How to grow cherries of the Vstrecha variety: description and planting tips

Description of culture

Features of the hybrid Meeting:

• bush type tree;
• height from 2 to 2.5 m;
• wide dense crown in the shape of a ball;
• drooping shoots.

The Vstrecha variety is a natural dwarf. The advantages of dwarf varieties are compactness, easy care and high yield. The cherry bush has a lush crown, quickly takes root and grows after planting.

Characteristics of fruits of the Vstrecha variety:

• large sizes;
• weight 15 g;
• round, slightly flattened shape;
• thin burgundy skin;
• juicy and tender red flesh;
• medium sized bone.

The fruits have a dessert taste. One of the parent varieties is a hybrid of cherry and black cherry, so the taste contains cherry notes. Taste qualities are rated 5 out of 5.

Cherry pulp has a high sugar content (11.6%). In terms of marketability and taste, the fruits are close to the standard varieties Chudo and Shokoladnitsa.

The Vstrecha variety is recommended for planting in steppe regions. In temperate and cool climates, the tree develops slowly and does not bear fruit.

Advantages and disadvantages

The main advantages for which the variety is recommended for cultivation are:

• high yield;
• excellent taste of fruits;
• early entry into the fruiting stage, subject to all agricultural techniques;
• good transportability, which ensures long-term preservation of the marketable appearance of the crop;
• Compact, easy to maintain.

In addition to the advantages, it is important to identify the disadvantages, which include:

• average frost resistance;
• demands on climate conditions.

There is also a need to plant a pollinator, since the variety is endowed with partial self-fertility. Primetnaya, Shalunya, and Lyubskaya cherries will serve as pollinators.

Pros and cons of the variety

Characteristics

When choosing cherries, take into account its resistance to drought, frost, diseases and pests. If necessary, select a pollinator variety.

Drought resistance, winter hardiness

Hybrid Vstrecha has good drought resistance and can tolerate lack of moisture. To increase productivity, it is recommended to water the tree during flowering and at the beginning of fruiting.

The winter hardiness of the Vstrecha variety is quite low. The tree tolerates winter frosts down to – 25 °C.

Pollination, flowering period and ripening time

The Vstrecha variety blooms at the end of April or beginning of May. The variety is partially self-fertile. To obtain a high yield, pollinator planting is required.

The best pollinators for the Vstrecha hybrid are dwarf varieties that bloom at the same time. Lyubskaya, Primetnaya, Samsonovka, Shalunya cherries are planted next to the tree.

Harvesting begins at the end of June. The fruits remain on the branches for a long time after ripening.

Productivity, fruiting

Fruiting of the Vstrecha variety begins 3-4 years after planting the seedling. The harvest ripens on one-year-old shoots.

The yield of the variety is high - about 25 kg of fruits per bush. Fruiting is stable from year to year. The average lifespan of a tree is 20 years, after which the plantings are replaced.

Area of ​​application of berries

Due to its dessert taste, Vstrecha cherry is suitable for fresh consumption and making desserts. The fruits tolerate transportation and freezing well. A variety of homemade preparations are obtained from it: jam, compotes, juices, marshmallows.

Resistance to diseases and pests

Cherry resistance to diseases and pests is assessed at an average level. The tree is immune to moniliosis and coccomycosis.

A mandatory stage of care is carrying out preventive treatments. Fungal diseases that spread in high humidity are especially dangerous for wood.

Advantages and disadvantages

The main advantages of the Meeting cherry:

• high productivity;
• easy care due to the low growth of cherries;
• quickly begins to bear fruit;
• commercial and taste qualities of fruits.

The disadvantages of the Vstrecha variety include:

• the need to plant a pollinator;
• average frost resistance;
• demands on climatic conditions.

Description of the cherry variety Vstrecha

The Vstrecha cherry variety is a hybrid obtained by crossing the Lyubskaya cherry and the Kyiv-19 duka (a hybrid of cherry and sour cherry). This tree is classified as a natural dwarf tree, since it grows weakly and does not exceed a height of 2 m. The spherical crown with drooping branches and large, rich green leaves with small serrations has a compact and attractive appearance.

The meeting attracts gardeners with its compactness of the tree and abundant fruiting

The variety is a mid-late variety and blooms from April 25 to May 5. Flowering and fruit formation occur on emerging young growths and bouquet branches of a four to five year old tree. The first berries begin to ripen in the second half of June (depending on the climate zone). The average weight of the fruit reaches 10 g. Shiny, with a dense dark red skin and sweet pulp, from which the stone can be easily separated, the fruits evoke the admiration of even the most experienced breeders. The form and “content” do not lag behind in assessments. The taste of the berries was rated by tasters with the highest score - 5. High yield (up to 28 kg per mature tree), versatility of the fruit in terms of use and suitability, excellent transportation of fresh berries are big advantages of their characteristics. Therefore, Vstrecha is ideal for growing both a single crop in dachas and individual farms, and in group plantings for commercial purposes.

An important advantage of cherries is its increased immunity to common crop diseases - coccomycosis and moniliosis, resistance to the arid steppe climate and severe frosts (down to -25 ° C). Unlike other varieties, Vstrecha grows well and bears fruit in the shade.

Cherry is recommended for cultivation not only in Ukraine, where it was bred by Melitopol breeders Turovtsev, but also in all zones of the former Union, excluding the northern one.

Cherry Vstrecha will be glad to have such “neighbors” as cherries and grapes. But do not try to test it with the proximity of currants, plums, apricots, peach, walnuts, pears.

Since the variety is partially self-fertile, the cherry varieties Lyubskaya, Primetnaya, Shalunya, as well as the cherries Valery Chkalov and Krupnoplodnaya will be an excellent addition to Vstrecha as third-party pollinators.

Video: Cherry Meeting

Landing Features

The cherries are planted in the prepared area. Be sure to take into account the composition of the soil and crops growing in close proximity to the hybrid.

Recommended timing

The period from mid-September to October is suitable for planting. When planted in autumn, the cherries will have time to take root before the onset of cold weather.

It is allowed to postpone planting work to spring (mid-April or early May). Planting begins after the soil warms up, but before the buds swell.

Choosing a suitable location

The place for growing cherries must meet a number of requirements:

• good lighting;
• absence of wind loads;
• drained fertile soil.

Cherry prefers flat areas where its roots are not exposed to moisture. Therefore, lowlands and slopes are not suitable for planting.

Light, fertile soil is best suited for planting: loam or sandstone of neutral reaction. Lime is added to the acidified soil 2-3 weeks before the work is carried out.

What crops can and cannot be planted next to cherries?

Hybrid Meeting tolerates the proximity of other varieties of cherries and various shrubs well:

• cherries;
• sloe, plum, cherry plum;
• grape;
• elder;
• hawthorn;
• honeysuckle;
• Rowan.

The exceptions are sea buckthorn, gooseberries, raspberries and currants. The hybrid is removed from other shrubs by 1.5-2 m.

Vstrecha cherry is planted away from the following crops:

• apple tree, pear tree;
• peach, apricot;
• oak, maple, linden, birch;
• coniferous trees;
• tomato, pepper and other nightshades.

Tall trees create shade, and their roots take a lot of nutrients from the soil. The permissible distance between cherry and other trees is from 5 to 6 m.

Selection and preparation of planting material

For planting, choose two-year-old seedlings with a height of 50-60 cm. The seedling must have healthy roots and shoots without damage.

4 hours before the start of work, the roots of the seedling are immersed in clean water, to which a root growth stimulator is added.

Landing algorithm

The sequence of work for planting the Vstrecha variety:

1. The soil in the selected area is dug up.
2. Then prepare a pit measuring 50 cm and depth 40 cm.
3. The pit is left for 3-4 weeks to allow the soil to shrink. For spring planting, it is better to prepare the hole in the fall.
4. Add to the fertile soil: 50 g of superphosphate, 30 g of potassium sulfate and 1 kg of wood ash. The components are thoroughly mixed, part of the soil is placed in the hole.
5. The cherry tree is planted in a hole, its roots are straightened and covered with the remaining soil.
6. The soil is well compacted.
7. The seedling is watered abundantly.

Planting

Where will it be better to grow Vstrecha cherries? The description of the variety indicates that other trees of the Shalunya, Primetnaya, Lyubskaya varieties should grow not far from it. Neighborhood with them will help the partially self-pollinating Meeting significantly increase the number of fruits.

When choosing a place for cherries, you need to take into account that they will grow better in sunny areas.

The cherry tree is not very demanding on the soil. It needs to be drained. Then the moisture will not stagnate near the root. It is good if it is sandy loam or light loam.

Cherries are not planted:

• in drafts;
• in low areas;
• near tall trees;
• near apricots, pears, plums, walnuts, currants.

Apple, cherry, and hawthorn will be good neighbors for it.

It is best to plant cherry trees in the southern regions in the fall, at least a month before the onset of frost. If you didn’t have time to do this, it’s better to bury it until spring.

In mid-April it is usually time to plant cherries in the middle zone.

Preparing a hole for planting a tree. Its depth should be at least 80 cm. You can determine the size of the hole by adding 20-30 cm to the dimensions of the root system. The soil selected from the hole is mixed with rotted manure, sand, superphosphate, and potassium chloride.

Fill the hole halfway and add a pile of soil to install the root. Plant a seedling. A wooden stake is prepared, which will subsequently support the young tree, protecting it from gusts of wind. Level the roots and sprinkle them with prepared soil.

Water generously until water is absorbed into the soil.

Tie the seedling to a support.

Mulch the tree trunk circle with grass; the thickness of the mulch layer should be about 7 cm. An exception may be prolonged rainy weather, when moisture collects in the mulch layer. This can lead to rotting of the root collar. In this case, it is better to remove the mulch layer before the heat comes.

When planting in the fall, the tree trunk circle is mulched with a 20 cm layer of manure; in winter, as much snow as possible is poured on it.

If several trees are planted, the distance between them should be at least 3 meters.

The Meeting cherry needs to be watered regularly until it begins to grow. After this, the number of waterings can be reduced.

In early spring, the tree trunk and skeletal branches are treated with lime so that the sun's rays do not leave burns on them.

The Vstrecha cherry tree needs restorative spring pruning. The description of the variety indicates that the tree gives a good harvest after it. Remove broken and damaged branches and form a crown.

The Vstrecha cherry has another feature. The description of the variety says that shoots form near the root. It will contribute to a reduction in yield. Therefore, all shoots near the root are removed.

In spring, Vstrecha cherries are fed with nitrogen fertilizers. In the second half of summer - phosphorus and potassium.

Subsequent care of the crop

Dwarf cherry trees are pruned before or after the start of sap flow. For each bush, 5-10 of the strongest shoots are left. Be sure to remove dry, broken and frozen branches.

Hybrid Meeting is enough to water 3-5 times per season. The shrub requires moisture at the flowering stage and at the beginning of fruiting. 2-3 liters of water are poured under the bush.

Advice! Watering can be combined with fertilizing. In early spring, the tree is watered with slurry, and during and after flowering - with potassium-phosphorus solutions.

To prepare the Vstrecha cherry for winter, its trunks are hilled up and the soil is mulched with humus. The young seedling is covered with a net or roofing felt to protect it from rodents, and in winter a snowdrift is placed on top.

Reviews

Vasily, 58 years old, Kursk

Cherry Vstrecha is a dwarf variety; it grows on my Antipka apple tree seedlings. The tree reaches a height of 2 m. A very good variety in all respects. Cherries are partially self-fertile, so you can get a harvest without a pollinator. Tree with large leaves and fruits weighing 10 g.

Elena, 34 years old, Belgorod

Cherry Vstrecha has been growing on the site for the fifth year. The tree has grown to 2 m in height. The berries are very large. The taste of the fruits is more reminiscent of cherries, and in appearance they are more reminiscent of cherries. The pulp is not dry, but very juicy. I plan to propagate the Vstrecha variety by cuttings and plant another tree.

Lyudmila, 42 years old, Stavropol

I purchased Meeting cherries from a local nursery. I planted the Shalunya variety nearby for pollination. The harvest ripens early. The fruits are very large compared to ordinary cherries. The taste is excellent, cherries are suitable for canning and freezing for the winter.

Diseases and pests, methods of control and prevention

Despite the resistance of the hybrid Meeting to diseases, under certain conditions signs of damage may appear on the tree.

Common diseases to which cherries are susceptible are shown in the table:

The table shows the main cherry pests: