Varietal features
The name of the cherry clearly indicates for which region the variety was bred. The breeders had a clear task, as a result of their work, to obtain cherries that were resistant to the low winter temperatures of the Central region of Russia. They successfully managed to do this. In addition to excellent frost resistance, the variety was distinguished by strong immunity to such a terrible and widespread disease as scab, as well as high yield rates. The combination of these qualities in the difficult post-war years contributed to the rapid spread of the “Griot of Moscow” beyond the Central region. To this day, it is successfully grown throughout almost the entire country.
The ripening time of cherries of this variety is described by the originator as mid-early. In the Moscow region, the harvest time falls in the middle of the summer season - July 15-20. In the south of Russia, where “Moscow Griot” is very common, the berries ripen in late June and early July. In regions with late and cool spring, these dates shift closer to August.
Biological description of the tree
The plants of this variety are characterized by the following features:
- a bush-type tree has an average height of 2.5 meters;
- the crown of mature trees is dense and spherical;
- foliage is strong;
- medium-sized shoots are directed towards the ground;
- the leaf blades are small, have the shape of an elongated oval and are green in color;
- cherry blossoms with white flowers collected in umbrella-shaped inflorescences;
- Trees begin to bear fruit after 4-5 years of planting.
Characteristics of berries and their use
Griot Moskovskiy berries have an average weight of about 3.5 grams. If there is a lack of moisture, they are crushed to 2.8-3.0 grams. The color of the skin is almost black, with a burgundy tint. The pulp is medium dense and contains a large amount of juice. When torn from the stalk, the skin is often damaged. The stone is small and difficult to separate from the pulp. The taste is good. The taste of the berries is classic cherry, sweet and sour with a bright aroma.
The variety has a universal purpose.
The berries are good both fresh and in various processings. But the fruits of the “Moscow Griot” are not suitable for sale and transportation over long distances due to the raw tear and too juicy pulp. Interesting! Fresh cherry juice is an excellent remedy for cough. Freshly squeezed juice with the addition of honey is good for treating bronchitis.
Features of pollination
Almost all stone fruit trees and shrubs are self-sterile. Griot Moscow cherries are no exception. Therefore, high-quality pollination of the cherry tree is a guarantee of rich fruiting. This requires cherries, the flowers of which bloom at about the same time. However, not all varieties that bloom at the same time are able to cross-pollinate each other. The following cherries are suitable for successful cross-pollination of the “Moscow Griot”:
- Vladimirskaya;
- Pink bottle;
- Orlovskaya Early.
Productivity
Yield indicators vary greatly depending on the area and growing conditions. The maximum recorded yield from one tree is 15-17 kilograms. With minimal care and even in unfavorable conditions, the yield remains at the level of 8-9 kilograms.
Varieties and description of the variety
Currently, several variations of the Griot cherry have been developed, with varying levels of fruiting and characteristics.
Belorussian
The self-sterile variety Griot Belorussky has a sparse pyramidal crown. It bears fruit with aromatic berries weighing 7 grams.
Melitopol
Winter-hardy, fast-growing cherry with a dense, spherical crown of the Griot Melitopolsky variety grows up to 5 meters in height and begins to bear the first berries already 4 years after planting. At the end of June, berries with dark red pulp ripen, the average weight of which reaches 6.9 grams. The tree's productivity is high. From an adult cherry you can get up to 10 kilograms of incredibly tasty berries.
Moscow
The self-sterile cherry variety Griot Moscow grows up to 3 meters in height. The tree bears fruit with delicious berries weighing 3.5 grams.
Ostheimsky
The frost-resistant variety Griot Ostheimsky reaches 4 meters in height. The tree is endowed with a chic rounded crown. At the end of June, dark red juicy fruits weighing up to 4 grams ripen. The variety is self-fertile and requires pollinators.
Rossoshansky
The height of the self-fertile Rossoshansky variety, resistant to moniliosis, often reaches 6 meters in height. At the end of June, juicy sweet and sour fruits ripen on the tree, the average weight of which is 3.6 grams. They are characterized by low shelf life and transportability.
Advantages and disadvantages of “Griot of Moscow”
The hybrid variety belongs to the collection of old Soviet selection and cannot be called ideal. In addition to a number of advantages, it also has some disadvantages. Let's list the main pros and cons of cherries.
pros
- abundant and annual fruiting even under unfavorable conditions;
- trees tolerate low winter temperatures in the Central region;
- Scab resistance is above average;
- early fruiting (first harvest in the 4-5th year of planting);
- good taste of fruits;
- universal for purpose.
Minuses
- often affected by coccomycosis;
- self-sterile;
- medium sized berries;
- Due to the juiciness of the fruit, it is not suitable for transportation over long distances.
Reviews
A good variety of cherries. The tree can hardly be called a tree; the cherry tree looks like a large and tall bush with branches hanging to the ground. Among the disadvantages, I can highlight the tendency to grow quickly and sprout shoots. The berries are not particularly large, but they taste wonderful. In our garden, we have never been affected by diseases or pests, which is very pleasing. While nearby plum trees are attacked by aphids every year.
"Griot Moscow" is a very old variety. We have been growing cherries for more than 25 years. The tree still produces good yields. But over the years, anti-aging pruning was carried out two or even three times. The taste of cherries is refreshing, sweet and sour, not dessert, more suitable for processing.
Source
Agricultural technology varieties
Landing
The location for the “Griot of Moscow” should be well lit by sunlight for most of the day. In the shade, the berries will be less sweet and the yield will be significantly lower.
Even with its frost resistance, cherry remains a heat-loving plant and it feels most comfortable in places hidden from strong winds. A cherry tree grows well on the south side of a house or a high fence.
Cherries grow poorly and ultimately die in areas prone to stagnant water and areas with high groundwater levels. The situation can be corrected by constructing a planting hill or organizing good drainage. In the case of high groundwater, when planting, a large sheet of iron is placed in the pit, which will prevent contact of the roots with underground water.
The ideal soil for stone fruits is well-fertilized light sandy and loamy soils. On heavy clay or dry and sandy soils, the root system will develop poorly, which will affect the general condition of the plant.
The planting pit is prepared in advance and filled with nutritious soil. Cherries are planted according to the same principle as all fruit trees. At the same time, we should not forget that the first stake to be installed in the planting hole is to which the seedling will be tied. If you miss this moment, it will be very difficult to install a support after planting the seedling without damaging the root system. Another important point when planting a cherry tree is the correct location of the root collar - after planting it should be located 3-4 cm above the soil surface.
Important! Cherry trees are very picky about neighbors in the area. Apple trees, pears and crops such as gooseberries and currants should not be planted next to them. The best neighbors for cherries will be sweet cherries, cherry plums, elderberries and plums.
Tree care
Watering and fertilizing
If the summer season is not abnormally hot and dry, then the Moscow Griot cherry trees can easily do without additional watering. If drought occurs during vital phases in the life of a tree, such as flowering and fruiting, then artificial irrigation is carried out. For quality watering, it is better to use a sprinkler nozzle. If watering is done from a watering can, then it is necessary to prepare special watering grooves or drainage holes. It is convenient to use these structures for fertilizing.
Fertilizers should be applied starting from the third year of planting cherries. Three times per season will be enough. In the spring, nitrogen fertilizers are applied, during flowering - complex compounds, in the autumn - fertilizers with a high content of potassium and phosphorus. It is important to remember that trees are fed only after watering or good heavy rains.
Weeding, loosening and mulching
Experts advise keeping cherry tree trunks in a clean and loose state. In this case, there will be no competition between the grass and plant roots for moisture and nutrients. It is easier to care for such soil, digging it shallowly several times a season, the weeds will not have time to grow and the roots will be supplied with a sufficient amount of oxygen. As the tree grows, it is necessary to increase the area of the surrounding space; it should be equal to the diameter of the cherry crown.
Some gardeners prefer to cover the soil in cherry orchards with a mulch layer. This option makes caring for the plantings even easier. Wood chips or expanded clay are excellent as mulch. Such materials will retain moisture in the soil, prevent the growth of weeds and decorate any garden area.
Trimming
The first pruning of cherries is carried out immediately after planting in a permanent place. Each shoot is shortened by a third of its length. If there are weak or unnaturally located branches, they are removed immediately.
In the future, crown formation is carried out annually in a gentle manner at the end of the winter season. When the air temperature reaches at least 10 degrees below zero, remove or shorten branches that thicken the crown or overhanging shoots.
In autumn, sanitary pruning is carried out. After the cherry tree has shed its leaves and gone into a dormant state, the tree is carefully inspected. Dried branches or diseased shoots are cut out and burned outside the site. To carry out this procedure, it is good to choose dry and fine days without precipitation, in which case the sections will dry out faster.
Advice! Before pruning trees, garden tools are well sharpened and disinfected. All cuts, regardless of the nature of the pruning, are treated with garden varnish. In winter, before processing, the garden pitch is slightly warmed up, otherwise it will not lie in an even layer and will not perform a protective function.
Planting and care
All nuances are important for the normal development of the plant. Success in growing the Griot Moscow variety, its health and longevity are laid down already at the very first stage - the stage of choosing a place to plant a seedling.
The plant, which is heat-loving by nature, should be located in a place where there will always be a lot of sunlight.
At the same time, this place must be reliably protected from cold winter winds and burning summer dry winds. In most cases, this place is the south side of the garden.
It is better to plant a tree in spring. If you do this in the fall, then there is a risk that the young and still weak tree will simply freeze under the blows of the winter cold.
If the gardener decides to plant Griot Moscow in September, then it is recommended to carefully dig in the seedling.
It is also important to maintain the optimal distance between seedlings when planting.
Since this variety is a bush form, the clearance between its individuals should be at least 2 m in a row and 2-2.5 m between rows.
The seedling is lowered into a hole with a diameter of 60 cm and a depth of 50-60 cm, where fertilizer has been applied in advance. The soil removed from the hole is mixed with humus and potassium chloride.
The seedling inserted into the hole is buried with the resulting fertilized earth mixture and filled with 2-3 buckets of pre-settled, non-cold water.
After the liquid is completely absorbed, the soil around the trunk should be mulched with sawdust. A layer of mulch of 2-3 cm will prevent water from evaporating and dry soil from cracking.
Caring for the Griot Moscow cherry throughout its life mainly consists of fairly simple but regular operations - loosening, watering, fertilizing, protection from various pests and diseases, and precise pruning.
It’s worth special mention about pruning, since proper pruning is worth a lot. Thanks to competent pruning, a gardener can, for example, adjust the sugar content of fruits and the level of yield of a tree, and provide the plant with greater endurance and resistance to disease.
The formation of the crown must be done immediately after planting. In this case, the branches of the seedling should be cut to a third of their length. Thanks to this, the crown will form correctly.
Regular pruning of cherries is carried out in the spring, approximately 18-20 days before buds open.
The same should be done in relation to diseased, dried branches, in order to thin out the thickened crown.
Fruitful branches are also cut off if they are too long and reach down to the ground.
If complete pruning is performed, then the branch should be cut at its very base , without leaving stumps after the work. Of course, the tree retains its strongest and most fertile branches.
Protection from diseases and pests
As already mentioned, it has good resistance to fungal diseases such as scab. The same cannot be said about coccomycosis. This disease often affects plants, especially in rainy years. To prevent infection, trees are treated with special products in early spring before the buds swell and in late autumn, after the leaves fall.
In addition, an excellent means of preventing diseases and pests, including rodents, is bleaching the trunk and skeletal branches. The treatment is carried out with a lime solution with the addition of carbolic acid.
Characteristics
Each variety has its own individuality; when choosing seedlings of a future cherry tree, pay attention to:
- Dimensions of the trunk and the specifics of the greenery.
- Productivity, size of cherries and their suitability for food.
- Terms of ripening.
- Temperature growing environment.
- Immunity level.
Important! Not all varieties of Griot are eaten. When choosing a seedling, this must be taken into account.
Harvest and storage
Cherries, in principle, do not belong to berries intended for long-term storage, and especially the “Griot Moscow” cherries. The berries are too juicy to store or transport.
To prevent the fruits from spoiling before they are processed or eaten, picking must be done in dry weather and exclusively by hand. It is better to prepare small containers so that the berries do not become crushed under the weight of their own weight. The collected fruits should not be in the sun; they must be immediately moved to a cool place or refrigerator.
History of selection and region of breeding
In the 1950s, in the Soviet Union, which was forced to solve complex food problems of the post-war period, scientists were given the task of developing varieties of crops that would be able to produce good yields in difficult climate conditions.
One of the scientists who actively took up solving this problem was Doctor of Biological Sciences Khasan Enikeev (1910-1984).
A staunch follower and ardent propagandist of Michurin’s teachings, he found himself, as they say, in his element, since for several years before he had specialized in breeding winter-hardy varieties of plums and cherries.
The author of dozens of fruit species has always set his scientific goal to create crops whose fruits would have excellent taste.
In 1959, in Zagorye near Moscow, in the experimental vineyards of the All-Union Selection and Technological Institute of Horticulture and Nursery Growing, Professor Enikeev developed a new variety at that time - Griot Moskovsky.
Bush cherries with prospects for high yields were obtained as a result of cloning the Western European variety Griot Otsgeimsky.
According to its main parameters, the “Moscow branch” of the Griots was intended for zoning in the far-from-southern Moscow region.
But its cultivation quickly spread to the southern regions of the Russian Non-Black Earth Region and the Central Black Earth Region of the Russian Federation. Cherry varieties such as Vyanok, Shchedraya and Lebedyanskaya also grow well in these areas.
Also in 1959, Griot Moscow was included in the State Register. Since the mid-1960s, the variety was sent to state variety trials.
Preparing for the winter season
Frost-resistant trees of the variety do not require shelter for the winter. The root system, as well as growth and flower buds, tolerate frost and temperature fluctuations well. To prepare for winter, the following planned autumn work is carried out:
- Remove fallen leaves and dried fruits from the branches;
- the trunk circle is cleaned of plant debris and berry seeds;
- the soil is dug up shallowly and fertilizers are applied if necessary;
- during a dry autumn, water-charging irrigation is carried out (a month before frost);
- tree trunks are whitewashed;
- carry out scheduled crown pruning.
If you are looking for an unpretentious cherry variety that is not afraid of winter frosts in Central Russia, then Griot Moskovsky is what you need. Frost-resistant trees can easily withstand any natural disasters, including spring frosts, and will delight you with a good harvest of delicious berries.
