It is a rare summer resident in central Russia who does not try to plant at least one cherry tree on his plot, even knowing that this crop is very whimsical and capricious. When it is possible to harvest the harvest, they talk about the skill of the owner, and if the berries are not forthcoming, then they usually appeal to the fact that the role of the cherry was reduced solely to pollinating the cherries growing nearby.
Cherry varieties for central Russia
The concept of central Russia is arbitrary and does not coincide with the division into regions adopted in the State Register of the Russian Federation. Covers the North-Western region (with the exception of the Kaliningrad region), the Central and Central Chernozem regions, as well as almost the entire Volga-Vyatka and Middle Volga regions. The climate in this area is heterogeneous, but is generally characterized by warm, fairly humid weather in the summer and moderately cold, snowy winters. Average temperatures range from -12 o C in winter to +21 o C in summer.
The first scientific attempts to adapt southern culture to new conditions were made by I.V. Michurin. The bred cherries became the foundation for further breeding work to create new cold-resistant varieties. The variety of obtained types of cherries allows them to be classified according to many characteristics, primarily by the color of the fruit.
Yellow-fruited cherry varieties
Cherry fruits are colored red, yellow, pink and orange colors. Sweet cherries with yellow berries are not as picky about climatic conditions as their relatives, therefore they are more suitable to grow and bear fruit in the climatic conditions of the middle zone, where severe winters are not uncommon.
Drogana yellow
Drogana yellow - an old variety with amber large fruits. Their average weight is approximately 6–7 g, some reaching 8 g. The taste of the berries is sweet and dessert, but they are poorly transported.
Drogan yellow cherries are suitable for compotes and jams, but not for freezing; after defrosting, the shape of the berries is not preserved
The fruits of Drogana yellow ripen by the end of June or July and do not fall off. Trees are productive from 4–5 years old and bear fruit for another 20 years. The yield is stable, up to 30 kg per tree.
The variety is self-sterile; pollinating cherries are Denissena yellow, Gaucher. It is frost-resistant and, thanks to late flowering, does not suffer from return frosts. Approved for cultivation in the Lower Volga and North Caucasus regions, but through the efforts of gardeners it has successfully expanded the distribution zone.
Yellow drogana tolerates drought well, and in rainy summers the skin of the fruit cracks and becomes damaged. fruit rot. The cherry fly also does not ignore Drogana berries. However, cherries are not susceptible to fungal diseases.
Leningrad yellow
Leningrad yellow is a common late-ripening cherry; the berries ripen at the end of August. The skin is honey-yellow, the flesh is moderately tart, but sweet and juicy. The fruits weigh 3.4 g.
Leningradskaya yellow cherry berries do not spoil, do not lose their taste and appearance within two weeks after picking
On average it yields 15 kg per tree. Winter-hardy. Immune to bacterial rot, does not suffer from insect pests, including fruit flies.
Self-sterile. Pollinated by Leningradskaya black or Leningradskaya pink varieties. These three types of cherries were obtained at the Pavlovsk experimental station of the VIR, located near St. Petersburg. Pomology scientists at the station have created winter-hardy varieties of cherries that are successfully cultivated in the North-West region, although they are not formally included in the State Register.
Orlovskaya amber
Orlovskaya amber is an early ripening cherry; berry picking begins in the second half of June. The fruits are intense yellow with a slight blush, weigh 5.6 g. The pulp is dense, juicy, sweet. Cherries are most often consumed fresh.
Orlovskaya amber berries have a very thin skin, which attracts bees; in addition, ripe fruits are prone to shedding
From the age of 4, Orlovskaya amber bears fruit, increasing its yield every year. From one mature tree you can collect up to 33–35 kg of berries. Needs pollinators; the varieties Vityaz, Iput, Gostinets, Severnaya and Ovstuzhenka are suitable.
The variety is not included in the State Register. Grows in the Central Black Earth and Middle Volga regions.
Homestead yellow
Homestead yellow was obtained at the end of the 20th century. The round, rosy berries weigh an average of 5.5 g. The flesh is pleasantly gristly, sweet, with slight sourness.
Homestead yellow is not intended for cultivation on an industrial scale, because it is poorly stored and transported
It blooms early and produces an early harvest, which begins to be harvested in the second half of June. Regular fruiting from the sixth year without the participation of pollinators. The yield is up to 15 kg per tree.
The advantages of this variety include high frost resistance. Homestead yellow is zoned in the Central Black Earth region.
Chermashnaya
Chermashnaya is a medium-sized, early-ripening and early-fruiting cherry. The berries are round, yellow, and some develop a blush. The taste is dessert, sweet and sour (sweetness is more pronounced, sourness is subtle). The average fruit weight is up to 4.5 g. The berries are consumed fresh.
Chermashnaya cherries are transportable both close and long distances, the main thing is to harvest in dry weather and tear off the berries along with the stems
The variety is productive, produces up to 30 kg of berries from one tree. When planting two-year-old seedlings, the harvest is harvested after four years. Self-sterile. The varieties Fatezh, Crimean, Bryansk pink, Iput, Leningradskaya black or Shokoladnitsa cherry are recommended as pollinators.
Chermashnaya is resistant to fungal diseases of stone fruits. Included in the State Register for the Central Region.
Winter-hardy cherry varieties
In unstable winter weather, when cold weather gives way to periods of thaw, the wood of cherries is affected and frost holes appear. And returning spring frosts are destructive to the buds, which is why the harvest suffers. Breeders have managed to develop cherry varieties that are resistant to cold weather in their buds and wood. In addition to the yellow-fruited Leningradskaya and Priusadebnaya, it is worth remembering several more winter-hardy varieties.
Veda
Veda is a late cherry. The fruits are flattened, heart-shaped, medium-sized. Weight - a little more than 5 g. Beneath the ruby skin lies juicy, tender flesh. The yield of the variety is up to 25 kg per tree. Bears fruit from 4–5 years. The State Register recommends growing in the Central region.
To improve pollination of any cherry, including the Veda variety, during the flowering period you can spray the branches with water and honey or sugar, bees will flock to the sweets
Bryansk pink
Bryansk pink is a very late cherry. The berries are round and coral. Veins are visible through the thick skin. Cartilaginous elastic flesh with a rich sweet taste. Fruit weight - 4.5 g. Needs pollinators; the best varieties are Iput, Ovstuzhenka, Revna, Tyutchevka. The yield is average - 20 kg per tree. The trees are early-bearing, winter-hardy, and not susceptible to coccomycosis. Bryansk pink cherries are included in the State Register for the Central Region.
100 g of any cherry, for example, the Bryansk pink variety, contains 14–15 mg of vitamin C ( daily norm adult - 70–100 mg)
And the way
Iput is a variety of cherry with fruits the color of dark pomegranate. Heart berries weigh on average 5 g, although the weight can reach up to 10 g. The skin cracks under conditions of excess moisture. The pulp is dense, dark red, sweet and juicy.
Iput blooms early and produces an early harvest. Fruiting from 4–5 years. The average yield is 20 kg per tree, twice as much in good years. It produces crops only in the vicinity of pollinators. Varieties Revna, Bryanskaya rozovaya, Tyutchevka are suitable for pollination.
Winter-hardy, not affected by fungal diseases. Iput cherries are included in the State Register and approved for cultivation in the Central Black Earth region.
For the Iput cherry, the breeders chose a name that seems strange to many, and the name was given in honor of the river flowing through the Bryansk region
Odrinka
Odrinka is a late cherry with round, dark red berries of rich taste. The maximum fruit weight is 7.5 g, the average weight is 5.4 g. It blooms late and produces a medium-late harvest. Begins bearing fruit at 5 years of age. Productivity - 25 kg per tree. Self-sterile, the best pollinators are Ovstuzhenka, Rechitsa, Revna. Winter-hardy, not susceptible to fungal diseases. In the State Register for the Central Region.
In addition to other advantages, any cherry, like the Odrinka variety, is very decorative - in the spring it is covered with fragrant flowers, in the summer - with juicy fruits
Revna
Revna is a mid-late cherry. The flattened-rounded fruits weigh no more than 5 g, although some are almost 8 g. The skin is red to black on ripe berries. The pulp is dark, dense, juicy, and has an excellent taste. Revna bears fruit from the age of 5. Partially self-fertile, the best pollinators for this cherry are Ovstuzhenka, Tyutchevka, Raditsa, Iput. When combined with other varieties, the average yield is 25 kg per tree, and the maximum reaches 30 kg.
Shows winter hardiness and resistance to fungal pathology. The variety is included in the State Register for the Central Region.
Pink pearl The berries of the winter-hardy cherry Pink Pearl are not very large, weighing on average 5.4 g. The taste characteristics of the fruits are pleasant, they are characterized by sweetness. The variety tolerates temperature changes, is drought-resistant and actively bears fruit. The first harvest appears in the 5th–6th year, and the first berries appear in mid-July. The figure for one mature plant reaches 13–18 kg.
The variety is self-fertile and needs pollinators. For these purposes, the cherry varieties Michurinka or Michurinskaya late, Adelina, Ovstuzhenka, Plaziya, Rechitsa are used. It is currently undergoing state variety testing.
To enhance pollination and attract insects next to any cherry, including the Pink Pearl variety, you can plant honey-bearing herbs: lemon balm, mint, oregano
Fatezh is a dessert variety of cherries. The berries are small, round, medium early date ripe, weigh 4.5 g. The skin is red or red-yellow. The pulp is juicy, has a cartilaginous structure and a pale pink color. The taste is sweet with sourness. The fruits are well transported. The variety is self-sterile; Chermashnaya, Iput, and Bryansk pink are recommended as the best pollinators for it. With the presence of pollinators, it produces up to 35 kg of harvest from one tree. Resistant to fungal diseases and frost-resistant. Included in the State Register for the Central Region.
The Fatezh cherry variety is a recognized pollinator for almost all other cherry varieties, with the exception of low-growing ones.
Gardeners often increase the winter hardiness of cherries through grafting. In this case, the seedlings retain the characteristics of the selected varieties, while showing resistance to cold and disease thanks to the hardy rootstock.
Low growing cherry
In small garden plots, tall cherry trees with a spreading crown cause a lot of trouble. Breeders offer varieties with limited growth, easy to care for and harvest. Such cherries are called dwarf or columnar. Fruiting in such trees occurs earlier than in tall cherries, sometimes even in the year of grafting. However, it is recommended to pick off the flowers of the first year.
In fact, these trees are an overgrown central conductor 2–3 m high with short skeletal and bouquet branches . To facilitate care and limit the growth of trees, it is also practiced to form cherry trees in the form of a bush, with several trunks. Due to their structural features, compact seedlings take up less space on the site; they are planted closer. Columnar trees often require additional support.
Dwarf trees are more demanding than other types of cherries. external conditions, they need high illumination of the area, absence of wind and sudden temperature changes. In addition, they do not tolerate irregularities in watering and are not drought-resistant.
Seedlings dwarf trees retain maternal properties, therefore, for reproduction, not only grafting is used, but also planting seeds. As a rule, seedlings obtained from seeds adapt better to local climate.
Dwarf trees look advantageous in small areas due to their unusual shape and dense flowering. They are often self-fertile, and the taste is not inferior to large ones. There are not many varieties yet that can survive harsh winters. Most often, suppliers offer Helena, Sylvia and Little Sylvia, Black Columnar cherries. The Sam variety is proposed as a pollinator; it is as tall as large trees.
Photo gallery: columnar varieties of cherries
Columnar trees can be planted close to each other, at a distance of 1–2 m 
Helena cherries can withstand cold weather, but it is better to create additional protection for the winter so that they do not die. Sylvia cherries are a very valuable industrial variety, suitable for transportation and storage under normal conditions for up to 7 days. 
The Little Sylvia variety retains all its properties for several weeks if the berries are stored in the refrigerator 
Low-growing varieties of cherries, like the Black Columnar, do not need pruning; they stretch upward on their own. Sam cherries have the highest resistance to fruit cracking among all cherries, therefore they are valued in regions with high rainfall
Cherry with large fruits
As a rule, large-fruited cherries grow in warm regions, are susceptible to various diseases, and do not tolerate cold and temperature fluctuations. In particular, this is the yellow Drogana already described above - its fruits reach 8 g. There are other varieties that are worth talking about.
It can be noted that it is winter-hardy, the weight of the berries is within 8 g. These dark, sweet berries with a slight sourness have one drawback: with excess humidity or temperature changes, the skin of the fruit cracks. Due to this, quality and transportability deteriorate. In the presence of pollinators (varieties Iput, Ovstuzhenka, Tyutchevka), Ox's heart can produce up to 40 kg of berries from one tree. The berries ripen by the end of June. Grown mainly in the southern Black Earth region.
Cherry berries Bull's heart produce some of the largest among all varieties, but they do not tolerate transportation well and immediately burst (because the pulp is very juicy)
To increase the size of the fruit, some gardeners cut off up to a third of the flowers, artificially reducing the number of ovaries. In this case, the remaining berries receive more nutrition and develop better.
Self-fertile cherry varieties
Due to the structural features of the flower, cherry is mainly a cross-pollinated plant. Most varieties of cherries are self-sterile, however, self-pollinating cherries also exist.
The berries of the Narodnaya Syubarova cherry reach a weight of 5–7 g. This is an example of an unpretentious cherry that grows on any soil and in almost any climate. Despite the cold, snowy winters and strong winds, bright scarlet berries ripen on the cherry trees in the second half of July. Up to 40–50 kg of harvest is harvested from a tree without the presence of other varieties. Not included in the State Register. It is widespread in the Crimea and the Volgograd region, but gardeners are able to expand the growing area of Narodnaya Syubarova due to the unpretentiousness and winter hardiness of the variety.
Self-fertile cherry Narodnaya Syubarova, like other self-fertile crops, will bear more fruit in the presence of pollinators
Partially self-fertile varieties include the early-medium Ovstuzhenka, whose average berry weight is 4 g. The berries are dark cherry in color, medium-sized, slightly elongated, with dark, sweet pulp. Without pollinating trees, only 10% of the flowers produce berries. The best neighbors are considered to be Iput, Raditsa, Bryansk pink. Yield variety(up to 20 kg per tree). Ovstuzhenka is not affected by coccomycosis and is resistant to cold, withstanding frosts down to -40 o C without damage. In the State Register for the Central Region.
Cherry Ovstuzhenka does not like weeds very much, you need to weed the tree trunk circle in a timely manner, increasing it by 50 cm annually
There are other partially self-fertile varieties, for example, Revna, but it also bears fruit better in the presence of pollinators. Without proximity to other varieties, 5–10% of flowers are produced.
Early fruiting cherry
Cherries begin to bear fruit at 5–6 years. Cherries Iput and Veda bear fruit from 4–5 years. The four-year-old Orlovskaya Yantarnaya and Chermashnaya are not inferior to Adelina in terms of yield. But there are also record holders.
There is a cherry tree that produces a harvest already in the third year after planting. This is the Orlovskaya pink variety, the flattened-round berries of which are smooth, with an average weight of 3.5 g. Peel and pulp Pink colour. The taste is sweet with a gentle sourness. The yield of the variety is 20 kg per tree. Self-sterile, pollinating varieties - Vityaz, Iput, Gostinets, Severnaya and Ovstuzhenka. Its advantage is its resistance to fungal diseases and early pregnancy. Approved by the State Register for cultivation in the Central Black Earth region.
The Orlovskaya pink cherry variety is superior to all varieties in terms of frost resistance: after being tested by severe frost, the tree continued to bear fruit
Adelina is slightly behind the Orlovskaya rose, giving the first harvest in the 4th year. The variety is mid-season. The heart-shaped berries are ruby-colored. The average weight of Adeline's fruits is within 5.5 g. The pulp is juicy, cartilaginous in structure. Due to the dense consistency of the pulp, the fruits are perfectly transportable. A self-sterile variety, the best neighbors will be the varieties Poeziya and Rechitsa. The yield is low, a little more than 20 kg per tree. Included in the State Register for the Central Black Earth Region.
If you want to protect your entire and already small harvest of Adeline cherries from birds, then the nets that cover the trees can help
Sweet cherries
The sweetest cherries for the middle zone:
- Adeline;
- Bryansk pink;
- And the way;
- Revna;
- Ovstuzhenka;
- Chermashnaya.
In addition to these varieties, it is worth mentioning the mid-season Tyutchevka cherry, the fruits of which are dark red, juicy, dense, weighing 5.3 g. They require pollinators; the varieties Bryanskaya rozovaya, Iput, Ovstuzhenka, Raditsa, and Revna are recommended. In a typical year, 25 kg of fruit is harvested from a tree. Excellent cold-resistant and disease-resistant sweet cherry. Included in the State Register for the Central Region.
Sweet cherry variety Tyutchevka Cherry has good resistance to many diseases, but can be affected by coccomycosis and klyasterosporiosis
Features of planting and growing cherries in central Russia
When planting cherries you need to consider climatic features region, the composition and acidity level of the soil, as well as the varietal characteristics of the cherries themselves. According to I.V. Michurin, the variety ensures the success of the business.
Cherry prefers to grow in warm, illuminated areas, protected from piercing winds. Does not tolerate stagnant water and acidic soils, therefore, before planting trees, the soils are deoxidized by adding 3–5 kg of dolomite flour to the planting hole for these purposes. All stone fruits love light soils, so sand is added to the soil mixture to improve its composition (in proportion to dolomite flour), and crushed limestone is poured into the bottom of the pit to improve drainage and provide cherries with calcium.
Seedlings are purchased from reliable suppliers or large nurseries. Check the condition of the buds and root system. The kidneys must be awakened, and root system developed and completely cover the container.
It is preferable to purchase containerized cherry seedlings, since the closed root system is not damaged during transportation and is subject to less stress during planting.
Prepare the site in advance. The crown projection area corresponds to the prevalence of roots, so more space is left for tall varieties. In addition, the need for pollinators is taken into account. Planting pits dig at a distance of 3–4 meters from each other. To plant one seedling:
- Dig a hole with a diameter of 80 cm and a depth of up to 70 cm.
- The top fertile layer is separated.
- Crushed stone is poured onto the bottom for drainage.
- Dolomite flour and sand (1:1) are mixed with your own fertile soil layer, adding organic matter (humus, compost or peat in equal quantities), and backfilled.
- The planting stake is secured and the seedling is placed nearby so that the root collar rises above the soil level.
- They tie the tree to a peg.
- Compact the soil around the seedling, forming a watering hole.
- Water generously (up to 3–4 liters of water).
- To reduce moisture evaporation, cover the tree trunk circle with mulch.
Cherry is different intensive growth, therefore, it is advisable to immediately cut the central conductor to a height of 50–60 cm in order to subsequently form a tiered crown. If the skeletal branches are already formed, then cut them so that they are shorter than the trunk.
The formation of a sparsely-tiered crown ensures optimal development of the plant
When planting, add organic fertilizers so as not to fertilize the soil under the trees in the next few years. Further watering of seedlings is carried out if necessary. Excessive soil moisture leads to rotting of the roots, and during the period of fruit ripening - to their cracking. Important periods for watering cherries are the time of flowering and the formation of the ovary, immediately after harvest and a month before the expected permanent cold (beginning or mid-October). The rest of the time, cherries are watered based on the climate.
Video: planting cherries
Recommended in early spring preventively treat cherry seedlings with a 1% solution copper sulfate or Bordeaux mixture to prevent fungal diseases. If necessary, repeat the procedure before flowering.
Regular pruning is carried out in early spring in order to remove damaged branches and properly form the crown.
In the fall, it is recommended to whitewash not only the trunks, but also the main skeletal shoots to protect the bark from frost damage. In the first years, it is recommended to cover the seedlings before the winter cold by wrapping the trunks with corrugated cardboard or other material to protect the plantings from rodents.
In festive decorations, cherries for the Moscow region are the best variety, a herald of the onset of sustainable warmth. The southerner did not take root in the middle zone for a long time - the tender ones froze flower buds and young branches. Repeated attempts to create stable forms invariably ended in failure. In the middle of the last century in three areas with a mild climate, based on previously obtained. I. V. Michurin managed to develop several varieties of the capricious “Bird Cherry”. This is the name given to cherries in the south, where the drupes were carried by birds. As a result of long-term work of breeders, the best varieties of cherries for the Moscow region appeared from Bryansk, Oryol and Moscow selection.
Biological characteristics of the cherry fruit tree
Cherries belong to the Rosaceae family. There are more than 4 thousand in the world different varieties, but they all descend from the “bird cherry”. Wild cherries grow in warm regions, forming dense thickets on slopes. There the tree can grow 10 meters in height, spreading its branches widely. Cultivated varieties are limited to 4 meters. By pruning and forming seedlings, they are given a tiered, fan or bush shape.
A two-year-old seedling is planted, which must be grafted. Soil for young plant you need light, fertilized and with a neutral reaction. The tree is placed on a southern or eastern slope, with good protection from the winds. Groundwater should be very deep, and surface watering should be regular, preferably drip. The best varieties of cherries zoned for the Moscow region can be purchased at the Moscow Nursery of Nature Testers. 
The methods of radiation and chemical mutagenesis accelerated the production of new varieties. Breeder Evstratov influenced planting material gamma irradiation, used biological stimulants. As a result, some of the new varieties in state tests withstood temperatures down to -30 degrees and acquired early fruiting and resistance to hole spot. Active growth in summer it quickly restores the crown after winter frostbite.
Of the newly created and earlier cherry varieties for the Moscow region, there are no self-fertile ones. One tree can only be planted for decorative purposes. There must be a couple of different varieties. But in cramped conditions, you can graft the pollinator into the crown of the main tree on separate branches around the perimeter.
You can grow a seedling from a cherry pit, but then graft it. The formation of the bush begins in the first year of the growing season. Agrotechnical activities are carried out as for other Pinks. Let's consider the best varieties of cherries for central Russia and their advantages.
The best varieties of cherries
An excellent early ripening variety will produce dark burgundy, almost black berries of about 6 grams. The pulp is juicy, colored dark color, the bone is small. The tall tree, about 4 meters tall, blooms in the first ten days of May, the fruits ripen in mid-June. The variety is frost-resistant and withstood the extreme winters of 1995-1997 in the Bryansk region well. Fruiting is annual, moderate from the fifth year. The shape of the tree is pyramidal. Iput is not scary for cherries fungal diseases. The berries tolerate transportation well and are used for making compotes. A good neighbor The Fatezh variety will become a pollinator.
An elegant tree, strewn with dark burgundy, slightly elongated clusters of berries, yields its harvest late, in mid-July. Cherry Revna is a self-pollinating variety; fruiting is abundant and annual. The berries are dense, juicy, and can be stored for a long time during transportation.
Cherry grows quickly, reaches 3.5 meters, pyramidal shape, oval leaves. Cherries begin to bear fruit in the 4th year. Revna cherry is frost-resistant, not susceptible to hole spot and other crown diseases. Productivity increases if a friend grows nearby.
Cherry Fatezh was bred quite recently, but showed best qualities in terms of yield and taste of fruits among all varieties of the middle zone. The bright red, medium-sized berry ripens in early July. Yellow specks are scattered across the red background of the fruit - a gift from the Leningradskaya Yellow variety. The taste of the fruit is rated by tasters at 4.7 points.
Excellent winter hardiness has propelled cherries further north. The tree has a spherical sparse crown, grows up to 4 meters, and begins bearing fruit in the fifth year. The Fatezh cherry blossoms begin in mid-May. The variety is self-sterile and needs a pollinator. Chermashnaya, Sinyavskaya or Crimean cherries are planted in pairs. Tests show a stable yield of an adult tree for 4 years, 16 kg each.
The advantages of the variety include disease resistance and tolerance to periodic lack of watering. The tree must be protected from the wind - it cannot tolerate it.
Cherry Tyutchevka belongs to late-ripening varieties. The tree is of medium height, with a lush spherical crown, winter-hardy, and resists hole spot. The self-fertility of cherries is considered a great advantage. Fruiting occurs 5 years after planting.
The berries are large, up to 7 grams, round, burgundy with black subcutaneous dots. The pulp has a pleasant taste, red color, medium-sized seed, easy to separate.
Annual high yields are one of the main features of the Tyutchevka variety.
The Bryansk Pink cherry, the brainchild of Bryansk breeders Kanshina and Astakhov, was selected among those promising for the middle zone based on the strict requirements for endurance. Large berries pink in color and have a pleasant taste. The variety is a late-ripening variety, blooms in mid-May, and is ready for harvesting in the second decade of July. Fruiting is regular, the fruits are stable during transportation and do not crack. In rainy weather, ripe fruits do not rot.
The tree is compact, grows 2.5 m, the crown is sparse, the leaves are large. The advantages of the variety are considered to be its frost resistance and protection from putrefactive and bacterial diseases.
Crimean cherry does not have outstanding fruit qualities, but is the best pollinator for self-sterile cherry varieties. The fruits are small, with the tartness of bird cherry, and make excellent wine. The variety is winter-hardy, bred and tested in the Kursk, Tula, Moscow regions. Why they called it Crimean is a mystery from the author.
Orlovskaya pink cherry is superior to all varieties in terms of frost resistance. After being tested by a frost of 37.5 degrees, the tree continued to bear fruit. The variety is early-bearing and produces its first harvest in the fourth year after planting. Oryol pink is self-sterile; pollinators can be varieties that bloom in mid-May - Rechitsa, Pink Pearl. The average yield per tree is 10 kg, the fruits weigh about 6 grams.
The variety is resistant to hole spot.
Science does not stand still, research and experiments continue. New varieties are being tested and have excellent prospects. You can get their seedlings at testing stations, but you will need to keep a diary of the plant's development to help scientists get the best hardy and delicious cherries for the Moscow region.
Video about cherry varieties
Cherry is one of the popular garden crops.
It has been known to residents of our country for about 200 years.
Thanks to the work of breeders, this once southern crop now pleases not only residents of the southern regions with its harvest.
Its cultivation has become possible in colder areas.
Cherries have gained universal recognition thanks to their unusually tasty and healthy berries.
The best varieties of cherries for the middle zone
The culture is famous for its great varietal diversity. But not every variety of it can be cultivated in this strip of Russia. Special varieties have been bred for this region that tolerate climatic conditions well. All cultivated varieties of this latitude are divided into 3 groups according to the growing season.
Early ripening varieties. The collection of their fruits begins in the second half of June. They are juicy and aromatic and taste good. The best early varieties of cherries for this region are: “Iput”, “Zheltaya Priusadnaya”, “Ovstuzhenka”, “Orlovskaya”, “Krasnaya Gorka”, “Raditsa”.
"Let's go." Medium-sized cherry, with a wide pyramidal crown. Flowering begins in mid-May. The berries are dark red, easily separated from the stalk, and large. The pulp is dense, tastes juicy and sweet. A high-yielding variety of cherries, you can collect up to 35 kg of berries from one tree. Among the advantages of the variety, its resistance to frost, fungal diseases and pests also stands out. It begins to bear fruit only after 5 years. If there is an excess of humidity, the fruits begin to crack and their taste deteriorates.
"Ovstuzhenka." The tree is low, with a dense spherical crown. The cherry blossom period occurs at the beginning of May. The variety is distinguished by its large and very delicious berries, but you will be able to enjoy them only after 5 years. They are rounded, dark red (closer to black). The pulp is juicy, but not dense, fibrous. The stone is small and can be separated from the pulp without difficulty. Sweet cherries have high frost resistance, stable yields and are not susceptible to pests and diseases.
(variety “Ovstuzhenka”)
Mid-season varieties. Fruit ripening begins in mid-summer. The best mid-season varieties are considered to be “Revna mid-season”, “Adelina”, “Beauty”, “Fatezh”, “Leningradskaya Rozovaya”, “Pobeda”.
"Adeline." A medium-sized tree up to 3-4 m high, with a spreading pyramidal crown. The first berries appear in mid-July and are heart-shaped. They are large (each weighs up to 6g), dark red with flesh of the same color. It is not dense, with red juice. The stone is small and easily separated from the pulp. This variety has good winter hardiness. The first fruiting begins after 4 years. A minor drawback is the average resistance to pests and average yield.
"Victory". The tree is tall with a spreading but sparse crown. Already in early July, large (up to 7g) dark purple fruits ripen on it. They are very juicy and tasty (sweet with a slight sourness). The pulp is tender and dense, with a small, easily removed pit. Pobeda is famous for its high frost resistance. The variety is not a high-yielding species, and the first fruits can be obtained only in the 5th year. The variety is not self-pollinating and is easily susceptible to fungal diseases.
(Victory variety)
"Gorgeous". A tall cherry tree forms a pyramidal shape with a spreading, sparse crown. Blooms like everyone else mid-season varieties, in early May. At the beginning of July you can enjoy its first golden fruits with a red blush. They are large, each berry weighs about 8g. The pulp of the fruit has a creamy tint. The seeds are small and easily separated from the pulp. You can evaluate the taste of the first berries after 4 years. Mature tree Cherries can produce up to 20 kg of berries per season.
Late ripening varieties. Late cherry varieties ripen at the end of August. The best late-ripening varieties include: “Veda”, “Late-ripening Revna”, “Michurinka”, “Tyutchevka”, “Bryanochka”.
"Bryanochka." Medium-sized variety cherry trees, tree height does not exceed 3.5 m. The flowering period occurs at the end of May. It has large, heart-shaped, dark red fruits with dense pulp. They easily come off the peduncle. The fruit contains a small seed. It is easily removed from the pulp. Active ripening of the variety begins at the end of July. The fruiting period begins in the 5th year. It has high winter hardiness (withstands temperature drops down to -30C) and yield. The variety is resistant to coccomycosis, but resistance to moniliosis is low.
"Michurinka." According to gardeners, this variety is one of the best late varieties of cherries of this strip. The height of the tree reaches 3.5 m. Its crown is slightly raised, roundish, and of medium density. Like all late varieties, blooms late. The fruits are round, medium in size, dark red. The berries taste sweet and sour with juicy, dense pulp. The high-yielding and winter-hardy variety has average susceptibility to diseases.
(variety "Michurinka")
This is only a small part of the best varieties of cherries that bear fruit well in the middle zone. Each of these varieties is tested and evaluated by gardeners. At proper care Cherries will reward you with a good harvest and delicious berries.
The best varieties of cherries for the southern regions
Sweet cherries come from the southern regions. It easily tolerates typical climatic conditions and bears fruit well. The number of varieties grown is amazing in its diversity.
According to the ripening period, cherries are divided into varieties:
Very early;
The best varieties of very early ripening cherries
"Ruby early" characterized by regular high yields. Resistant to winter temperature changes. It has small fruits with an average weight of about 3.5g. They come in two shapes: round or oval-round. The red pulp has a delicate, sweetish-sour taste. Ripening is early, the first berries can be enjoyed from mid-May.
"Early Pink" bred long ago specifically for cultivation in this region. Well adapted and easily tolerates all climatic anomalies. The fruits can be medium in size or larger. Their weight reaches 7g. They are creamy yellow in color with a pale pink blush, round or flat-round in shape. The white pulp is juicy, tender, with a pleasant sourness. The variety is resistant to diseases and pests.
"Early Krasnodar". Tolerates local winters well with temperature fluctuations. Shows good productivity even in hot and dry summers. The fruits are small, round, weighing up to 5g. Their pulp has a pleasant delicate aroma, sweet, not dense. Fruiting begins in early June.
(variety “Early Krasnodar”)
Early ripening varieties of the southern region
"Valery Chkalov." Despite the fact that the cherry variety was bred at the beginning of the 20th century, it remains popular to this day. The tree is winter-hardy and resistant to direct sunlight. The fruits are heart-shaped, red, quite large (weigh up to 9g). Their dense, red flesh is sweet and sour with a noble aroma. The taste of the berries depends on weather conditions. If the ripening of the fruit coincides with hot and dry weather, then they are juicy and sweet. But in cool and rainy weather, the berries lose their sweetness and become acidic. Fruiting begins in early June.
(Variety “Valery Chkalov”)
"Lesya." This variety has consistently high yields. Even with young tree under unfavorable climatic conditions, gardeners manage to obtain high yields. The fruits are large (weight reaches 8g). They are heart-shaped and close in color to black. The pulp is sweet, slightly sour, dark red, dense. Active ripening of berries begins in the first days of June. Their taste is not affected by weather conditions. The berries do not crack from excess moisture. The variety has average resistance to pests and diseases.
(variety "Lesya")
"May Black". Is different early flowering and fruiting. After just 3 years you can get the first harvest. The variety is high-yielding. From an adult tree, gardeners can get up to 80 kg of berries per season. The fruits are not large, with a well-separable stone. The berries are flat-round, tasty and juicy. The variety is not afraid of pests and diseases. Disadvantage: poor transportability.
Breeders have bred and adapted many varieties for this region. The best varieties of cherries intended for cultivation in southern regions, are: “Krasa Kuban”, “Daybera black”, “velvet”, “Goryanka”, “Yaroslavka”, Golubushka”. In total there are about 30 varieties of cherries on this list. Their resistance to weather conditions and taste characteristics have been tested over the years.
The best varieties of cherries for the northern regions
Thanks to the work of breeders, it became possible to grow cherries in the northern regions. The variety of its regionalized varieties is not as great as in other regions. The best varieties of cherries are: “Malysh”, “Denisa yellow”, “Early mark”, “Poetry”, “Diana”, “Chermashnaya”. These varieties are not afraid of frost and are well adapted to the local climate.
"Denisa is yellow." The variety is well adapted to the local climate. It withstands spring frosts well, and the fruits have time to ripen in a short summer. Sweet cherries have good yields and are resistant to pests and diseases. It bears fruit only in 5-6 years. The fruits are medium in size, have a good taste, and have juicy pulp. The berries are well stored and tolerate transportation, and are suitable for technical processing.
(variety "Denisa yellow")
"Early stamp". The variety is quite productive and winter-hardy. The trees are low, bearing fruit from 6 years. The fruits are dark red, below average size, with good taste. The stone is small and easily separated from the pulp. The berries are not suitable for processing and should only be consumed fresh. The variety has average resistance to diseases and pests.
Almost all cultivated cherry varieties are self-sterile. To get a harvest, gardeners need to plant several of its trees that have approximately the same flowering time. All varieties are light-loving, do not like waterlogging and are demanding on the soil.
According to American psychologists, cherries influence a person’s character. Lovers of this culture are distinguished by their kind and gentle character and responsiveness.
Juicy and tasty, loved by many, cherries in the garden can sometimes bring disappointment due to a small or absent harvest. And information on the selection of cherry varieties is sometimes too difficult to understand. Therefore, a table with brief description varieties of cherry trees with photos and a list of pollinators. Recommendations for planting and caring for cherries are also given.
Cherry varieties: photo with name and description
Sweet cherry (Cerasus avium, bird cherry) is a valuable and earliest fruit crop, exceeding the yield of common cherries. Cherry fruits ripen early, along with edible honeysuckle - in June, and due to early ripening they become a source of fresh natural vitamins for us and children already at the beginning of summer. The fruit of the plant is a single-locular drupe with a tasty, juicy pericarp.
Fruit buds of cherries emerge quite late from the state of forced dormancy, so the harvest of cherries is more stable than that of apricots and peaches. The anthers and pistils of cherry flowers are better protected from spring frosts than those of cherries.
The leaves of sweet cherries are large, elongated oval or oblong obovate with rounded red glands on the petioles. Trees can reach 20 meters in height, and in favorable conditions live up to 100 years.
Most often, cherries require a pollinator, since self-fertile varieties are rare. This is why cherries often cause disappointment among amateur gardeners: they bought and planted a seedling, and then they wait and wait, but either there is no harvest or it is extremely meager. This is, of course, a big mistake and dishonesty on the part of the sellers. Is it difficult to warn the buyer that the variety is cross-pollinated, so that later there will be no questions “why does the cherry bear fruit poorly” or “why does it not bear fruit at all”? When selecting varieties, you need to carefully study their descriptions; pollinators should be listed there. But, unfortunately, pollinators have not been selected and described for all even zoned varieties.
However, there are self-fertile varieties and hybrids of cherries, because selection does not stand still. Basically, these are new generation cherries, and they must be ordered from foreign catalogues:
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There are many classifications of cherries - according to crown type, fruit ripening time, pulp density, and so on. For convenience, here is a description of varieties that deserve planting in amateur gardens. The selection is grouped by fruit color:
| Variety | Description | Pollinators |
| yellow cherry | ||
| Drogana Yellow (Bigarro Drogana, Late yellow)* | A vigorous tree with a dense pyramidal crown. The most winter-hardy tree with a wide growing area; Large cream-colored fruits without blush. The pulp is dense, with a pleasant sweet taste. The bone is difficult to separate from the pulp. Late deadline | Napoleon Pink, Griot Ostheimsky (cherry), Bagration, Denissena Yellow, Gaucher, Cassini Early |
| Denissena Yellow (Bigarro yellow)  | A healthy, vigorous tree with a wide crown and somewhat drooping branches. Frost-resistant; The fruits are late in maturity, light amber in color, very tender, and often wrinkle if not handled carefully. The bone is separated; Transportability is low | Drogana yellow, Cassini early, South embankment, Gedelfingen |
| Leningrad yellow  | The tree is highly winter-hardy, vigorous, with a dense, wide-rounded crown; Late ripening. The fruits are golden amber in color. Transportability is average | Leningradskaya pink, Leningradskaya black, Zorka |
| Franz Joseph (Francis, Bigarro Franz Joseph)  | The tree is large with a pyramidal crown, sparse. Frost resistance is good; The fruit is amber in color with a thick skin, covered with blush. | South embankment red, Drogana yellow, Zhabule |
| Amber  | A vigorous tree with a round-pyramidal dense crown; The fruits are golden-yellow with dense pulp, with a pleasant mild sourness. Mid-late ripening period. The pit is semi-detachable; Transportability is good | Iput, Northern, Ovstuzhenka, Gronkavaya |
 | The tree is vigorous and of medium density. Winter-hardy and drought-resistant; The fruits are yellow with a light red blush. Pulp with pleasant Berries do not tolerate transportation over long distances. | self-fertile |
| General's  | The tree is vigorous with a rounded crown. Winter-hardy; Medium ripening fruits, yellow with carmine The fruits can be stored for about 4 days, but are of little use for | |
| black cherry | ||
| Tyutchevka  | A medium-sized tree with a sparse rounded spreading crown; The fruits are mid-late ripening, dark red with dense red flesh. Dry detachment of the stalk; A transportable variety, the fruits crack in rainy summers | the presence of the following varieties on the site increases the yield: Iput, Revna, Raditsa, Ovstuzhenka |
| Yuzhnoberezhnaya red (Bigarro Daibera, Cypress black, Yuzhnoberezhnaya)  | The tree is pyramidal in shape, vigorous, frost-resistant. Grows better in places protected from the wind; The fruit is black-brown-red in color with a pronounced longitudinal line of the ball. The pulp is dark red, tender, sweet with a subtle, barely noticeable sourness. Early ripening; Transportability is excellent, ripe fruits stay on the tree for a long time | Jaboulet, Franz Joseph, Napoleon pink: Cassini early, April |
 | The tree is of medium height, with a wide-pyramidal, well-leafed habit. Winter hardiness is good; Early ripening fruits. The color of the fruits when fully ripe is almost black, the flesh is dark red, medium density. The separation is dry; Transportable variety. During rainy seasons the fruits crack | Revna, Tyutchevka, Raditsa, Bryansk pink, Ovstuzhenka |
| Leningradskaya Black  | The tree is highly winter-hardy, medium-sized; Mid-late variety. Skin with dark red, almost black High transportability | Leningrad pink, Leningradskaya Yellow, Red Dense, Fatezh |
 | The tree is medium-sized. High winter hardiness; The fruits are dark red, almost black. Dense dark red In rainy times, the fruits do not crack, | Partially self-fertile, but at times the presence of the following varieties on the site increases the yield: Ovstuzhenka, Iput, Tyutchevka, Raditsa |
| Ovstuzhenka  | The tree is medium-sized, rounded and of medium density. Winter hardiness is high; The fruits are dark red and early ripening. Pulp In humid summers, the fruits do not crack, it is easy | Partially self-fertile, but at times the presence of the following varieties on the site increases the yield: Iput, Revna, Tyutchevka, Raditsa |
| Large-fruited  | A vigorous tree with a rounded crown of medium density. Winter hardiness is quite high; The fruits are dark red, large with a sweet and sour taste. The stone is separated from the pulp medium. The stalk is separated with a dry tear; Transportability is good | Surprise, Francis, Daibera black, Bigarro Oratovsky |
| pink cherry | ||
| Napoleon Pink (Bigarro Napoleon, Esperin cherry)  | A medium-sized tree with a sparse pyramidal crown. Low winter hardiness; Average ripening period. Fruits are yellow with cherry red If there is excess moisture, the fruits crack | Drogana yellow |
| Leningradskaya Pink  | A tall tree with a lush crown. Holds up well winter cold; Medium-late ripening with very sweet fruits, on the illuminated side there is a pronounced dark pink blush. The pulp is creamy, sweet with slight sourness. The bone is easily separated from the pulp; High transportability | Red Dense, Adeline |
| red cherries | ||
| Krasnodar Early  | The tree is strong or medium-sized with a round-oval, dense crown. Frost resistance is good; The fruits are the earliest ripening, dark red in color with red dense flesh. The stone is easily separated from the pulp. The fruits become smaller when the tree is overloaded with crops. The separation of the stalk from the fruit is dry and easy; | Not found in sources, may be suitable varieties with high-quality pollen: Ovstuzhenka, Tyutchevka, Krymskaya, Iput and the new self-fertile variety Lapinz |
 | The tree is medium-sized with a round, spreading crown of medium density. Frost resistance is good; The fruits are red, mid-early ripening. The pulp is light pink with a sweet and sour taste; Good transportability of fruits | Not found in sources, may be suitable varieties with high-quality pollen: Ovstuzhenka, Tyutchevka, Krymskaya, Iput and the new self-fertile variety Lapinz |
| Melitopol early  | The tree is medium-sized, with a medium-dense oval crown. Winter-hardy; The fruits are of medium early ripening, red to dark red with dense pulp, the seeds are well separated from the pulp; Transportable variety | Franz Joseph, Bigarro Oratovsky, Daibera black, Large-fruited, Resort, Surprise, |
 | A vigorous tree with a round, spreading crown. Frost resistance is average; Early variety with dark red fruits and dense dark cherry pulp. Sweet with a pleasant slight sourness. The bone separates well; The fruits are transportable | Not found in sources, may be suitable varieties with high-quality pollen: Ovstuzhenka, Tyutchevka, Krymskaya, Iput and the new self-fertile variety Lapinz |
| Italian  | A tree with a pyramidal crown of medium height; Early ripening fruits with dessert taste, large, dark red, easily separated from the stone; Transportability is excellent | Not found in sources, possibly self-fertile variety |
*In the table, synonyms of varieties are given in parentheses.
An interesting observation is made by Donetskaya experimental station: When cherries and cherries are planted together, better pollination of cherry trees is observed. This is explained by the fact that cherry trees bloom earlier than cherry trees, and their pollen is durable and remains on insects for a long time. That’s why they pollinate better when the cherries begin to bloom.
Cherry: planting and care
Cherry is demanding of soil, heat and light. Prefers air- and moisture-permeable soils rich in organic matter and does not tolerate stagnant water. Foothill zones are very suitable for growing cherries. It is thermophilic, so it works well in the Crimea, the Caucasus, Moldova, southern Ukraine, and southern Kazakhstan.
The middle parts of warm slopes with south-eastern and south-western exposure, protected from the prevailing winds, are suitable for cherries. On the plains it is severely damaged by frost and cannot be recommended for industrial cultivation. But in home gardening, it is cultivated in such conditions, insulating the trunk. Cherry trees are not suitable for areas with close groundwater, as well as flooded areas.
When planting seedlings, they follow the rule common to all stone fruits - do not deepen the root collar (not to be confused with the grafting site). It is best to plant during the period when the plant is resting - in spring or autumn. Before planting, it is advisable to dip the roots of a seedling with an open root system in “chatter” (a thick solution of clay with mullein) to heal the damage.
Required condition for good survival of young cherries - pruning by a third of the length of all shoots. This must be done in order to balance the growth of the seedling in the first year after planting. After all, its roots are severely damaged, and if pruning is not carried out, the plant that has begun to grow will be pulled nutrients from the bark, which will greatly weaken the cherry seedling.
Planting is carried out in a small mound or level with the ground to prevent the accumulation of flood waters. When planting, each layer of soil is shed generously, and after completion of planting work, the upper level is generously mulched with plant residues, or the turf is returned (in this case, at the beginning of work, the upper turf layer is carefully laid on the litter). In traditional agricultural technology, it is recommended to keep the land around young cherry plantings fallow, but in the practice of natural farming, bare soil is not welcome due to soil erosion and drying out.
For natural protection of cherries from coccomycosis in tree trunk circles It’s useful to plant lilies of the valley (cherries also like this neighborhood, by the way). These ground covers are somewhat aggressive - although they do not grow immediately, but with age they can escape beyond the allotted space. To curb their growth, it is better to immediately dig in a border strip, or provide for the laying of paths from slabs and other limiters. Try to do this in the first years of the tree’s life, so as not to disturb the roots of the cherry later.
Pruning young cherries
It is not uncommon to see cherry trees a la pyramidal poplar on amateur plots, where the entire crop has fled to the periphery to the crown, and the owners are simply afraid to collect it. Therefore, when growing cherry trees, it is extremely important to form a crown from a very young age, since cherries are characterized by strong growth and weak shoot formation.
When pruning young cherries, they try to give the tree a sparsely tiered shape on a trunk of 50 cm. When laying the crown, it is advisable to leave 3-4 branches in each tier, and make the distance between tiers about 50 cm. When the height of the seedling reaches 3-4 m, the guide is removed from using a cutting on a weak side branch.
In the first 5 years after planting, severe shortening of shoots is used, the main purpose of which is to reduce growth and provoke branching. In this case, weak branches up to 20 cm are not shortened, and excess branches and competitors of conductors (the so-called wen or tops) are removed to the ring.
Shortening branches at fruiting age is not used; if necessary, thinning and sanitary trimming. In an aging garden, when no growth is observed for a couple of years, gradual rejuvenating pruning is allowed: skeletal branches are pruned with transfer to strong lateral branches of 2-3 years of age.
Well, if you missed the shaping time and the crown ran high up, pick up a hacksaw with a stepladder and study the tree reduction diagram
How to insulate cherry seedlings for the winter
Separately, in caring for cherries, it is worth noting the pre-winter insulation of trunks in windy and flat unprotected areas. Preparation for the winter of cherries is carried out mainly after the first snow, when the leaves caught by frost begin to fall off. Wrap the trunk and part of the skeletal branches of the tree with agrofibre or cardboard. So be prepared for the fact that the first couple of years are extremely necessary on windy open areas at warm cherry seedlings for the winter.
How to protect cherries from birds
Well, one last thing: birds willingly peck at the cherry fruits (which is where it actually came from Latin name"bird cherry") Therefore, the correct, reduced crown formation will make the task of protecting the crop easier - it will be easier to throw a protective net over the tree to protect the cherries from birds. All and sundry peck at the berries - starlings, titmice, and even their chicks.
Is there some more folk way protection – onion. 4-5 large onions are cut in half and attached between the branches of the tree.
Here is a short summary of all the information on how to choose cherries for planting. Although these data may not seem new to “advanced” gardeners, this is just a form convenient for beginners, shown in the table. The information will allow you to identify your favorite varieties of cherries from a photo with name and description. We hope it will be easier for you to navigate when selecting cherry varieties for starting a new orchard. Good luck to you in this difficult undertaking!
Materials used from VNIISPK (All-Russian Research Institute of Breeding fruit crops) and sources indicated on the page "
There are more than three thousand varieties of cherries all over the world. Trees live and bear fruit for a long time. With good care, cherries can delight more than one generation of gardeners; there is evidence of fruit-bearing trees that are up to a hundred years old.
Cultivated varieties differ in flowering time and fruit formation, frost resistance of trees, their height and crown shape. Berries have different tastes and differ in appearance: color, shape, length of stalks.
A novice gardener who decides to plant trees on a plot should consult with specialists in advance on the issues of breeding the chosen variety. And we will try to describe the characteristics that you should pay attention to before purchasing planting material for your site.
Tree height
According to height they are distinguished:
- vigorous;
- medium height;
- low-growing varieties.
An adult cherry plant is large tree with large side branches, spreading crown. In nature, a cherry tree can grow into a 20-meter tree. The cultivated plant rarely reaches a height of 7 meters. However, this property - height and the constant desire to grow upwards - creates considerable problems for gardeners.
That is why breeding scientists do not stop working on breeding short or dwarf varieties, varieties with a weeping crown. New varieties are obtained by open pollination, crossing with cherries, and growing.
The most famous result of such selection is the Valeria variety. For experimental purposes, young shoots are exposed to radiation. Thus, Canadian scientists obtained the varieties Compact Stella and Compact Lambert.
However, a low-growing plant, as a rule, tolerates cold worse, requires more careful care, and is less viable.
Take note: currently the most effective way To obtain dwarf, short and medium-sized trees, growing cherries on clonal rootstocks is considered.
Frost resistance
According to their tolerance to cold, trees are divided into:
- winter-hardy;
- medium-winter hardy;
- varieties with low winter hardiness.
It is worth remembering that cherries are a heat-loving tree, naturally growing in areas with a moderately warm climate. The bark of trees can withstand frost of 20-30 degrees, but the fruit buds are at risk of freezing. It is not uncommon for buds in which the rudiments of pistils and stamens have frozen to retain the rudiments of petals. Therefore, after a frosty winter, flowers bloom on the branches, but they do not leave behind berries.
But for those who want to grow this berry in the northwestern regions of the country, unfortunately, there are no officially registered, verified, zoned varieties yet.
Interesting fact: There are a small number of varieties grown by amateur gardeners as an experiment. The best among them are Seda and Yurga.
Pollination
According to their ability to self-pollinate, trees are usually divided into:
- self-fertile (most popular variety– Narodnaya Syubarova);
- partially self-fertile (varieties, );
- self-sterile (, Chermashnaya).
Self-fertile variety fruit tree pollinators of other varieties are not needed. Such trees do not depend on the number of bees and insects involved in the distribution of pollen. These are trees that can self-pollinate; more precisely, in place of 20-40% of flowers, an ovary is formed, and in the future fruits. Such trees can grow on their own. Unfortunately, self-fertile varieties There are very few cherries. Or more often they belong to partially self-fertile varieties.
In most cases, cherries are not capable of self-pollination. In order for fruits to form in place of flowers, it is necessary to plant several varieties nearby that bloom at the same time.
Note: To improve pollination, branches are sprayed with a sugar solution before flowering. Sugar does not affect the growth of the plant in any way, just its sweetish smell attracts bees.
However, when planting trees, “neighbors” must be selected, because not all varieties are compatible. The Iput variety has proven itself well as such a pollen distributor. But we remember that no variety is an optimal pollinator for other varieties.
Berry ripening time
Cherry varieties are usually divided into:
- very early. These include Ruby Early, Early Mark. These varieties bear the first fruits by the end of May;
- early;
- early-middle;
- mid-late;
- late ones, which include, Izyumnaya,. Ripen in the first ten days of July.
Berry color
The color of the berries can range from orange, yellow (oddly enough, such a berry is more often called white) to dark cherry or black.
- Cherry is black, or rather its color is dark red. An example of such a cherry would be;
- cherry with pink fruits. The color of the berries is fixed even in the names of the varieties: Leningradskaya pink, Pink Pearl, Bryansk pink, etc.;
- yellow (white). The most common varieties of yellow (white) cherries are Chermashnaya, Drogana Zheltaya, Radiant light.
Fruit shape and weight
By fruit size cultivars Cherries are divided into:
- large - the mass of which is more than 5 g. These include: Revna, Drogana yellow, Iput, Raditsa, Sadko;
- medium (3-5 g);
- small (up to 3 g). The berries of these varieties are more like large cherries, but they have a sweet taste. Varieties with small berries include Early pink and Leningrad pink.
The shape of the berries is usually round, but there are varieties with a heart-shaped shape, slightly flattened on the sides.
Based on the hardness of the fruit, it is customary to divide the berries into bigarro and guinea. If the fruits are soft, tender, with thin skin, on which traces quickly remain from touching, pressing, or lightly hitting each other, then you are dealing with gini varieties. As a rule, these are berries early ripening varieties. These trees will delight you with flowering and the first berries by the end of May, but such varieties do not retain their presentation well and are practically not transportable.
Bigarro - dense berries with gristly flesh, with veins, have great industrial value, because possible for longer storage, adapted for transportation, widely used in canning and production of dried fruits.
How to grow cherries on one tree different varieties, grafting it using the improved copulation method, see the following video:
