Content
- 1 The history of hybrids
- 2 Distinctive features of hybrids
- 3 Cerapadus varieties
- 4 Padocerus varieties
- 5 Planting and caring for hybrids of bird cherry and cherry
- 6 Aftercare for hybrids
- 7 How does a hybrid of cherry and bird cherry reproduce?
- 8 What can be prepared from a hybrid of bird cherry and cherry?
- 9 Conclusion
A hybrid of cherry and bird cherry was created by Michurin I.V. by pollinating the Ideal cherry with pollen from the Japanese bird cherry Maaka. The new type of crop was named Cerapadus. In the case where the mother plant is bird cherry, the hybrid is called padocerus.
The history of hybrids
At the beginning of hybridization, the breeder took steppe cherry and common bird cherry as a basis, but the result was negative. Michurin's next decision was to replace the common bird cherry with Japanese Maaka. Cross-pollination was carried out in two directions: cherry flowers were crossed with bird cherry pollen and vice versa. In both cases, a new stone fruit crop was obtained. The scientist gave the name according to the first syllables of the Latin designation of the species - cherry (cerasus), bird cherry (padus).
New hybrids were not immediately recognized as independent berry plants; they only partially inherited the characteristics of the founder species.Cerapadus and padocerus had a branched, well-developed root system, formed inflorescences and the number of fruits, like the parent varieties, and resisted diseases well. But the berries were bitter with an almond smell, small. The first generation of hybrids was subsequently used as a rootstock for breeding new varieties of cherries.
Distinctive features of hybrids
During long-term work on breeding a culture with a minimum number of defects, we got Cerapadus sweet. The berry plant inherited the Ideal fruits from the cherry:
- the shape of the berries of the hybrid of bird cherry and cherry is round, of medium volume;
- the peel is thin, dense, the flesh is dark red;
- surface – glossy, closer to black;
- taste – sweet and sour, well balanced.
From Maak the hybrid received a strong root system and frost resistance. Cerapadus has a strong immune system; thanks to bird cherry, the plant practically does not get sick and is not affected by pests.
A special feature of cerapadus and padocerus is the possibility of using them as a rootstock for less resistant varieties of cherries. The grafted varieties safely tolerate low temperatures, they are grown in regions with a temperate climate, and their range has spread far beyond the Central region of Russia.
Created on the basis of the first hybrids, cerapadus varieties not only have high frost resistance, they produce a high, stable yield of berries. The fruits are large and taste like cherry, with a slight aroma of bird cherry. A tree with many branches and shoots, the leaves are similar to cherry leaves, slightly oblong in shape. The plant forms a dense crown, pressed against the trunk, dome-shaped.
Later, padocerus cultivars were obtained with the appearance of bird cherry, the fruits are located in clusters, the berries are large, black, with a sweet cherry taste. They bloom in early spring, the flowers are not afraid of returning frosts.
Berries of a culture of universal use. Consumed fresh, used for making jam, compote, juice. The plant is unpretentious in care, self-fertile, most varieties do not require pollinators.
Advantages and disadvantages of dukes
The culture obtained by crossing bird cherry and cherry has a number of advantages:
- has a powerful root system;
- withstands low temperatures well;
- produces berries enriched with microelements and vitamins beneficial to the body;
- The taste of the fruits combines the sweetness of cherries and the aroma of bird cherry;
- hybrids are self-pollinating and always produce high yields;
- unpretentious in agricultural technology;
- resistant to infection, rarely affected by garden pests;
- serve as a strong rootstock for heat-loving cherry varieties.
No disadvantages were found in padocerus and cerapadus during cultivation.
Cerapadus varieties
The photo shows hybrids of bird cherry and cherry, where the parent tree is cherry.
The most popular and widespread is Cerapadus Novella:
- tree height – up to 3 m, branched crown, intensively leafy;
- it is not affected by coccomycosis;
- has a well-developed root system;
- frost-resistant;
- the berries are large – up to 5 g, black with a glossy surface, grow singly or in groups of 2;
- The plant is self-fertile, pollinators are not needed.
The Novella variety is grown in the Central Black Earth region, Kursk and Lipetsk regions.
In memory of Lewandowski – grows as a shrub, up to 1.8 m high. The berries are large, sweet and sour, with a distinct bird cherry flavor. The variety is not self-fertile; it requires the proximity of pollinating cherry varieties Subbotinskaya or Lyubskaya. The culture is frost-resistant and tolerates high temperatures well. Productivity is average, depends on the quality of pollination; weather conditions do not affect fruiting. The variety is new, bred for cultivation in the Northern regions.
Cerapadus Rusinka - a special cultivar for the Moscow region. The plant is a shrub up to 2 m tall, with a strong crown and powerful roots. Mid-early fruiting period. The yield is high due to the self-pollinating nature of the hybrid. The berries are medium in size, black, very aromatic. Sweet and sour with burgundy pulp. The bone comes off well. This hybrid is often grown commercially for cherry juice.
Padocerus varieties
Hybrid varieties of Padocerus are not inferior to Cerapadus in varietal characteristics; many cultivars are even superior in taste. The most popular variety among gardeners is the Kharitonovsky variety, bred from the base hybrid Padocerus-M:
- The variety grows in the form of a tree, reaching a height of up to 3.5 m.
- Frost-resistant, tolerates temperatures down to -400 C.
- Mid-season, not self-fertile, requires pollinators.
- The fruits are bright red, the flesh is orange, the weight of the berries is up to 7 g, they grow solitary.
They are grown in the Voronezh, Tambov, Lipetsk regions, and in the Moscow region.
Firebird – Padocerus grows in the form of a bush up to 2.5 m. The fruits are dark red, with the tartness of bird cherry, and are formed on a cluster. The average fruit size is up to 3.5 cm. The yield is high and resistant to infection. Frost resistance is average; the crop is not suitable for growing in temperate climates.Areas with warm climates are recommended.
Padocerus Corona – a young hybrid, characterized by high yield and frost resistance. The fruits are purple in color, located in a group on the cluster. The taste has a pronounced aroma of bird cherry and slight sourness. It grows in the form of a shrub, reaching a height of up to 2 m. The foliage is medium, the crown is loose. The plant does not get sick, it is not affected by pests. Regions of Central Russia are recommended for cultivation.
Planting and caring for hybrids of bird cherry and cherry
The crop is propagated with seedlings purchased from specialized stores or reputable nurseries. The crop is rare, not often found in gardens, you need to be sure that you purchased exactly cerapadus, and not a similar fruit crop.
Algorithm for planting seedlings
Cerapaduses and padoceruses can be placed on the site in the spring after the snow melts or in the fall 3 weeks before the onset of frost. The crop tolerates low temperatures well and is not in danger of freezing of the root system. Hybrids take root well due to their developed root system.
The planting site is determined in an area open to ultraviolet radiation, shading is not allowed, and the seedling is protected from the effects of cold wind. The soil is preferably neutral. Fertile or moderately fertile. Drainage does not play a role; the cerapadus has a root that penetrates deeply into the soil; the proximity of groundwater is not dangerous for the hybrid.
The planting hole is prepared 21 days before autumn planting. If planting material is planted in the spring (approximately in early April), then the pit is prepared in the fall.The holes are made of a standard size - 50*50 cm, depth - 40 cm. If group planting is planned, the root circle of an adult plant is about 2.5 m, seedlings are placed at intervals of 3 m from each other. Row spacing – up to 3.5 m.
Before planting, prepare a mixture of sand, peat and compost in equal proportions, add either potassium or phosphorus fertilizer - 100 g per 3 buckets of soil. Can be replaced with the same amount of nitrophoska. Before placing in the hole, the root of the hybrid is dipped in a solution that stimulates growth for 2 hours.
Sequencing:
- Pour 1/2 of the mixture into the bottom of the recess.
- They make a small hill out of it.
- Place the root on a hill and carefully distribute it.
- Fill with the second part of the mixture and compact so that there are no voids.
- They are filled to the top, the root collar should remain on the surface.
Water and mulch with a layer of straw or sawdust; do not use pine needles for mulch. Within 2 years the seedling gives a slight increase. This is the time of formation of the root system. The following year, the cerapadus grows rapidly and forms a crown. The tree begins to bear fruit in the 5th year.
Aftercare for hybrids
Cerapadus, like bird cherry and cherry, does not require special agricultural technology; the plant is unpretentious, especially in adults. The soil near the young seedlings is loosened and removed. weeds as needed. The hybrid produces dense root shoots that need to be trimmed. Cerapadus does not require watering; seasonal precipitation is sufficient; in times of drought, a young tree needs intensive watering at the root once every 30 days. The seedlings are fertilized during planting; subsequent fertilizing is not necessary.
A mandatory procedure is to treat the hybrid with Bordeaux mixture before sap flow in the spring, and whitewash the trunk in the fall and spring.The hybrid practically does not get sick and is not affected by insects. For prevention or when problems are detected, the fruit crop is treated with the biological product "Actofit". No additional measures are required for the hybrid.
The culture is formed after 3 years of growth. The tree trunk is formed up to 60 cm high, the skeletal branches are left on 3 tiers. The lower tier of the branch is longer, the subsequent ones are shorter than the previous ones. Formation is carried out in early spring before sap flow or in autumn, when the tree is dormant. In spring, old, dry branches are pruned. Thin out the crown and cut off the root shoots. By autumn, no preparatory measures are required, only the roots of the seedlings are covered with a layer of dry leaves or sawdust. For an adult tree, shelter is irrelevant.
How does a hybrid of cherry and bird cherry reproduce?
The hybrid of cherry and bird cherry is propagated only by cuttings. Planting material is taken only from trees that have entered the full fruiting phase. The age of daughter bushes must be at least 5 years. Cuttings are cut from the tops of young shoots. The length of the shoot must be at least 8 cm. Planting material is placed in fertile soil and removed in the shade. When the cuttings form a root, they are determined to a permanent place of growth.
What can be prepared from a hybrid of bird cherry and cherry?
Many varieties of the crop produce fruits that are sweet, juicy, aromatic, and are consumed fresh. No matter how tasty the berries are, they combine both cherries and bird cherry; not everyone likes their exotic taste.There are varieties of hybrids that produce fruits that are tart and bitter; their flavors disappear after heat treatment. Therefore, it is recommended to process the berries into juice, jam, preserves, and compote. You can make homemade wine or liqueur with herbs. Regardless of what the berries are processed into, the pit, which contains hydrocyanic acid, is first removed from it.
Conclusion
The hybrid of cherry and bird cherry has become the founder of many varieties, grown throughout the Russian Federation. From bird cherry, the crop inherited good immunity to infection, frost resistance, and a strong root system. The cherry provided the hybrid with the shape and taste of the fruit. The plants are grown as a fruit crop or a strong rootstock for cherries, plums, and cherries.
