Bush cherry best varieties

Shrub cherry varieties

Shrub or steppe cherry (lat C. fruticosa) is a low-growing shrub, from 50 cm to 2 meters high, having a spherical or irregular shape and numerous root shoots. It is characterized by high resistance to drought and frost. But, despite its unpretentiousness, the plant needs regular care and fertilization.

Shrub cherry varieties and their characteristics

Steppe cherry is one of the most frost-resistant species, which is able to withstand air temperatures down to -45 ° C. Therefore, it can be planted in different climatic zones, for example, in regions with severe winters - in the Urals or Siberia, where ordinary varieties cannot grow and bear fruit.

Breeders have developed many varieties of bush cherry and its hybrids with ordinary cherry. The most popular are: Altai large, Zhukovskaya, Schedra, Maksimovskaya, Metelitsa, Vuzovskaya, Shokoladnitsa.

Zhukovskaya

Shrub cherry varieties Zhukovskaya

Differs in high quality berries, resistance to diseases (coccomycosis, ring spot). Has the ability to self-pollinate. The fruits are of universal purpose, rather large (4-7 g), dark red in color with a pleasant sweet and sour aftertaste.

The bush begins to bear fruit 4 years after planting. The peak yield falls on the 15-20 year (up to 25 kg of berries from one crop). Suitable for growing in the north and south of the country, as it is characterized by an average winter hardiness.

Generous

Shrub cherry varieties generous

Refers to varieties of late ripening. Fruiting begins in the third year after planting. Productivity is high: 13-17 kg of berries are harvested from one tree. Fruits are round, crimson, weighing 4-5 grams. The pulp is quite dense and juicy, sweet on the palate with barely noticeable sourness. Bush cherry Generous tolerates low temperatures well, but its resistance to diseases is average. Prefers to grow on slightly acidic loamy soil.

Bush cherry: planting and fertilization Bush cherry: planting and fertilization

In order for bush-type cherries to give bountiful harvests, it is necessary to create the most favorable conditions for its growth and development.

Landing

The most important thing when planting is to choose a well-lit flat area for seedlings. So that in the event of a snowy winter or a rainy summer, an excess of moisture cannot damage the roots of the tree, as well as lead to the appearance of pests and pathogens.

The plant prefers soil with neutral acidity, for example, light or medium sandy sands are perfect. Planting of seedlings is carried out in early spring, after the snow has completely melted and dry warm weather is established.

Fertilizer

The best fertilizer for cherries is humus. It is applied at planting: 4-5 kg ​​in each hole, and then the cycle is repeated after several years at the rate of 40-60 t / ha.

During the growing season, namely in the first 2-3 years of life, cherries need nitrogenous nutrition. Most often, ammonium nitrate is used for feeding (20-25 g per 1 m2). After 3-4 years (in the fall), additional phosphate and potash fertilizers are introduced: superphosphate - 70 g per 1 m2 of area, potassium salt - 30-40 g per m2, you can also sprinkle the area of ​​the cherry orchard with buckwheat ash - 300-400 g per 1 m2.

Watering

Despite the fact that the steppe cherry is not a moisture-loving culture, watering should still be carried out 2-3 times per season: during flowering and pouring of fruits. The most rational thing is to combine it with fertilizer.

Chemical processing and pruning of bush cherries Bush cherry: pruning

Since the bush cherry bears fruit on annual branches, pruning should be carried out regularly and in a timely manner, otherwise the crop yield will significantly decrease, and the berries are crushed.

Pruning

Thin the tree in spring:

• remove damaged and dry branches;
• cut off excess root processes and branches over 7 years old (under the ring);
• leave on the bush: 10-15 shoots with the greatest number of lateral branches and 3-4 basal processes.

Spraying

During the flowering period, cherry bushes are processed for the prevention of fungal and bacterial diseases with such preparations: urea (diluted in a proportion of 700 g per 10 l of water), copper sulfate (300 g per 10 l).

Complex remedies Agravertin, Fitoverm, Zircon, Ekoberin, Fitosporin are considered no less effective. To prepare the latter, it is enough to dissolve 200 g of powder in 400 g of water (1: 2), and then dilute 1 tbsp. l solution in 10 l of water. After flowering, the bushes are re-processed 2-3 more times every 7-10 days.

Outcome:

Shrub cherry is an unpretentious plant. But in order to get a high-quality harvest every year, it is necessary to regularly take a set of measures for the care, pruning and protection of trees from pests and diseases.

Shrub cherry, also known as steppe cherry or bush cherry, is a worthy replacement for ordinary cherry trees. This species has become popular due to its vitality and undemandingness. Let's look at the characteristics, rules for planting and caring for bush cherries.

Description and characteristics

The description of the bush cherry is already contained in its name. Unlike trees, the bushes are not so generous in growth, therefore the total length of the bush is 1–1.5 m. The crown width is 90–150 cm.

Despite its growth, steppe cherry is distinguished by a developed root system, which can even break through the thickness of the earth. Mature trees have gray-brown bark on long, flowing branches. On the branches, small dark green leaves up to one and a half centimeters long, which have an elongated or rounded shape, develop. In spring, cherry blossoms are covered with small, frequent flowers, 3-5 petals per bud, from which small red berries will develop in the future. The color of the berries is dark scarlet and burgundy, weight up to 3.5 g.

Steppe cherry is widespread throughout Eurasia - from the southern regions of Asia to the northern regions of Siberia, from Western Europe to Kazakhstan.Such an area of ​​distribution of the species is due to undemanding soil and care. The plant of this variety can be susceptible to fungal diseases, but it is easy to care for and gives a generous harvest. In addition, it is known that steppe cherry shows miracles of resistance to climatic conditions - it perfectly withstands critical low and high temperatures.

Generous fruiting can be observed throughout the 15 years of the shrub's life, but it is also beautiful as a garden decoration. Steppe cherry is only a partially self-pollinated species, therefore, a self-pollinated one is planted next to a non-self-fertile variety. The main thing is that all varieties bloom at the same time.

The best bush varieties

Since shrub species are very popular in urban settings and on small household plots in the suburbs, we will consider the most popular bush varieties for the Moscow region, the North-West and Siberia.

1. Variety Generous. This variety begins to bear the harvest quite late (from the 3rd year after planting), however, this is compensated by the life expectancy of the shrub - up to 35 years. In addition, the berries are quite large, as for a bush plant. Generous in height can reach 2.5 m, and the width of the crown spreads out to 150-200 cm. Generous is a self-pollinated late-ripening variety, but requires regular rejuvenation and high-quality feeding in care.
2. Irtyshskaya. Cherry varieties Irtyshskaya bred by breeders of Siberia, who worked hard on the winter-hardy species. Irtyshskaya is able to withstand frosts down to -50 degrees, but it is rather difficult to grow it in warmer regions. In addition, this variety is self-fertile. The disadvantages of the variety are small fruits with a rather fresh watery taste, which is why Irtyshskaya is often used in a processed form.
3. Altai swallow. Another Siberian variety, but much more popular than Irtysh. The Altai swallow is just over 150 cm high and requires regular pruning of its dense, lush crown. In summer, red juicy fruits appear on this crown, which taste like sweet cherries. The advantage of the variety, in addition to its wonderful taste, is its frost resistance and average ripening time (second half of July). The swallow is a self-fertile species, whose cherries do not have a long shelf life.
4. Subbotinskaya. Caring for the Subbotinskaya bush cherry variety involves, first of all, the formation of a crown and protection of the shrub from the fungus. This is due to the fact that the height of the plant reaches two and a half meters, and the crown is so dense that coccomycosis or cherry sawfly can freely develop in it. However, if good care is provided, then the tree will give large cherries weighing up to 5 g, with a sweet, juicy taste. Such berries are pleasant to use not only processed, but also raw. Subbotinskaya is characterized by moderate frost resistance and good drought tolerance.
5. Cherry Bolotovskaya is a late-ripening variety that bears large, juicy burgundy berries. In addition, the species is completely self-fertile, easy to grow, cold hardy and able to withstand severe droughts. The advantages of Bolotovskaya include the ability to bear fruit for 30 years. The shrubs of Bolotovskaya are low - 1.7 m, but they are distinguished by abundant flowering and a rich, spreading crown.

Landing features

Planting bush cherries involves choosing the right location. The soil may not be very nutritious, but it should be as neutral as possible. Porous, sandy loam soils, which are loosened and enriched with phosphorus fertilizers before planting, are best suited.

It is better to choose a place for growing on a plain or on a slope - the main thing is that it is far from the occurrence of groundwater and from melt water drains. Stagnation of moisture near the root system is fraught with root rot and the development of a fungus.In addition, bush varieties prefer well-lit areas without strong drafts.

Planting is best done in spring days, when we can talk about the final onset of warming - from late March to mid-April. Planting material is selected depending on the climatic zone and the ability to provide self-fertile varieties with additional pollinators. Seedlings do not require preliminary preparation before planting in the ground.

Bush cherry care

The planting site is loosened and fertilized, and the holes for future seedlings are determined at a distance of one and a half meters from each other. After transplanting the seedling, the plant is watered and sprinkled at the base with wood ash. There is no serious problem in how to care for shrub cherries, since this is a rather unpretentious tree.

To start the development of the planted plant, it should be watered. In the future, watering is carried out every 4-6 weeks using an abundant amount of water (10 liters per bush). You should not be zealous with moisture, since excess moisture, especially in the warm season, promotes the development of harmful bacteria.

Fertilizers are applied 2 times each season, except in winter, when the tree is going through a dormant period. Steppe cherry loves phosphate fertilizing, however, nitrogen fertilizers can be useful in spring and autumn. In addition, you should think about the introduction of natural sources of minerals - wood ash, humus, organic fertilizers. It is recommended to weed the soil around the tree twice a month.

It is better to do this shallow, since the roots come quite close to the surface of the earth. No less important is the timely cleaning of dead debris, dry leaves and branches around the shrub, in which parasite larvae can develop. One of the most important procedures is the pruning of bush cherries. The question of how to prune a shrub is the most multifaceted of all ennobling procedures. This is due to the fact that fruits develop only on last year's shoots. In addition, only healthy trees can be formed, since pruning errors can be the worst for sick and old trees.

Shrub formation can be carried out after the first year after planting.

In autumn and spring, all dry and decaying branches are removed from the cherry, and in the future, very old ones. After that, you should think about the formation of a spherical crown, since it is the most convenient for harvesting and the most comfortable for the plant itself. For this, the top is cut off from the upper shoot, which promotes the growth of lateral shoots.

However, at the base, it is customary to set up only 5–9 main branches, from which ever smaller branches will branch out in the future. It is better not to touch the main branches themselves without unnecessary need, focusing your attention on thickening small branches. A very dense crown inside does not allow fruits to develop inside, since the proper amount of light does not penetrate there. In addition, the thickened crown takes too many nutrients for itself that could go to the development of the crop.

You can rejuvenate the shrub 7–8 years after planting, when the first stale stems appear. During rejuvenation, old stems are gradually shortened, allowing new ones to grow. If there is no possibility to remove the stem, you can replenish the number of fruiting branches at the expense of underground stems, which, while developing, begin to actively bear fruit. A heavily thickened crown is the reason not only for a poor harvest, but also for the spread of many pests and parasites. Different bush varieties have different disease tolerances.

But common to all species are diseases of fungal infections and parasites. Disease prevention is not only the correct choice of planting site and quality care, but also the cultivation of fragrant herbs (coltsfoot, wormwood, mint) around the tree.However, the bush can become infected with bacterial fungal infections, including fusarium and coccomycosis.

Coccomycosis is a fungal disease manifested by the formation of pink spots on the outside of the leaf, and pink bloom on the inside. The fungus is capable of causing irreparable damage to the greenery of the plant: the foliage dries up, falls off, or holes appear on it. To get rid of coccomycosis, the shrub is treated with chemicals such as "Horus", "Maxim". Also, around the tree, you should collect all the fallen leaves and rotten branches.

Steppe cherries should also be protected from damage by aphids, sawflies and other parasites. For this, preventive measures are used in the form of treatment with copper sulfate and the introduction of protective drugs in liquid form through watering. In case of illness, the bush is sprayed with chemical remedies.

Video "Steppe cherry"

In this video, you will learn about bush cherry.

Low shrub (bush) cherries - a find for the gardener tired of fighting stone fruit diseases.
They are used to make jam, compotes, incomparable in taste, and make sweet liqueurs.

Description

Steppe cherry (Prunus fruticosa, synonym for Cerasus fruticosa) is a low (up to one and a half meters high) shrub with a spreading, spherical crown and abundant root shoots. Leaves fall early, long before the onset of severe cold weather, shoots ripen well and winter successfully.

Among all cherries, it is recognized as the most winter-hardy and can withstand frosts down to -60 ° C. Steppe cherry is photophilous, drought-resistant, undemanding to the soil. Even on poor and stony lands, it produces crops. Weakly susceptible to diseases and pests.

Decorative due to its lush early flowering and an abundance of bright shiny fruits.
A characteristic species characteristic of steppe cherry, or shrub, - bark.

In adult shoots, it is light brown, covered with yellow lenticels, in young shoots, it is gray, and reddish at the top.

In central Russia, it blooms in May for 7-10 days. Most varieties are partially self-fertile and self-fertile and require pollinators.

Fruits are spherical, yellow, red of various shades or burgundy, with shiny skin, sour-sweet (more sour than ordinary cherries), sometimes slightly tart, ripen in early July.

Steppe cherry begins to bear fruit in the 3-5th year after planting. The life span of a bush under favorable conditions is about 20 years, but it is renewed due to root growth. It reproduces mainly vegetatively - by root suckers.

Care behind the steppe cherry is minimal.

The soil under the bushes is periodically loosened to a shallow depth to provide oxygen access to the roots. Top dressing promotes good plant growth and development. For crown formation, regular pruning in early spring is necessary.

When carrying out it, it must be borne in mind that this cherry bears fruit only on the shoots of the last year.

On thickened bushes, fruits are formed only on peripheral branches, respectively, the yield of cherries is noticeably reduced.

Steppe cherry can serve as a stock for ordinary cherries, and the varieties grafted onto it are shorter. The disadvantage of such a rootstock is the abundance of overgrowth.

Steppe cherry varieties

Steppe cherry has quite a lot of varieties bred for different climatic zones - in the Leningrad region, Tatarstan, the Urals, Altai and in the south of Western Siberia. Therefore, it is very important to choose a variety taking into account the growing conditions.
For planting in the north of Russia, the winter-hardy Morel variety is suitable - undersized with bright red fruits.

In the middle lane, the varieties Rannyaya Stepnaya and Rubinovaya work well.

The Ashinskaya variety is immune to a complex of diseases, but the Kurchatovskaya variety is considered the most resistant to coccomycosis. According to the yield, the varieties Bolotovskaya, Stepnaya Krasavitsa, Schedraia, Uralskaya ruby ​​(pictured below), Maksimovskaya, Zhelannaya, Sverdlovchanka stand out.

The old self-fertile variety Fertile Michurina easily adapts to different growing conditions.

There are also decorative forms of steppe cherry: Pendula - with drooping branches and Variegata - with spotted yellow-green leaves

In domestic gardens, both tree cherry and bush cherry (it is also called steppe) are found with equal success. Each of them has its own characteristics.

Each variety, which represents steppe cherry, has its own description, however, common features are present in all bushes. Steppe cherry is a small shrub, topped with a wide spherical crown.

The bush variety rarely exceeds two meters in height. In addition, usually such a bush is surrounded by root shoots, this is its means of renewal.

Bush cherry is considered one of the most cold-resistant and drought-resistant species. It is not difficult to find a shrub variety that can withstand frosts down to -500C. No less surprising is the plant's unpretentiousness to soils. Such cherries grow well even in poor soil.

The shrub, of course, suffers from certain ailments, but within reason. Shrub cherry is often used as an ornamental plant. During the flowering period, almost any bush variety looks very beautiful. The cherry bush is a perennial plant. He is able to give good yields for fifteen years. But for this, the cherry must receive proper care.

Steppe cherry also has its drawbacks. When purchasing a bush variety, you need to take care of a good sunny place for it. Do not forget that bush cherry does not tolerate shade at all.

If we compare the felt and steppe species in terms of the taste of the fruit, the steppe cherry still loses. Its fruit is sour and somewhat tart in taste.

However, each variety has its own unique taste of berries, among them there are really worthy specimens. To choose the most advantageous option, it is worth studying the description of the different types before boarding.

Steppe cherry tolerates drought well, however, you still have to monitor its condition.

"Subbotinskaya"

Variety "Subbotinsky" is a medium-sized bush. Its maximum height is 2.5 meters. The crown is in the form of a ball, very thick. Cherry has a burgundy bark with a light grayish bloom.

Shoots of this variety start up straight, slightly curved down, medium, the color of the bark. The leaves are large, lanceolate; wedge base, pointed tip. The foliage is dark green. The leaf blades are shiny, glossy with serrated edges.

Variety "Subbotinsky" blooms with small pink flowers, collected in 2-5 pieces.

Cherry bears harvest in the form of round scarlet sweet and sour fruits. The average weight of one berry is 4.2 g. The taste of cherries is pleasant, they can be used both fresh and for processing. The pulp inside is juicy, red in color. The bone is small. Harvested in the second half of July. In terms of transportability, the variety is considered average. One bush gives about 9 kg of berries.

This variety of steppe cherry easily tolerates heat and drought. The index of winter hardiness is normal. Cherry is self-infertile, as pollinators it is suitable varieties: "Selivertovskaya", "Altai swallow", "Maksimovskaya" and "Zhelannaya". Disadvantage: This steppe cherry is not resistant to coccomycosis.

Wild steppe

Wild bush (steppe) cherry is a wild-growing undersized small-leaved shrub. Such a cherry grows up to two meters in height. She regularly yields a harvest, moreover, the berries are quite large. However, the fruits are very sour.

The bush reproduces by root suckers, there are usually a lot of them. Cultivated seedlings in the first generation are practically unrecognizable. They grow taller and have larger leaves and berries.

The wild cherry has served as a breeding material for many cultivars.

"Vuzovskaya"

The Vuzovskiy variety was obtained by selection among the seedlings of steppe cherry. His description was included in the register only in 1991. The bush rarely reaches a height of one and a half meters.The maximum diameter of its crown is 190 cm.

It is medium thickened, oval in shape. The bark is gray, smooth with weakly expressed lenticels. Cherry is covered with narrow, elongated leaves, pointed at the tips. The flowers are white.

There are 3-4 of them in one inflorescence.

The fruits of this variety bears small, flattened from the sides, the average weight of one fruit is one and a half grams. The color of the berries is dark red, the taste is sweet and sour. There is a small bone inside. The berries can be eaten fresh, but they are believed to be tastier when processed. The variety begins to yield crops in the third year after planting. You can harvest the fruits in mid-July.

The cherry is self-fertile; the Novoseletskaya variety can be used as a pollinator. "Vuzovskaya" has an average winter hardiness. Unlike most representatives of the steppe cherry, this shrub turns bright yellow during leaf fall. Among the advantages of this bush cherry is good rooting of cuttings.

"Shadrinskaya"

Sort "Shadrinsky" - medium-sized cherry up to 1.9 meters high. It has a spherical crown, smooth brown bark with a gray bloom, shoots of medium thickness. Leaves are dark green, medium-sized, elliptical, pointed at the end. The bush blooms with white horn-shaped flowers, 2-5 pieces per inflorescence.

The berries are round, dark red, weighing about three grams, with a small stone. The pulp of the fruit is juicy and dark red in color. The fruits ripen in the second decade of August.

They keep well and do not deteriorate during transportation. One cherry gives an average of 4.4 kilograms of fruit. The cultivar is self-fertile.

To pollinate it, you can plant the following varieties: "Maksimovskaya", "Altayskaya Lastochka", "Zhelannaya", "Selivertovskaya", "Subbotinskaya".

Among the advantages of the plant are high heat resistance, good drought resistance, high productivity. Cherry is poorly resistant to coccomycosis, there are frequent cases of freezing of the plant.

Kurchatovskaya

The Kurchatovsky steppe cherry variety is a bush up to one and a half meters tall. The plant has a back-pyramidal rounded crown with an abundance of leaves.

Straight branches are brown, after leaf fall they are covered with a silvery bloom.

The leaves can reach 7.5 cm in length, are oval in shape with a rounded top and pointed base, and are dark green in color. The edge of the leaf is serrated.

The flowers are white in color, usually about three centimeters in diameter. In inflorescences, they consist of 3-5 pieces. The petals are slightly wavy; closer to the end of flowering, they acquire a light lilac hue.

Cherries give large, rounded fruits. One berry can weigh up to four grams. On one side, the cherry is flat with a shallow groove, has a burgundy color, the flesh inside is reddish-orange; there is an oval bone. Cherry tastes sweet and sour, juicy. The fruits are strong and can be harvested by machine.

Cherry blossoms in late May, fruits ripen from mid to late July. If you provide the shrub with normal care, it begins to bear fruit as early as the third year after planting. One cherry can be harvested up to seven kilograms.

The variety is considered to be partially self-fertile. The frost resistance of the variety is high. It also tolerates heat and drought easily and is immune to many diseases, including coccomycosis.

"Novoseletskaya"

Cherry "Novoseletskaya" is a low-growing bush, the average height is about 115 cm. Its crown has a rounded-spreading shape. Very sophisticated variety: thin twigs, slightly curved brown-gray color. The surface is covered with small lenticels. The leaves are small, narrow, obovate.

Fruits are dark red, small, round in shape. Average weight of one berry is 2 grams. The pulp has a peach color, tender in consistency. Inside is an oval small bone.

Fresh fruits have a rather pleasant taste, but it is believed that they are best used for making stewed fruit and jams. Ripening occurs in mid-July.This variety is partially self-fertile.

The best pollinator for him is the Irtyshskaya cherry. The plant belongs to the category of winter-hardy and early-growing.

"Ruby"

An adult "Ruby" cherry has a height of 2.5 meters and has a spreading dense crown. The trunk is short, early diverges into strong branches covered with brown bark with a grayish tint. The leaves are large, leathery, dark green in color. Flowers are collected in 3-4 pieces per inflorescence.

Fruits vary from medium to large in size, therefore, the description of the variety in different sources is different. The average weight of the berry is 3.5 grams. The cherries are bright red in color and rounded, slightly flattened on the sides, with an abdominal suture on one side. The pulp is yellowish, sweet with sourness, soft. The bone is small. The peduncle separates poorly.

The grafted plants enter the fruiting stage already in the second year of life. The tree begins to bloom by the end of May, and the harvest begins at the beginning of August.

The bush needs pollinators, next to it you can plant Vladimirskaya or Otechestvennaya cherries. Yields vary from year to year. Average 7.8 kg per cherry.

The variety has no immunity to coccomycosis and moniliosis, but good care will minimize the risk of disease.

"Maksimovskaya"

Variety "Maksimovsky" is a bush under 2.5 m in height with a pyramidal crown of medium density. The bark on the trunk is light brown in color and has large gray lentils. This shrub variety has large oblong leaves with a smooth glossy surface.

"Maksimovsky" bears round, slightly elongated fruits of medium size. The weight of one berry is about 3.8 grams, the color is red. The pulp is filled with pink juice, very firm and with a good sweet and sour taste. Pollinators: Subbotinskaya, Altayskaya Lastochka, Zhelannaya, Seliverstovskaya.

The fruits begin to ripen from mid-July. They are well transported and versatile. One bush leaves an average of 4.1 kg of yield. The plant tolerates heat and drought well. Disadvantages: vulnerability to coccomycosis and relatively weak frost resistance.

Planting and leaving

For steppe cherry, proper planting and good care are important. Having studied which bush cherry varieties have, after reading the description of the most interesting of them, you acquire seedlings and start preparing a place for cherries. The cherry bush should be planted in a sunny, elevated location. The snow cover there in winter should not be higher than 90 cm, otherwise the roots will underpin.

Planting is done in early spring when the weather is warm. At the bottom of the planting pit, humus is laid (for 1 m - 4-5 kg), potash and phosphorus fertilizers dissolved in water (25 g and 45 g, respectively). Further planting follows the same scenario as planting any other type of cherry.

When the cherry begins to grow intensively, superphosphates, wood ash and other mineral fertilizers should be added. In summer, loosening is carried out and weeds are removed. The plant is watered two to three times a season. For this, 30-50 liters of water is enough. The first time it is watered after flowering, the second - when the fruits begin to form, the third - during the ripening of the berries.

Pruning is carried out in autumn and winter. The procedure helps the formation of the crown and facilitates the care of cherries. It is important to take into account that the fruits are tied only on last year's branches. Pruning can be done as early as the second year after planting. Unnecessary shoots should be removed every year. This will maximize the yield. To rejuvenate the plant, it is imperative to shorten the branches.

The crown is given a bush or low-standard look. The top is cut off, and the lower shoots begin to grow actively. The strongest shoots should be left at a distance of 3-8 cm from each other. They annually get rid of excess internal shoots. You can carry out rejuvenation in the eighth year of the shrub's life.

Repeatedly had to visit old summer cottages with magnificent gardens.Most often, their owners were elderly people.

Climbing trees are already incapable, and they are wary of ladders. Apples and pears can be harvested from the ground using different devices, with cherries this is impossible - you have to pick them with your hands. And the trees are tall.

And for the reason “not to get it” I recently had to part with my cherry.

I began to look closely at the undersized cherries.

Since my height is one and a half meters, the tree wanted a height of no more than two meters, and preferably less. And also frost and drought-resistant, does not catch all sores, easy to care for, productive and with tasty fruits.

Felt shallow immediately - there are a lot of sores. Besseya (sand cherry) is good for everyone, but the berries are painfully tasteless. The best option - steppe or bush cherry, fully meets all the requirements. And most importantly, there are many varieties.

Shrub cherries are divided into self-fertile - they are pollinated with their own pollen, you will get a crop under any conditions and self-fertile - they need a pollinator variety. I will name a few of the best, in my opinion, varieties of self-fertile bush cherries. For conservatives, the variety is "Generous". He is over 50 years old. Very productive, up to 15 kg per bush.

Berries are dark red, weighing 5 g, do not crack or crumble, sweet and sour with a strong cherry smell. Two disadvantages: occasionally they are affected by moniliosis and coccomycosis, and the berries do not ripen at the same time. It is resistant to pests: sometimes aphids and slimy sawfly can disturb. Maximum height one and a half meters, harvest in August.

Lives and bears fruit with timely pruning for more than 30 years. During flowering, it will tolerate any frost without loss. Cherry varieties "Tamaris" are not high, and the harvest is so abundant that the branches are cut off so as not to break. The purple berries are delicious and sweet. Excellent resistance to coccomycosis and other fungal diseases.

Zhukovskaya is very suitable for our southern locations. The berries are dark red, large - up to 7 g, at the peak of yield it gives more than 20 kg per bush. Differs in high resistance to fungal diseases. And "Shokoladnitsa", whose fruits are similar in color (maroon) and taste like cherries. The average productivity of the bush is 11.5 kg. Not afraid of drought and frost.

Cons: a bit tall - up to 2.5 m and prone to fungal diseases.

Shrub cherry is absolutely not shade-tolerant. Indifferent to soils, does not accept acidic and waterlogged. It is better to plant cherries in the spring, and prepare the site in the fall: dig it up, add organic matter in a month. We dig a hole 40x70.

We make a mound in it: mix the soil with compost (1: 1), 30 g of superphosphate, a little potassium and about 1 kg of wood ash. We place a seedling on a mound and bury it tightly. Do not deeply deepen. Pour three buckets of water, mulch (peat / compost). We water and weed for the first two years. Shallowly loose.

This cherry is responsive to superphosphate fertilizers (applied in autumn), wood ash and other alimentary additives. Despite the drought resistance, it is advisable to water two times: after flowering and during the formation of fruits. All varieties give root growth. At its expense, the plant is renewed and lives for a long time in one place.

Prune annually. Remove unnecessary overgrowth, all branches growing inside the bush. This will increase yields and reduce the risk of morbidity.

Steppe cherry belongs to undersized shrubs. An adult bush has a height of 0.5-1.5 meters. It mainly reproduces by basal shoots, very rarely by cuttings. An adult plant has long branching roots with numerous branching offsets.

The distance between adjacent shoots at the root is about 70-90 cm. Young offspring are reddish-brown in color, elongated, monopodial in shape. Their aboveground part is covered with lanceolate, scaly leaves, which die off in the process of further growth of the shoot.

Adult trunks have dark gray bark. They are erect, branched, covered with scattered hairs during the period of active growth, become bare over time.

The foliage is oblong, 8-16 mm long, depending on the age of the shoot, it has a more rounded oval or lanceolate shape. Leaves are smooth dark green, lighter below, pinnate.

The distribution area runs from North Asia and Siberia to Western Europe. It is not uncommon in Italy, southern Germany and central Poland.

Flowering and fruits

Blooms profusely. Flowers are small, collected in 3-5 umbellate inflorescences or single, appear simultaneously with leaves or before they bloom. Shrub cherry on the garden plot looks attractive and picturesque, has a low growth rate. Refers to partially self-fertile varieties, therefore, other pollinating varieties should be planted nearby to obtain ovaries.

The berries of the steppe cherry, as a rule, are small, in rare grafted varieties they are of medium size, dark red or red in color with a dense skin. They have a sweet-sour, watery taste. Shrub cherry is very susceptible to fungal diseases, in particular to coccomycosis. In the photo you can see the shape of the berries and leaves, the appearance of the bush, in general.

Varieties

For the convenience of gardeners, below is a description of the most common varieties of steppe cherry.

Generous

The height of the bush reaches 2.3 meters, has a wide, spreading shape with upturned shoots, medium foliage. The leaves are elongated, shiny, dark green.

In the inflorescence there are 3-4 flowers, corolla, opened in diameter 20 mm. Fruiting on annual growth and bouquet branches. The berries are medium large, weighing 3-4 g, dark red, resistant to cracking.

They have a sweet, watery taste. The separation from the peduncle is dry.

Refers to self-fertile varieties. The flowering period is medium, May 18-25. Fruits ripen late, not at the same time, in the second half of August. Begins to bear fruit from 3-4 years. The yield is high, annual.

Taking into account regular anti-aging pruning and proper feeding, this variety is relatively durable - up to 32 years.
Has high winter hardiness and drought resistance.

Flowers and buds are resistant to spring frost.

Bolotovskaya

Shirokokrugly, spreading bush up to 1.7 m tall. Leaves are glossy, bright green, elongated, oval. 4 flowers per inflorescence. Fruits are large, 4-4.5 g, rounded, dark red. The pulp is of medium density, red, juicy, sweet and sour. Berries are resistant to cracking.

Refers to highly self-fertile varieties. The period of flowering and ripening of fruits is medium late. The berries ripen in the first part of August. Fruiting from 2-3 years, with proper and timely care for more than 30 years in one place. Drought-resistant. Winter hardy. Susceptible to fungal diseases. The yield is high.

Ashinskaya

Tree-like, fast-growing, up to 2.2-2.7 m high. The crown is conical, medium thickened. The leaf is dark green, oblong, rounded, narrow oval, curved upward, the petiole is short. The flowers are small, 5-6 per inflorescence, the peduncle is short.
Fruits are large, weighing 4-4.5 g, dark red juicy, dense skin.

Resistant to cracking. The taste is sweet and sour. Ripen late, in early August. The variety is partially self-fertile. The flowering period is medium, extended. Fruiting for 4-5 years, up to 30 years in one place. Average frost resistance. High resistance to fungal diseases. Drought-resistant. The yield is high, annual.

Maksimovskaya

Cherry Maksimovskaya, like Irtyshskaya, has a multi-stemmed bush, up to 1.5-1.8 m high. The crown is medium thickened, pyramidal. Branches are light brown, spreading, smooth.

Leaves are shiny, light green, short-pointed, rounded, oblong. The flowering period is average. The berries are large, red, oblong-rounded, with long stalks. Ripen in mid-July.

They have a sweet and sour taste, juicy. The annual yield is high.

Drought resistance and winter hardiness are high. Propagated by cuttings, forms little root growth.

The desired

The bush is medium-sized, up to 1.5-1.7 m. The crown is medium thickened, wide, raised. Shoots and branches, brown, covered with small lenticels and gray bloom, drooping. The leaves are elongated, pointed, light green in color, the petiole is short.

The flowering period is early. Medium-sized berries 3-3.4 g, dark red or red, ripen in the second half of July. The yield is high, annual. Fruiting begins in 2-3 years. Drought resistance and winter hardiness are high. This variety is resistant to damping off. Forms little root growth, propagates by cuttings.

Growing features

Planting and fertilizing

Planting and leaving is, first of all, in choosing the right place.

Steppe cherry does not bear fruit well and often turns white in a shaded area; a sunny place is chosen for it, where in winter the snow level does not exceed 70-90 cm, since part of the bark in the root zone can undermine when the snow melts.

You can reduce the risk of damping by planting cherries on small mounds or ridges. This variety is not whimsical to the soil, however, it is worth giving preference to medium and light sandy loam.

Before planting, it is imperative to add to the depth of the roots of humus 4-5 kg ​​per m2, potash and phosphorus fertilizers, dissolving them in 15-20 liters of water. This will allow you to get a high yield in a short time already next year.

Steppe cherries are planted in early spring, when the soil thaws and warm, constant weather sets in. During the growing season, feeding with superphosphates is required. During the period of intensive growth, 2-3 abundant watering should be carried out, in the amount of 3-5 buckets for each bush.

The first watering is carried out immediately after flowering, combining it with top dressing, the second - after the fruit ovary, during their ripening.

Chemical processing and pruning

Since steppe cherry mainly bears fruit on annual branches, a decrease in its growth leads to a significant decrease in yield and shrinking of fruits. With regular, timely pruning, cherries can bear fruit abundantly in one place for 18-20 years.

The bush is thinned out, leaving no more than 8-14 branches with developed lateral branches. It is necessary to remove damaged, dried branches - a source of reproduction and wintering of the disease. To increase the yield and quality of berries, remove excess root shoots and branches older than 7-8 years, under the ring.

Leave 3-4 root branches annually. Never shorten annual shoots.

Since the steppe cherry has a high tendency to fungal diseases, for prophylaxis during the flowering period, a mandatory first spraying with special preparations is carried out. And repeat 2-3 treatments every 7-10 days.

Cherry is a wonderful plant that, with its appearance, evokes positive emotions in people, it is not for nothing that poets and writers love to use the image of a blossoming and fruiting cherry in their work so much. Cherries are also loved by gardeners. It remains to figure out what kind of cherries are, how finicky the cherry is, planting and caring for it.

Common cherry, description

In the botanical classification, cherry is a subgenus of Plum, from the Pink family. According to its characteristics, the subgenus cherry differs from other close relatives of plum and apricot primarily in its flowers and fruits.

All plants of the subgenus Cherry can be divided into two sections, Lavrovishnya or bird cherry and Cherry itself, which includes bird cherry or sweet cherry and ordinary or garden cherry, from which almost all cultivars are obtained.

In total, the subgenus has more than 60 species.

Common cherry in culture was already known for eight thousand years BC. Presumably she is a product of natural hybridization. The parental forms were, most likely, cherry or bird cherry and steppe and shrub cherries. This could have happened where these plants have existed for thousands of years:

• on the Balkan Peninsula
• in the area of ​​the Dniester river
• in the Caucasus

The first mentions of cherries on the territory of modern Russia date back to the 10th century, since about the 15th century they have been widely distributed.

Already in the XVII-XVIII cherry trees moved far to the north and grew even on Valaam. Since that time, cherry is one of the most beloved crops among the population of Russia, it is respected by both gardeners and housewives.

In appearance, all garden cherries can be divided into two groups:

• bush cherries, no higher than three meters
• tree cherries, up to eight meters

Typically, bush cherries begin to bear fruit 3 to 4 years after planting, while treelike cherries begin to yield a year or two later. The leaves are petiolate, from 3 cm to 8 cm long, green in color. The edge of the sheet plate is serrated. The flowers open at the same time as the leaves. All flowers have petioles on average about 4 cm in length. They are white, gathered in small umbrellas.

The fruit is a real spherical drupe with sour or sweet-sour pulp. The stone is rounded, has a lateral "seam". The diameter of the fruit with pulp is about cm. Cherry wood is used for the manufacture of furniture and decorative items. Common cherry varieties are common in industrial and amateur horticulture.

What you need to know about cherries when choosing them for the garden

There are cherry trees in almost every garden. They grow well in any climatic conditions, except for deserts and the extreme north. In a garden, bush cherry varieties grow up to 15 - 18 years, tree-like - up to 30 years. All varietal cherries can be divided according to the taste and appearance of the fruit:

• morerels or griots
• amoreli

The first group includes cherries with dark-colored fruits. The color of the fruit sometimes appears almost black. Griot juice is also dark, sour or sweet-sour to taste. Amorelis have pink and light pink fruits, their juice is colorless, and the taste is sweeter. The color of the leaves is light green.

In addition, cherry varieties can be self-fertile, partially self-fertile and self-fertile. In the first two cases, you need to have at least two cherry trees of different varieties in the garden.

When choosing a pollinator variety, it is important to focus on the time of flowering and fruiting, they must coincide with the main variety. For many common varieties, the Vladimirskaya cherry variety is the pollinator.

Self-fertile varieties include:

• Bolotovskaya
• Youth
• Zhukovskaya
• Amorel
• Kent

Partially self-fertile:

• Competitor
• Vladimirskaya
• Dessert Morozova
• Ryazanochka
• Nizhnekamsk
• Mtsenskaya

To self-infertile:

• Lyusinovskaya
• Moscow griot
• Lebedyanskaya
• Morozovka
• Livenekal

Separately, it should be said that cherry quite easily forms hybrids with closely related plants, cherry and bird cherry. The first were named duques, the second - cerapaduses. Sometimes, where cherries grow poorly or are strongly affected by diseases, including coccomycosis, it makes sense to plant a hybrid cherry variety.

Placing cherries in the garden

Cherries grow well on neutral soils. Even on slightly acidic soils, plants will grow poorly, and on acidic soils they can die completely.

In the event that all the soils on the site are acidic, then at least six months in advance, lime must be added to the site selected for cherries, after which everything must be dug up.

On heavy acidic clay soils, the rate of lime application is about 800 g per square meter, on acidic sandy loam soils, 500 g per square meter will be enough. m.

However, there is a threat of getting sunburn during the dormant period, when the bark of the tree heats up sharply at external negative temperatures under the bright sun. To protect against sunburn, from the end of February, a board of the appropriate size can be installed on the sunny side.

Moisture and watering requirement

The close occurrence of groundwater and stagnant water is detrimental to cherry plantings.The plant is drought-resistant, but requires watering in the year of planting and in dry summers, cherries need to be watered during the growth of the ovary, three weeks before harvest and in the fall, when the leaves begin to fall.

Most cherry varieties can withstand temperatures down to -25 degrees. However, at lower values, flower buds die by 85 - 90% in many varieties.

In addition, cherries are afraid of strong winds in winter, even at -10, cherries can dry out.

If all the conditions are met and the correct planting, the cherry will grow and develop quite successfully, and errors can lead to early death of the plant.

Planting and caring for cherries

Cherries reproduce:

• seedlings
• coppice saplings
• grafted seedlings
• green cuttings

Growing seedlings from a bone is quite simple. The seeds are collected, washed and stratified in the bottom drawer of the refrigerator. You can plant it both in pots and immediately to a permanent place.

You can also use those plants that have scattered on their own.

In amateur gardening, it is better to use grafted or coppice seedlings one year old and about 0.8 m in size or two years old about 1.1 m in size.

When planting in spring, it is advisable to apply manure and mineral fertilizers for deep digging in the fall. For planting, you need to prepare the landing pit in advance.

If fertilizers have not been applied to the site since autumn, then they must be added when planting directly into the pit, except for lime and nitrogen fertilizers, they will burn the roots.

The size of the hole should correspond to the root of the cherry seedling, but it cannot be less than 50 cm deep and the same width.

The distance between the pits is not less than 2.5 - 3 m, cherries of the same variety are planted in one row, the distance between the rows is not less than 2.0 m. If necessary, rotted compost is added to the bottom of the pit. You can add phosphorus - potassium fertilizer in the amount of 15-20 g and mix it with the ground. Wood ash will not damage the seedling, 0.9 - 1.0 kg will suffice.

Place the seedling on the bottom of the pit and cover the roots with soil so that the root collar is above the ground. Make a roller of soil around the trunk.

After planting, the cherry seedling needs to be watered, two buckets of water that has settled in the sun are enough. In the first year of life, the plant needs to be watered about once every 10 days.

In the first three years, the seedling is subjected to formative pruning, from 5 to 6 years of age - sanitary and rejuvenating.

It is important to carry out pest and disease control. The most dangerous disease is coccomycosis; for prevention, you need to remove plant residues under the cherries, and after harvesting and in early spring, treat the trunks with Bordeaux liquid. In addition, it is better to pre-target varieties that are resistant to this disease.

The following insects are parasitic on cherries:

• cherry leaf roll
• cherry moth
• cherry elephant

You can fight pests with infusions of tomato or potato tops. From chemical agents, you can use the actelik agent according to the instructions. Although it takes some effort to cultivate cherries, it is well worth it to find a place in the garden.

Cherry is an excellent plant that evokes positive emotions by its appearance, it is not for nothing that writers and poets love to use the image of cherry blossoms in their creations. Gardeners also love cherries. It remains only to figure out how finicky the cherry is, what kinds of cherries are, planting, and also caring for it.

Cherry is a subgenus of Plum, it is from the Pink family. The subgenus cherry differs in its characteristics from its close relatives of apricot and plum, in its flowers and berries. Plants of the subgenus Cherry are divided into 2 sections, Lavrovishnya or bird cherry and Cherry, which includes cherry or bird cherry and ordinary, from which cultivars are obtained. The subgenus includes more than 60 species.

In culture, ordinary cherry has been known since ancient times.Presumably the parental forms were bird cherry and shrub and steppe cherry. This could have happened where these plants have grown for thousands of years: near the Dniester River, on the Balkan Peninsula, in the Caucasus.

The first talks about cherries in Russia date back to the 10th century, and from the 15th century, cherries have been widely distributed. Since that time, cherry has become one of the favorite crops in Russia. In appearance, all garden cherries can be divided into 2 groups:

• bush cherries, no more than 3 m;
• tree cherries, up to 8 m;

Bush cherries bear fruit in the third year after planting, and tree cherries several years later. Cherry leaves are petiolate, green, 3-8 cm long. The edges of the leaf blade are serrated. The cherry blossoms open at the same time as the leaves. The flowers are white, they are collected in small umbrellas.

The fruit is a round-shaped drupe with sweet and sour pulp. The cherry stone is spherical, there is a lateral "seam". The diameter of a cherry with pulp is about one centimeter. Cherry wood is used in the manufacture of furniture. Common cherry varieties are common in amateur and industrial gardening.

There are cherry trees in almost any garden. They grow well in all climates, except for the extreme north and deserts. In garden conditions, varieties of bush cherries grow up to 15 years, tree-like for about 30 years. Varietal cherries can be divided according to the appearance of the fruit and taste: griots and amorels.

Griots include cherries with dark berries. The color of the berries is sometimes almost black. The juice of this group is dark, the berries are sweet-sour in taste. Amorelis have pink fruits, colorless juice, sweet berries.

Also, cherry varieties are partially self-fertile, self-fertile, self-fertile. In the garden, you must have at least two cherries of different varieties. When choosing a pollinator variety, focus on the flowering time, it should coincide with the main variety. For some common cherry varieties, the pollinator is the cherry variety Vladimirskaya.

Self-fertile varieties include: Youth, Bolotovskaya, Amorel, Kent, Zhukovskaya.

Partially self-fertile: Vladimirskaya, Competitor, Dessert, Ryazanochka, Morozova, Mtsenskaya, Nizhnekamsk.

To self-infertile: Moscow griot, Lyusinovskaya, Morozovka, Livenekal, Lebedyanskaya.

I must say that cherry easily forms hybrids with related plants, bird cherry and sweet cherry.

Cherry care

Cherries grow well in neutral soils. On slightly acidic soils, cherries will grow poorly, and on acidic soils, they may completely die.

It grows best on sandy loam soil. Cherries need sunlight. It is best to plant cherries on the southern illuminated gentle slopes.

Stagnant water is detrimental to cherry plantings. Cherry is a drought-resistant plant, but needs watering in the year of planting, cherries need to be watered during the growth of the ovary.

Most cherry varieties tolerate temperatures of -25 degrees. But at a lower temperature, flower buds die by 90% in many varieties. In addition, the cherry does not like strong winds in winter, sometimes at -10 the cherry can simply dry out. Observing all the conditions, the cherry will develop well.

Cherry propagation

Cherry reproduces: by coppice and grafted seedlings, seedlings and cuttings.

Growing cherry seedlings from the seed is a simple exercise. To do this, you need to collect the seeds, rinse and stratify in a refrigerator drawer. You can plant it in a permanent place, or you can plant it in pots. You can also use those plants that have scattered on their own. In horticulture, it is best to use coppice or grafted seedlings.

When planting cherries in spring, it is advisable to apply mineral fertilizers and manure in the fall and under deep digging. If fertilizers were not applied in the fall, then they must be added when planting in a hole. The size of the planting hole should match the root system of the cherry seedling.

Place the seedling in a hole, and cover the roots with soil so that the root collar is not underground. After planting, water the seedling with water.

Fight cherry diseases and pests. The most dangerous disease is coccomycosis; for prevention, it is necessary to remove plant debris under the tree, and after picking berries and in spring, treat the trunks with bard liquid.

The following insects live on cherry: cherry elephant, cherry moth, cherry leaf roll.

You can fight cherry pests with the help of infusion from potato tops, tomatoes. Of the chemical agents, actelik is used.

Although growing cherries requires some effort, there must be a spot in the garden for this crop.

Cherry made a difficult journey until it reached us. At first, it grows only in the Crimea and the Caucasus, on the Black Sea coast. Then they began to grow it in Rome, then throughout Europe. Nowadays cherry is one of the most widespread fruit crops.

Cherry description

Cherry belongs to the genus Plum. The tree is notable for its low growth (about 3 m), a beautiful oval crown, the density of which, however, needs to be regulated. It often grows in the form of a bush with several trunks.

Skeletal cherry branches are distinguished by the presence of a large number of small twigs. Leaves are oval, finely toothed, dark green, pubescent below, each about 5 cm in size. In autumn they are painted in a wide variety of colors: red, yellow, orange.

Therefore, the tree looks very impressive.

Flowers - white, five-petal, 2.5 cm in size, collected in an umbrella inflorescence. A feature of most varieties of cherries is their self-fertility. Even if in the spring they are covered with a huge number of white bouquets, there will be no good harvest unless a pollinator tree is growing nearby.

Cherry is a relatively short-lived tree. It usually grows for about 15 years. But you can extend the period of life and fruiting up to 20 or more years, you just need to create suitable conditions for it.

Popular varieties

All cherry varieties are divided into early (ripening in mid-June), medium (July), late (late July - early August).

Early ripening varieties:

• Vladimirovskaya
• Bagryanka
• Bulatnikovskaya

Medium ripening varieties:

• Cinderella
• Surprise
• Zagoryevskaya
• Anthracite

Late:

• Lotova
• Ruby
• Shakorivskaya
• Lyubskaya

Beneficial features

100 g of cherry pulp contains 52 kcal. Cherries are valued not only for the great taste of the fruit. It has many beneficial properties. The pulp contains a large amount of trace elements: iron, cobalt, chromium, sulfur, potassium, iodine, vanadium, phosphorus, rubidium, molybdenum, folic acid.

Contains vitamins of groups A, B, C, E, N. The substance coumarin reduces blood clotting, anthocyanins slow down the aging of body cells. And ellagic acid prevents the appearance of cancer cells.

Cherries are used for:

• Increase in the level of hemoglobin in the blood.
• Prevention of strokes, heart attacks, thrombosis.
• Angina pectoris warnings.
• Prevention of atherosclerosis.
• Reducing pressure.
• Treatment for dysentery.
• Lowering the temperature.
• From dried leaves or cherry flowers, you can brew tea, prepare a decoction for bleeding, hypertension.
• A compress from pounded bones is applied for gout.

Cherries should not be overused for people with digestive problems or diabetes.

Reproduction and planting

Cherries are relatively undemanding to growing conditions. It grows well on loamy soils, but can also live on rocky soils. Does not like the close occurrence of groundwater. If you can plant it only in such a place, you need to take care of high-quality drainage, which will protect the roots of the tree from the constant influence of moisture. The depth of the water is 1.5 m.

Cherry propagation methods:

• Certain varieties of cherries (felted cherries) can be grown from seeds. First, the seeds are stratified at a temperature of about 0 ° C, then they are sown in the ground. After a few years, the tree will bear its first fruits.But usually the properties of the parents are not transferred to the seedlings.
• Some varieties are propagated by root processes. You just need to be sure that the cherry is not grafted onto the root of another variety. The survival rate of shoots is low.
• You can get a tree of the desired variety by grafting. To do this, before the onset of severe frosts, cuttings are cut (so as not to freeze), stored in the basement or refrigerator until spring. They are grafted in the way by the bark, into the split, by improved copulation.
• The easiest way is to buy a ready-made cherry seedling. Prepare a pit before buying. Its dimensions should be at least 60 cm and a depth of 50 cm. Humus should not be added during planting. Place the root at the bottom of the pit and cover with prepared soil. The root collar (the place where the root passes into the trunk) is not covered with earth. The place of inoculation (if it was carried out) remains above the ground all the more. Water, form a roller from the soil, which will not allow moisture to flow out of the hole. Then mulch with a thick layer of humus, peat or straw. Mulch will protect the tree's root system from drying out.

Cherries, like most fruit trees, can be planted in spring or fall. If you take good care of the tree, water it regularly, then it makes sense to do it in the fall. Cherries will have time to get accustomed to winter, before the onset of frost. Planting in the spring has its advantages. During this period, most gardeners actively care for the plants, do not forget to water them.

Cherry care

Cherry care consists of loosening the soil of the trunk circle, watering, feeding, pruning branches:

1. After planting, the tree should be watered regularly. First, this is done every day, then, as buds open and shoots appear, once a week or less. It is very important not to miss the period when the soil becomes dry in late summer and early autumn. At this time, you need to water the cherry well so that the fragile tree does not disappear. In the future, cherries must be watered during flowering, fruit ripening and after the leaves fall. One adult tree is poured from 3 to 6 buckets of water in one watering.
2. In the spring, after the snow melts and the soil dries up, the trunk circle is loosened. This helps the soil to warm up faster, allows oxygen to flow to the roots. And it retains moisture, not allowing it to evaporate. The trunk circle should be twice as wide as the diameter of the crown. This is due to the fact that cherry roots grow much faster than branches. Loosening until mid-summer, before and after watering. Weeding, make sure not to disturb the root system of the tree. It is convenient to use Fokin's flat cutter for this procedure. In the fall, after the leaves have fallen, they dig up the soil under the tree to a depth of 20 cm. This procedure helps to destroy the pests that hid there for the winter.
3. In the spring and summer, they make sure that the weeds do not drown the cherry trees. They don't have to break through a thick layer of mulch, but they may well grow next to it. Weeds can also take nutrients from the soil, weakening young cherries. In order for them not to grow on the site, the first 5 years between the trees, you can grow various salads, legumes and other inter-row crops. In addition, legumes enrich the soil, which is good for cherries.
4. The planted tree does not need feeding for the first year. From the second year of life, cherries need to be fertilized. To do this, use organic matter (rotted manure), which is applied every 3 years, wood ash. Ammonium nitrate is introduced in the spring, superphosphate in the fall. From organic matter - mullein and wood ash (1 kg per bucket of water). Dry fertilizers can be embedded in the soil. In this case, the tool must be wound parallel to the roots, so as not to damage them. Cherry reacts well to fertilizing with mineral fertilizers. In the spring you need more nitrogen, in the fall - phosphorus and potash. Nitrogen is fed in early spring and after flowering. If the annual growth of cherry branches is more than 50 cm, then there is no need to feed the tree.Foliar dressing with preparations containing boron improves the quality of the fruit.

Pruning and shaping the crown

If the cherry crown is not formed in time and correctly, over time it will have to be done, but the process will be more traumatic than in the first years of life.

The crown, which grows by itself, becomes so thickened that it becomes almost impossible to get to the fruit.

And they themselves cannot receive a sufficient amount of heat and light because of the shadow in which they are constantly located. The result is small sour fruits.

Proper tree care can be judged by the annual growth of branches. If it is less than 30 cm, then you need to determine the reason for the weak growth. This can be poor watering, a lack of fertilizer, the action of pests or disease. If the branches have grown by more than 40 cm in a year, they are cut off for a bud - internal or external. It depends on where you want to point the branch.

I usually leave the crown to grow freely, making sure that the guide rises above the skeletal branches. Cut it after the cherry reaches the desired height. The crown can be shaped like a bowl.

For this, the conductor is cut off, and 3-4 skeletal branches are left. Branches of the second and subsequent orders, growing up or towards the crown, are removed.

Cherry bush forms (felt) are formed, leaving 2-3 trunks.

Pruning branches is a whole science. Main types: circumcision on the ring (thick branches) and above the bud (thin shoots). After cutting onto the ring, there should be an influx on the branch below the cut point, which will help the wound to heal.

The place of the cut must be covered with a thin layer of garden varnish or oil paint. Formative pruning is carried out in the spring, after severe frosts, before the start of sap flow. Sanitary pruning - removing broken or damaged branches. It is carried out as needed.

Slices with a diameter of 1.5 cm and more are treated with a thin layer of garden varnish or special brilliant green.

Diseases and pests

In some years, cherries are very badly damaged by diseases. This happens most often in rainy summers, when temperatures rise sharply in high humidity. The main diseases of cherry:

• Coccomycosis
• Moniliosis
• Anthracnose
• Scab
• Clasterospirosis (perforated spot).

They lead to drying of fruits and leaves. Sometimes the whole crop can die. For treatment and prevention, copper-containing drugs are used: Bordeaux liquid or something from new drugs: Skor, Topsin-M, Topaz.

Can spoil the harvest and pests:

• Aphid. Aphids live on young shoots, and winters there. Methods of struggle: spraying before bud break with "Decis", after flowering "Bi-58", destruction of weeds and root shoots.
• Sawyer. Sawer larvae eat leaves. They fight with them with the help of "Aktara", "Inta-Vira".
• Cherry weevil. Weevil damages the kidneys, ovary. He can destroy the entire crop. In the fall, they dig up the soil of the trunk circle, in the spring they carry out several spraying with "Artelik", a metaphos.

All varieties of cherries differ among themselves in various ways, whether it is the ripening time, the size of the fruit or the region of growth. The most frost-resistant cherries are those grown in the northern regions. (Ob, Ashinskaya, Blizzard), but the most productive and sweetest varieties grow in the south of the country (Lyubskaya, Shpanka, Garland). Cherries, early ripening the most stable, but their taste is much more sour (Shokoladnitsa, Molodezhnaya), medium ripening varieties are the golden mean (Vladimirskaya, Zhukovskaya, Turgenevka). Another sign is the presence of flowers of both sexes, that is, self-fertility (Apkhutinskaya, Pamyat Yenikiev). To choose the most suitable cherry variety, you need to know all their characteristics.

Self-fertile varieties of cherries

Self-fertile varieties include cherries that no additional pollination required, and they independently set both male and female flowers.

Apukhtinskaya

A medium-sized tree on which large and tasty heart-shaped fruits grow. The Apukhtinskaya variety begins to bear fruit already in the second year after planting, refers to late ripening, the ripening of the crop falls in mid-August. The tree has good resistance to frost and drought, but it is also susceptible to fungal diseases.

Cherry variety Apukhtinskaya

Memory of Yenikiev

The tree grows up to 3 meters in height, the crown is of medium density, spherical in shape. Fruit weight reaches 5 gramsso they can be considered large. The shape of the berries is oval, the color is dark red. Cherry pulp Yenikiev's memory is very tasty and juicy. The variety is distinguished by the presence of a large bone... The tree begins to bear fruit already at 3-4 years of age, the period of full ripening of the crop falls at the end of June. Up to 15 kilograms of fruit can be harvested from one cherry.... It has medium resistance to frost and drought.

Cherry in Memory of Yenikeev

Also, self-fertile varieties of cherries include Garland, Brunette, Cinderella, Shokoladnitsa, ErdiBetermo, Ksenia, Nochka, Vstrecha, etc.

Early varieties of cherries

Cherry varieties that ripen between early June and mid-July are called early cherry varieties.... Their berries are less sweet, and the trees have good frost resistance.

Chocolate girl

This cherry tree is of medium height, with a crown shape reminiscent of an inverted cone. The berries are distinguished by their sour taste and maroon color. The pulp is a deep red shade, dense, with an easily detachable bone... The Shokoladnitsa variety tolerates frost and drought well, is resistant to many diseases, and is self-fertile. Brings a stable harvest.

Cherry Shokoladnitsa

Spunk

This variety is a cherry-cherry hybrid. A tall tree with freely growing branches resembles a ball in its shape. In addition, the attachment of the branches to the tree is rather weak, therefore, when the crop appears, there is a risk that they will begin to break. The taste of berries is sweet and sour, on average, their weight is 4 grams... Fruit color is dark red, rounded-flattened shape. The first crop of Spanka brings in 6-7 years of life, but at the age of 20, you can get up to 60 kilograms of cherries from a tree. Fruiting occurs from late June to early July... The variety is highly resistant to frost and drought and needs pollinators.

Cherry varieties Shpanka

Youth

Shrub cherry, with a low, slightly drooping crown. The fruits of the Molodezhnaya variety are large in size, their weight can reach 4.8 grams, the skin and pulp have the same maroon color. The stone separates well, and a slight sourness is felt in the taste of the cherries themselves, such berries are perfect for preservation and freezing. The first crop appears on a 5-year-old tree, fruiting mainly occurs on last year's wood... Molodezhnaya is a frost-resistant variety. Has an average disease resistance.

Shrub self-fertile cherry variety Molodezhnaya

Miracle cherry

Arboreal cherry with medium vigor. The crown of the tree needs constant formation, with a free form of growth, it looks like a cone, and the fruits will accumulate at the very top. The taste of berries is dessert, sweet, in all their external characteristics they resemble cherries, can reach a weight of 9.5 grams. The variety is self-fertile and needs pollinators. The tree begins to bear fruit as early as 3 years of age, while bringing a large, stable harvest. You can harvest the fruits already at the beginning of June. Miracle cherry is resistant to frost and most diseases.

Variety Miracle cherry

Baby

The tree is of medium height and spherical in shape. It bears beautiful fruits of dark red color with a pleasant sweet and sour taste, the stone is easily separated from the pulp. The shape of the berries is round, evenly flattened, the weight reaches 5 grams... Variety Malyshka Differs in good transportability, immunity to fungal diseases and frost resistance. Productivity is inferior to other varieties, from one tree you can get 17 kilograms of cherries. Their full maturity falls at the end of June.

Cherry variety Baby

There are also other early ripening varieties of cherries. For example, Memory, Bulatnikovskaya, Enikeeva, Bagryanka, Sania, Vasilievskaya.

Medium ripening cherry varieties

Middle-early cherries are called cherries that ripen in the middle of summer, they have the best taste.

Vladimirskaya

Cherry fruits Vladimirskaya

Vladimirskaya - one of the oldest varieties grown in the central regions of Russia. Bushy tree, grayish bark... The branches grow downward, so the shape of the crown is called weeping. 5-7 flowers of delicate white color are collected on one inflorescence. Leaves of a matte green shade, elongated, gradually sharpening towards the base and apex, the edge is double-serrate. Fruits are sweet and sour, slightly fibrous, well suited for all forms of processing. The color of the skin is dark red, almost black, the weight of the berries does not exceed 3.7 grams, the shape is round-flattened. The first fruiting occurs in the 3rd year of life., cherry ripening occurs at the end of July. This variety tolerates winter cold well, but spring frosts can completely destroy the inflorescences, and, accordingly, the entire crop. It grows best in central Russia, with good care it can bear 25 kilograms of fruit. In the northern regions, the yield drops sharply to 6-7 kilograms.... Vladimirskaya needs pollinators and additional protection from diseases and pests. If the berries are not picked in time, they will begin to crumble very quickly.

Zhukovskaya

Cherry variety Zhukovskaya

Cherry grows up to 2.5 meters, the crown of the tree is spreading, but rare. Leaves are narrow, oval, dark green in color. Forms inflorescences of 3-4 flowers, medium-sized with rounded petals. Fruiting occurs on last year's annual wood... Most often, the berries are located singly, sometimes in two. Cherry varieties Zhukovskaya medium size, up to 4 grams, dark red, heart-shaped. The pulp is tender, juicy, with a dessert taste. Disease resistance is average.

Kharitonovskaya

Cherry variety Kharitonovskaya

The tree grows to medium size, the flowers are large, white. The berries themselves are evenly rounded, the skin is bright red, the flesh is orange. They have a sweet and sour taste, the stone is easily separated... Good immunity to various diseases, normal frost resistance. The Kharitonovskaya variety needs additional pollination.

Turgenevka

Cherry varieties Turgenevka

A cherry tree of this variety grows up to 3 meters, forms inflorescences of 4 white flowers. Fruiting occurs on bouquet twigs. Berries are broadly heart-shaped, large in size, weighing up to 6.5 grams... The skin color is dark red, the pulp is juicy, sour-sweet, the taste is normal. The first harvest ripens at 5-6 years of age, full ripening of fruits occurs in early July. Turgenevka tolerates winter frosts well, but may die when spring frosts appear... Possesses high resistance to diseases, requires pollinators. The variety produces a good, stable yield.

Morozovka

Cherry with fruits grade Morozovka

The tree grows medium in size, the crown is wide, spreading. Fruiting occurs on bouquet twigs, the berries are round in shape with a fossa at the stalk, the weight can reach 5.5 grams. The skin is maroon in color, the pulp is juicy, dessert taste with an easily detachable bone... Such berries are suitable both for fresh consumption and for processing, they are well transported. The tree begins to bear fruit at the age of 3 years; the fruit of the Morozovka variety ripens at the end of July. The yield is stable, up to 500 kilograms per hundred square meters... The variety is resistant to frost, drought and disease. Needs pollinators.

Also, the average ripening period is possessed by the varieties Radonezh, Vstrecha, Toy, Nochka.

Late varieties of cherries

Late varieties are the last to ripen, in late summer and early autumn..

Lyubskaya

Harvest of cherries of the variety Lyubskaya

The variety is intended for cultivation in central and southern Russia, very picky about soil fertility and quality of care. Produces a large crop with blood-red, transportable fruits with a mediocre taste... These berries are ideal for processing. The tree is self-fertile, but with additional pollination it gives higher yields. A young tree bears up to 26 kilograms of fruit, and an adult up to 60. Lyubskaya does not have frost resistance, it is often exposed to various diseases.

Generous

Cherry variety Generous

Bushy cherry with upturned shoots. The weight of one cherry is about 4 grams, its shape is round, the color is bright red. Pulp with good taste, the stone is easily separated. The presentation of the berries is at the highest level, they are resistant to cracking. Variety Generous gives an annual, bountiful harvest, ripens in autumn... The tree gives its first cherries as early as 3-4 years. Generous is distinguished by high frost resistance, can easily tolerate even spring frosts, and the variety does not lend itself to attacks by pests, and tolerates drought well. Susceptible to diseases, especially fungal diseases.

Robin

Cherry variety Malinovka

A tree of medium height with a spherical crown. Leaves with a wide plate, glossy, green, crenate edge. The cherries are small, on average, the weight of one berry is 3-3.5 grams, the shape is round... The taste is sweet and sour, pleasant, the pulp is dense. The variety gives an annual, bountiful harvest that ripens in early August. The robin needs additional pollinators and protection from disease. Frost resistance - medium.

Other varieties of late-ripening cherries are Zhuravka, Polevka, Rubinovaya, Lotovaya, Rusinka, Gorkovskaya.

Large varieties of cherries

Cherry varieties with large dessert berries are not inferior to sweet cherries in their taste. But compared to other varieties, they are whimsical to climatic conditions and quality of care.

Consumer goods Black

Cherry variety Consumer goods Black

A low-growing tree with very tasty berries with a dark skin of almost black color. The pulp is juicy, tender, with an easily detachable bone. The fruits ripen Consumer goods Black in early June, the yield of the variety is moderate... Has a weak resistance to frost. The tree needs additional pollination.

Volochaevka

Cherry Volochaevka

A medium-sized tree is capable of producing an annual harvest. The berries are sweet, juicy with firm pulp and easily removable pits. Ripens in mid-July. The variety does not tolerate frost well, in the rainy season there is a risk of rot... Volochaevka forms both female and male flowers, self-fertile.

A meeting

Cherry variety Meeting

A low tree, the weight of the fruit of which exceeds the mark of 10 grams. The berries are bright red, with a tender and juicy pulp... The harvest of the Vetska variety is stable and annual, ripening falls on the 20th of June. The variety tolerates frost and drought well, and is resistant to fungal diseases.

Also, varieties with large fruits include Molodezhnaya, Dessertnaya Morozova, Pamyat Yenikeev, Podbelskaya, Minx, Toy, etc.

Low-growing (dwarf) cherry varieties

Trees of such varieties grow no higher than 2.5 meters.... They are very convenient for breeding and harvesting, therefore they are very popular among gardeners.

Anthracite

Common cherry Anthracite

A bushy cherry with a wide crown, its maximum growth is 2 meters. The skin of the berries is dark, almost black in color, the pulp is blood red.... Fruit weight is 4-5 grams, taste is good. Cherries ripen in mid-summer and are well transported.The Anthracite variety is resistant to frost, drought and fungus.

Bystrinka

Low-growing cherry variety Bystrinka

The small tree forms a spherical crown. Burgundy berries, with the same color pulp, their weight ranges from 3.5-4.2 grams, well transported. The taste is sweet and sour. The harvest period is early July... The resistance of the Bystrinka variety to frost is average. There is a risk of damage from moniliosis.

Mtsenskaya

Cherry grade Mtsenskaya

The tree rarely exceeds 2 meters in height, the crown is oval. Average, one berry weighs 4 grams, skin color is maroon... Most often, the fruits of the Mtsenskaya variety are processed. The trees are characterized by good resistance to frost, drought and most diseases. They also have an attractive appearance, which is why they are often used in landscape design.

There are many undersized varieties of cherries, these include Lyubskaya, Molodezhnaya, Memory Mashkin, Shokoladnitsa, Vladimirskaya, Tamaris and Saratov baby.

The best cherry varieties for the southern regions of Russia

Such varieties are distinguished by excellent taste, low or medium frost resistance. Their cultivation is possible only in warm climatic conditions.

Sasha

On average, the tree grows up to 3-4 meters, the foliage is average. Fruiting occurs on annual shoots. The fruits are large, juicy, red. They are distinguished by excellent taste. The Sasha variety is frost-resistant, rarely exposed to diseases.... The first fruiting occurs in the 5th year of life, early ripening.

Garland

Cherry variety Garland

The growth of the tree is 3 meters, a large amount of foliage is formed on the branches. The Garland variety is distinguished by the presence of inflorescences, of which 5 fruits appear. The berries are very large, juicy and tasty, the skin color is slightly darker than the flesh. The first crop can be harvested in mid-June as early as the 3rd year of life... The tree does not need additional pollination.

Also, for the southern regions, varieties such as Lyubskaya, Shpanka, Shokoladnitsa are suitable.

The best cherry varieties for the northern regions

Ashinskaya

Cherry grade Ashinskaya

It is considered the best variety for the northern regions. A low-growing shrub, whose growth does not exceed 1.5 meters, can tolerate frosts down to -55 degrees... Also drought tolerant. Berries are dark in color, with dense pulp, slightly astringent, sweet and sour taste. The bone is small, easy to remove. Flowering occurs from the beginning of April, the shrub gives its first harvest at 4 years of age.

Ob

Cherry Ob

A short shrub that is only 130 centimeters tall. Fruiting occurs on annual growths. Berries are small, dark red in color, with a good taste and a small, well-separated seed... Fruits ripen in mid-July. The Ob is capable of withstanding severe frosts and drought, but is highly susceptible to pest attacks. The variety is self-fertile and does not need pollination.

Altai swallow

Cherry variety Altai swallow

A low-growing bush, no more than 150 centimeters high. The berries are round in shape and medium in size, distinguished by excellent taste and juiciness... Fruit ripening occurs in mid-July. The yield of the variety is very different from the trees growing in the southern regions, and is only 5 kilograms. The Altai swallow tolerates frost and drought well, and is immune to many diseases. It is also a pollinator for many cherry varieties.

For the northern regions, the Novoaltaiskaya and Metelitsa varieties may be suitable.

The most delicious cherry varieties for Siberia and the Urals

Such varieties of cherries adapt well to the changeable climate of Siberia and the Urals, besides, they are distinguished by good yield and taste.

Ural ruby

Cherry shrub Ural ruby

A shrub, whose growth is 1.5 meters, the crown is wide, the branches are weeping, growing downward.The leaves are wide, shiny, dark green in color, their shape resembles a boat. Fruits weigh only 3-4 grams, round in shape, dark red, juicy, sweet and sour taste... Ripen in mid-August. The variety is self-fertile, but it has a stable and good yield; an adult tree bears up to 10 kilograms of berries.

Lighthouse

Siberian cherry variety Mayak

Lighthouse - a bush 2 meters high with a wide spreading crown and leaves folded into a boat. The Siberian variety is self-fertile, but when planted next to such varieties as Vole and Schedra, it gives the most abundant yields. Fruits gain weight up to 6 grams, dark red, sour-sweet taste. The crop can be harvested in early August, on average, one bush gives from 5 to 15 kilograms of fruit.

Also for these territories, the varieties Standard Ural, Schedra, Sverdlovchanka, Zagrebinskaya and Gridnevskaya are suitable.

The best cherry varieties for the Moscow region, description and care

The varieties that are best suited for the Moscow region must have good resistance to frost, and be unpretentious to the composition of the soil, a description of which can be found below.

Early varieties

From the category of early varieties of the Moscow region the varieties Molodezhnaya and Chudo cherry are best suited.

Among the mid-season varieties, one can distinguish Turgenevka, Excellent Venyaminova and Griot Moskovsky.

Griot of Moscow

Cherry for Moscow region Griot Moskovsky

A tree with a spherical crown and matte leaves. The berries reach 3.5 grams in their weight, the taste characteristics are at the highest level, the fruits are suitable for various types of processing... Such a variety ripens in mid-July, the yield is above average, from a hundred square meters you can get up to a ton of cherries. Resistance to winter cold and return frost is excellent. Undergoes coccomycosis and monial burn.

Late varieties

Among the varieties of late ripening Zhukovskaya has recommended herself in the best way.

The undersized (dwarf) cherry varieties for the Moscow region include Molodezhnaya, Mayak, Tamaris, Bystrinka, Memory Mashkin and Malyshka.

Tamaris

The crown of the tree is small, rounded. Fruits are dark red in color with sparse brown spots. The pulp of the berries is juicy, the taste is sour. Cherries can be used both for fresh consumption and for various processing, the transportability of the fruits is average. You can harvest the crop in early August. The variety has good frost and drought resistance.

In memory of Mashkin

Cherry variety in Memory of Mashkin

The crown of the tree is spreading, drooping, spherical in shape. The fruits are large in size, grow up to 5 grams, with their own dessert taste, they often become a decoration of any garden. Maturation occurs in mid-July... Resistance to frost and sore immunity is average.

Self-fertile varieties

The most popular self-fertile varieties for the Moscow region are Apukhtinskaya, Lyubskaya, Zagorievskaya, Volochaevka, Shokoladnitsa, Vstrecha, Garland and Cinderella.

Cinderella

Medium-sized tree, forming fruits weighing 4 grams, rounded oval and light red in color, sweet and sour taste. The harvest ripens in mid-July, from one tree you can get up to 15 kilograms of berries... The frost resistance of the tree itself and of the flower buds is excellent. The variety does not require additional protection against fungal diseases.

Breeders have bred a huge number of cherry varieties, which makes it possible to grow this crop in all corners of Russia. For the most part, all trees have good to medium frost resistance and bear sweet and sour fruits.... Each gardener can choose and plant the cherry that will decorate his particular plot.