree is up to 2.5 m, its crown is dense, spreading and wide. The variety is self-sterile; Vladimirskaya and Otechestvennaya serve as good pollinators.

Mid-late variety: buds bloom at the end of May. Technical ripeness of the fruit occurs in early August. Up to 40% of the berries are set on one-year-old shoots, 60% on two- or three-year-old shoots.

Juicy and tender berries weigh 3.5–4 g. They contain more acids than sugars. Pulp with a yellowish tint. The seed is easy to separate, but the stalk comes off with the release of juice, so the transportability of the variety is low. The juice is clear.

Zoned in the northwestern region since 1974. Frost-resistant. It can be affected by coccomycosis, but has good immunity to moniliosis.

The height of the tree is up to 2.5 m, its crown is dense, spreading and wide. The variety is self-sterile; Vladimirskaya and Otechestvennaya serve as good pollinators.

Mid-late variety: buds bloom at the end of May. Technical ripeness of the fruit occurs in early August. Up to 40% of the berries are set on one-year-old shoots, 60% on two- or three-year-old shoots.

Juicy and tender berries weigh 3.5–4 g. They contain more acids than sugars. Pulp with a yellowish tint. The seed is easy to separate, but the stalk comes off with the release of juice, so the transportability of the variety is low. The juice is clear.

Star

Early ripe fruitful cherry for the Leningrad region. Resistance to cold is approximately the same as that of felt cherry; generative buds can withstand significant cold. Immunity to coccomycosis is average.

The variety is tall, the crown is in the form of a pyramid. Begins to bear fruit on average in the 3rd year of life. Partially self-fertile, but to achieve a large harvest, pollinators are needed - Wreath or Seedling No. 1. The variety responds very well to cherry pollination. Most of the berries are formed from last year's growths. The berries ripen already in early July.

The weight of the cherries is up to 4 g, which are distinguished by their bright red skin, light pink juice and pulp. The taste is tender, refreshing, sweet and sour. The bones are easily separated.

Advantages and disadvantages

Columnar cherries have a lot of positive qualities.

Any varieties of columnar cherries, even frost-resistant ones, must be insulated for the winter!

Although there are not many disadvantages of this type of cherry, they do exist.

Lyubskaya

It is resistant to cold, like other varieties suitable for the Leningrad region. Does not require abundant watering and can withstand drought. Excellent self-fertile characteristics allow for large harvests even without the presence of pollinators. Weak immunity to fungus.

It bears fruit for the first time at 2–3 years of age. Ripening occurs in early August.

Berries up to 4 g, tasty, rich burgundy color. Scarlet juice. Due to its transportability, the variety is suitable for commercial cultivation.

The early flowering inherent to the variety can become a problem: if return frosts occur in the spring, this affects the harvest. Planting cherries is recommended on light or medium loamy soils.

Berries up to 4 g, tasty, rich burgundy color. Scarlet juice. Due to its transportability, the variety is suitable for commercial cultivation.

The early flowering inherent to the variety can become a problem: if return frosts occur in the spring, this affects the harvest. Planting cherries is recommended on light or medium loamy soils.

Shpanka Shimskaya

Refers to the best varieties of cherries for the Leningrad region. Can withstand frosts down to -35 °C, long winters and frosts in spring. Quite strong immunity to coccomycosis, with high yield. Planting and care are not particularly difficult; its hardiness is similar to felt cherry.

Gardeners value this variety for its large (5–6 g) berries, their pleasant aroma and refreshing sourness. The skin is purple, the flesh is yellow in contrast, the juice is clear. The variety is not suitable for commercial cultivation due to its low transportability and keeping quality, but in private farms the fruits are used both fresh and for baking, canning and even winemaking.

Refers to the best varieties of cherries for the Leningrad region. Can withstand frosts down to -35 °C, long winters and frosts in spring. Quite strong immunity to coccomycosis, with high yield. Planting and care are not particularly difficult; its hardiness is similar to felt cherry.

The first harvest is produced in the 3rd–4th year of cultivation. It is self-sterile; to get a good harvest, you can plant Amorel Nikiforova or Vladimirskaya nearby. Lives up to 25 years.

Felt cherry - a favorite of Leningraders

Gardeners often make the same mistake - they graft felt cherry onto ordinary rootstock. This is absolutely wrong, despite the similarity of the fruits, they are not genetic relatives. Therefore, it is better to buy ready-made seedlings and plant them in your garden, especially since, thanks to its excellent biological and economic qualities, the felt cherry has become a favorite of local gardeners. Today there are a wide variety of varieties for the Leningrad region; we will list only the most popular of them.

Amorel Nikiforova

This frost-resistant and productive cherry was zoned for the Leningrad region in 1959.

The variety is medium-sized, 2.5–3 m. In mature trees it becomes quite spreading. Self-rooted plants produce a harvest 3-4 years after planting, grafted plants - in 2-3 years of life. The variety is partially self-fertile; suitable pollinators are Shubinka and Shpanka shimskaya. Flowers bloom at the end of May. Harvesting can begin towards the end of July.

Medium-sized cherries – 2.5–3 g, tender. The pulp looks interesting: red with yellow veins. The juice is clear. Separation from the stalk occurs with the release of juice, so commercial breeding is not recommended. Usually the fruits are eaten fresh; they are of little use for canning or storage.

This frost-resistant and productive cherry was zoned for the Leningrad region in 1959.

Reviews of varieties

Savelyeva Elena Petrovna, 53 years old, Vyborg

I heard that you can grow cherries in our region. Therefore, I decided to plant two trees on my site. I specially selected cherry varieties for the Leningrad region. The nursery recommended Bryanochka and Leningradskaya black. I bought two seedlings with a closed root system. The cherry tree quickly took root, and after 3-4 years it received its first harvest. The fruits are tasty and juicy, in no way inferior to those brought from the south. The trees tolerate winters well and do not freeze. Cherries grow successfully in the North-West if you choose a good variety and prepare it for wintering.

Kuznetsov Vasily Petrovich, 43 years old, Gatchina

Growing cherries in the Leningrad region is not easy, but it is a completely doable task. Much depends on the microclimate, precipitation, weather and the location of groundwater. About 5 years ago I planted two trees of the Fatezh and Chermashnaya varieties at the dacha. These varieties were bred from winter-hardy seedlings, and therefore are able to withstand the conditions of the North-West. Cherry was grafted onto a winter-hardy rootstock. In spring, Fatezh is simply showered with flowers and tolerates light frosts well. The fruits are unusual, red-yellow in color, sweet and sour taste. Variety Chermashnaya with bright yellow berries, sweet and juicy.

Thanks to the work of domestic breeders, gardeners can grow heat-loving crops not only in the south, but also in regions with a cool climate.

Kuznetsov Petr Vladimirovich, 53, Vyborg: “Five years ago I planted 2 cherries: Bryanochka and Tyutchevka, which survive in the conditions of the North-West. I picked off the first flowers, and this summer I have already harvested them. I really liked the taste of Bryanochka’s pink berries. I bought Tyutchevka as a pollinator, but the dark red fruits of this variety are also sweet and juicy.”

Ivanchuk Svetlana Sergeevna, 47 years old, Tikhvin: “I heard that cherries are grown in our region, but I didn’t really believe it. In the nursery I actually saw seedlings of a southern culture, and the seller said that they were adapted to the North-West region. With Leningradskaya black, in the 4th year I was already eating berries.

Self-fertile cherry varieties have their advantages (no need for other varieties for pollination and less dependence on external unfavorable conditions) and disadvantages (slight resistance to diseases). However, often in cold regions the choice of such varieties is the most favorable option.

Growing Tips

If you select winter-hardy varieties, plant cherries in a place favorable for them, carefully care for them, protect them from pests, and carry out disease prevention, it is quite possible to harvest a harvest of sweet and aromatic berries even in the North-West.

Fertilizer

Since minerals are poured into the hole when planting cherries along with humus, the tree is fed for the first time after a year or two. In the spring, water with diluted rotted manure or fertilize by dissolving 2 tbsp in a bucket of water. spoons of urea.

When flowers appear on the cherry tree, add potassium salt with superphosphate in liquid form. Once every three years, the soil in the tree trunk circle is dug up and compost or humus is incorporated into the soil.

Trimming

Severe frosts lead to the death of buds. Only when the leaves bloom do they get rid of the frozen branches. The cut areas are covered with garden varnish or paste. Affected trees are fed with fertilizers containing nitrogen.

Diseases and pests

Varieties bred for cultivation in cool climates are immune to viruses, but in wet weather they are affected by fungi that cause hole spotting and gray rot. To prevent the activation of pathogenic microorganisms, after flowering the trees are sprayed with Bordeaux mixture or copper sulfate. The second processing begins by collecting the berries.

To prevent hole spot in early spring, cherries are sprayed with Nitrafen.

Stone fruits growing in the cool climate of the Northwest are subject to attack by:

To cope with harmful insects, in early spring and several more times the trees are sprayed with insecticides - “Iskra”, “Aktellik”, and treated with “Karbofos”. Nets, stuffed animals, and shiny disks that hang on trees help protect the berries from starlings and sparrows.

Harvest rationing

In the Leningrad region, the fruits of stone fruit crops do not always have time to ripen. To speed up the ripening of cherries, cut off the excess ovary. The first flowers that appear on young plants are completely removed.

How to choose seedlings

When buying a tree to grow in your summer cottage or yard, you need to carefully consider it. You need to purchase cherries with a smooth, even trunk and root collar without damage. The leaves should be free of stains, plaque, and traces of insects. It is necessary to buy fruit trees that are adapted to the local climate.

Dessert Volga

Tree up to 3 m with a slightly thickened crown. Partially self-fertile, Vladimirskaya, Rastunya, Finaevskaya are planted nearby for pollination. Grafted trees bear fruit from 2–3 years, self-rooted trees – from 3–4 years. Very productive: proper care of cherries will bring up to 12 kg of berries from an adult plant.

The berries weigh 3.2 g, glossy, burgundy, ripen in mid-July. The pulp is pinkish-red in color and juicy. The juice is red. The berries are easily removed from the stalk, but they themselves hardly fall off.

Features of planting and caring for cherries in the Leningrad region

Even novice gardeners will not encounter any particular difficulties when planting young cherries and subsequent care. It is better to plant in the spring; sending seedlings into open ground in the fall will be disastrous for the plant; it will not survive the first severe frosts. Cherry prefers light soil. It is recommended to prepare the soil mixture yourself by mixing:

humus;
coarse river sand;
rotted compost (often replaced with peat);
turf soil.

Take the components in equal parts; it is recommended to add wood ash (only 3-5 handfuls per plant). Be sure to complete the planting by laying out a layer of mulch (sawdust, chopped pine needles, bark, straw).

Cherry care consists of the following processes:

Watering. Apply only warm liquid as needed during hot, dry summers.
Loosening the soil. Carry out loosening while simultaneously removing weeds that can take nutrients from the soil, weakening the plant.
Application of fertilizers. It is recommended to fertilize mature fruiting crops. Preference should be given to organic matter (necessarily rotted) and mineral compounds.
Fighting diseases. When trees are affected by diseases, use chemicals; gentle folk remedies may not be effective. Strictly comply with the requirements of chemical manufacturers, do not exceed the dosage, irrigate the cherries using personal protective equipment.

Be sure to cover the cherries for the winter; even frost-resistant ones can suffer in severe frosts.

Cherry is a lush tree that is considered an adornment of every garden. You can grow a crop even in harsh conditions; you will need little to do this - decide on the variety, put in a little effort, and follow the rules of agricultural technology. The plant will definitely thank you for such care with delicious fruits.

Zarnitsa

Recommended variety for cold regions. Frost resistance at the level of felt cherry. Fruiting begins 2–3 years after planting. Fruits are formed mainly on annual shoots. The harvest ripens in early August.

The berries are small - about 2 g. The skin and pulp are dark red. The density is medium, the taste is harmonious, sweet and sour. The bone is medium. The peduncle is weakly attached. Used fresh and for preservation, these cherries make delicious jam.

The berries are small - about 2 g. The skin and pulp are dark red. The density is medium, the taste is harmonious, sweet and sour. The bone is medium. The peduncle is weakly attached. Used fresh and for preservation, these cherries make delicious jam.

Rastorguevskaya cherry

This is a mid-season variety, very productive, resistant to many diseases. Many gardeners love it for the peculiarity of its crown; it is spreading, that is, in general, a bush cherry. Varieties for the Leningrad region must be chosen very carefully, because even the zoned Rastorguevskaya cherry is prone to freezing, but the trees recover very quickly and manage to produce a good harvest. The fruits are medium-sized, dark red, the taste is very good, sweet and sour.