In the territory of the former Soviet Union, cherry orchards occupied 27% of all fruit plantings. This crop was second in number only to the apple tree. Today, the number of cherry trees has greatly decreased due to coccomycosis. This disease spreads quickly, and without treatment the crop dies. But we can no longer imagine a private household on which cherries do not grow. Therefore, the task of creating cultivars resistant to coccomycosis has come to the fore. Novella cherry is one of the best varieties of domestic selection, which simultaneously has high commercial qualities and resistance to fungal diseases.
History of selection
The Novella cherry variety was created by the Oryol All-Russian Research Institute for Breeding Fruit Crops in 1995. It was accepted by the State Register in 2001. In addition, in 1999 the variety received protective patent No. 0466, which expires in 2034.
The parent crops of the Novella cherry are Griot Rossoshanskaya and Cerapadus Vozrozhdeniye, which is a donor of resistance to coccomycosis.
Description of culture
Although the variety is usually classified as a cerapadus, a photo of the Novella cherry tree shows that it bears little resemblance to bird cherry.
The cultivar took a powerful root system from the pollinator. Novella cherry forms a medium-sized tree about 3 m high. The raised crown is spreading, round, with straight branches of a brownish-brown color. With age, the shoots become bare.
The obovate leaves are serrated, with a pointed base and tip. Their surface is flat, matte, dark green. The petiole is up to 3 cm long along the entire length of the anthocyanin color. The buds are slightly deviated from the shoots.
Flat white flowers are collected together in groups of 4 on bouquet branches or last year's growth. Novella cherry berries are one-dimensional, weighing up to 5 g each. Their shape resembles a ball compressed at the top and base. The funnel is shallow, there is a small notch on the top of the head. The Novella cherry variety is a typical griot. The berry, juice and pulp are dark red. When the fruits are fully ripe, they do not crack and become almost black.
The separation of the berries from the stalk is average. The small (5.5% of the total weight of the cherry) pit is yellow, round, and easily separated from the pulp. Tasters rated the taste of the juicy sweet and sour berry at 4.2 points.
Brief characteristics of the variety
Cherry Novella is a potential long-liver. With regular care in the Central Black Earth Region, it produces abundant harvests and does not get sick.
Drought resistance, winter hardiness
Characterizing the Novella cherry variety as frost-resistant only makes sense in the region recommended for growing the crop - the Central Black Earth. The bark and cambium can withstand low temperatures well, but the buds can freeze in a particularly harsh winter.
Novella's drought tolerance is fair but not outstanding. In hot summers, the tree must be watered 1-2 times a month.
Pollination, flowering period and ripening time
The Novella variety blooms in mid-May. Depending on weather conditions, the first buds usually open from the 10th to the 18th. The berries ripen simultaneously, in the mid-early period. The Novella cherry harvest begins after July 15th.
The variety is partially self-fertile. The best harvest can be harvested in the presence of pollinators - Griot Ostgeimsky, Shokoladnitsa, Vladimirskaya cherries. They need to be planted at a distance not exceeding 40 m from Novella.
Productivity, fruiting
Novella cherry begins to bear fruit 4 years after planting. The berries ripen simultaneously in mid-July. According to FGNBU VNIISPK, the average yield per hectare is 77.6 centners, the highest is 99.8 centners. These indicators are considered very good, especially since the tree does not grow tall.
Fruiting of the Novella cherry variety is unstable. In those years when flower buds are exposed to low temperatures, it produces few berries.
The Novella variety is relatively young - it was registered only in 2001.However, scientists claim that this cherry is a potential long-liver that, with minimal care, will bear fruit until a very old age. Based on the habit of the tree, we can conclude that its lifespan will be about 20 years.
Area of application of berries
The Novella variety has a universal purpose. Its sweet and sour black berries can be eaten fresh, made into jam, desserts and other sweets. Like all griots, Novella's fruits are juicy. Thanks to the Maak bird cherry genes, they have a subtle bird cherry aroma. Particularly tasty products from Novella cherry processing are juices, wines, liqueurs and other drinks.
Resistance to diseases and pests
The Novella variety is a cerapadus, therefore, it is related to bird cherry. Because of this, it is less often affected by pests than other cherries. Resistance to coccomycosis, moniliosis and other fungal diseases is high.
Advantages and disadvantages
The Novella variety is one of the best modern varieties. It is too early to judge all its merits - it was introduced not so long ago. But Novella cherry received a protective patent for 35 years, which speaks of its exceptional qualities. Among the positive aspects of the variety it should be noted:
- High resistance to coccomycosis and other fungal diseases.
- Partial self-fertility.
- Potentially long productive life of the tree.
- High yield.
- Dessert taste and universal purpose of berries (score – 4.2 points).
- High resistance to low temperatures.
- Harmonious ripening of berries.
- A small bone.
- The berries are large.
- The fruits are resistant to cracking.
- The berries have an attractive appearance, one-dimensional.
Among the disadvantages:
- The resistance of Novella cherry buds to frost is average.
- Instability of fruiting.
- Old branches are exposed.
- Inability to grow the Novella variety in the northern regions.
- Fruits do not always break off cleanly from the stem.
Landing Features
The requirements for planting and growing location of Novella cherries are not much different from those needed by other varieties. This is little influenced by the Maak bird cherry genes present in the pedigree of the cultivar.
Recommended timing and selection of a suitable location
In the Central Black Earth Region, which is recommended for growing Novella cherries, planting is done in early spring, before the buds open. In the south of Russia and Ukraine, it is recommended to place the tree on the site in the fall, after leaf fall.
For cherries, the best planting location will be the southern sunny side of a fence or building, the western side of a hill with a minimum slope (ideally 8%, no more than 15%). The soil should be fertile, loose, neutral. Groundwater should not be located closer than two meters to the surface.
What crops can and cannot be planted next to cherries?
It is better to plant pollinating cherries Shokoladnitsa, Griot Ostgeimsky or Vladimirskaya next to the Novella variety. Other stone fruits will be good neighbors. You can plant any fruit trees in close proximity, the main thing is that their crowns do not shade each other.
Linden, maple, walnut (especially walnut), birch and linden will be bad neighbors for cherries. The crop is not friendly with black currants, and sea buckthorn, blackberries and raspberries take away moisture and nutrients from it.
When the cherry tree takes root, you can plant any shade-tolerant ground covers with a shallow root system growing in your area in the tree trunk circle. They will protect the top layer of soil from overheating and rapid evaporation of moisture.
Selection and preparation of planting material
Seedlings should not be bought secondhand - you risk getting a plant overfed with stimulants, not to mention varietal compliance. Even high-quality planting material may be grown in the southern region and not suitable for life in your conditions.
It is necessary to ensure that the root system is well developed. The height of the central shoot for a one-year-old seedling should not exceed 80 cm; a two-year-old can stretch up to 110 cm. If the wood is well matured, the Novella cherry trunk is colored grayish-brown.
Landing algorithm
Before planting, the cherry root is soaked for 3 hours or more. It is better to prepare the hole in the fall, the approximate dimensions are 40-60 cm deep, the diameter is approximately 80 cm. The dug up soil is not suitable for filling the root. To the top layer of soil removed when preparing the planting hole, add a bucket of humus, 50 g of potassium salt and superphosphate. Acidic soils require the addition of lime, and excessively dense soils need sand.
Cherries are planted according to this scheme:
- A peg is driven in to the side of the center.
- A seedling is placed in the middle of the planting hole. Gradually fill it with fertile soil, tamping it with the handle of a shovel. The root collar should remain above the soil surface, rising 5-8 cm.
- A barrier is formed around the hole from the remaining earth.
- The seedling is tied to a peg and watered with 2-3 buckets of water.
- The soil is mulched with humus.
Subsequent care of the crop
Young cherries planted in spring need to be well watered throughout the season. The root must receive enough moisture to take root well and successfully overwinter. When the soil dries out, it is loosened and all weeds are removed. In subsequent years, watering is needed in hot summers. In the fall, moisture recharging is carried out.
The best fertilizers for cherries are waste products of cattle and ash. Pig manure should not be used under any circumstances. If you feed the crop with mineral fertilizers, nitrogen is given in the spring, potassium and phosphorus in the fall. The latter substance is needed in small quantities.
The Novella variety tends to expose old branches. To form a beautiful tree and increase yields, they need to be shortened. It is also necessary to regularly carry out sanitary and crown-lightening pruning.
In the south and in the Central Black Earth region, Novella does not need winter shelter. To protect against hares, the trunk is wrapped in burlap or tied with straw.
Diseases and pests, methods of control and prevention
Novella cherry variety is highly resistant to fungal diseases, in particular coccomycosis. Thanks to bird cherry genes, its susceptibility to pests is lower than that of other cultivars. This does not mean that the variety is invulnerable to insects and diseases. Recommendations for preventative treatments are given below.
Problem | External signs | Prevention measures |
| Diseases |
|
Coccomycosis | Spots on leaves turn into holes over time. A plaque appears on the reverse side. By mid-summer, diseased leaves fall off | In the spring, when the buds open, cherries are treated with a copper-containing preparation, and after leaf fall - with iron sulfate.In autumn, plant residues are removed and burned. Cherry trees are trimmed regularly |
Moniliosis | The cherry looks burnt. After flowers and leaves wither, entire branches die | Prevention is the same as for coccomycosis. Diseased branches are removed to healthy wood, the cuts are covered with garden varnish |
| Pests |
|
Aphid | Small elongated flying insects of brown or green color suck juice from the cells of young leaves and shoots, secreting a sticky secretion | Fighting ants. Affected trees are treated with bifenthrin |
Cherry sawfly | Slimy, leech-like larvae gnaw holes in the leaves | Sanitary and lightening pruning is carried out, and preventive treatments with insecticides are carried out in spring and autumn. When larvae appear, spray the cherry with Aktelik |
The Novella variety is a promising cherry with high resistance to fungal diseases. In the current situation, when entire gardens are dying from coccomycosis, it is difficult to overestimate its importance for domestic gardening. If we add here the high taste and commercial qualities of the fruit, then it is obvious that the Novella cherry is a welcome guest in any area.
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