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Juicy dark-colored fruits, compactness of the tree, high winter hardiness - all this can be said about the Rossoshanskaya black cherry. This is one of the most common varieties of fruit trees, which has been successfully grown in many regions and regions of our country for more than 20 years.
History of selection
This variety was bred by planting an open-pollinated cherry variety at the Rossoshanskaya station named after A. Ya. Voronchikhina. It is believed that this seedling was black consumer goods, since the external characteristics of the tree and fruits of both varieties are largely similar.
Since 1986, Rossoshanskaya black has been successfully planted in areas in the Central, Lower Volga and North Caucasus regions of the country. Today, this culture is widely used, including on an industrial scale.Most often, the Rossoshanskaya black cherry variety can be found in the Volgograd and Rostov regions, as well as in the Central regions with soils rich in chernozem.
Description of culture
The variety grows on average to 3-4 meters in height, the crown of the tree is pyramidal with a wide base. A distinctive feature of Rossoshanskaya black is the rather weak foliage of the crown; moreover, with age, the tree becomes more and more bare.
The dark gray bark of the trunk has a characteristic smooth surface with an almost complete absence of cracks. The shoots are straight, sometimes they can be slightly curved. The bark on young shoots is greenish-brown, after which it becomes gray and acquires longitudinal stripes at the base.
The leaf blades are oval in shape with a pointed tip, reach about 10 cm in length and no more than 5 cm in width. Like most cherry varieties, the leaves are glossy on top, rich green in color, and slightly pubescent below, with a grayish tint.
The inflorescence most often contains two flowers, less often one or three. The flowers are white at the beginning of flowering, and towards the end they acquire a pinkish tint.
The fruits of Rossoshanskaya black have a round shape, slightly compressed from the sides. The weight of one cherry is about 4.5 g. The color of the fruit is a rich dark cherry, almost black color. The pulp is juicy, thick and fleshy. The taste of cherries is sweet and sour, which is why this variety is widely used in the industrial production of compotes.
Characteristics
To characterize cherry varieties, the following criteria are most often used:
- resistance to adverse environmental conditions;
- harvest volume;
- timing of flowering and fruiting;
- resistance to various diseases and pests.
Let's look at the characteristics of Rossoshan black cherries in more detail.
Drought resistance, winter hardiness
The variety has high winter hardiness, tolerates low temperatures with a minimal percentage of losses (no more than 10% freezing of flower buds). Drought resistance of cherries is slightly above average. With a prolonged lack of moisture and lack of regular watering, the tree will begin to die.
Sufficiently high levels of resistance to low temperatures and drought make it possible to grow Rossoshanskaya black in many regions of Russia and the CIS countries.
Pollination, flowering period and ripening time
Black Rossoshanskaya cherry is a self-pollinating variety, but to obtain a higher yield, it is recommended to plant other trees nearby. Unlike other varieties, flowering begins late, and the fruit ripening period occurs at the end of June.
Productivity, fruiting
Rossoshanskaya black begins to bear fruit 4 years after planting. At the same time, about 3-4 kg of cherries can be collected from one tree. The yield growth is quite slow; by the 7-9th year of a tree’s life, about 10-13 kg of fruit can be collected.
A distinctive feature of this variety is the long-term preservation of the fruit on the tree. When harvested together with the stalks, cherries retain their marketable appearance for a long time.
Area of application of berries
Thanks to high technological criteria (taste, pulp density, percentage of sugar content and others), the Rossoshanskaya black cherry variety has been used for many years in the industrial production of compotes, preserves and other products.
Resistance to diseases and pests
Rossoshanskaya black has a medium or low degree of resistance to coccomycosis and moniliosis.This variety requires regular preventive treatment of shoots and leaves.
Advantages and disadvantages
The main advantages of the Rossoshanskaya black cherry variety include:
- small size of the tree and compact crown;
- self-pollinating;
- winter hardiness and the ability to grow in many regions;
- high technological criteria for fruits;
- safety of the crop during long-term transportation.
The main disadvantages, in turn, are:
- slow increase in yield;
- poor resistance to diseases and pests.
Landing Features
This variety is considered resistant to low temperatures, but very severe frosts can lead to the death of most of the buds. This is why it is important to choose the location and time of planting wisely.
Recommended timing
Like most fruit crops, it is best to plant cherries in the spring. This will prevent freezing of fragile shoots.
Choosing a suitable location
When choosing a place to plant a seedling, you should be guided by several principles:
- The site should not be in a lowland.
- Groundwater must lie at a depth of at least 1.5 meters.
- The future cherry planting site should be protected from cold winds on the north side.
- It is preferable to choose sandy or loamy soil.
In addition, do not forget that the distance from the planting site to other trees or nearby buildings should be at least two meters.
What crops can and cannot be planted next to cherries?
Black Rossoshanskaya cherry feels comfortable next to other fruit crops. But you should not plant this variety next to nightshades, as well as large trees such as birch, oak or linden. Also, cherries do not do well next to berry bushes, such as raspberries or gooseberries.
Selection and preparation of planting material
When choosing a seedling, you should pay attention to its appearance, the condition of the roots and shoots. The branches should be flexible, without cracks or bends, and the root system should be free of swelling, well-formed and developed.
Before planting, remove all damaged or broken branches, as well as those shoots that grow towards the roots.
Landing algorithm
The main stages of planting Rossoshanskaya black cherry:
- Digging a hole. The hole should be at least 60-65 cm wide and about 45 cm deep. After which it is necessary to pour 10-12 liters of water into the hole and leave until completely absorbed.
- If the soil is quite heavy, it is best to mix the excavated soil with sand. This will ensure proper drainage.
- A peg is driven into the center of the hole, next to which a cherry seedling is placed. Next, you should level the root system and gradually fill in the soil.
- Within a radius of a meter around the cherry tree, it is necessary to mulch the soil with sawdust. This will prevent excessive evaporation of moisture and drying out of the soil.
For greater reliability, it is best to tie the seedling to a peg.
Subsequent care of the crop
All care for cherries consists only of watering, regularly loosening the soil, removing weeds, as well as preventing diseases and pests.
You also need to be careful about pruning new shoots.Approximately 40 cm of the trunk above ground level should be completely bare, without any branches.
Black Rossoshanskaya cherries should be watered abundantly 4 times during the entire growing season: after flowering, during fruit set, after harvesting the bulk of the harvest, and then in mid-October. Each watering should require at least 10 liters of water.
Additionally, approximately once every 5-7 years you need to add lime to the soil. And for better rooting, it is best to add organic fertilizers and potassium chloride before planting.
Diseases and pests, methods of control and prevention
The main pests and diseases affecting this cherry variety are presented in the table.
Pest/disease | External manifestations | Methods of prevention and control |
Coccomycosis | Rapid yellowing and falling of leaves. | Excessive moisture promotes the spread of fungus, which is why it is important to monitor the watering schedule. As a pest control measure, spraying with a copper solution is carried out. |
Moniliosis | Lesions in the form of burns on branches, leaves and bark. | It is necessary to treat with fungicides, as well as destroy the affected leaves and shoots. |
Green aphids and caterpillars | Characteristic traces of insect life appear, for example, nibbled leaves. | It is necessary to regularly inspect each tree and remove pests. |
One of the best ways to prevent many diseases is a timely and detailed inspection of the tree for the presence of pests, fungus or other signs of damage to the cherry. Also, all diseased branches and leaves must be cut off and burned to prevent the spread of the disease.
Conclusion
Black Rossoshanskaya cherry is one of the most attractive and tasty varieties.Its resistance to frost and periodic drought allows the crop to be grown in different climatic conditions. And the long shelf life of the fruits and high technological qualities make it possible to use this variety on an industrial scale.
