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Soviet-bred varieties still compete successfully with new hybrids. The Griot Moscow cherry was developed back in 1950, but is still popular today. This is due to the large-fruited and high yield of the variety. Its other characteristics are no less successful.
Description of Griot Moscow cherry
The variety is classified as medium-sized, bush-shaped cherries. The tree is quite spreading, densely planted.
Branches are thin, long, drooping
The leaves are elongated, dark green, matte, their shape is obovate. The bark is brown, brown, with a whitish coating. In addition to practical purposes, the variety also has decorative functions.
The flowering period of the crop occurs at the end of May. The flowers of the Griot Moscow cherry are small, white, collected in umbrella-shaped inflorescences.
Fruiting occurs on annual growth.It is recommended to grow the Griot Moscow cherry variety in the central regions of Russia, Moscow and the Moscow region. Griot Moscow cherry tolerates cold well and is characterized by stable fruiting.
Height and dimensions of an adult tree
When growing, the Griot Moscow cherry reaches a height of approximately 3 m. The crown of the tree is dense, spreading, and spherical in shape.
Description of fruits
At the stage of technical maturity, the weight of medium-sized fruits can reach up to 3 g, large ones - up to 5 g. With a lack of moisture, the berries become smaller, their weight decreases to 2.5 g.
The shape of the cherries is regular, round
Their color is dark red; in overripe fruits it is almost black. Small, dark spots in the form of dots appear on the thin skin.
The cherry pulp is dark red, juicy, medium dense. The skin is thin, glossy, non-rigid. The variety is classified not as a table variety, but as a technical species.
A small, round, light-colored seed is difficult to separate from the pulp. The separation of the fruit from the stalk is wet. The fruits are suitable for fresh consumption, but due to their sour taste they are more suitable for processing.
Cherry pollinators Griot Moscow
To achieve fruiting of this crop, self-fertile varieties are planted nearby. The following cherries are suitable for these purposes: Vladimirskaya, Early Orlovskaya, Pink Flask, Lyubskaya, Shubinka, Shpanka Kurskaya.
The variety begins to bloom in the second half of May. If the month is cold, this process may shift by a week. In the photo you can see how a cherry blossom, Griot Moscow, can become a real decoration of the spring garden.
Small snow-white petals are collected in inflorescences
Main characteristics
The Griot Moscow cherry variety was created for regions with a temperate climate. It is possible to grow a crop and get a bountiful harvest if the summer is not hot.
Drought resistance, frost resistance
The variety does not tolerate drought and requires regular and abundant watering. Initially, it is better to plant seedlings under the cover of a tall building or tree.
The variety is considered frost-resistant, but experienced gardeners recommend covering the young tree for the winter. If the air temperature drops below - 30 ᵒC, the root system may freeze.
Productivity
Fruiting of the Griot Moscow variety begins in the second half of July. The first harvest is harvested 4-5 years after planting.
With proper care, you can harvest up to 16 kg of cherries from one tree. On average, this figure does not exceed 10 kg.
The variety is universal in its use; it is classified as a technical variety, not a table variety. The fruits are not suitable for long-term storage and transportation due to increased juiciness and wet separation from the stalk.
Juices, jams, preserves are prepared from berries
Advantages and disadvantages
Culture has many positive qualities. But, in addition to positive properties, Griot Moscow cherries have a number of disadvantages:
- self-sterility;
- susceptibility to coccomycosis;
- impossibility of transportation and long-term storage.
Low yield and average taste can complement this list.
Positive aspects of the variety:
- regular fruiting, even in unfavorable weather conditions;
- precociousness;
- frost resistance;
- universal purpose of the variety.
The list of positive qualities can be supplemented with the rather high resistance of the Griot Moscow variety to scab.
Landing rules
In order for the Griot Moscow cherry to begin to bear fruit quickly and abundantly, you need to familiarize yourself with the rules for planting it. They are quite simple; if you follow them, the garden will be replenished with another winter-hardy seedling.
Recommended timing
Griot Moscow cherry is planted in mid-April before the seedling buds open. With later planting, the survival rate of the seedling decreases.
Autumn planting for this variety is not recommended - there is a risk of freezing of the root system of the young tree
Site selection and soil preparation
For cherries, choose an open, well-lit area. It is important that it is protected from the winds on one or more sides.
The soil should be loose, moderately moist; close groundwater will negatively affect the survival rate of the seedling.
Before planting, the soil is loosened, organic or mineral fertilizers are applied, and moistened.
How to plant correctly
A hole is dug 2 times larger than the rhizome of the plant. They bring in fertile soil and install a peg to support the trunk.
The seedling is installed vertically with the rhizome down. In this case, the root collar should be 3 cm above the ground level.
The root is covered with loosened soil and compacted. At the last stage of planting, the seedling is watered abundantly.
Features of care
Proper care is no less important for the health of the tree. Griot Moscow cherry needs regular watering and fertilizing, pruning, and preparation for the winter.
Watering and fertilizing schedule
In temperate climates, cherries do not need watering. If the summer is dry, moisten the rhizome of the tree 2 times a month.It is especially important to carry out this water procedure during the period of flowering and fruit formation.
Top dressing is applied from the 3rd year after planting the Griot Moscow cherry. In early spring, it is necessary to provide the crop with nitrogen fertilizers; during the flowering period, complex fertilizers are used; in the fall, after harvesting, potassium or phosphate fertilizers are used.
Trimming
The first time the Griot Moscow cherry is pruned is after planting. Crooked and broken shoots are removed, the rest are shortened by 1/3.
Subsequent pruning is carried out annually in the spring, after above-zero temperatures have established.
They shorten shoots that are too long, thin out the crown, and remove damaged branches.
In autumn, sanitary pruning is necessary. It is carried out after the leaves have been shed. Remove damaged or infected shoots.
Preparing for winter
Griot Moscow cherry is a winter-hardy variety, but it is recommended to prepare it for winter, like other crops.
Important procedures:
- In October, the trunk is treated with lime.
- Before frost, water the tree at the root.
- Sanitary pruning is carried out, fallen plant debris is removed from the area.
The soil on the plot needs to be dug up and fertilizer applied under the tree.
Diseases and pests
The described garden variety is one of the few resistant to scab. But at the same time, Griot Moscow cherry is susceptible to fungal diseases (coccomycosis and moniliosis). As a result, colored swollen spots form on the surface of the leaves of the crop, and a pale pink coating appears on their reverse side. 2-3 years after the disease, the tree dies.
At the first signs of a fungal disease, the crop is sprayed with a solution of copper sulfate or Bordeaux mixture. The first procedure is carried out in the spring. The tree is sprayed again after flowering with copper oxychloride. The last antifungal treatment is carried out in the fall after harvest. Use a 1% solution of Bordeaux mixture.
In autumn, fallen, infected leaves are burned; leaving them on the site is prohibited. They are a source of infection for neighboring garden crops.
To protect against pests, treating trunks and shoots with a lime solution in spring and autumn helps.
Conclusion
Cherry Griot Moscow is a variety that has been proven over the years. Despite its low taste, it is a fairly common crop on the plots of domestic gardeners. The tree, which is not too tall, gives a good harvest; the berries are juicy and suitable for making juices and jams. Disadvantages include low shelf life and the inability to transport aromatic berries.
