Content
Cherry Bull's Heart belongs to the large-fruited varieties of this garden crop. The original name of the variety is due to the similarity of the fruit in its configuration to the heart of a bull.
History of selection
The Bull's Heart cherry is adapted to regions with warm climates, since the variety was bred in Georgia.
It is not included in the Russian State Register. Over time, the cultivation area expanded to central Europe, thanks to the popularity of juicy, very large fruits.
Description of culture
After planting, the large-fruited Bull's Heart cherry shows rapid growth. By the age of five, an abundant crown has already formed. After this period, growth processes slow down.
As the Bull's Heart cherry tree matures, its height varies from three to five meters. The crown has a pyramidal shape with an average degree of foliage.
The leaf blades are large, with a dark green color. They have a lanceolate shape with pointed tips and double-serrated edges. The rounded base is attached to a strong short petiole.
Ripe berries reach a weight of up to 12 g. They are covered with a dark red dense skin with a pleasant wine tint. The very juicy pulp differs from the peel in a lighter tone. It is sweet, with a pleasant faint sour note, giving the fruit a piquant taste. The bone is removed with little difficulty.
White small flowers are collected in inflorescences. Each of them contains from two to four buds.
After planting in a place prepared in the garden, the Bull's Heart cherry begins to bear fruit quite early, on average already in the fourth year.
This variety of cherry, also called Oxen Heart, was originally recommended for the southern Russian territories. It was cultivated in Azerbaijan and Georgia.
Over time, the cultivation of Bull's Heart cherries began to be practiced in the conditions of the Black Earth Region and the center of Russia. By following agrotechnical rules and taking into account the characteristics of the variety in relation to the selection of a planting site, it is possible to obtain a stable harvest.
Characteristics
Gardeners choose an amazing variety of cherries, distinguished by very large berries, taking into account other characteristic features.
Drought resistance, winter hardiness
The possibility of cultivating Bull's Heart cherries in unstable climates is explained by the fairly high frost resistance of mature trees. They do not freeze in winter at a temperature of -25˚C.
Bull's Heart cherries can tolerate short periods of drought, but the trees should not be left without water for more than one month.
Pollination, flowering period and ripening time
Considering the self-sterility of the fruit crop, it will be necessary to select suitable pollinators for the Bull's Heart cherry. Keeping an interval of at least 4 meters, the Tyutchevka variety is placed nearby. Iput or Ovstuzhenka cherries are suitable as pollinators.
These varieties have the same flowering periods in May, which guarantees the necessary pollination of the Bull's Heart cherry. In such a situation, the trees will delight you with a bountiful harvest.
Depending on the climatic characteristics of a particular area, the ripening period of the Bull's Heart cherry varies. In the south, in gardens, ripe large fruits appear by the beginning of the summer season. In more northern regions, mass fruiting occurs in the second decade of June.
Productivity, fruiting
The value of the fruit crop for gardeners lies in the fact that the fruiting of the Bull's Heart cherry is stable.
The yield is quite high. From each mature tree, up to 60 kg of berries with excellent taste characteristics are obtained annually.
Area of application of berries
Mostly, the juicy, excellent-tasting berries of the Bull's Heart cherries are consumed fresh, collected during their full ripening period.
If necessary, they are processed to produce compotes with a rich burgundy color, savory jam, and delicious preserves.
Resistance to diseases and pests
An important criterion for choosing a certain species for planting in your own garden is such a characteristic of the Bull Heart cherry variety as the ability to resist the diseases and pests characteristic of this crop.
It is noted that trees of this variety are practically not affected by fungal infection. It is important that coccomycosis, which is dangerous for cherries, is rarely observed on them.
Advantages and disadvantages
When evaluating Bull's Heart cherries, you should compare the pros and possible cons of this crop.
Advantages:
- large fruits;
- outstanding product and taste characteristics;
- fairly high winter hardiness;
- rare susceptibility to disease and attack by harmful insects;
- high yield.
Flaws:
- deformation of fruits during transportation;
- low shelf life, which does not allow the berries to be stored fresh;
- susceptibility of fruits to cracking when overripe, as well as under the influence of temperature fluctuations, direct sunlight, and high air humidity.
Landing Features
If the planting of Bull's Heart cherries on a personal yard is carried out taking into account the characteristics of this fruit crop, it is possible to annually obtain tasty, healthy fruits of incredible large size.
Recommended timing
The predominant time recommended for planting Bull's Heart cherries in the garden is the spring season. This is due to the young tree’s ability to adapt to new conditions and survive the winter.
Choosing a suitable location
When choosing a permanent place for the Bull's Heart cherry, take into account that this crop will not grow well if the aquifers are close to each other.
The area should be well lit by the sun. Protective shields are installed on the north side. Cherry does not like heavy clayey and depleted sandy soils.
What crops can and cannot be planted next to cherries?
A properly selected combination of other plants ensures decent yield of the Bull's Heart cherry.
It is recommended to plant hawthorn, grapes, rowan, and cherry. They do not interfere with the development of cherries, so they can grow nearby. Apple trees, cherry plums, pears, raspberries, thorns, and plums are considered undesirable neighbors. It is advisable to place them no closer than six meters from the cherry tree.
Selection and preparation of planting material
When purchasing a Bull's Heart cherry seedling, you should carefully examine it. It is important that there are no dry or broken branches or damaged bark.
The seedling should not be deformed or show signs of disease. The most viable specimens will be those with a developed root system, dense buds, and a neat and visible grafting site.
Immediately before planting, sharp pruning shears are used to shorten too long and damaged roots. Soak the lower part of the seedling for two hours in settled warm water with a growth stimulator dissolved in it according to the instructions.
Landing algorithm
After preparing the planting material, it is important to properly plant the Bull’s Heart cherry, maintaining a row spacing of three meters and a row spacing of five meters.
Holes for spring planting are dug in the fall. The excavated soil is enriched with complex mineral fertilizer.Sand and rotted compost are added to clay soil in equal volumes.
The planting of Bull's Heart cherries is carried out in the following sequence:
- A wooden stake is driven into the bottom of the planting hole, which will serve as a support for the young tree during gusts of wind.
- A drainage layer is laid, the role of which is played by gravel, broken bricks, and cobblestones.
- Pour a mound of prepared soil into the center.
- The seedling is installed by carefully straightening and distributing all the roots over the earthen mound.
- Lightly compacting the layers, fill the voids with soil mixture. The grafting site should rise above the surface.
- Tie a seedling to a support and water it.
Subsequent care of the crop
It should be borne in mind that planting and caring for the Ox Heart cherry does not create difficulties for gardeners. The following activities are carried out:
- In hot weather, an adult tree requires watering four times during the growing season. Young plants need to be watered more often.
- Loosening of tree trunk circles is carried out as the crust forms. At the same time they clean weeds, and then the soil is mulched.
- Feeding the Bull's Heart cherry involves the spring application of ammonium nitrate. In July, when the harvest has already been harvested, phosphorus-potassium fertilizers are used. In the fall, it is recommended to scatter rotted compost into the tree trunks and loosen the soil.
- Pre-winter preparations are carried out in late autumn. The cherries are watered, the trunks and lower large branches are whitened with lime.
- Young trees are protected from the cold by wrapping them with spruce branches. In winter, the snow around the trunks is trampled down to prevent rodents, adding it, if necessary, to the tree trunk circles.
Annual spring pruning to form the crown is required for the Bull's Heart cherry starting from the age of two.Shorten the shoots by a third of the length. In the fall, sanitary cutting out of damaged branches is carried out.
Diseases and pests, methods of control and prevention
Under unfavorable external conditions and irregular crown thinning, the Bull's Heart cherry can be susceptible to serious diseases and the development of pests. At the first sign, you need to start fighting to save the trees.
Main diseases:
Name of the disease | Signs | Control measures | Prevention |
Bacteriosis | Distribution of watery spots on all parts of the tree | Watering without excessive waterlogging of the soil | Annual application of nitrogen fertilizers in spring |
Coccomycosis | Brown marks on leaf blades | Treatment in July, when the harvest is fully harvested, with Topaz or Chorus | Irrigation at the stage of kidney swelling with Bordeaux mixture (0.5%) |
Rot | Grayish mold spots on berries | Treatment with preparations “Copper oxychloride”, “Azophos” | Spraying the crown in April with Bordeaux mixture (0.5%) |
The most common pests:
Name | Danger to the plant | Control measures |
cherry fly | Larvae damage berries | Spraying with insecticides |
Cherry shoot moth | Leaf plates, young shoots, buds are destroyed | Irrigation of the crown during the period of bud swelling with the preparations “Chlorofos”, “Karbofos” |
Conclusion
With proper care, the Bull's Heart cherry allows you to annually obtain a bountiful harvest of large fruits with excellent taste. It should be taken into account that it is recommended to grow berries that are easily deformed during transportation for your own consumption, since it is difficult to sell them.
Reviews
To get a complete impression, you should analyze the reviews of gardeners about the Bull Heart cherry.
