Content
Cherry Duke Spartanka is a representative of hybrids that has received the best properties of its predecessors. Brought out as a result of accidental cross-pollination of cherries and sweet cherries. This happened in England in the 17th century. The hybrid was named May-Duke by the Duke of May, but in Russia the cherry is known under the short name “Duke”.
Description of the Spartan cherry
The Duke Spartanka variety was developed by A.I. Sychev. The tree is medium-sized, but has a wide spreading crown. From the trunk, the skeletal branches are directed almost vertically. The leaf blades are oval, dark green in color, larger than those of cherries.
In appearance, the Spartan cherry is similar to cherries, but its fruits are very similar to cherry berries
The variety is intended for cultivation in Western Siberia, but you can get a harvest in other regions if you provide it with proper care.
Height and dimensions of an adult tree
Cherevishna Spartanka gives the impression of a large tree due to its spreading crown. The height of the variety reaches 2-3.5 m.
Description of fruits
The variety is known among gardeners for its exquisite taste: the fruits are not only sweet, but also juicy, with a rich dark burgundy color. The berry of the Spartan cherry is round, with shiny skin. The flesh inside is tender, but wine-colored, slightly crunchy. The weight of one fruit ranges from 5.5 to 8 g. Ripe berries have a pronounced cherry aroma.
According to the tasting assessment, the Spartanka variety was awarded 4.4 points
Pollinators for Duke Spartank
Cherry Spartanka is self-sterile, so to get a harvest it is necessary to plant other varieties of cherries or sweet cherries on the plot next to it.
The Iput variety can be used as a pollinator. Sweet cherries are frost-resistant and suitable for cultivation in many regions of Russia. The tree is medium-sized, blooms in May, the first fruits ripen in June. The berries are sweet, each weighing from 5 to 9 g, rich in vitamin C.
The Iput cherry begins to bear fruit 4-5 years after planting.
Among various crops, the Glubokskaya cherry is suitable as a neighbor for the Spartan cherry. The tree is medium-sized, blooms in May, begins to bear fruit in July. The berries are sweet and sour, but the pulp inside is juicy. Fruiting begins 4 years after planting.
Among small trees, Lyubskaya cherry is often planted as a pollinator.The tree is medium-sized, reaching a height of 2-2.5 m. Flowers appear at the end of May, and berries in July-August. The taste of the fruit is mediocre, so they are often used for preservation. Lyubskaya cherry is frost-resistant.
The tree begins to bear fruit 2-3 years after planting
Main characteristics of Spartanka cherry
Studying the characteristics is one way to choose a variety that meets all the requirements. Cherevishna Spartanka is valued among gardeners because it exhibits the best qualities of its parents.
Drought resistance, frost resistance
Cherevishna Sartanka safely survives weather disasters, but prolonged drought negatively affects the yield of the tree. With a constant lack of moisture, the tree gradually weakens, which can lead to the development of various diseases. Spartan cherry is demanding on moisture.
The frost resistance of cherry is amazing: it tolerates temperatures down to -25-35 °C. Severe spring return frosts are not dangerous for the buds, which allows you to maintain the yield of the variety when grown in regions with cold climates.
Productivity
Spartan cherry has an average ripening period, flowers appear in April-May, and ripe fruits can be tasted in July. The variety is considered one of the most productive: up to 15 kg of berries are harvested from one tree.
Although the fruits of the Spartanka cherry do not fall off the branches, they are soft and juicy, and therefore cannot be transported for a long time. The impossibility of storage forces gardeners to immediately process the crop: canning compotes and jams. The berries are also consumed fresh; if necessary, they are dried or frozen.
If the cherries are properly frozen, washed, dried and distributed in a thin layer on a tray, the berries will retain their appearance and properties, which allows them to be used in the future for baking
Advantages and disadvantages
Cherevishna Spartanka lives up to its name: it is resistant to low temperatures. This is precisely one of the main advantages of the variety.
The positive qualities of culture include:
- high productivity;
- possibility of growing in regions with cold winters;
- appearance and taste;
- immunity to disease.
Among the disadvantages of the Spartan cherry are the need for a pollinator and the spreading nature of the crown, which requires shaping.
Landing rules
The yield of the Spartanka cherry and its viability depend on how well the site for planting is selected and how the tree is cared for. And although cherry is undemanding to agricultural technology, gross neglect of its basics leads to premature death of the seedling or lack of berries in the future.
Recommended timing
Despite its good frost resistance, the Spartanka cherry seedling needs time for the root system to become well strengthened. The recommended time for planting is spring, when the snow melts and warm weather sets in.
Site selection and soil preparation
Cherry cherry will take root well if it is given a lighted place on the site. The tree should be exposed to sunlight all day. Partial shade is allowed. The area should be protected from winds.
The land should be fertile, sandy loam, but not swampy. If the soil is clayey, then it needs to be replaced with a mixture of sand and fertile soil. If the soil is highly acidic, chalk should be added to it at the rate of 1.5 kg per 1 m2.
The location of groundwater is allowed no higher than 2 m
When placing a seedling, the distance between pollinators should be taken into account: no more than 5 m.
How to plant correctly
Autumn planting is possible only in the southern regions. In other cases, all work is carried out in the spring:
- a month before planting, dig holes, maintaining a distance of 4-5 m between them;
- the dimensions of the hole must be such that the seedling’s root system is completely straightened;
- A drainage layer consisting of broken bricks and stones should be distributed along the bottom of the pit, and a mixture of manure and soil on top of it;
- the soil that was obtained when digging a hole must be mixed with superphosphate, potassium sulfate and ash, adding 300 g of each substance;
- the seedling is transferred to a hole, all the roots are straightened and sprinkled with soil, leaving the neck flush with the surface of the earth;
- At the end of the work, you should moisten the soil by pouring 2 buckets of water under each tree.
If the soil on the site is depleted, then pour 1 bucket of compost into the hole, then distribute it evenly along the bottom.
Excessive deepening of the seedling increases the risk of rot developing on it, which will not allow the cherry to take root.
Features of care
Duke Spartan cherry is a very unpretentious variety. With minimal care, the gardener is guaranteed a good harvest.
Watering and fertilizing schedule
Young seedlings need weekly watering. For the procedure, you should take settled and not cold water. As the tree matures, it should be watered less and less.
One adult cherry tree requires 20-40 liters of water. During periods of drought, the displacement should be increased.Like any stone fruit, cherry trees can die if overwatered: the roots begin to rot, and the bark on the trunk and branches cracks.
Duke cherry Spartanka does not need fertilizing, which is its advantage. Fertilizers should be applied to the soil only at planting. As the tree grows, it gets enough nutrients from the soil.
Trimming
The first procedure is carried out immediately after planting: the top and skeletal branches are trimmed. The distance from the ground surface to the cutting point must be at least 0.6 m.
In 2-year-old seedlings, the lateral branches are shortened by 1/3. This will not harm the tree: it grows quickly during the first 4–5 years, or until the first berries appear.
The crown should be thinned out so that the yield does not decrease. The shoots are harvested taking into account the angle: the sharper it is in relation to the trunk, the shorter the cut shoot should be.
Old trees undergo anti-aging pruning at intervals of 5 years: during the procedure, all shoots are removed, down to the level of 4-year-old trees
Preparing for winter
Chererry Cherry Spartanka is frost-resistant, so special preparation for the winter period is not required. It is enough to mulch the tree trunk circle. To do this, you should prepare hay or foliage in advance.
It is recommended to insulate young seedlings that have not reached 5 years of age: cover the crown with polyethylene and the trunk with snow.
Gardeners often prefer to wrap trunks with burlap to protect the tree not only from low temperatures, but also from rodents
Diseases and pests
A common reason for the appearance of signs of various diseases is illiterate care or prevention.
Existing diseases and pests:
- Fruit rot may appear on Spartank cherries. May develop after hail or pest attack.
As a therapeutic measure, the tree should be sprayed with a fungicidal solution of drugs such as Topaz or Previkur
- Among the pests, the cherry cherry is attacked by the leaf roller. As a result of its activity, the leaf plates curl and fall off.
To destroy the pest, the leaves should be treated with the insecticide Lepidocide or Bitoxibacillin
- The cherry fly causes great damage to the crop. Its larvae damage the pulp of the berries, forcing gardeners to dispose of the fruits.
To kill flies, treat the wood with Fufanon or Sigmaen
Conclusion
Duke Spartan cherry is a frost-resistant variety known among gardeners. Cherry berries are large and sweet, well suited for canning and other culinary dishes. The fruits are not intended for transportation. The variety is characterized by high yield.
Reviews of Spartanka cherry
My grandchildren love cherries, but none of the usual varieties have taken root in my garden. Duke Spartanka began to bear fruit 4 years after planting and pleased with its large and sweet berries.It is unpretentious to soil and temperature, but if you plant it in a sunny place and water it abundantly, the berries ripen sweeter.
