Cherry is perhaps one of the most common fruit and berry crops, which today is found in almost every garden or on every personal plot. Today there are a huge number of very diverse varieties that differ from each other in a number of characteristics. This may include the timing of ripening, the size of the cherries themselves, as well as the region in which it is most comfortable for a cherry tree to grow and produce a bountiful harvest. As a rule, the most resistant varieties are those that grow mainly in the northern regions of our country. For example, this is Ob, Ashinskaya cherry . But still, it is logical to say that the sweetest, largest and most attractive fruits come, of course, from those trees that grow in the south. In this article we will dwell in more detail on the various characteristics of varieties of cherry trees, which are especially loved and popular among Russian gardeners and agronomists. To choose a cherry variety that will suit the gardener in all respects, you need to know all the basic characteristics of the plants, because this will make it much easier to navigate the whole variety of cherries.
Self-fertile varieties
The first category of varieties that we will consider are self-fertile varieties. This means that these varieties of cherry trees do not require additional pollination in order to produce fruit. The trees produce bisexual flowers and, accordingly, there is no point in planting other trees around with similar characteristics and approximate ripening periods. This, of course, is a special advantage of self-fertile varieties.
One of the most famous self-fertile varieties is Apukhtinskaya cherry . It is a tree of medium size and height. They ripen very large and attractive cherries, which, moreover, have a fairly high marketability index. The variety begins to produce crops already in the second year after the bush was planted in open ground. It should be noted that this is a late-ripening variety, and the harvest ripens only around mid-August or towards the end of this month. The tree is quite stable if we are talking about excessive drought or excessive frost. However, there is still a high probability that the cherry tree will become infected with very common fungal diseases, so it is necessary to additionally treat the plant to protect it from this and increase the likelihood of survival and, accordingly, yield.
The second variety from the self-fertile group is a variety called Pamyat Enikeev . The tree is quite small, its height usually does not exceed three meters, and the crown is not too thick, although the harvest from it is very bountiful. The berries are oval in shape and dark red in color, the pulp is juicy and has a bright taste that is highly valued by gardeners. The variety is distinguished by the fact that there is a rather large stone inside the cherries, and it is easily separated from the pulp, especially from the pulp of those berries that have already ripened to the maximum. Fruiting of the tree can occur in the third year after the bush has been planted in open ground, and the fruits are fully ripened and can be harvested around the very end of June. From one tree, under favorable conditions and provided that the tree is completely healthy, you can collect approximately 15 kilograms of fruit. At the same time, the variety has an average level of winter hardiness and drought resistance, so at this time it is recommended to additionally support the plant so as not to trigger a disease or fungal infection.
Frost-resistant cherry
The varieties for Siberia, bred by breeders in recent years, are early-bearing and productive. But their main advantage is their high winter hardiness. There are four types of cherries that grow in the harsh Siberian conditions: sand, steppe, felt and some varieties of common.
Over the past twenty years, many varieties have been created - these are Maksimovskaya, Mayak, Metelitsa, Zmeinogorskaya, Ob, Novoaltaiskaya and others. Zoned varieties include the Altai swallow, which, according to experienced gardeners, should be present on every site. It is one of the best pollinators for many varieties from the Siberian assortment.
Ashinskaya common cherry is also a resistant variety popular in Siberia. This is a self-fertile species, that is, grown without pollinators, but in very harsh winters its fruit buds may freeze. Therefore, Ashinskaya’s yield is not always stable over the years.
Early varieties
The next group of cherry varieties that we will consider are early varieties. Their advantage is that the trees bear fruit quite early; they can be collected from early June to mid-July. It is for this reason that they are called early. Compared to some other varieties, this group actually begins to bear fruit quite early, and the trees remain generally quite unpretentious, which also makes them quite advantageous. The fruits from the trees are very sweet, and the varieties themselves are resistant to temperature changes, as well as resistance to some natural phenomena, which may not be favorable for every variety. The first variety is Shokoladnitsa , which is a medium-height tree whose crown most closely resembles an inverted cone. The fruits are not too sweet, but rather more sour when compared to other varieties. At the same time, the cherry variety perfectly tolerates both severe frosts and severe drought, while not being capricious at all and not showing any particular whimsicality in care activities. This is a self-fertile variety, it can produce a stable high yield, the main thing is to look after it and give it decent care and attention.
Shpanka is a cherry variety that is largely a hybrid of cherry and cherry. The tree is tall, the branches grow in a free, chaotic order, while the crown itself is shaped more like a ball. The berries are sweet and sour; the weight of one fruit can reach four grams. Moreover, the first harvest can be harvested only in the sixth year of the plant’s life, but if the tree survives to the age of twenty years, it will produce an incredibly high level of yield - up to sixty kilograms from one tree. The variety begins to bear fruit around the end of June, sometimes this period can shift to the beginning of July. At the same time, one of the advantages of the variety is that it is quite resistant to frost and dry temperatures, but it is not a self-fertile variety, so it needs additional pollinators to grow around, thanks to which the tree can produce its harvest.
Youth cherry is a bush cherry variety that has a very low crown, making it easy to harvest the resulting crop. The fruits are large in size, the weight of one can reach up to five grams, while the fruits themselves, in principle, do not have an overly sweet taste, they rather have a bright sourness, which is why the universal properties of the variety are lost. It is recommended to use cherries for preparing preserves, as well as for freezing the fruits. The first harvest appears on the tree when it reaches five years of age; most of the fruits are set on last year's wood. The cherry variety is resistant to temperature changes or frosts, and is also generally quite resistant to common fungal diseases. One way or another, it is necessary to additionally monitor the plant and its general condition in order to prevent the proliferation of fungi and bacteria.
Miracle cherry is a tree-like cherry variety that does not have the highest growth vigor, so the tree rather belongs to the medium-sized category. It is also worth saying a few words about the crown - it must be regularly formed, since the fruits are usually set at the very top, and if the plant is given the opportunity to grow freely, then the fruits will simply be impossible to collect. The berries themselves have a very sweet, dessert taste; they are more like cherries, but still they have never been a hybrid of them. The fruits are large; the weight of one cherry can reach ten grams. The variety is self-sterile, so it is worth planting trees around with similar characteristics and ripening period so that pollination and, accordingly, fruiting occurs. Having reached three years, the plant begins to bear the very first fruits, then the harvest stabilizes, becomes more regular and stable, which, of course, is a huge advantage of this variety. Harvest is usually scheduled for the very beginning of June, so the variety is super early. Cherries are distinguished by a high level of resistance to many common diseases, and also by the fact that in general they tolerate very strong and prolonged frosts, which is undoubtedly a huge advantage of this cherry variety.
Baby is a medium-tall tree that has a spherical crown. The fruits are very beautiful and marketable. They have a deep dark red color, and the taste is quite sweet and pleasant. The berries are round, the weight of one reaches six grams. The variety is excellent for storing berries for a long time, as well as for transporting the crop over long distances. Malyshka also has a high level of immunity to various diseases; this cherry variety is resistant to frost. But there are still some disadvantages - it cannot be said that Malyshka produces a bountiful harvest, because under favorable conditions you can harvest no more than seventeen kilograms of cherries from one tree. Full ripening of the fruits occurs around July, then they can be collected almost all at once, because the fruits ripen together and at the same time.
Characteristics and description
The process of growing a crop directly depends on the variety. When purchasing a plant, it is recommended to focus on the following features:
- frost resistance;
- resistance to diseases and attacks of harmful insects;
- resistance to dry weather;
- timing of ripening and planting;
- yield parameters;
- need for lighting.
Experienced gardeners advise choosing self-fertile varieties. Such crops do not need pollinators. At the same time, plants that have an early flowering period are suitable for growing in harsh climates. This allows you to get a harvest in short summer conditions. In addition, it is worth planting early ripening varieties.
Medium ripening varieties
The next group of varieties is a medium-ripening cherry variety. Basically, these are mid-early varieties; fruits from trees can be collected in mid-summer, that is, in July. A distinctive feature of this group is that the fruits have the best taste when compared with other varieties. They are juicy and sweet, of excellent large size, store well and are transportable. Gardeners prefer to consume cherries from this group directly fresh, as they have a sweet, refreshing taste, and this is, of course, a huge advantage of mid-early varieties.
Vladimir cherry is one of the most famous and oldest varieties, which has rightfully become legendary and is very widespread in our country. This cherry variety is mainly grown in central Russia, but it is also excellent for distribution in more northern regions, although there it is best to give the plant additional support so that it produces an excellent and tasty harvest in return. The fruits are sweet and sour, the fibers are clearly visible and felt in them, the purpose of cherries is universal. The first time cherries begin to bear fruit is when the tree reaches the age of three years. Cherries ripen around the end of July, the harvest can be harvested at the same time, and if you hold the cherries on the tree for a while, they will not fall off, which, of course, is an advantage of this variety. It is also worth emphasizing that the variety tolerates frost well, but if suddenly the variety is not protected or strengthened against spring frosts, especially return frosts, then the inflorescences can be irretrievably destroyed, and then there will be no harvest that year. In the northern regions, cherry yields may fall by an average of six kilograms, due to less stable natural conditions and the fact that the soil there warms up much more slowly than it should. The variety is self-fertile; it requires additional trees and pollinators in order to produce full-fledged fruits.
Zhukovskaya - this cherry variety produces a tree no more than 2.5 meters in height. The crown is very spreading, but it is not at all dense. Fruiting can be carried out on last year's one-year-old wood, the berries can be arranged in a single order. Sometimes you can find two berries together, but this is rather a rarity and an exception. The variety is distinguished by not the largest berries, the weight of one reaches no more than four grams, while they are heart-shaped, and the berries themselves have a dark burgundy color. The pulp is very tender and juicy, the berries have a dessert taste, and their purpose is rather universal, since they like to eat the berries fresh and prepare various desserts, drinks, frozen or prepared from them. The variety is not very resistant to common diseases, so it is usually recommended to carefully monitor the general condition of the tree, constantly inspect it for possible fungal growths, as well as for spreading pests that also do not mind eating the plant and its ovaries.
Kharitonovskaya cherry is a medium-sized tree that produces round, regularly shaped fruits. The stone is easily separated from the pulp if the fruits are sufficiently ripe, and the ripe fruits themselves have a sweet taste with pronounced sourness. It is worth noting that the variety has a high level of immunity and stress resistance, which, of course, is its huge advantage, since many varieties from the mid-early group do not particularly withstand common diseases and viruses, but Kharitonovskaya is very lucky in this regard. At the same time, it is worth emphasizing that the variety needs additional pollination, since it is a self-sterile variety, and without pollination the tree simply will not produce any fruit.
Turgenevka - the tree is up to three meters high, the berries are wide, quite large, the weight of one cherry usually reaches seven grams. At the same time, the gardener receives his first harvest approximately five years after he planted the bush in open ground. The fruits fully ripen in early July; it is worth harvesting immediately, as the fruits tend to fall off if not collected on time. The variety, like Kharitonovka, tolerates severe drought or severe frosts (including return spring frosts), but it is worth remembering that during spring frosts it is better to additionally cover the plant, especially its lower part. Diseases are practically not dangerous for this variety; it is self-sterile, so it is recommended to plant additional trees next to the plant, which will become pollinators for Turgenevka. The variety produces a stable, high-class harvest. The fruits are perfectly stored and can also be transported over long distances. At the same time, they are also very useful, since the fruits contain a large amount of vitamins and antioxidants, which are so necessary for the human body of any age.
Another variety called Morozovka . From one hundred square meters you can harvest up to five hundred kilograms of this crop, but provided that the plant reaches three years old, and the gardener carefully monitors its general condition. The variety is quite resistant to severe frosts or diseases, and can also withstand extremely dry periods. At the same time, just like many other cherry varieties, it is self-sterile, so it needs to be planted nearby with additional pollinators for the tree to produce an excellent harvest. Also included in this category are cherry varieties such as Radonezh, Vstrecha, Igrushka, Nochka . Gardeners speak extremely positively about them, claiming that these varieties have the most attractive taste characteristics, and it is for this reason that they are so popular. At the same time, these varieties do not require special attention, which is also a huge plus.
There are also some very famous late cherry varieties. They ripen around the end of summer, or the harvest can be harvested at the very beginning of autumn. Varieties can be very sweet, but there are also those that produce fruits with pronounced sourness, which, however, does not make them less attractive and in demand among modern gardeners.
Lyubskaya cherry - this variety of late cherry is intended to be grown in the central or southern zones of our country. At the same time, the variety is distinguished by the fact that it puts forward quite stringent requirements when it comes to the composition and fertility of the soil, as well as care measures. The harvest is very abundant and large, the taste of the berries is rather mediocre, very ordinary, but the fruits are very well stored and can be transported over long distances without losing their presentation. Ideally, it is better not to consume the berries fresh, but to use them for processing, making jams, sauces and drinks. The cherry variety is not at all resistant to unfavorable natural conditions, so it can often get sick, which is why it needs additional protection from diseases and pests, and in this regard it is quite capricious.
cherry is a bushy cherry variety, the weight of one fruit usually reaches no more than four grams, and the harvest is very stable and, most importantly, abundant. Full ripening of the fruit occurs in the autumn. The very first harvest can be harvested in the third year after the bush has been planted in open ground, while the variety tolerates frost well and can perfectly withstand attacks from pests and various fungal diseases. However, if you do not create favorable conditions for the plant, this can lead to the cherry getting a fungal infection, which is not so easy to get rid of. So it is worth paying attention to preventive measures, since only in this case can you protect the plant and increase its productivity.
The robin is a medium-sized tree with a regular spherical crown, on which small fruits are located. At the same time, their taste is quite pleasant, and the flesh is dense, so the fruits can be stored for quite a long time without withering or rotting. The annual harvest is abundant; ripe berries can be collected at the very beginning of August. At the same time, the cherry variety is not self-fertile, so it is worth planting additional pollinators around to get a truly abundant and tasty harvest. Resistance to diseases is also not at the highest level, but if we talk about frosts, then in principle the plant can tolerate them quite calmly. In spring, it is better to additionally cover the lower part of the plant to prevent freezing due to return frosts. There are also several other varieties of cherries that bear fruit and harvest quite late - these are Zhuravka and Voleka, Rubinovaya cherry, Lotovaya and Gorkovskaya . They all have approximately the same indicators, especially when it comes to the period of fruit ripening, as well as the volume of the cherry harvest.
Growing cherry trees in the Moscow region
The yield of almost all stone fruits is subject to fluctuations and depends on a number of reasons.
Studies of varietal plantings in gardens in the Moscow region made it possible to find out the reasons for such differences and determine what is necessary for regular harvests. Many cherry varieties are not zoned to the outskirts of the capital, the climatic conditions of which have a bad effect on their growth. This crop comes from the southern regions, therefore, in northern, unusual conditions for it, only adapted varieties can be grown. Successful cultivation of cherries in the Moscow region depends to a large extent on the choice of planting site and fertilizing the soil.
Cherries planted on sandy and loamy soil well “seasoned” with organic fertilizers and provided with constant care and fertilizers will delight you with good harvests.
In addition, the yield of this plant in the Moscow region also depends on the condition of the flower buds, which are often damaged by frost, as well as the conditions under which pollination takes place. The affected ovaries of cherries become noticeable from the end of March - beginning of April: if you cut them lengthwise with a razor, you can see blackening in the center.
A good harvest of this plant is determined by the conditions, most of which can be created for it artificially: choose the right planting site, provide fertile and well-drained soil, and regularly apply fertilizers. Therefore, by choosing the most resistant varieties for the Moscow region, even under climatic conditions unfavorable for growth, you can get very good harvests.
Varieties by fruit size
Cherry varieties can also be grouped by fruit size. For example, there are varieties that produce very large dessert berries, which in taste characteristics will be more reminiscent not of cherries, but rather of sweet cherry crops. But at the same time, these varieties are distinguished by their whimsicality if we are talking about climatic conditions, temperature conditions and what care measures are needed for these varieties of cherries. These include Shirpotreb Chernaya, Volochaevka, Vstrecha, Molodezhnaya, Dessertnaya Morozova and many others. These are quite tall plants that bear large dessert berries, the weight of which can reach eleven grams. The varieties are quite whimsical, they should be fed, constantly moistened the soil, and also harvested on time, since there is a high probability that the fruits may fall off if they are not collected and they are fully ripe. The fruits tolerate long-distance transportation well and can generally withstand long-term storage. They do not lose their taste characteristics at all and remain just as tasty and healthy. The fruits, like many other varieties, have a universal purpose.
Low-growing cherry varieties are distinguished by the short growth of the bushes themselves, which usually do not reach two meters. At the same time, these varieties are very convenient when it comes to their cultivation, and due to their low growth, you can conveniently harvest even from the very top of the tree. It is for this reason that they are very popular among gardeners. Their advantage also lies in the fact that, despite their low growth, these varieties tolerate unfavorable climatic conditions well, and produce a stable and abundant harvest that has excellent taste characteristics. Among them, we should highlight the cherry variety Anthracite cherry, Bystrinka, Mtsenskaya, Vladimirskaya, Shokoladnitsa and many other cherry varieties. They have similar characteristics, as well as similar requirements, if we are talking directly about the requirements for planting and subsequent care of plants.
There are also several varieties of cherries that are considered the best for growing directly in the southern regions of Russia. These varieties are distinguished by the fact that the berries have an excellent taste, unique aroma and beneficial properties. At the same time, they have either low or medium frost resistance, and it is for this reason that it is best to plant these trees directly in the South, so that they receive sufficient lighting and a sufficient amount of heat there. It is also worth emphasizing that you should not grow these varieties in the middle zone or in the north, since the trees will not take root there and there will be no harvest as a result, this is excluded. These varieties include a cherry variety called Sashenka, Garlyanda, Lyubskaya, Shpanka . The trees do not need additional pollinators, since they belong to the category of self-fertile plants. One way or another, some varieties can be planted next to other cherry varieties, this can enhance the yield and taste characteristics of the fruit, especially if the cherry variety has similar characteristics in terms of ripening period and care.
Ashinskaya, Ob, and Altai swallow are ideally suited . These varieties have excellent growth rates, as well as high levels of immunity and stress resistance. It is for this reason that they can take root in the north and produce a fairly bountiful harvest. The fruits are rather more sour, as they lack sun and heat, but they are excellent for recycling, making preserves and jams, as well as drinks, or for freezing the fruits and preserving them for the winter. Thus, there is a huge variety of different varieties of cherries, each of which has its own unique characteristics. Today, given that the regions in Russia are located in different climatic conditions, it is possible to find varieties that will take root and bear fruit even in the north, where the climate is not favorable. Also, a lot depends on the care measures that the gardener himself is ready to provide, because how the plant will take root, adapt, and how protected it will be from external adverse influences and climatic instabilities largely depends on his attention and care.
Criteria
Whether you will be able to grow an abundantly fruiting tree with juicy and tasty fruits in your garden or whether your efforts will be in vain depends mainly on which varieties of this crop are chosen. The criteria for selection, depending on the region, are the following factors: winter hardiness, early fruiting, resistance to drought or disease, timing of flowering and ripening, need for light, etc.
In the Russian climate, the best varieties of cherries are those that can withstand cold and are self-fertile. This criterion is explained by the fact that even under unfavorable weather conditions, when bees do not fly, normal pollination of flowers must still occur.
If cherry varieties are initially highly resistant to the most common diseases in a given region, then caring for them is greatly facilitated, and fruit loss is minimized. As for yield, each adult tree should produce at least seven kilograms of berries per season.
