How to choose a cherry variety for growing in central Russia

Key indicators when choosing the type of garden crop for planting

Before purchasing a seedling, you should pay attention to a number of features. They make it possible to determine how suitable the selected variety is for cultivation in a particular region.

Characteristics

Cherry grows as a shrub or low tree and belongs to the Rosaceae family and the Plum genus. The fruits have a rounded shape and dark red color. Usually, the glossy shell of the fruit contains juicy pulp with a small stone.

Ripening time

Cherry is a fairly versatile tree that can withstand hot summers and severe frost. You need to choose the right variety for a specific region. Despite the influence of climatic conditions and region of residence, culture is conventionally divided into the following types:

• Early ripening species ripen by mid to late June. This category includes varieties such as Dessertnaya, Morozovaya, Shpanka, Malyshka.
• Late ripening can ripen in August. The varieties include Lyubskaya, Shchedrovka, Malinovka.
• Mid-season - ripens in the second half of July. This category includes Turgenevskaya, Vladimirskaya cherry, Moscow Griot.

Cherry sizes

Depending on the site, the owner chooses a crop taking into account the dimensions of an adult plant. You can choose a shrub or tree 5-10 m in height. The diameter of the fruit is usually 7-10 mm and weighs about 3-5 g.

Winter hardiness

Most species are quite winter-hardy.

Disease resistance

Diseases rarely affect cherries. But when diseases appear, it is difficult to save the tree. The most common diseases include bacterial cancer, moniliosis, and coccomycosis.

Beginning of fruiting and yield

After the apple tree, the cherry tree ranks second in fruit production. A bountiful harvest can be obtained through proper care of garden crops.

Attention! The harvest can be harvested from June to July, depending on the variety.

Reproduction methods

The plant propagates by two main methods:

• Seeds using seeds.
• Vegetative - by planting green cuttings.

In the central zone, varieties of common cherries and dukis are often grown, which are cherry-cherry hybrids.

How to choose seedlings

The entire further development cycle of the plant depends on the correct choice of seedling. You should not purchase young trees at the market or from unfamiliar sellers. The best place to purchase seedlings would be a nursery where the plants are grown in good conditions. You should definitely check the availability of a certificate or other documents for the sale of seedlings. Read what to plant next to cherries at this link.

The height of an annual seedling usually does not exceed 90-100 cm. The bark on the tree should be smooth and free of growths and mechanical damage. The roots should be checked for rot. If you carefully cut the root, the flesh inside should be moist and white.

Saplings with partially dried roots and brownish sections should not be purchased. A good seedling should not have leaves. When purchasing, you should find out the exact name of the variety, flowering period and ripening time.

To check if the roots are dry, you need to roll the root into a ring shape. It should bend without crunching or cracking.

Self-fertile and self-pollinating varieties

Self-fertile varieties do not require pollinating plants to produce ovaries; this is their difference from cross-pollinated varieties.

• Amorelle Pink

This species is resistant to frost and pests. The tree has a rough trunk of an ash-gray hue. The fruits are of medium size and weigh up to 3 g. The main color of the berries is light red. The pulp of the cherry is creamy-pink in color with light fibers, colorless juice and sweet and sour taste.

Amorelle rosea has a lighter shade of fruit

• Youth

How to plant cherries correctly

Cherries love light, well-drained soils. It requires soil with neutral acidity. The tree should be planted on a hill, in a bright place, away from groundwater. The ideal option is on a gentle slope in a western direction with an inclination angle of 5–10 degrees. It is not advisable to plant on the lower part of a slope or in a lowland. Do not plant cherries on southern slopes. It is there that cherries often receive frost damage in winter and suffer from lack of water in summer. Cherries are planted in the spring, in April, before the buds open.

Choosing a seedling is a very responsible matter. A seedling with a leaf in full bloom is considered to be of poor quality. For planting, you should choose a one-year or two-year-old seedling. The optimal growth of a seedling is 70–80 cm for a one-year-old and 100–110 cm for a two-year-old. A seedling with a well-developed root system has taproots and fibrous roots. The bark of the seedling should be a uniform brown color without inclusions.

The scheme for planting cherries on a 3 x 3 plot, that is, 3 meters between cherries in a row and at least 3 meters between rows. Low-growing cherries can be planted in a 2 x 3 pattern, that is, 2 meters between cherries in a row and 3 meters between rows. It is advisable to prepare the planting hole in advance. The size of the hole depends on the fertility of the soil. If the soil is not fertile enough, prepare a hole with a diameter of 80 cm and a depth of 60 cm. If the soil is fertile, chernozem, then a hole with a diameter of 60 cm and a depth of 40–50 cm is sufficient. When digging a hole, fold the fertile top layer in one direction, and the bottom layer in another. It is better to plant cherries on a cloudy, windless day.

Planting a young cherry tree must be accompanied by abundant watering

Planting technology:

Place a layer of crushed limestone at the bottom of the hole. In the planting hole, mix the soil with humus in a 1:1 ratio and add a half-liter jar of ash. Make a small earthen mound. Place the seedling on the mound, carefully straightening the roots

It is important that the roots are not bent upward. The root collar should not be below ground level. Cover the roots with fertile soil. Water

Half a bucket of water will be enough. Set up a peg and tie the cherry to the peg. Cover the cherry tree completely with fertile soil. Gently compact the soil around the trunk. Make a hole out of the soil around the cherry. Water the seedling well. Mulch the soil with compost or humus.

Bush varieties for the Middle Zone

Bush cherry varieties for central Russia can be early, late and large-fruited. They also differ in taste.

• Gorgeous

This crop grows in the form of a wide bush with oval dense crowns. The fruits have a wide round shape, reaching a weight of 3-3.5 g. The thin, slightly pubescent skin of the berries has a dark pink tint.

The berries are juicy, dense, with red pulp and sweet and sour flavor notes.

• Delight

Cherries with an average ripening period bear fruit in the first half of July. The berries are described as having a dark red color and are large in size, weighing up to 10-15 g. The fruit pulp is juicy, sweet, and has a pink tint.

• Flora

The berries of this variety have a round shape, the average weight is 4 g. The color of the fruit is dark red, the bare skin is not too bright, the juice is red, the taste is sweet and sour.

Cherry: description of the 20 best varieties, characteristics and reviews from gardeners (Photo)

Cherry is one of the most common fruit trees. In popularity it is probably second only to the apple tree. Breeders believe that it was obtained by crossing steppe cherries and sweet cherries. About 150 varieties are known. Below you will find descriptions of selected varieties with reviews from gardeners.

PROS:

• cold resistance
• early ripening of cherries
• undemanding to soil moisture

MINUSES:

• prone to infection with mycoses.

Chocolate cherry is a young variety. Therefore, its seedlings are not very easy to find on sale. To grow it, you need to choose a well-lit part of the garden.

The tree must be pruned every year. You can water during flowering and fruit formation. Feed only 3 years after planting . Then once every 4 years.

Can be grown in any region of Russia.

According to gardeners:

The chocolate maker does not require special care. With timely treatment with appropriate medications, it is not susceptible to infection with moniliosis and other fungal diseases. But summer residents note that it is not suitable for freezing.

Cherry-cherry hybrids

Varieties obtained by crossing cherries and sweet cherries are usually called dukes. About 30 species of such hybrids grow in Russia. Several varieties will be described below.

Kharitonovskaya

It is capable of pollinating on its own, but for good fruiting the following varieties should be planted next to it:

• Vladimirskaya
• Lyubskaya
• Zhukovskaya

PROS:

• it is rarely affected by fungal diseases.

MINUSES:

• not suitable for cultivation in areas with severe frosts.

The plant's pollen is sterile. It is recommended to plant cherries next to it, or such varieties of cherries as:

• English early
• Lotovaya
• Anadolskaya
• May Duke
• Griot Ostheim

Miracle

You should not plant such varieties of cherries next to the Miracle cherry as: Valery Chkalov; Drogana yellow; Large-fruited; Valeria; Farewell.

The branches of a tree have the property of stretching upward. To properly form the crown, some gardeners tie weights to the branches. The variety is better suited for warm regions of the country.

It is not worth planting in central Russia. The landing site must be chosen as windless, bright, and without close groundwater.

The plant must be pruned within 5 years. In the first year of life, during spring pruning, 1/6 of the shoots are cut off.

PROS:

• The variety is resistant to fungal diseases.

MINUSES:

• Cherry Miracle cannot become a pollinator - its pollen is sterile.

PROS:

• high yield
• disease resistance
• endurance to strong drops in air temperature
• pleasant taste of fruits

MINUSES:

• Susceptible to certain diseases

The best neighbors for her:

• Youth
• Nord Star
• Lyubskaya
• Turgenevka

Shpanka

Able to be pollinated by its own pollen. But at the same time, a small amount of fruit is obtained.

It is recommended to plant next to it:

• Griot of Ostheim;
• Ukrainian griot.

Shpanka is not suitable for transportation over long distances.

PROS:

• ability to withstand low temperatures (up to -35 degrees);
• high resistance to diseases
• pleasant taste of cherries
• drought tolerance

MINUSES:

• due to the tall growth of trees, it is difficult to pick fruits from them;
• The first harvest sometimes needs to wait up to 6 years.

For good growth, the plant must be planted in light, fertile soil.

Shpanka has many varieties:

• dwarf
• Bryansk
• large-fruited
• Donetsk
• early

Common cherry varieties

This species was known in ancient times. Today it does not grow wild.

Dessert Morozova

Early ripening. The first harvest is harvested in June. Fruiting occurs in the 3rd – 4th year of the plant’s life. Without a neighboring pollinating tree, only 1/5 of the fruits are formed.

It is recommended to plant the following varieties of cherries next to it:

• Vladimirskaya
• Griot Ostheim
• Studencheska
• Griot Rossoshansky

PROS:

• precocity
• high yield
• pleasant taste
• annual fruiting
• frost resistance

MINUSES:

• Disadvantages include poor resistance to disease.

To plant it, you need to choose an elevated, bright area in the garden. Do not plant in places with strong drafts.

Watering is required during flowering and fruiting. Prune in the spring - before the buds swell. In the first years of life, feeding is not needed.

Youth has an average degree of resistance to mycoses.

A variety for universal use. Tolerates transportation well.

Gardeners speak well of it:

Positive qualities include its pleasant taste, good winter hardiness and high yield. For some fruit crop lovers, the Morozovka variety grows well and bears fruit in the Moscow region.

Lyubskaya

To grow it you need to choose a site:

• with enough sunlight
• without strong drafts
• groundwater - no higher than three meters
• exalted

Zhukovskaya

Not able to pollinate on its own. It is recommended to plant the following varieties of cherries next to it:

• Lyubskaya
• Apukhtinskaya
• Vladimirskaya
• Consumer goods black
• Youth

PROS:

• highly resistant to certain diseases;
• pleasant taste of fruits

MINUSES:

• big bone
• instability to extreme cold

Not suitable for planting in regions with severe frosts. Able to be partially pollinated by its own pollen. But to obtain a sufficient amount of fruit, it is necessary to be in proximity to other varieties of cherries:

• Melitopol joy
• Lyubskaya
• Favorite
• Youth

Turgenevka is moderately resistant to common diseases of fruit trees.

Felt cherry

Its name is associated with the slight pubescence on the vegetative parts and cherries.

PROS:

• frost resistance (up to -40°C)
• drought resistance
• high yield
• decorativeness

MINUSES:

• it grows for no more than 10 years, but with proper pruning this period can be increased.

Felt cherry fruits contain large amounts of vitamin C, PP and group B. In terms of iron content, they are even ahead of apples.

Late varieties include the Ocean Virovskaya variety.

Medium ripening varieties:

• white
• dark-skinned oriental
• Anniversary

Early varieties of felt cherry:

• Natalie
• fairy tale
• children's
• productive
• fabulous

It can only be grown for personal consumption. Fruits cannot be transported or stored. According to the ability of pollination, felt cherry is divided into self-fertile and self-sterile varieties.

Varieties that can be pollinated by their own pollen:

• Delight
• Anniversary
• Fairy tale
• Eastern
• Children's
• Summer
• Dream
• Ogonyok
• Gorgeous
• Eastern dark-skinned woman
• Triana
• Princess

For better pollination, it is recommended to plant at least 3 trees per site.

Felt cherry varieties that require other tree species for pollination:

• Okeanskaya Virovskaya
• Natalie
• Autumn Virovaya
• Alice

Cherry Vladimirskaya

Vladimir cherry is self-sterile. To get a bountiful harvest, you need to plant several bushes of a different variety.

It is best to plant the following varieties next to it:

• Morel black
• Lyubskaya
• Turgenevka
• Consumer goods black
• Vasilyevskaya
• Zhukovskaya
• Rastunya

Productivity depends on the region - 5 - 25 kg.

It is grown both for personal consumption and for industrial purposes. They can be transported over long distances.

It is susceptible to diseases such as coccomycosis and miniliosis. But gardeners speak well of this variety. Even summer residents who have been growing this variety for many years have no complaints about it.

This variety is not suitable for cultivation in the northern and central parts of Russia.

Volga Dessert Cherry

Volga dessert cherry is partially pollinated on its own. The following varieties should be planted next to it as pollinators:

• Rastunya
• Zarya Volga region
• Finaevskaya
• Vladimirskaya
• Ukrainian

Trees begin to bear fruit no later than 3 years after planting. Productivity depends on age - 4 - 18 kg. Tolerates low air temperatures well.

Resistance to common diseases is average.

sand cherry

In its natural environment it grows in South and North America. In its homeland it is not eaten. It has an unpleasant taste and is grown for landscaping. But scientists have developed varieties that are not only beautiful in appearance, but also tasty.

Bessey

This crop can grow on almost any soil.

Judging by the reviews of experienced gardeners:

It is difficult for Bessey to tolerate sudden changes in temperature in winter and spring.

Cherry Morozovka

Self-sterile variety. Pollinators can be:

• Vladimirskaya
• Michurinskaya
• Zhukovskaya
• Turgenevka
• Lebedyanskaya
• Griot

PROS:

• can be transported over long distances.

MINUSES:

PROS:

• early fruiting period (early July)
• pleasant taste of fruits
• ability to withstand severe frosts (down to -34 degrees Celsius)
• drought resistance
• high yield (up to 25 kg)

MINUSES:

• Yields decrease with age
• plants are often affected by fungal diseases
• this variety does not tolerate strong drafts

There are many varieties of cherries in the world. But when choosing seedlings for planting, you need to pay attention not only to the taste of the fruit, but also to the frost resistance and resistance of the trees to diseases and pests.

Description of varieties

Source: https://krrot.net/vishnya-opisanie-sortov/

Low-growing and dwarf varieties

The best cherry varieties for the middle zone are usually dwarf. They are unpretentious to various conditions and are not afraid of frost.

• Anthracite

The fruits have a broad-heart-shaped or round shape. The berries weigh 4.1-5 g. Ripe cherries have a dark burgundy color and dark juice.

Anthracite cherries are dark in color when ripe.

• Christina

The low-growing variety has a spherical, medium-density crown. The berries have a sweet and sour taste and red juicy flesh.

• Tamaris

Tamaris has a round, slightly spreading crown. Drupes usually weigh 3.8-5 g. The berries are of medium density, juicy and dark red in color.

For reference! For gardeners, farmers and gardeners who have limited space and low-growing trees, this is the only way to grow a crop of tasty and healthy berries.

Rules and secrets of planting and care

Often the cause of fungal infection and loss of plant productivity is errors in choosing a place for a seedling and improper care.

Cherry is an undemanding plant. But it does not like acidic soils and waterlogging. Despite the fact that it blooms and ripens in the shade, it is better to choose the sunny side for the tree.

You should not plant cherries in lowlands. During the period of spring cold snaps, they can freeze slightly, which is why flower buds often die and the yield is significantly reduced. In addition, with high humidity and insufficient ventilation of the crown, the risk of fungal diseases increases.

The seedling does not tolerate heavy soil and high acidity. It grows best in areas with light sandy loam. If the soil is clay or loam, it is recommended to add sand when planting. To reduce acidity, lime or ash is added every few years. Groundwater can also have a negative effect on the growth and quantity of ovaries. The depth of the aquifer must be at least 1.5-2 meters.

Cherries are planted no later than October or April. If planting material is purchased in late autumn, it is recommended to dig it in and cover it, and plant it in the spring.

Almost all cherry varieties are prone to crown thickening. They require special attention to pruning. It is also worth remembering that the plant endures this procedure quite painfully. It should be carried out while the cherry is at rest, before the sap begins to flow, preferably in March.

It is recommended to postpone pruning of weak or frost-damaged plants until next spring. Root shoots can greatly weaken a fruit-bearing bush or tree. The sprouts must be regularly cut off at the very root, otherwise the remaining stumps will branch and grow even larger.

To achieve high and stable yields, the plant must be fed regularly. It is better to apply fertilizers in small portions. The main feeding occurs during the autumn digging of the root circle. At this time, phosphorus (150-200 g) and potassium (60-80 g) dry fertilizers are applied.

In early spring, urea or ammonium nitrate (50-70 g) is used. Two more feedings occur during the growing season: at the time of flowering and 10-15 days after it. At this time, the plant is watered with a solution of 15 g of urea and 25 g of superphosphate per 10 liters of water.

In general, cherries tolerate drought without damage, but watering allows you to get sweeter, larger fruits and increase the yield. The main thing is to prevent the soil from becoming waterlogged.

For one plant, 3-6 buckets of water are enough. If the soil is very dry, then after the leaves are dropped, the last winter watering is carried out.

Cherries often suffer damage from burns and cracks, which usually appear in February-March. To avoid this problem, the trunks and main branches at the base are whitewashed with lime mortar in November and in the last days of winter.

Features of this region

Garden cherries penetrated into Central Russia from regions located to the south. This culture is more comfortable in a warmer and less damp climate. Winter cold leads to freezing of fruit buds and wood. Early color often falls under return frosts. Rainy weather provokes the development of fungal diseases that spoil the harvest and reduce the frost resistance of cherry trees.

Many years of selective selection have led to the appearance of cherries adapted to the temperate continental climate of Moscow and its environs. Varieties suitable for the Moscow region can be selected based on the recommendations of the State Register of Breeding Achievements and the successful experience of local gardeners.

Varieties of cherries by pollination method

All varieties of cherries are divided into 3 types based on the possibility of pollination.

1. Self-fertile. Crops can independently form about 40% of the fruits from a tree. Their pollen retains its pollinating properties for 2 weeks. Germination is possible a month after pollination. These include the following varieties: Griot, Apukhtinskaya, Finaevskaya or Brunette cherry.
2. Self-sterile. Cherry varieties such as Saratov, Chernogorka, Alpha or Vladimir. The varieties are popular and can be grown in all regions of the country. To increase productivity, they need to be planted next to self-fertile crops. The hybrid of cherry and sweet cherry is self-sterile.
3. Temporarily self-fertile. The following varieties should be included: Maksimovsky, Turgenevka, Shpanka or Vstrecha. The property of temporary pollination is based on the fact that pollen from crops can retain positive properties only for 4-5 days. After this, self-pollination is impossible.

Self-sterile cherry varieties are among the most popular in all regions of the country.

Growing cherries in the garden - care features

Cherries are considered one of the most winter-hardy stone fruit trees, so it is not surprising that they are so widespread in gardens and gardens. Today there are about 150 varieties of cherry trees, of which only 20 are found in Russia and the CIS countries.

Cherries prefer to grow in fertile, water- and breathable soil. It cannot be planted in lowlands and in places where groundwater flows (no closer than 1.5-2 m), this can cause freezing of the roots and fruit buds, and rotting of the root system due to stagnation of water.

After planting, the ground around the seedling is regularly loosened, facilitating air access to the roots, and cleared of weeds (the tree trunk circle can be mulched). Growing root growth is cut off close to the ground, preventing it from spreading. Young seedlings must be watered regularly in the first years after planting. Normally, about 12 waterings are carried out per season, and if the summer is dry, this number can be increased.

Over time, if the tree’s yield and the growth of young shoots decreases, rejuvenating pruning is carried out. This is done in early spring, while the cherry is in the winter dormancy stage. The cut areas are treated with garden varnish.

Variety selection criteria

The correct choice of a variety suitable for a given region will help to avoid many difficulties associated with cultivation and further care. Particular attention is paid to the following parameters:

• taste characteristics of fruits;
• tree productivity;
• frost resistance and winter hardiness;
• disease resistance.

A thorough analysis of the assortment will allow you to choose the appropriate option and avoid difficulties during planting and growing.

Winter hardiness

The main problem in the middle zone is low winter temperatures, often falling below -35 °C. To obtain large yields, zoned varieties with increased frost resistance are chosen here.

Immunity to fungal diseases

The most common diseases that cause enormous harm to fruit trees are moniliosis and coccomycosis. The choice of species resistant to these diseases and a number of timely preventive measures contribute to growing a healthy garden and obtaining an excellent harvest of aromatic berries.

Dates of ripening and beginning of fruiting

Planting several shrubs with significantly different ripening periods in one area will allow you to enjoy delicious berries all summer.

Rastorguevskaya

A modern variety bred at the beginning of the 21st century. This means that breeders have corrected previous mistakes and obtained new results. Many people consider this variety to be the standard, although it has some disadvantages - moderate winter hardiness and susceptibility to coccomycosis (in especially wet years). However, the Rastorguevskaya cherry has much more advantages: it quickly begins to bear fruit, self-fertility (the ability of trees to set fruit without pollen of other varieties), and the excellent taste of large berries.

Juicy, dark red fruits, suitable both as a dessert and for any type of processing, as well as the low growth of the trees, make this variety one of the most beloved and desired in most of Russia.

In conclusion, I would like to remind all gardeners that it is advisable to plant stone fruit crops, which include cherries, in the spring, so the risk of freezing of still immature trees is minimized. But it is better to buy seedlings not only of the above varieties, but also of any others, in the fall, because the choice of seedlings is greater and the quality of the planting material is better.