In nature, there are many more self-sterile varieties of plants (this is how crops protect their species from extinction under constantly changing environmental conditions), which, in order to form the ovary (and then the fruit), need pollen from other plants of their species to fall on the pistils of their flowers, but it is desirable of a different variety.
However, there are also self-fertile plants, including such a beloved fruit crop as cherry. That is, those for which, for the process of pollination and further fruit set, only pollen from their own flowers is enough, and they do not even need to open completely; fertilization will take place in a covered bud.
- Which fruit trees and bushes are self-fertile, and which need a pair
We understand the concepts of self-fertility, self-sterility and partial self-fertility of plants.
And many gardeners “hunt” for precisely these self-fertile cherry varieties, by planting which you can get a harvest even under unfavorable conditions - the absence of pollinating insects, cold rainy or windy weather, the inability to plant trees of pollinating varieties, etc. Yes, the yield is smaller than from self-sterile varieties (fertilization with their own pollen occurs in approximately 50% of flowers), but still quite stable.
Why not absolutely? Because self-fertility, strictly speaking, is itself an unstable indicator. The same variety can exhibit stable self-fertility or be only partially self-fertile in different climatic zones and even in the same zone, but in different years.
Partial self-fertility is an intermediate option between self-fertile and self-sterile varieties, when about 5-15% of the fruits are set without “external help”. And this is where the same pollinating varieties will come to the rescue, helping the partially self-fertile plant to set more fruits. So even if you hope to harvest only from self-fertile trees and shrubs, still do not be lazy to plant at least a few single plants of pollinator varieties of this species in your garden, so to speak, just in case. In general, the rule works - the wider the variety of trees and shrubs on the site, the larger and more stable the harvests will be.
We bring to your attention sweet self-fruitful cherry varieties for the middle zone, proven and loved by gardeners.
Cherry Chocolate Girl
Medium ripening variety (from mid-July) of Russian selection.
The tree is fast-growing, low-growing (up to 2-2.5 m), compact, with a medium-density crown of a reverse pyramidal shape, where most of the branches are directed upward.
The yield is stable and average - up to 12 kg per tree. The short period of productive fruiting is 15–17 years.
The variety is light-loving, winter-hardy, drought-resistant, and begins to bear fruit in the 4th year. Resistance to diseases is good, except for coccomycosis and moniliosis.
Possible additional pollinating varieties: Vladimirskaya, Sklyanka cherries.
The fruits are medium in size (3.5-4 g), have a round shape and a dark burgundy (almost black) color with a glossy sheen. The skin is thin, the flesh is red, juicy, sweet and sour, with a cherry flavor. The small bone is easily separated from the pulp.
Varieties compatibility
Not all varieties have good or sufficient cross-pollination. There are cases when varieties planted nearby are incompatible, so they practically do not produce ovaries. It turns out that any self-sterile variety, although good in all respects, may turn out to be low-yielding without a suitable cherry pollinator.
When starting a garden, you should choose several varieties. It is important that cherry pollinators are close in terms of flowering, fruiting, fruit ripening and longevity of the plant as a whole.
The approximate most optimal combination of common varieties and pollinators is Alpha (Vladimirsky, Griot, Shubina), Chernokorka (Lyubskaya, Yaroslavna cherries, Donchanka, Aelita), Ashinsky (Rubinovy, Altai swallow, Nochka), Zhukovsky (Lyubsky, Vladimirsky).
The small-pollinated Kanzan cherry, of the bush type, will bear fruit well if self-pollinating varieties such as Turgenevka, Molodezhny, Podbelsky are planted no further than 10-15 meters from it. And a self-pollinating cherry variety like Ashinsky requires proximity to late-flowering cherries, in which case the yield will be significantly higher.
Cherry Lyubskaya
Medium-late ripening variety (late July – early August) of Russian selection.
The tree is fast-growing, low-growing (up to 1.8-2.5 m), compact, with a sparse spreading crown of a spherical shape, where most of the branches are directed from the trunk at an angle of about 45°. A characteristic feature of the variety is drooping annual “silver” branches.
Productivity is stable and high – up to 25-30 kg per tree. Short period of full productive fruiting (up to 10 years) and life of the tree as a whole (up to 15 years).
The variety is demanding on soil fertility, average winter hardiness, can suffer from sunburn in summer, and begins to bear fruit in the 2-3rd year. Flowering is long, very lush, flower buds are resistant to freezing. Resistance to diseases is good, except for coccomycosis and moniliosis.
Possible additional pollinating varieties: Anadolskaya, Vladimirskaya, Zhukovskaya, Lotovaya, Fertile Michurina, Shpanka early cherries.
The fruits are medium in size (3.8-4 g), oval-round in shape and dark red in color with a glossy sheen. The skin is thin but durable, the flesh is tender, red, juicy, the taste has a very noticeable sourness. A small bone is easily separated from the pulp.
The fruits are very well transported and stored.
The most common fruit diseases
The damp climate of the Moscow region contributes to the spread of such dangerous fungal diseases of cherries as coccomycosis, clasterosporosis and moniliosis.
Coccomycosis
When infected with coccomycosis, the leaves become covered with brown spots, and depressed brown spots appear on the fruits. Such fruits are tasteless and often dry out. With severe development of the disease, the leaves turn yellow and fall off early, which leads to weakening of the tree and freezing in winter.
Clusterosporosis
Clusterospora or holey leaf spot. Affects all parts of the plant. Small brown spots appear on the leaves, which grow and holes form in their place. Cracks appear on the branches and resin leaks out of them. The fruits stop growing and dry out.
Moniliosis (or monilial burn)
The first signs of the disease appear immediately after flowering. Affected flowers darken and dry out. The disease then spreads to the leaves and shoots. They also turn brown and dry out. The wood takes on a burnt appearance. The fruits rot. Branches affected by the disease dry out.
Compliance with correct agricultural practices, mandatory spring treatment of the garden against diseases, removal of diseased and dried branches and fruits, as well as the correct choice of cherry varieties for planting will help to overcome these dangerous diseases and annually obtain good harvests in the gardens of the Moscow region.
Cherry in Memory of Enikeev
Early ripening variety (from the beginning of July) of Russian selection.
The tree is medium-sized (up to 3 m), quite compact, with a drooping oval-spherical crown of medium density.
The yield is stable and average - up to 10 kg per tree, the fruits ripen at the same time.
The variety is of average winter hardiness, drought-resistant, begins to bear fruit in the 3-4th year. Characterized by insufficient resistance to diseases, especially to coccomycosis.
Possible additional pollinating varieties: Surprise, Lyubskaya, Novodvorskaya, Griot Belorussky cherries.
The fruits are medium and large in size (4-4.7 g), have a wide-heart-shaped shape and are dark red in color with a glossy sheen. The skin is thin, the flesh is dark red, medium density, with a very pleasant sweet and sour harmonious taste. The large stone is easily separated from the pulp.
Pollination process
Abundant flowering is not an indicator of a future large harvest. The quality of pollination is influenced by many factors :
- climatic conditions;
- spraying before and after flowering;
- lack of pollinating varieties in the garden;
- presence of pests.
Expert opinion
Yulia Safronenko
Big fan of experiments and personal gardening techniques
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In the process of spraying trees, insects that pollinate plants in cloudy weather die. These include flies, thrips, white-eyes, etc. In clear weather, the main pollinators are bees.
The essence
The main pollinating insects are honey bees . The process of pollination consists of the transfer of pollen from the anthers of the stamens to the stigma of the pistil and its germination. The sprouted pollen grows into the pistil column, then enters the ovary and fertilization occurs. Fertilization is the fusion of male and female reproductive cells of a plant. Afterwards, fruits are formed, so we can say that the quality of pollination affects the yield.
Rules
For high fruiting of cherries, you need to follow several rules.
- Artificial pollination under unfavorable conditions .
Pollination of cherries usually occurs naturally - with the help of insects or wind. But under unfavorable conditions, pollination can be carried out artificially. This method is relevant for early flowering or cold weather. For hand pollination, the stamens are checked for readiness. To do this, run your fingers along the stamens and mark the yellow marks. - Planting several varieties .
Xenogamy requires the presence of several tree varieties that are characterized by idiogamy. Different varieties have different flowering times, so for xenogamy it is necessary to select trees with the same flowering time. Not all varieties that bloom at the same time can cross-pollinate. The flowering and pollination of cherries is similar to that of cherries. Sweet cherries are often pollinated by cherries, but vice versa - infrequently. Their yields are interdependent. - Sanding . In cold weather, insects do little to pollinate plants, and the manual method requires time and energy. The simplest pollination is sanding. It consists of sprinkling sand on the crown during the flowering period. During pollination, grains of sand are carried by the wind from flower to flower, and thus cross-pollination occurs.
Conditions
For a rich and high-quality harvest, several conditions must be met.
- Comfortable air temperature . Low or high air temperatures adversely affect cherry pollination. Heat reduces the susceptibility of the pistil to pollen, and cold causes damage to flowers and a decrease in the activity of pollinating insects.
- Moderate precipitation . Large amounts of precipitation lead to pollen washing away and fungal development. Strong winds prevent animals from spreading pollen.
- Cross pollination . For xenogamy, trees must be planted in pairs. They should be located so that varieties with the same flowering period are nearby.
Cherry Molodezhnaya
Medium ripening variety (from mid-July) of Russian selection.
The tree has an average growth rate, low-growing (up to 2-2.5 m), compact, with a rounded, slightly drooping crown.
The yield is stable and average - up to 10-12 kg per tree.
The variety is very winter-hardy, drought-resistant, and begins to bear fruit in the 3-4th year. Disease resistance is average.
The fruits are medium and large in size (4-4.5 g), have an oval-round shape and a dark burgundy color with a glossy sheen. The skin is thin, the flesh is red, dense, aromatic, juicy, sweet and sour. The medium-sized stone is easily separated from the pulp.
The fruits are very well transported and stored.
How to pollinate artificially?
Artificial pollination can be done in several ways:
. For better pollination of flowers, you can attract the attention of insects. To do this, cherry flowers must be sprayed with a solution of:
Sweet water- 1 tbsp. Sahara;
1 liter of water.
Or:
- 2 tbsp. honey;
- 5 liters of water.
This method especially attracts bees.
In this method, pollen is collected from the stamens using a cotton swab or brush and transferred to the pistil. Before using this method, you need to check the readiness of the stamens for pollination. To do this, run your fingers over the flower and note the presence of yellow marks. Pollen transfer is carried out manually after several days of sunny and warm weather.
Cherry Volochaevka
Medium ripening variety (from mid-July) of Russian selection.
The tree is low-growing (up to 2-3 m), compact, with a medium-density spherical crown and upright growing shoots.
The yield is stable and quite high - up to 15 kg per tree.
The variety is winter-hardy, quite drought-resistant, and begins to bear fruit in the 4th-5th year. Flower buds are resistant to freezing. Resistance to diseases is average, but almost does not suffer from moniliosis.
It has stable, good self-fertility and bears fruit well even without the presence of neighboring pollinating trees.
The fruits are medium and large in size (3.5-4.5 g), have an oval-round shape and a dark red color with a glossy sheen. The skin is thin, the pulp is of moderate density, tender, red, juicy, sweet and sour. The medium-sized stone is easily separated from the pulp.
Transportability of berries is average.
What are the features of self-fertile varieties?
It doesn’t always make sense to plant several types of cherries or any other types of trees on a plot. If the family is small, the harvest is used only for personal needs, all excess fruits will simply disappear. In such cases, it is beneficial to plant self-fertile trees. All self-fertile cherry varieties can produce large yields, without any pollinators. No other trees are planted nearby for them, and this saves a lot of space on the site.
Self-fertile cherry flowers have an unusual structure
Self-fertile cherry flowers have an unusual structure. The height of the stamen with anther and pistil is the same. This leads to the fact that the flower is pollinated even before the bud opens. High yields are also achieved by the fact that the tree’s pollen germinates within 13-25 days at temperatures of +10 degrees and above. All this together leads to high tree productivity and, in some cases, to long-term fruiting.
But the yield of such trees does not always satisfy the needs of the gardener. And here a little trick helps - the yield of self-fertile cherries can be increased if pollinators are planted next to it. This is exactly what farmers who grow berries for sale do.
Further care
Cherries will delight you with a stable harvest if you provide them with proper care.
After all planting measures have been taken, the tree requires comprehensive care: loosening, watering, pruning, fertilizing, as well as protection from diseases and pests.
Watering and weeding
Watering and weeding will help the tree develop well
During the growing season, you should regularly fight weeds and clear the tree trunk of them. You also need to moisten the cherries in a timely manner. Water is supplied to a hole 15–20 cm deep, dug along the projection of the crown.
