Magaleb antipka cherry growing from seeds

Main characteristics

The tree reaches a height of 10 meters, minimum 5-6 meters. The crown is dense, spreading, the branches are slightly drooping. It lends itself well to pruning and shaping, making cherries suitable for hedges.

They are very beautiful during flowering, which occurs at the end of May. They bloom magnificently, the color of the petals is white, the inflorescences are very fragrant.

The bark and seeds have a unique smell - it resembles bitter almonds. In Mediterranean cuisine, kernels from Antipka seeds are used to make a special spice. The aroma is well revealed in cherry liqueurs and tinctures.

In August, the fruits ripen - small, about 1 cm in diameter, dark burgundy, almost black. They are juicy and aromatic, but taste tart and bitter. The berries of this variety are rarely eaten fresh; they are usually used for canning and alcoholic beverages.

Description of the Magaleb cherry variety Antipka, growing from seeds and care tips

The variety of cherry varieties allows these trees to be used for economic and decorative purposes. Some berries are sweet, more suitable for fresh consumption, others are more sour and at the same time aromatic, good for jam, compotes, and making alcoholic drinks. Those who are looking for a plant that is not only fruitful, but also suitable for landscape design, can pay attention to the Magalebskaya Antipka cherry variety.

What kind of variety is this?

These trees are also found under the name Bird cherry Magalebka or Bird cherry Antipka, since they are really a subspecies of bird cherry. They have a dense crown and can be used to shade areas of a garden or park. Cherry is unpretentious in care and undemanding to planting conditions. Found in the wild, the variety is quite rare; wild Magaleb cherry is listed in the Red Book.

Main characteristics

They are very beautiful during flowering, which occurs at the end of May. They bloom magnificently, the color of the petals is white, the inflorescences are very fragrant.

Features of cultivation

Magaleb cherry is unpretentious and grows in the wild even on rocky lands. It is easy to care for, but in order to get a good harvest and beautiful trees for decoration, it is worth creating acceptable conditions for the seedlings.

Like most cherries, the variety loves sunny places, but will also grow in partial shade. The place for seedlings should be protected from the wind. It is not recommended to plant Antipka in acidic soil. The trees tolerate dry summers well and respond positively to fertilizing and watering. It is better to choose calcareous, fertile soils and black soil for them.

Trees grow well in urban environments and do not suffer from air pollution. This property allows you to grow cherries in parks and along roadways. It is important for the gardener to remember that berries grown near a road with a large flow of cars must be washed thoroughly or not eaten at all. They absorb many harmful substances, even if the tree appears healthy on the outside.

The advantage of the variety is the ability to grow seedlings from seeds in an amateur garden. In October, the seeds are immersed in well-dug, loose soil to a depth of 4 cm. No preliminary preparation of the seeds is required.

In spring, the seeds produce numerous shoots. During spring, summer and autumn they need only moderate, timely watering. In the fall or next spring - depending on the planting density and growth rate - they are transplanted to permanent places for future cherries.

Magalebskaya Antipka trees are well suited for grafting less winter-hardy varieties of cherries and sweet cherries. Such varieties begin to bear fruit early and produce a bountiful harvest. You need to know that some cherries are incompatible with Antipka; in such cases, the grafted variety will grow noticeably worse.

Care Tips

Cherries of this variety do not require special care; they grow and bear fruit in the wild. Main rules:

choose places with neutral soil acidity, sunny, windproof;
water the seedlings moderately;
Tree pruning is required for decorative purposes only.

Antipka's frost resistance is average; the variety tolerates winter well in the middle zone. If frosts stay below 25 degrees for a long time, young shoots freeze. The next summer the cherry blossoms worse. For the winter, cover the trunk from rodents and insulate the rhizome.

Features of cultivation

Sweet cherry is an unusual plant

Sweet cherry, also called Magaleb cherry, or antipka, is a rather interesting plant, completely different from other varieties. Its leaves are somewhat reminiscent of pear leaves - broadly ovate and pointed. They have a glossy shine. This is a very large shrub or even a tree. Typically, antipka reaches a height of about 7 meters, but sometimes there are specimens that grow up to 12 m.

The corollas on a shrub such as the Magaleb cherry are quite ordinary - white, about 1.5 cm in diameter. There can be from 5 to 14 of them in a brush. Although this plant is more likely to be southern, flowering begins quite late - at the end of May, in June. The berries of this tree are almost black and not very tasty - they are somewhat bitter and are rarely used for food. More often, their juice is used to color wines and lemonades. In addition, it is excellent for making aromatic liquid used in the cosmetics industry. Fruit ripening occurs in July or August. They are also not very common - they look more like bird cherry berries.

Sweet cherries have found another interesting use. Its wood smells unusually good. Hence its name. Various small items are made from the trunks and branches of this plant - cigarette holders, smoking pipes, canes, etc. In addition, this wonderful tree is also used as a decorative tree.

Very often, fragrant cherries are planted in parks and squares, along paths, as a hedge. The pleasant smell of flowers and beautiful glossy leaves serve as an excellent decoration for courtyards, suburban areas and city streets.

Sweet cherry grows mainly in the southern regions - in Ukraine, the Caucasus, Moldova, Crimea, and Central Asia. It does well both in flat areas and in the mountains (it can rise up to 2000 m above sea level). However, this plant is still a steppe plant and loves chernozem soils. It develops poorly on acidic soils.

In our country, it is most often used as a rootstock for other varieties of cherries. Seedlings grown in this way look very strong and have a developed root system.

However, as mentioned above, sweet cherry is still a southern plant. Although it can develop quite successfully in the middle zone, it is best used as a rootstock in warmer regions. As for the Non-Black Earth Region, it is worth using local, zoned varieties for grafting.

Cherry is a tasty and healthy berry. This plant is unpretentious and very easy to care for. All that is necessary is to dig the seedling into the ground and water it from time to time. 2-3 years after planting it will be possible to harvest. The only problem that this shrub sometimes causes to the owner of a plot is the growth of shoots. The fact that Magaleb cherry is absolutely free of this drawback also makes it an excellent material for grafting other varieties.

This plant reproduces differently from other cherries. It does not produce shoots at all. In order to grow a new bush, only seeds are used. It may not survive the cold winters of the middle zone. However, in the south it is considered a completely winter-hardy plant, since it never freezes out, even if severe cold snaps occur.

Care Tips

Cherries of this variety do not require special care; they grow and bear fruit in the wild. Main rules:

choose places with neutral soil acidity, sunny, windproof;
water the seedlings moderately;
Tree pruning is required for decorative purposes only.

Read also: How to sow parsley before winter

Some cherry varieties are endangered. One of these is the Magaleb cherry, or Antipka. Its habitats are limited, and its numbers are constantly declining.

Antipka cherry is endangered

Endangered Species: Magaleb Cherry

Some cherry varieties are endangered. One of these is the Magaleb cherry, or Antipka. Its habitats are limited, and its numbers are constantly declining.

Antipka cherry is endangered

Characteristics of the variety

Magaleb cherry (Antipka) is a subspecies of bird cherry. In nature, it can take the form of either a spreading tree or a shrub. This plant is in danger of extinction. In some regions it has already been included in the Red Book.

The Antipka variety has good characteristics for cultivation. This plant is light-loving, tolerates partial shade well and does not require watering. In nature, such a tree can be found both on poor rocky and dry rocks and on fertile calcareous lands. Suitable for growing in groups and can be used to decorate gardens, parks and alleys.

The tree blooms in May. Harvests within 3–4 months. The variety is frost-resistant, therefore suitable for grafting. It is often used as a rootstock for stone fruits because it has very winter-hardy roots.

Magaleb cherry is resistant to industrial pollution and gases. Therefore, it is recommended for urban landscaping of wide boulevards, squares, city courtyards, various recreation areas, as well as for creating protective strips around residential areas from dust, noise, and pollution. Resistant to diseases.

Description of the tree

Magaleb cherry has a spreading crown. The tree can reach 12 meters. But in domestic growing conditions there are specimens no more than 10 m high. The crown can have an ovoid or round shape. The branches are a little drooping. The trunk is dark brown. May be curved. The bark has an almond aroma.

The shoots are long and brown. The foliage is light green, slightly shiny. The leaves are almost round, crenate along the edge, shiny, light green above, lighter below with yellowish pubescence, 9 cm long. The flowering is beautiful, white, small. The flowers are collected in racemes up to 7 cm in length. It blooms poorly in dark areas. It practically does not form root shoots.

Description of fruits

The Antipka variety is known for its decorative properties. This plant is beautiful both during the flowering and fruiting periods. At the end of June, small pinkish berries appear on the trees, which gradually darken and become black as they ripen. Ripe cherries have:

small in size, up to 1 cm in diameter;
tart, bitter taste;
smooth drupe (the stone itself is spherical).

Characteristics of the variety

Description of the tree

Description of fruits

small in size, up to 1 cm in diameter;
tart, bitter taste;
smooth drupe (the stone itself is spherical).

The fruits are rarely eaten due to their specific taste. Cherries are used to make liqueurs, lemonades and wines.

Antipka cherry fruits are rarely eaten

But the most popular in cooking is the bone. It has an almond aroma. Its main use is in the production of seasonings, most often for Mediterranean cuisine. This material is the basis for the preparation of a spice called “makhlebi”.

Description of Magalebka

This plant is a subspecies of bird cherry. It is a shrub or spreading tree 7–10 meters high. In foreign countries there are specimens up to 12 meters in height. Magaleb cherry is endowed with a dense and spreading, spherical or ovoid crown.

The bark of the tree is dark brown in color and emits a slight almond smell. The trunk sometimes takes on a curved shape, and long brown branches droop slightly downwards. The leaves are round, jagged at the edges and pointed at the top.

They resemble the leaves of a pear tree. The leaf size is 8-10 centimeters. The upper side of the leaf is glossy, painted a rich green color.

The back side has yellow pubescence and is light in color. The white flowers are medium in size, reaching one and a half centimeters in diameter. The buds are united into inflorescences, each of which has from 5 to 14 flowers. The flowering period occurs at the end of May or beginning of June.

Antipka fruits are small, up to 1 centimeter in diameter. Young berries are pink in color, as they ripen they darken and become blackish. Ripe fruits are similar to bird cherry berries and are endowed with a pleasant aroma. Due to the similarity of the fruits of Magalebka with the fruits of bird cherry, the tree is called Magaleb bird cherry. Cucina berries ripen in late July or August.

Features of cultivation

Rarely grown in home gardens. The plant is popular in field-protective dividing plantings. Propagated by seeds. The best soil for this variety is loamy. Already stratified planting material is used.

Planting is done in spring, in well-warmed soil. Minimum ground temperature 15°C. Before sowing, it is recommended to cultivate the soil to a depth of 5–6 cm. For the purpose of landscaping the garden, it is recommended to plant several trees in a row. There are 8 g of seeds per linear meter.

And it is also practiced to sow seeds in the fall.

The main condition for obtaining seedlings is spring loosening of the soil to avoid hard crust.

Sprouts emerge quickly, already on days 15–18. If necessary, they can be transplanted into fertile soil at one or two years of age.

Care instructions

This cherry is unpretentious to growing conditions. It is light-loving and drought-resistant. In temperate climates it tolerates wintering well. In the northern regions, frostbite of flower ovaries is possible, which affects the yield. Weather conditions do not affect the health and viability of the crop. Thanks to these qualities, the plant can be grown in summer cottages, parks and squares.

When growing a tree on private property, care comes down to the use of simple agrotechnical operations:

Watering. During dry periods, 1–2 times a month. If there is frequent precipitation, the procedure is not carried out.
Periodic loosening of the soil, which helps saturate the plant’s root system with oxygen.
Trimming. It is sanitary in nature. Old dried branches are removed.

There is no need to fertilize the plant. Fertilizing is necessary only to increase productivity. But more often such a plant is grown for decorative purposes. Therefore, you should not pay special attention to this. To grow a healthy and beautiful tree, it is enough to choose the right place for planting, periodically water the plant and loosen the soil at its roots.

Planting and caring for the plant

The plant prefers loamy or fertile chernozem soils, but under natural conditions it grows even in rocky soils. But Magaleb cherry does not tolerate acidified soil. Magalebka is light-loving, but also takes root in partial shade. True, it is better to cover the tree from wind and drafts.

Magaleb cherry does not reproduce by cuttings or grafting, since it does not produce shoots, but propagation by seeds is effective.

Seeds are sown in open ground in mid or late spring. The soil at the time of planting should be no colder than 15 degrees. Planting is carried out in one or several rows, at the rate of 8 grams of seeds per meter.

Before planting, the soil is loosened and watered. Possible planting in autumn. After sowing the seeds, it is recommended to loosen the soil so that a hard crust does not form on the soil surface.

Shoots appear 2-3 weeks after planting. 1-2 year old plants are ready to be transplanted to a new location. Already in the second year of life, the cucina tree blooms for the first time.

Magaleb cherry is unpretentious to environmental conditions. Tolerates periods of drought and winter in southern Russia. When grown in the northern regions of the country, there is a risk of the plant freezing during winter cold or spring frosts.

However, freezing only reduces the plant's yield. This does not affect the decorative qualities and viability of the culture in any way.

Water the plant only when necessary. In dry times, it is recommended to water the magalebka 1-2 times a month. During the rainy season, watering is not needed. Loosening the soil has a beneficial effect on the growth and fruiting of Antipka cherries.

This procedure gives oxygen access to the root structure of the plant. Annual sanitary pruning (removal of old and damaged branches) is also recommended. Unlike other cherry varieties, Magalebka does not form abundant basal shoots.

Therefore, pruning is easier than with other varieties of this crop. It is not necessary to fertilize the plant. A spreading and lush crown will grow without feeding, and, as a rule, there is no need for high plant productivity.

Botanical certificate

Antipka has interesting qualities that are not typical for modern varietal cherries. Thanks to this, it can be easily distinguished even in preparations or as part of culinary delicacies.

Tree dimensions and height

The maximum height of the tree reaches 10 m, and the minimum - 5 m. Its crown is wide, very spreading, and lends itself well to shaping. This makes it possible to use Magaleb cherry to create a hedge.

Fruiting

Magaleb cherry begins to bear fruit early.

The tree bears fruit consistently and produces rich harvests even with a lack of attention and care.

Flowering and pollinators

The flowering period of Antipka is the end of May. The tree is completely covered with white, very fragrant flowers. The plant is self-fertile and does not require planting nearby pollinating varieties.

Ripening time and harvest

The Magaleb cherry harvest ripens in August. The fruits are small in size, about 1 cm in diameter, almost black in color. The berries are collected exclusively by hand.

Tasting assessment and scope of fruit application

The fruits of the Magaleb cherry are juicy and have a strong aroma. They have a specific tart taste, even with a slight bitterness. Because of this, the crop is rarely consumed fresh. It is mainly used for preservation and preparation of alcoholic tinctures and liqueurs. Even the pits and bark of the Magaleb cherry, which are very similar in taste and aroma to bitter almonds, have been used in Mediterranean cuisine. Special spices are prepared from them.

The best rootstock for cherries in Ukraine.

The rootstock is the root and part of the trunk up to the grafting site. It is the rootstock that is responsible for the growth strength of the fruit tree and the time it enters fruiting. And also for endurance, durability, productivity, frost resistance, drought resistance, adaptive ability to soils and resistance to diseases and pests.

Therefore, you need to choose it as carefully as the variety.

The most common rootstocks for sweet cherries in Ukraine:

-Antipka

-Vsl-2

-Colt

-Gisela

In this video, I explained in detail why I do not recommend Colt rootstock and Gisela series rootstocks for private gardens. In my opinion, the most optimal rootstock option for cherries is Antipka and VSL-2.

Antipka (magalebska, fragrant cherry), Cerasus mahaleb (L.) Mill is a tree species resistant to unfavorable growing conditions. The breed is drought-resistant, frost-resistant, shade-tolerant and tolerates air pollution well. Height 5-8 meters.

Compatibility with cherry varieties is incomplete. Some cherry varieties have a delayed type of incompatibility; it manifests itself in the garden by drying out of young trees, especially on dense soils. The varieties Drogana yellow, Franz Joseph, Vystavochnaya and Krupnoplodnaya are well compatible.

Most cherry varieties are well compatible with antipka, the only exception being the Lyubskaya variety.

Cherry and cherry trees are early-bearing and begin to bear fruit 4–5 years after planting.

Sweet cherries and antipka cherries grow well on sandy and sandy loam soils. It tolerates carbonate, gravelly soils better than other rootstocks.

The roots penetrate the soil to a depth of more than 4 meters, so antipka easily tolerates drought.

However, the breed is demanding on aeration and does not tolerate dense, waterlogged soils and salinity. The rootstock is frost-resistant (down to -16º C) and does not sprout in the garden.

Cherry and cherry seedlings on antipka rootstock should only be purchased if the plot has: there is room for a large tree, the garden has light, well-aerated soil (sandy or sandy loam). The rootstock does not tolerate dense, heavy and highly moist soils.

A significant disadvantage of antipka is its susceptibility to bacterial and root cancer, verticillium. This leads to premature death of the cherry trees grafted on it.

“Antipka does not tolerate high levels of stagnant groundwater, insufficient aeration and high soil salinity. The great advantage of antipka is its fairly high winter hardiness. It not only tolerates low temperatures well, but also helps to increase the winter hardiness of the scion.

Rootstocks of antipka seedlings, the roots of which are highly skeletonized, branchy and quickly colonize large volumes of soil.

The positive biological qualities of antipka include mild damage to roots and trunks by rodents of all types.

Conclusions. Grafting cherries onto Magolebian cherries (Antipka) at a height of 40-60 cm helps to increase the frost resistance of the trunks and reduces the height and volume of the crown by 19-50%.

GROWING CHERRY ON ANTIPA STAMPS Apolokhov Fedor Fedorovich Ph.D. agricultural Sciences, senior researcher at the selection and technology laboratory. https://journalkubansad.ru/pdf/14/06/10.pdf

VSL-2 is a rootstock of moderate vigor (3.3-3.5 m), the main advantage is resistance to dense and waterlogged soils. During hot periods, seedlings on this rootstock require regular watering.

Resistant to root rot and bacterial canker. The roots have good frost resistance (up to -12 ° C). Drought-resistant. Coccomycosis and other leaf diseases are not damaged. Does not form root shoots. Compatible with all varieties of sweet cherries.

Plants begin to bear fruit 2-3 years after planting and regularly bear fruit. The productive period lasts 18-30 years.

“Among the clonal rootstocks for cherries and cherries, the clonal rootstock VSL-2 stands out. It is characterized by high drought and heat resistance, not inferior in this respect to antipka, sufficient winter hardiness of the roots, and relatively high resistance to heavy soils and soil pathogens.”

Krasko, M.A. Innovations and efficiency of production processes in fruit growing / M.A. Krasko. – T. 2. – Krasnodar, 2005. – P. 194-196.

The varieties Bakhor/VSL-2, Temp/VSL-2, Krupnoplodnaya/VSL-2, Zagadka/VSL-2, Tehlovan/VSL-2, Summit/VSL-2, Lapins-2 should be considered potentially highly productive variety-rootstock combinations of cherries.

Characteristics of the variety

Antipka is easy to recognize among other cherries by its unique characteristics, which should be familiarized with by a gardener who wants to grow this rare tree on his own plot.

Immunity to diseases and pests

Magaleb cherries are almost not affected by pests, but have average immunity to common diseases, and therefore require preventive treatments to obtain a regular harvest.

Resistance to low temperatures and drought

Cherries tolerate drought well without reducing yields. The tree's cold resistance is average. It winters well in open ground in the middle zone, but if the temperature stays below -25 ° C for a long time, then the young shoots die and flowering in the next season is not so abundant.

Rootstock for cherries. Criteria for correct selection

How to choose a rootstock for cherries

Cherry belongs to the crops that bear fruit already in the last ten days of May or the first days of June. This is only possible in the southern regions. Flower buds awaken early. This is the main reason why cherries cannot be grown on their own roots in conditions with harsh winters.

In order for cherries to bear fruit in the middle zone and northern regions, it is necessary to select a plant that would suit the cherries as a rootstock.

Requirements for rootstock for cherries:

first of all, it should be a low tree, ideally a dwarf version;
frost-resistant varieties;
trees with creeping branches, which makes it possible to cover them with non-woven synthetic materials for the wintering period.

What fruit trees are used as rootstock for cherries?

As a rule, the choice also falls on cherry trees . It is important to choose a variety that is resistant not only to the vagaries of the weather, but also capable of resisting diseases characteristic of this family. These are the main difficulties on the way to a bountiful harvest and obtaining high taste qualities of fruits.

Cherries are chosen as an alternative . And in this case, satisfactory survival of the scion is observed. The new variety has all the positive characteristics of a wild cherry tree: resistance to drought and harsh winter conditions. Instills stable immunity to common diseases.

Agrotechnics of cultivation

Magaleb cherry has many features in its growing technology, which relate not only to the planting procedure, but also to the choice of location and soil.

Landing dates and rules

Magaleb cherry seedlings are planted in spring or autumn. Spring planting is preferable, since before the onset of cold weather the tree will have time to take root and get stronger.

Cherry seedlings are planted in a well-lit place protected from the winds. If this is not possible, then you can plant them in partial shade, but protection from drafts is a mandatory requirement. Magaleb cherry cannot be planted in acidic soil, since black soil or fertile calcareous soils are preferable for it. Even urban conditions with increased air pollution are not dangerous for these plants.

Watering and fertilizing mode

Magaleb cherry tolerates drought well and does not require frequent watering. The tree does not tolerate stagnant moisture. If the weather is dry and hot outside for a long time, then the plants should be irrigated no more than once a week.

To get a bountiful harvest and improve the decorative qualities of an adult tree, it is recommended to add superphosphate, ammonium nitrate, compost or manure to the soil around the trunk.

Crown formation

Under natural conditions, the crown of the Magaleb cherry is thick and spreading, and the branches are slightly drooping. However, to give the tree an aesthetic appearance, gardeners resort to molding. The simplest option is to create a spherical crown using a special garden tool (for example, a trimmer).

Read also: Red cabbage recipes for the winter are very tasty

If there is no need to give the tree fancy shapes, then once a season it is necessary to carry out sanitary pruning and remove all damaged or dried branches, as well as shoots growing inside the crown.

Tree trunk care

The trunk circle of the Magaleb cherry does not require special care, but the plant is grateful for the timely removal of weeds and weeding, which helps improve air circulation. To prevent excess moisture from evaporating from the soil, the circle around the trunk should be mulched. They use exclusively natural materials for this:

sawdust;
straw;
pine needles;
hay;
rotted leaves.

Preventative treatments

Magaleb cherries are rarely affected by diseases, but their appearance can be caused by violation of the rules of agricultural technology. To avoid troubles, trees are treated with a solution of iron sulfate before the buds open. Subsequently, spraying with Bordeaux mixture is carried out, which is recommended to be repeated in the fall. When small pests or insects appear, the plant and the soil around it are treated with an insecticide.

Do I need to cover it for the winter?

In the southern climate, Magaleb cherry does not need insulation for the winter, but in colder regions the trunk should be protected from rodents, and the root system should be protected from freezing with a layer of mulch.

How to carry out the vaccination process yourself

Optimal timing for vaccination

The most favorable time for vaccination is spring. This is the period when the rootstock takes root easily. It is important to adhere to the correct temperature regime. Cuttings can hardly tolerate cold. The temperature should not be below 0°C.

It is permissible to vaccinate in the summer. In order for the cutting to take root, you should choose a cloudy day, but without rain.

In autumn, the movement of juices slows down. However, this does not prevent the cutting or bud from merging with the rootstock. It is important not to carry out the process if cold weather sets in.

Vaccination methods

There are two methods of vaccination, which differ in the type of grafting material:

Copulation - grafting using a cutting.
Budding - in this case, buds from a healthy cutting are used as a scion.

For each method there are several execution techniques.

Copulation

An important condition is that the parts of the scion and rootstock match in thickness. Using a sharp knife, make a cut three times the diameter of the cutting. The cadmium layer of the cutting and the rootstock should be in close contact. Strengthen the grafting site with tape.

Grafting technique with cuttings behind the bark

The most popular technology. Used when the diameter of the rootstock is several times greater than the diameter of the scion:

vertical cuts are made in the bark layer. The length should be within four centimeters. It is in them that the cuttings are implanted. If the rootstock is large enough in diameter, make 3-4 cuts and graft a cutting into each;
use a knife to make pockets and insert cuttings;
each cutting must have at least two vegetative buds;
a cut must be made on the lower part of the cutting;
insert the cuttings as shown in the figure;
The sections are coated with varnish and secured with tape.

Technique – side cut

The method is quite simple and gives excellent results. In this case, the cutting is connected to the rootstock in the lateral part. An incision is made on the cutting on both sides, and on the rootstock at an angle of about 30°. The cutting is inserted tightly into the cut and secured with film tape, which can be replaced with electrical tape.

Caring for cherries after grafting

The tree needs care after grafting. The result of the work depends on this. What to do:

The tree is watered regularly. The water should be settled, with a temperature close to ambient temperature. Watering with a hose with cold water stresses the root system. Watering frequency is once a week. To prevent the soil from drying out in the tree trunk circle, you can use mulch;
apply fertilizer in a timely manner;
weekly inspection of the vaccination site. There should be no cracks in the special putty at the grafting site. If necessary, additionally treat with garden varnish;
shoots that appear on the rootstock must be removed. Otherwise, the cutting may not take root, or the process will proceed at a slow pace.

Reviews about the variety

Despite the low prevalence of Magaleb cherry in private gardens, some summer residents still grow it on their plots and are ready to share their impressions.

Marina Stanislavovna, a gardener with extensive experience: “I brought Magaleb cherry seeds from Crimea and decided to try to plant them on my plot. I really liked the aroma of the fruit, and I still can’t forget the liqueur made from it. It must be admitted that not all the seeds sprouted, but we still managed to grow several trees. She even shared the seedlings with her neighbors. We had to wait several years for the harvest. But when the cherries bloomed and filled the garden with their aroma, it became like a fairy tale. The fruits, ripened in August, were partially used for jam, and from the other part a fragrant liqueur was prepared, which was treated to relatives and guests on special holidays.”

Alina Vladimirovna, a novice summer resident: “We got the Magaleb cherry from the previous owners of our plot. We did not remove it, since the tree grows right on the boundary and fits beautifully into the landscape design. Having tasted the berries for the first time, we decided that we would not harvest them: they seemed very tart and bitter, although they smelled very pleasant. After some time, I came across an article on the Internet that said that cherries of this variety are not eaten fresh, but are used for making jam and preparing liqueurs and tinctures. I decided to experiment. The whole family and friends were pleasantly surprised, they even asked for seeds in order to propagate the tree and plant it in their plots.”

Vladimir Vasilyevich, summer resident: “I have a large plot, there are no neighbors on one side, so I decided to organize a hedge of Magaleb cherries there. I knew in advance that their fruits were terribly tasteless, so I didn’t plan to use them. Imagine my surprise when my wife gave me a taste of freshly brewed aromatic jam from these berries. It was a real masterpiece. A little later, a neighbor asked me to pick cherries to make homemade liqueur and then let me taste it. The drink was also of the highest quality. At the same time, the tree requires almost no care, bears fruit consistently every year and fills the garden with a wonderful aroma during flowering.”