Cherry Lyubskaya: variety description, photos, reviews, best pollinators
Unfortunately, many fruit trees grown in garden plots are self-fertile, so without the presence of pollinators nearby, their harvest will be too small. But if several apple and pear trees are planted in the gardens, then even two or three cherry trees are too many for most summer residents.
That is why those varieties of this fruit crop that are self-pollinating are so valued. These include Lyubskaya cherry
, which, without the presence of pollinating cherries nearby, is capable of producing an excellent harvest every year.
Other characteristics of the Lyubskaya cherry variety, advantages, nuances of planting and growing, and much more will be discussed below.
The content of the article:
1. History of the variety 2. Characteristics and description of the variety 3. Pollinator trees for the Lyubskaya cherry 4. Productivity of the cherry variety 5. Diseases and pests 6. Advantages and disadvantages 7. Planting and cultivation 8. Further care 9. Pruning the Lyubskaya cherry 10. Reviews about the Lyubskaya cherry
Care
Watering
In normal summer weather conditions, it is recommended to water cherries 3 times per season. The first time - immediately after flowering, simultaneously with the application of fertilizer, the second - when the berries begin to grow, the third time - in preparation for winter in early October. The first two times you need to spend 30–60 liters per plant, water-recharging watering (autumn) will require 60–80 liters. Of course, in dry weather or, conversely, heavy rains, the watering scheme is adjusted.
Top dressing
Fertilizer application is necessary from the 3rd year of life, since in the first 2 years the plant will have enough of the mineral and organic substances that were added to the ground during planting.
Table: scheme for applying fertilizers and pollinators for cherries
| Time | Fertilizers and their quantity |
| In early spring | Nitrogen fertilizers 50–70 g |
| When the cherry blossoms fade, the next one is the same after 12–15 days |
|
| In the fall when digging |
|
Video: subtleties of caring for cherries
Trimming
As with other fruit trees, pruning is an important part of cherry tree care. Despite the fact that Lyubskaya’s crown is not thickened, pruning cannot be neglected, since dry, frozen branches damaged by diseases and pests must be removed. Pruning is carried out in early spring (before sap flows in the tree), removing unnecessary parts with a sharp tool. Root shoots must also be removed.
You need to trim the cherry tree with a sharp tool.
Shelter for the winter
One of the disadvantages of the Lyubskaya cherry variety is the susceptibility of the trunk bark and branches to freezing. This factor prompts many gardeners in the northern and central parts of the country to abandon growing Lyubskaya. In order to try to avoid frost damage, it is necessary to cover the lower part of the trunk and lower branches with non-woven synthetic material, having previously tied the trunk with spruce branches. This will also protect the cherries from rodents and hares.
The shelter will save the cherry from frost and rodents
Table: disease and pest control
| Pests/diseases | How do they manifest themselves? | Prevention | Struggle |
| Coccomycosis | Red dots appear on the leaves. The affected leaves fall off, the tree weakens, and has difficulty withstanding the winter. This disease also affects the fruits - they become deformed and become inedible. |
| Treatment with Bordeaux mixture in the spring during the leaf blooming period, after the petals fall - with copper oxychloride (0.4%), after harvesting - with Bordeaux mixture. |
| Moniliosis | Gray growths appear on the bark and fruits. The cherries rot and fall off. Branches and leaves affected by moniliosis look burnt. |
| |
| Cherry aphid | Aphids suck sap from plants, which leads to drying of leaves and deformation of shoots. |
| |
| Weevil | The insect attacks buds, flowers, and ovaries. The larvae eat away the kernels near the seeds. |
|
Photo: cherry diseases and pests
Weevil affects buds, flowers, ovaries
With moniliosis, the cherry looks burnt
Coccomycosis is a fungal disease to which the Lyubskaya variety is susceptible.
Aphids suck sap from plants
History of the variety
Lyubskaya cherry has been grown in Russia for centuries. The exact history of the selection of this variety is unknown, but experts say that this fruit tree was grown in the Kursk region back in the 19th century. Apparently, even at that time, local gardeners crossed local cherries, and as a result of folk selection, this self-pollinating, high-yielding variety was obtained.
Photo of Lyubskaya cherry
From this area, Lyubskaya cherry gradually spread to other areas of central Russia; specialists from the Moscow Federal State Budgetary Institution VSTISP became interested in it and submitted an application for inclusion of the variety in the State Register, where it was accepted in 1947.
For the first time, a complete description of this fruit tree was given by the scientist N.I. Kichunov, a contemporary of Michurin.
Interesting!
The introduction of a fruit tree variety of folk selection, which is recommended for cultivation only in certain regions of Russia, is a rare case. Typically, such varieties have been grown in the country for decades and centuries, but they are not included in the State Register.
This cherry variety “behaves” differently in different regions, as it has a tendency to randomly mutate. Sometimes, even in neighboring garden plots, Lyubsky cherries grow with different yields, sizes and tastes of ripe berries. Therefore, in articles you can often find the name of a variety with the following additions: productive, bouquet, etc.
Lyubskaya cherry: characteristics and description of the variety
Most often in gardens, cherries of this variety are grown as a shrub, although this fruit tree is included in the State Register as an ordinary one, not a steppe one.
In regions with cold, frosty winters, it is specially cut to a low size so that Lyubskaya can better withstand the cold. In the southern regions, this variety grows well on trunks.
Brief overview of Lyubskaya cherries - video
Under favorable weather conditions, the branches grow 35-40 cm annually, and in the next season, berries appear on them. After the harvest is harvested, these shoots gradually become bare, and later fruiting occurs on the peripheral branches.
Cherry Lyubskaya
– small in size, can reach no more than 2.5 m in height. The central trunk is brown with a gray tint, the bark is covered with cracks. The shoots extend from the trunk at an angle of 45 degrees, the crown is sparsely weeping.
The buds are oval in shape, extend slightly from the shoot, the foliage is pointed at the base and at the ends, their color is dark emerald. The buds are collected in bouquet inflorescences, each of which contains up to 4 flowers, their legs are about 3 cm long, the color of the petals is boiling white.
The fruits of the Lyubskaya cherry are uneven in size, medium or large in size, weighing 4.5-5 g.
The shape of the berries is round, the top is blunt, the color of the berries is dark red, the abdominal seam is clearly visible, with a clearly visible light stripe running along it. The pulp is bright red, juicy, with a slight sourness.
The stone is also round, small in size, its tip is sharp, easily separated from the pulp in ripe fruits, the percentage of the stone mass to the size of the fruit is about 8%. The berries are tightly attached to the stalks; even ripe fruits are not prone to shedding.
The taste of ripe Lyubskaya cherry berries is mediocre; the variety has low resistance to fungal diseases.
However, it is the Lyubskaya cherry that can be found in all regions of Russia, where it can withstand frost. This is primarily due to the fact that this variety is highly self-fertile.
Photo of a diseased cherry
Important!
The harvested Lyubskaya cherry harvest is technical in purpose, since the berries are too sour. However, it is noted that in the southern regions the percentage of ascorbic acid in the berries of this cherry is less than in trees growing in the central zone of the country.
Ripe fruits are used to make compotes and jam. Many summer residents make wine from Lyubskaya cherry berries.
CHERRY!
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This fruit tree's resistance to drought is average, so if there is little rainfall in the summer, it definitely requires watering.
Although resistance to frost is high, it is difficult to grow this variety in the northern regions - it often freezes out.
In the middle zone and regions with similar climatic conditions, the life expectancy of the Lyubsk cherry is short - no more than 13-15 years. In the central and southern regions this period increases to 23-24 years. The thing is that in colder climates in winter, trunks or branches often freeze out, and with age, cherries find it more difficult to “come to their senses” during the summer.
Interesting!
The buds of this cherry variety tolerate severe frosts much better than the wood of the trunk and branches.
Description of the tree
Tree of medium vigor, height 1.5-2.0 m. The crown is round-spherical, average density, good foliage. The shoot is ash-gray with the presence of silver, the thickness is average. The bud is medium-sized, elongated, at an angle of 60° in relation to the shoot.
The leaf is narrow-oval, large - length 10.8 cm, width 4.5 cm, dark green, apex short-pointed, base pointed, edge doubrate, medium serration, surface smooth, slightly shiny, no pubescence, leaf blade weakly folded along the main vein. The glands are medium-sized, round, yellow. The petiole is medium - 1.7 cm, of medium thickness, there is anthocyanin. There are lanceolate-subulate stipules.
There are 5 flowers in the inflorescence, large, diameter 3.5 cm, saucer-shaped corolla, petals touching each other, medium corrugation, white petals, bifurcated apex, broadly obovate shape. The stigma of the pistil is higher than the anthers, stamens 28. The type of flowering and fruiting is mixed, mainly on one-two-year growth.
Pollinator trees for Lyubskaya cherry
The buds on the Lyubskaya cherry blossom in the last ten days of May, flowering continues for about a week. Fruiting is abundant and consistent, depending on the climatic conditions of the growing region - from the last ten days of July to the second ten days of August. This variety is highly self-pollinating; up to 50% of flowers bear fruit.
Many experienced gardeners and experts say that if other varieties with the same flowering period are planted next to this cherry, then the Lyubskaya yield will be close to 100%.
The best pollinator varieties for this Lyubskaya cherry fruit tree:
- Vladimirka;
- Zhukovskaya;
- Anadolskaya;
- Spanking is early;
- Lotovaya;
- Fertile Michurina.
Fruit shape and weight
The size of the fruit is divided by the size of the cultivated varieties of cherries:
- large - with a mass of more than 5 g. These include Jealous, Drogana Zheltaya, Tyutchevka, Iput, Raditsa, Sadko;
- Medium (3-5 g);
- Small (up to 3 g). The berries of these varieties are more like large cherries, but have a sweet taste. The early pink, Leningrad pink and Leningrad pink varieties are varieties with small berries.
The berries are usually round in shape, but there are heart-shaped varieties that are slightly flattened on the sides.
Usually the berries are divided into bagaro and guinea depending on the hardness of the fruit. If the fruits are soft, delicate, with thin skin that quickly leaves traces of touch, pressure, light blows against each other - then the variety of guineas is at stake. As a rule, these are early ripening berries. You will enjoy these trees with flowers and first berries until the end of May, but these varieties are poorly kept in good condition, almost transportable.
Bigarro - thick berries with cartilaginous meat, with veins, have high industrial value, as they can be widely used for long-term storage, adapted for transportation, preservation and production of dried fruits.
In the following video you will learn how to grow different varieties of cherries on a tree and how to vaccinate them using the improved copulation method:
Page 5
Translated from Latin, the name cherry means “cherry tree.” Because not only people, but also birds appreciated the taste of these berries. Only in Russian, cherries and cherries have different names; in English-speaking countries, the berries have the same name - Cerasus, only cherries are marked with the nickname "sour", and cherries - "sweet".
But besides the sweetness of the taste, cherries have two more important benefits:
- Cherry trees are harvested every year, and they do not have fruit periodicity like cherry trees;
- On average, sour cherries produce twice as many berries as sour cherries - up to 25 kg per tree.
There are many different varieties of cherries, in this article we will focus on one of the most popular varieties of black candies.
Productivity of cherry variety Lyubskaya
Seedlings of this variety begin to bear fruit within a couple of years after planting, the yield increases quickly - within a few seasons after the first harvest, the productivity becomes close to the maximum result.
Since this fruit tree is prone to mutation, its productivity directly depends on compliance with the rules of care and growing location.
On average, from 10 to 25 kg of ripe fruits are harvested from one tree of the Lyubskaya variety; the maximum harvested harvest from mature cherries is known to be up to 50-52 kg.
Need to know!
With proper care: protection from diseases and pests, timely fertilizing, cherry yields increase significantly.
CHOOSE RASPBERRY!
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Yield indicator, berry ripening time
The first fruiting occurs when the tree reaches the age of 2-3 years. The peak occurs at 8-10 years. The yield rate is consistently high - from 35 to 50 kg of berries are harvested from one plant.
Medium late variety. In the southern climatic zones, ripening occurs in the second week of July, in the northern regions - the last days of July - the beginning of August.
Additional Information! Unlike other varieties of cherries, Lyubskaya is not afraid of cold rains and wet spring weather, so there is no risk of buds freezing. Thanks to this, cherries bear fruit every year.
Diseases and pests
Lyubskaya cherry has low resistance to fungal diseases, in particular to coccomycosis. Therefore, for preventive purposes, it is recommended in the spring before the sap begins to flow and in the fall after all the foliage has fallen, to treat the tree with special preparations.
The main pests that can attack cherries are aphids and cherry sawflies. They can be combated by treating trees with insecticide solutions, or using effective folk remedies.
Cherry pests - video
Advantages and disadvantages
Lyubskaya cherry is one of the best technical varieties, the main advantages of which are:
- high percentage of self-fertility;
- flowering occurs at the end of May, so flowers and ovaries are not damaged by spring frosts;
- By providing these fruit trees with appropriate care, you can achieve high yields from the variety;
- the sparse crown and miniature size make it easier to care for the branches and collect ripe fruits;
- even if the care is not very good, the fruiting of the Lyubskaya cherry is still quite high;
- easy to separate the seeds from the pulp;
- the harvested crop tolerates transportation well over long distances and is stored in a cool place for a long time;
- the fruits easily move away from the stalks, but do not fall off;
- ripe fruits are quite large.
This cherry has few disadvantages:
- poor resistance to fungal diseases;
- in regions with a harsh climate, this cherry does not grow without additional shelter;
- fruits are too sour;
- The trunks of this variety often suffer from sunburn.
Lyubskaya cherry: planting and growing
Seedlings of this fruit tree should be planted only in early spring, before the buds have yet opened. Otherwise, the trees may not take root. If the seedlings were purchased in the autumn, then they are dug in and a hole is prepared for planting. And in early spring, Lyubskaya cherry seedlings are transplanted to a permanent place in the open ground.
Photos of Lyubskaya cherry seedlings
Important!
The planting site should be sunny, ideally on the west side, on a gentle slope. Groundwater should ideally be located at a level of 2 meters from the surface or deeper.
Soil acidity – neutral or slightly alkaline. In autumn, manure should be added to it at the rate of at least 5 kg per square. The best type of soil is loam.
The best neighbors for this variety will be other pollinating cherries. But taller trees that will shade the low, compact Lyubskaya should not be planted nearby.
Any stone fruit crops can be planted next to this cherry tree.
You can also plant the following trees:
- Oak trees;
- maples;
- linden;
- birch trees
Fruit bushes (raspberries, currants, sea buckthorn and others) usually grow in width, especially their root system. Therefore, it is not recommended to plant them next to fruit trees, as these crops will compete for moisture and fertilizers.
In the tree trunks of the cherry tree, you can plant some perennial herbs that will protect the soil from heat and retain moisture:
- hoof;
- periwinkle;
- tenacious;
- mint;
- budra;
- Melissa.
The planting pit for a seedling of this variety should have the following dimensions: depth up to 0.6 m, diameter - about 0.8 cm. The top layer of soil selected from the pit is mixed with humus (about 10 kg), to which 50 g of potassium is added and phosphorus fertilizer. Chalk or dolomite flour is added to acidified soil, and fine river sand is added to heavy soil.
Photo of planting pit for cherries
A stake is driven into the hole, to which the seedling will be tied after planting. The cherry is placed in the center, its root system is straightened, covered with substrate, constantly compacting it. The neck cannot be buried; it should be 6-7 cm above the soil level.
The trunk circle is ringed with a roller of soil. 20-30 liters of water are poured under each cherry tree. And then mulch the soil with humus or straw.
Landing Features
The Lyubskaya variety has very high self-fertility. Still, to maximize the yield, it is better to plant cherries such as Zhukovskaya, Lotovaya, Anadolskaya, Vladimirskaya nearby. As a rule, Lyubskaya itself is a good pollinator for other varieties of cherries.
Selecting a location
Lyubskaya cherry is quite demanding on soil and growing conditions. The best for it are loose, fertile soils with a neutral reaction. Loamy and sandy loam soils are well suited, provided they are well supplied with organic fertilizers and minerals. The landing site should be protected from cold winds and well lit by the sun. As a last resort, partial shading is allowed. A distance of 2–3 m must be maintained from buildings and neighboring trees.
To reduce the pressure of the wind, you can simply pull the mesh
Groundwater should be no closer than 1.5 m from the soil surface. If they are located closer together, drainage or planting of cherries on an artificial hill is necessary.
The variety is considered unsuitable for cultivation in the northern regions, but many gardeners believe that cultivation in stylite forms is possible.
Selection of planting material
One-year-old seedlings are considered the best planting material, but two-year-old seedlings can also be purchased. The purchased trees must have a well-developed crown and roots. All organs of the tree must be intact, without dry or damaged areas. Pay special attention to inspecting the root collar (there should be no influx of tissue at the grafting site, cracks, or rot).
When choosing a seedling, pay attention to the degree of development of the crown and roots
Landing dates
The recommended time for planting cherries is spring (April). But in the southern regions you can plant in the fall, at the beginning of October. It is important to plant the tree so that it has time to take root before the onset of frost (this takes about 1 month). Spring planting should be done when the soil has already completely thawed, but it must be done before the buds open.
Preparing for landing
Successful rooting of a seedling largely depends on proper soil preparation. The primary requirement is to remove weeds from the intended area and loosen the soil. If it is necessary to cultivate the soil, fertilizers should be applied (15–18 kg/m2 of organic matter and 200 g of a mixture of phosphorus and potassium compounds). To reduce acidity, you will need 300–600 g/m2 of crushed dolomite or chalk.
The pit for planting should be ready 15–20 days before planting; the best option is to prepare the pits in the fall. The dimensions must correspond to the parameters of the root system. For a cherry tree, the minimum dimensions are 0.5–0.6 m in depth and 0.8–1 m in diameter. Make the walls even, loosen the bottom with a fork and drive a 1.4 m long peg into the center. Fill 1/3 of the depth of the hole with a nutrient mixture (fertile soil, 2–2.5 buckets of organic fertilizers, 0.5 kg of ash and 200 g of superphosphate) .
Landing
Check the condition of the tree again, remove dry and broken roots with a sharp knife. If the roots become very dry, immerse the seedling in water for 18–24 hours.
Step-by-step landing sequence:
- Dip the roots of the tree in soil mash.
- Place the seedling in the hole, carefully straightening the roots.
- Sprinkle the roots with soil gradually, in layers, trying to fill all the spaces between the roots. Compact each layer with your hands. You can add water so that the soil adheres more closely to the roots.
- After filling the hole, press down the soil with your foot.
- Create a watering hole.
- Tie the tree to the support stake with a soft rope. Carry out the first watering with 2-3 buckets of water.
Planting cherries on video
Further care for the Lyubskaya variety
In the first season after planting, young cherries are watered regularly; after the soil dries, they must be loosened. Mature trees require less frequent soil moisture. The amount of watering increases only during the flowering period; 20-21 days before harvest, watering should be stopped. If the autumn is dry, water-charging irrigation must be carried out.
It is important to know!
Before the onset of winter, the tree trunk circle is mulched with a thick layer of humus (at least 8-10 cm thick); in cold regions, the bushes are covered with burlap, spruce branches, or other covering material is used. This shelter will protect trees from rodents.
Fertilizing
The yield of the Lyubskaya cherry variety directly depends on the quantity and quality of fertilizing applied. Experts recommend using a layer of mulch material, for example, mullein, to which wood ash is added, as fertilizer. At the same time, a sufficient amount of nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus gets into the soil.
Feeding cherries - video
Reviews from gardeners
Yana, 51 years old, Smolensk
My tree is 8 years old. The seedling took root quickly, but during the first winters I completely wrapped it in several layers of burlap, now I wrap the trunk and lower branches with jute. “Lyubka” gave its first harvest in the third year, now I collect three buckets each season. A couple of times the cherry froze a little, I had to clean out the cracks and cover it with varnish. I haven’t observed any fungal infections, but I spray it for prevention in the spring and late summer. The berries are sour, suitable for compote and wine, which turn out very tasty.
Anna, 65 years old, Moscow
Frost cracks appear on my cherry trees in cold winters. We treat them with garden varnish. Productivity increases significantly in the seasons after fertilizing, and I apply it once every two years. It’s almost impossible to eat fresh berries, but it’s just right for jam. The pit is easy to clean, the pulp holds its shape well.
Yuri, 45 years old, Belgorod
Lyubskaya came to us along with the dacha from the previous owners. Now she is already 12 years old and in recent years she has been producing 10-15 kg of harvest. There were no health problems, but I sowed calendula under the tree and regularly spray the branches with products against fungus and pests. Part of the harvest is dried - dried cherries make delicious aromatic tea and compotes.
Reviews from those who planted the Lyubskaya cherry variety
Some of the reviews from gardeners who grow Lyubskaya cherries in their garden plots are presented below.
Oksana, 50 years old, Voronezh:
“Several different varieties of cherries are planted on my plot, including Lyubskaya. We planted it specifically to have berries for making jam and compotes. Since other stone fruit crops grow nearby, Lyubskaya’s yield is quite high. But eating its fruits fresh is not very pleasant - they are too sour.”
Maria, 49 years old, Ryazan:
“The Lyubskaya cherry has been growing in our garden for quite a long time - at least 8 years. Its yield is quite stable, since I apply fertilizer to the tree trunk circle on time and water it in a timely manner. We also planted a couple of other cherry varieties nearby, which cross-pollinate, and at the same time the yield of all these fruit trees increases.”
Anastasia, 39 years old, Rostov:
“My mother planted Lyubskaya cherry on the plot. The variety has been growing in our country for more than 15 years, but its yield is still high. By the way, the berries are quite sweet, although according to reviews from gardeners, they thought that this variety would have too sour fruits. It turned out that in the southern regions, probably under the influence of sunlight, the fruits of this cherry contain less ascorbic acid.”
Olga, 28 years old, Ulyanovsk:
“My mother decided to update the cherry varieties in the garden, but she bought the seedlings not at the nursery, but at the market. A couple of trees turned out to be exactly the variety that the seller said, and the third seedling turned out to be a Lyubskaya cherry. They didn’t throw it away, they left it to see how it would bear fruit. As a result, after a few years they began to collect a bucket and a half of berries from the tree. Their taste, of course, turned out to be sour, but my husband began to make wine from the fruits of these cherries. It turns out to have a rather pleasant taste, since sugar is naturally added according to the technology. In general, now for all holidays we put our own wine on the table, which all guests like.”
Lyubskaya cherry is one of the oldest cherry varieties grown by Russian gardeners. The main advantage of the tree is its high self-fertility and sufficient unpretentiousness.
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Harvesting and processing
Many gardeners recommend this variety for jam.
It is advisable to collect Lyubskaya cherry berries at one time. It is this technique that allows you to protect them from diseases, the appearance of worms or from birds. The harvest usually begins in the evening, when the sun is not very active, it is clearly visible, and there is no dew, so the cherries will be dry.
Important!
After picking, cherry berries no longer ripen, stopping development, so you need to pick them when they are already ripe.
For homemade preparations or fresh consumption (within 24 hours), you can collect cherries without stalks. But, if you need to transport it over long distances or sell it, then it is better to pick the berries with the stalks - this simple procedure will extend the shelf life.
The collected cherries are placed in storage containers. You can separate the seeds and freeze it so that you can enjoy delicious berries in the winter or use them for baking. Many gardeners recommend the variety for jam. In combination with sugar, after cooking this variety acquires a pleasant taste, delicate, not tart sweetness.
If you need to keep the berries fresh, then at a temperature of -1...0 degrees Celsius and a humidity of 85%, they can lie for 10 days. You can also extend the shelf life by packing cherries in sealed bags.
