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Nature is generous with amazing gifts, so the Generous cherry was received from her by gardeners as a gift, it could not have happened without human participation, people did not leave this gift unnoticed and made sure that many amateur gardeners knew about it. This cherry fully lives up to its name, generously donating its fruits to caring garden workers.
History of selection
Cherry Maksimovskaya (Shchedraya) is the result of natural pollination of a seedling of the famous cherry variety Ideal and several other varieties. In 1959, Sverdlovsk breeders S. Zhukov and N. Gvozdyukova isolated the resulting variety as a separate crop; it was registered in the State Register in 1985 and zoned in the West Siberian region. Subsequently, Maksimovskaya cherries became widespread in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and the Baltic countries.
Plant morphology
To successfully grow cherries, you need to know the structural features of the crop. The morphology for all varieties of this plant is the same, there are only slight deviations, namely in the Maksimovskaya cherry variety:
- Cherry roots are a rod system. Its main root reaches a depth of 1.5 to 2.5 meters, so the plant is not afraid of lack of moisture. The adventitious root shoots are located throughout the rod, the closest to the surface are at a depth of 10-20 cm. When loosening, this must be taken into account so as not to damage them;
- aerial part - formed in the form of a tree with one main trunk or a shrub with several perennial shoots;
- leaves are petiolate, rich green in color, serrated edges;
- Maksimovskaya fruits are round, shiny berries that consist of a seed covered with a shell of juicy pulp; the larger the diameter of the berry, the easier the seeds are separated when peeling. The skin color is red.
Description of culture
For many years, this wonderful plant has been giving its fruits to people, each time surprising with its generosity. Beginning gardeners will also be interested in knowing how this crop differs from other varieties, and what characteristics the Shchedraya cherry variety is famous for.
Maksimovskaya cherry is a perennial fruit tree or shrub that has long settled in the individual gardens of many cherry lovers and in the vast territories of fruit and berry agricultural firms. Thanks to its high yield and many other qualities, it has earned the love of gardeners from different countries.
Photo of a flowering cherry tree of the Shchedroy variety:
Maksimovskaya (Generous) cherry reaches a height of 1.5 meters, branches are of medium density in volume, the crown is compact, convenient for harvesting, the average life cycle is up to 35 years with proper care and care.
The fruits of the Maksimovskaya cherry are smooth and shiny, juicy, the taste is sweet and sour (good and excellent). The average weight of one berry is 4.2 g.
This culture is very winter-hardy and drought-resistant. Growing Generous cherries is possible both in the southern regions and in colder climates: in Siberia, the Urals, and the Volga region.
Characteristics
Let us consider in more detail other characteristic features of the Generous (Maksimovskaya) cherry.
Drought resistance
In addition to natural moisture in the form of rain, the plant is watered 3 times per season: during flowering, during fruit ripening and after harvesting. In case of persistent drought, additional watering is carried out; young seedlings require more frequent watering (up to 5 times).
Winter hardiness
Cherry can withstand low temperatures down to -45°C without any damage or additional shelter.
Pollination
This crop, according to the State Register, is partially self-fertile, that is, the tree independently forms from 7 to 20% of the ovaries, but to increase the yield and quality of the fruit it needs pollinating plants. For Schedra cherry, these can be varieties that bloom at the same time as Maksimovskaya: Lyubskaya, Malinovka, Polevka and Subbotinskaya.
Flowering period
Maksimovskaya cherry begins to bloom in late May or early June, depending on the region and weather conditions.
Ripening time, yield
The ripening of fruits also depends on the climatic conditions of the region where the Maksimovskaya cherry grows; for the Moscow region, the Urals or the Volga region it is August-September.The average harvest volume of Maksimovskaya cherries is 10-15 kg per adult plant per season.
Fruiting period
The ripening period of the Shchedra cherry is very extended; the berries do not ripen at the same time, from July to September. The harvest has to be done in 2-3 stages.
Area of application of berries
Cherry fruits are consumed both fresh and in various processed products: juices, preserves, wines and jams.
Resistance to pests and diseases
Shchedra or Maksimovskaya cherries are noted to be resistant to cluster blight. The main pests are cherry aphids and slimy sawflies.
Advantages and disadvantages
Over the long period of its existence, the Maksimovskaya (steppe, Shchedraya) cherry variety has shown itself not only on the good side, but gardeners have identified some shortcomings.
Pros:
- compactness of the crown - ease of care and picking berries;
- unpretentiousness - good condition during frosts and satisfactory during drought;
- high yield, excellent taste of berries, versatility of their use.
Minuses:
- extended period of fruit ripening;
- weak resistance to fungal diseases.
Landing Features
One or two-year-old seedlings are purchased in the fall and buried in trenches up to 30 cm deep, leaving a small upper part of 10-15 cm on the surface. In April, the seedlings are taken out of the shelter and placed in a permanent place.
Recommended timing
For stone fruit crops, to which Maksimovskaya cherry belongs, the best option is spring planting.The planting date is April, when the buds have not yet bloomed.
Choosing a suitable location
Generous (Maksimovskaya) cherry loves well-lit areas, it should be planted on the south or south-west side of the garden. Low-lying, swampy and windy places are not at all suitable for this plant.
What crops can and cannot be planted nearby?
When choosing a place for cherries, you need to take into account the positive and negative influence of neighboring plants on the growing season of this crop. Cherry trees and bushes should not be planted next to tall apple trees, which will shade the cherries. Good neighbors would be: cherries (helps with pollination), rowan, grapes or elderberries (protects against aphids). You cannot sow or plant vegetables of the nightshade family under cherry bushes: tomatoes, potatoes, peppers and eggplants.
Selection and preparation of planting material
For planting Maksimovskaya, choose one or two-year-old seedlings with a well-developed root system, with buds that have not yet begun to grow.
Landing algorithm
When planting Maksimovskaya cherry seedlings, main attention should be paid to the following points:
- The planting pit is prepared in advance, 2-3 weeks before planting, or in the autumn.
- Hole size 40x40 cm, depth up to 50 cm.
- Distance from the nearest trees: tall trees (apple tree) - at least 5 meters, medium and short trees - about 2-3 meters.
- The planting hole is filled to ½ depth with compost, the necessary mineral fertilizers are added, the soil is mixed, and a seedling is placed in the hole.
- Sprinkle the plant with the top layer of fertile soil, then add the lower layer of soil removed from the hole when digging. The seedlings are watered, the soil is lightly compacted, and mulched with peat or tree bark.
Subsequent care of the crop
Cherry trees are pruned in the spring, when the buds on the tree have not yet awakened. It is necessary to trim excess and damaged branches in order to form the crown, reduce the density inside the bush and to increase yield.
There is no need to cover the frost-resistant Shchedraya (Maksimovskaya) for the winter; you just need to provide protection for the branches from hares and other rodents, if such pests exist.
The first 2-3 years before the start of active fruiting, the plant does not require fertilizing. From the third year, the crop must be regularly fed with complex fertilizers and organic matter added annually.
Diseases and pests, methods of control and prevention
Protection from diseases and pests means carrying out mandatory preventive spring treatments of cherries with fungicides: Bordeaux mixture, copper and iron sulfate.
Plants are sprayed against pests (aphids, sawflies) with special solutions: karbofos, Fitoverm, Nitra.
Every year the number of new varieties of cherries grows, but Maksimovskaya successfully withstands the competition, constantly confirming its name - Generous, does not skimp on a bountiful annual harvest, does not cause gardeners problems with diseases, and gives people tasty and juicy fruits.
