Types and varieties of cherries

Many varieties of cherries have been successfully grown by gardeners in our country for a long time.However, if previously the traditional region for cultivating this crop was the south, modern zoned varieties feel good even in central Russia and beyond the Urals. Purposeful selection work is being carried out in this direction, which has resulted in dozens of new ones.

Cherry: general description of the species

Cherry is one of the oldest plants of the Plum family. It was known more than 8000 BC. in the territory of modern Southern Europe. Its Latin name is Prunus Avium, which means “bird cherry”.

What does a cherry look like?

Cherry is a deciduous fruit tree. Active fruiting usually begins at 4–6 years and lasts about 20 years.

cherry tree

An adult cherry tree is a tall, spreading tree with an ovoid or cone-shaped crown. In comfortable conditions it can grow up to 15 m, but usually the height is 4–5 m. It is distinguished by the rapid growth of shoots, especially at a young age. The color of the bark is brown or reddish, sometimes silver, with clearly visible stripes. The shoots are covered with small scales.

What kind of leaves does a cherry tree have?

The leaves are light green, ovate, obovate or elliptical in shape, shortly pointed with a serrate edge. Petioles up to 16 cm long. The leaf blade is wrinkled.

How cherry blossoms

This crop blooms earlier than other stone fruits. In Central Russia, the flowering period occurs at the end of April - beginning of May. The flowers are white, five-petaled, bisexual, with numerous stamens and one pistil. The plant is self-sterile and requires pollinating neighbors to bear fruit.

It is pollinated by bees and is a valuable honey plant.

Cherry ripening time

The timing of fruit ripening strongly depends on the region of growth.The difference in flowering and fruiting of the same variety in different climatic conditions can be up to 1 month. The early ones in the south produce a harvest already at the beginning of May, but usually the fruiting of cherries begins at the end of May and ends in August for the latest ones.

When do cherries produce their first harvest?

Most cherry varieties are early-bearing and can produce the first berries already 4 years after planting. Some begin to bear fruit later, at 5–6 years. The rate of early fruiting strongly depends on the growing conditions; if the place is chosen incorrectly, the plant may not begin to bear fruit.

Features of cherries

The cherry differs from its closest relative, the cherry, by the presence of one powerful trunk, lighter leaves and large size. There are some nuances in growing this crop. Its root system is powerful and well developed. There is only one tap root, but there are quite a few horizontal ones. The depth of their occurrence does not exceed 0.2–0.5 m. The proximity of the roots to the surface makes any agricultural work in the root zone impossible, otherwise there is a very high chance of destroying the tree.

This culture is more demanding in terms of where it grows; it does not tolerate proximity to groundwater. To bear fruit, it definitely needs a large amount of sunlight and the absence of cold wind. It will not do well in swampy lowlands, on clay soils or in close proximity to other trees.

The advantage of growing cherries is that they begin to bear fruit earlier than all other stone fruit crops. However, it must be borne in mind that the crop can be completely destroyed by birds, which love these berries more than any other fruit.Therefore, it is imperative to take measures to protect against birds.

Where do cherries grow?

The traditional regions for growing this crop are the south of Russia: Krasnodar region, North Caucasus, Crimea. However, thanks to breeding work, the cultivation boundaries were significantly expanded. Now some varieties grow well even in the Moscow region, and with proper care, these fruit trees can be grown even in the Urals and Siberia.

For planting, you need to choose a sunny, well-lit place with a groundwater level no higher than 2 m. The planting site should be protected from drafts and north winds. The distance from neighboring trees or buildings should not be less than 3 m.

Since cherries do not pollinate on their own, seedlings are usually planted in groups for cross-pollination. 3 m is also left between neighboring seedlings so that the trees do not compete with each other. An important condition is that there should be no other crops between neighboring trees. For example, if you plant an apple tree between two cherries, the yield will drop by half.

Cherry grows well on light loamy soils. Heavy clay soils are not suitable for growing this crop. It will grow well on the southern slopes of gentle hills, away from tall buildings and structures.

What are cherries: varieties and varieties

Like most fruit crops, cherries are classified according to the period of fruit ripening. In addition, it is distinguished by the height and type of tree, and the color of the berries. They also differ in resistance to diseases and frost resistance, purpose, size and taste of the fruit.

Classification of cherry varieties depending on the color of the fruit

Most cherry varieties have red or burgundy fruits of varying intensities.In addition, there are berries of the following colors:

• pink;
• yellow;
• white;
• black.

White cherry

White-fruited varieties include varieties that have yellowish, straw or cream-colored fruits with a slight blush. Here are the main ones:

• Bordeaux white.
• Winklera white.
• Zaslonovskaya.

Such berries can be used for any canning, as well as eaten fresh.

Yellow cherry

Sweet cherries with yellow fruits are becoming more and more popular. They are distinguished by a uniform yellow or bright yellow color.

These include the following:

• Appetizing.
• Aelita.
• Bigarro yellow.
• General's.
• Summer resident.
• Drogana yellow.
• Leningrad yellow.
• Homestead yellow.
• Rossoshanskaya gold.
• Franz Joseph.
• Chermashnaya.
• Amber.

Yellow-fruited cherries are tasty and healthy. It differs only in its low shelf life and transportability. If there is excess moisture in the soil, the fruits may crack.

Red cherry

Red cherry varieties include varieties of cherries whose fruits are colored red in varying intensities. This group is the largest.

This includes the following representatives:

• Adeline.
• Bakhor.
• Bull's heart.
• Valery Chkalov.
• Vasilisa.
• Veda.
• Here we go.
• Italian.
• Large-fruited.
• Lena.
• Folk
• Ovstuzhenka.
• Farewell.
• Regina.
• Homeland.
• Tyutchevka.

Pink cherry

Sweet cherries with pink fruits are not as common as red ones. Most varieties with this berry color are dessert varieties.

This includes types such as:

• Bryansk pink.
• Leningradskaya pink.
• Orlovskaya.
• Early pink.
• Pink pearls.
• Fatezh.
• Julia.

Black cherry

Cherries with dark burgundy, almost black fruits are classified as black. It is generally best suited for shipping and storage.

Blacks include the following:

• Vasilisa.
• Daibera black.
• Ilchishina.
• Kuban black.
• Leningradskaya black.
• Astakhov's favorite.
• Melitopolskaya.
• Mlievskaya.
• Revna.
• Regina.
• Rossoshanskaya.
• French black.
• Black Prince.
• Black sweetness.

Systematization of cherry varieties by ripening time

In total, there are three main groups into which all varieties of cherries are divided according to ripening time. These are early (late May-early June), mid-season (late June-early July) and late (late July-early August).

Early cherries: photos, varieties, description

Early ripe cherries can delight the gardener with the taste of ripe berries already at the end of May. Here are the most common early ripening varieties:

Valery Chkalov. Quite common, ripens in early June.

The berries are large, weighing 7–9 g on average, and burgundy in color. Productivity – 50–60 kg per mature tree.

Melitopol early. Ripens in early June.

The berries average weight 6–7 g, dark red. Productivity is about 50 kg per tree. The fruits are universally used, suitable for home canning and for fresh consumption.

Mayskaya. Ripens in late May–early June.

An exclusively dessert variety, suitable only for fresh consumption. The berries are bright red, small, weighing 3–4 g. Productivity from one tree is up to 40 kg.

Homestead. Very popular, ripens in early June.

The berries are yellow with a bright blush. Their average weight is 5–6 g, the total yield is up to 85 kg. The fruits tolerate transportation well and can be used both for fresh consumption and for canning.

Mid-ripening cherries

Mid-season varieties include varieties that ripen from mid-June to mid-July.As a rule, they are all universal in their purpose, have good taste and have good transportability. Here are some of the representatives of this group.

Revna. The berries are dark red in color and ripen by mid-July.

The average fruit weight is 5–5.5 g. Resistant to cracking even in high humidity conditions. A very popular variety due to its high winter hardiness. Productivity is high.

Fatezh. No less popular, grown not only in the European part of Russia, but also beyond the Urals.

The berries are small, 4.5–6 g, pale yellow with a beautiful blush. The average yield is about 30 kg per tree; with good agricultural technology and a favorable climate, it can be increased by 1.5–2 times. A universal variety with good transportability.

Vasilisa. One of the largest-fruited varieties. The weight of berries can be from 11 g and above.

The yield is about 30 kg per tree, but with proper cultivation it can reach up to 50 kg or more. The variety is also good because the first berries may appear on the tree in the second year after planting. Versatile, good for any use. Its magnificent appearance, combined with good taste and resistance to transportation, makes it one of the most commercially attractive.

Surprise. It has good resistance to frost and perfectly tolerates heat and drought.

The berries are dark red, large, weighing up to 10 g. The yield is high. Universal purpose.

Late varieties of cherries

Late varieties, as a rule, have good taste and aroma, and due to their thicker skin, increased resistance to transportation. Here are some of them.

Tyutchevka. A well-known and beloved variety by many.Ripens at the end of July.

It has good performance in all respects; its only drawback can be considered the tendency of the berries to crack in excessively wet weather. The berries are medium in size and weight (about 7 g), the yield is high.

Regina. Quite a productive variety and resistant to frost, heat and disease, the result of the work of German breeders. Ripens at the end of July, or later in unfavorable weather conditions.

The fruits are dark crimson in color, quite large, 8.5–11 g, and have a universal purpose. Productivity can reach 40 kg from one tree and above.

Bryansk pink. Ripens in early August.

The berries are small, their average weight is 4.5–5.5 g. A universal variety, suitable for canning or fresh consumption. The taste of the berries has a noticeable bitterness, which is assessed negatively by many.

Self-fertile cherry varieties

The term “self-fertility” is practically not applicable to most cherry varieties. This plant does not pollinate itself and requires nearby pollinating trees for normal fruiting. However, many still use this characteristic when describing.

What does “self-fertile cherry variety” mean?

A tree that bears 15–40% of the total number of flowers is considered self-fertile. If the number of ovaries is less than 4%, the plant is considered self-sterile. Intermediate values ​​allow the variety to be called partially self-fertile.

Numerous experiments carried out with various varieties of cherries did not reveal self-fertility above 35%. The main mass has a significantly lower percentage (5–10), which allows us to speak of them only as partially self-fertile.

Self-pollinating cherry varieties

There are not many varieties of cherries that can produce crops without cross-pollination.Here are some of them:

• Bereket.
• Valery Chkalov.
• Horny goat weed.
• Danna.
• Pridonskaya.
• Homestead yellow.

Pollinator varieties for self-fertile cherries

Most cherry varieties require cross-pollination to set fruit. Any other flowering at the same time can be suitable for this. It's enough just to plant them next to each other.

What is a “self-sterile cherry variety”

Most cherry varieties are self-sterile, meaning they cannot pollinate themselves. Moreover, entire groups of varieties can be self-sterile. Therefore, to obtain a harvest, the presence of a pollinator is a prerequisite.

How to choose the right pollinator variety

To guarantee a harvest, it is recommended to plant at least three different varieties of cherries that coincide in flowering time. Iput is most often used as a pollinator; it is a fairly universal species that coincides in flowering time with many others.

Classification of cherry varieties depending on tree height

The cherry tree itself is quite tall. However, such a high crown is inconvenient to work with, it is impossible to trim it, and the upper tier of fruits is guaranteed to go to the birds. Therefore, more and more gardeners give preference to low-growing trees, growing them on a dwarf rootstock or forming it in the form of a low bush.

Dwarf cherry

An undoubted advantage of dwarf trees is the ability to completely cover them for the winter, thanks to which winter hardiness can be significantly increased. Such trees can be planted both for harvest and for decorative purposes.

The most famous varieties of dwarf cherries are:

• Winter pomegranate.
• Saratov baby.

Low-growing varieties of cherries

Low-growing trees are 2.5–3 m high.These varieties include the following:

• Baby.
• Fatezh.
• Original.
• Crying.

Currently, breeders from different countries are conducting research in this area. Using radiation suppression of the gene for tall stature, Canadian scientists obtained clones of the varieties Compact Lambert and Compact Stella with a low crown.

Medium-sized varieties of cherries

Most formed trees are 3.5–5 meters high. This is a standard height that allows you to work with the crown using various devices (ladders, stepladders, etc.). Medium-growing varieties include:

• Tyutchevka.
• Here we go.
• Leningradskaya black.
• Revna.
• Ovstuzhenka.
• Melitopol early.
• Italian.

Tall varieties of cherries

Tall varieties can fully realize their fruit potential. However, working with such a high crown is quite inconvenient; processing and harvesting takes a lot of time. Tall trees are usually grown in the southern regions of the country, without limiting the height of the trunk and performing only sanitary pruning.

The tall varieties are:

• Bigarro yellow.
• General's.
• Drogana yellow.
• Krasnodar early.
• Large-fruited.
• Leningrad yellow.
• Leningradskaya pink.
• Homestead yellow.
• Franz Joseph.
• Amber.

Separation of cherry varieties according to taste characteristics

Cherry fruits contain sugar and organic acids, depending on the concentration of which the taste of the berries will vary from sweet and sour to sweet. Sweeter ones are used fresh, for the production of juices and in winemaking; berries with sourness are often preserved by adding one or another percentage of sugar.

Which cherries are the most delicious and sweet?

There are no comrades for taste and color, so the most delicious cherries probably do not exist.Among the varieties that have the highest tasting rating for taste, the following can be distinguished (table).

The sweetest are Yaroslavna and Ovstuzhenka, having 14.2 and 13% sugar content, respectively.

Large cherry

Undoubtedly, the large size of the fruits always pleases the gardener's eye. There are also record holders among the cherry varieties. Such large-fruited ones include those that have a fruit weight of 7 g and above. Here are some of them:

• Annushka (9–10 years old).
• Ox heart (7–10g).
• Vasilisa (11–14 g).
• Friendship (10–11 years old).
• Donetsk beauty (7–10 g).
• Italian (7-8 years).
• Folk (7–10 g).

Popular varieties of cherries

The popularity of a particular cherry variety is often dictated by the climatic conditions of the region, and not by the preferences or wishes of the gardener. Therefore, frost-resistant varieties such as Revna, Iput, Fatezh, Ovstuzhenka, Tyutchevka are popular in the Central region and the Volga region. These same varieties are preferred by gardeners in Siberia and the Urals.

In more southern regions the choice is wider. This crop is grown there not only for personal consumption, but also for commercial purposes. Therefore, preference is given to large-fruited varieties with good resistance to transportation: Yaroslavna, Krupnoplodnaya, Annushka, Druzhba, Regina, etc.

Fruitful varieties of cherries

Do not forget that the yield of a tree largely depends not on the variety, but on the growing conditions: climate, soil composition, regularity of fertilizing, watering. Affects the yield and the method of pruning. With good care, the number of berries collected from a tree can exceed the average by several times. Among the varieties that consistently produce high yields, the following can be noted:

• Farewell.
• Yaroslavna.
• Tyutchevka.
• Cordia.
• Daibera black.
• Dzherelo.
• Franz Joseph.
• Donetsk beauty.

Imported varieties of cherries

Rapidly developing Internet commerce has led to the fact that more and more varieties of foreign selection began to appear in Russia. These include the already mentioned German Drogana Zheltaya, Regina, and Czech Cordia. Many varieties of cherries are imported from the USA and Canada. These are varieties such as:

• PC 7217-8.
• Sunburst.
• Kootenay.
• Skeena.
• Sweetthart.
• Staccato and others.

New varieties of cherries

Selection work does not stand still, and new specimens appear quite regularly. Some promising varieties that have recently appeared include the following:

• Madonna.
• Caucasian improved.
• Morning of Kuban.
• Sashenka.
• South.
• Ruby Kuban.
• Black eyes.
• Velvet.
• Enchantress.
• Contrasting.
• Announcement.
• Poppy.
• Scarlet.

All these varieties are the result of the work of domestic breeders, and it is possible that in the near future many of them will take their place in the gardens of our country.

Unpretentious varieties of cherries

Cherries need care and the “plant and forget” option will not work with them. However, there are some varieties that, even with minimal care, are able to show good, stable yields. These include:

• Revna.
• Ovstuzhenka.
• People's Syubarova.

It is impossible to leave trees completely without care.This will lead to rapid thickening of the crown, the development of diseases, and shredding of the berries.

Which cherry variety to choose

When choosing cherries for planting, you should first of all pay attention to the zoned varieties that are most suitable for the region of growth. If there are none, you should choose the ones that are most suitable for the climate. Personal experience or advice from experienced gardeners can play an important role.

Conclusion

Many varieties of cherries are capable of producing a good, stable harvest. Among them are both new and long-known and loved by gardeners. With the modern wealth of choice, everyone can find the variety that suits them best in all respects; you just need to not be intimidated by the amount of work and comply with the required deadlines.

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