Content
Growing cherries has been very difficult in recent decades. And the point here is not that this is a capricious culture. Fungal diseases destroy many trees, nullifying all the efforts of gardeners to obtain a harvest. That is why cherry varieties that have at least relative resistance to them are so valuable. One of them is the self-fertile Zagorievskaya cherry.
History of selection
Cherry Zagoryevskaya was created by employees of the All-Russian Selection Technological Institute of Horticulture and Nursery Growing. It is located in Biryulevo on the site where the village of Zagorye used to be. Hence the name cherry. The parents were Lyubskaya and Shirpotreb Chernaya. The Zagoryevskaya variety was specially created for cultivation in the climatic conditions of the northwestern part of Russia. The variety is not included in the State Register, which does not prevent gardeners from growing it successfully.
Description of culture
The Zagoryevskaya variety belongs to the common cherry. This is a tree with medium vigor. Its maximum height can reach 3.5 m. The dense crown of the cherry tree is spreading and often has a round shape. It is not too thick, which is good: there is less risk of fungal diseases.
The fruits of this cherry variety are more reminiscent of cherries in color and appearance. Each berry can weigh up to 4.4 g - this is a lot for a cherry. The dark cherry round berries of the Zagorievskaya cherry have a slight brown tint in color. The pulp is dense, ocher in color. The taste of this cherry is traditional, sweetish with obvious sourness and a chocolate aftertaste. The small stone is easily separated from the pulp. The cherries themselves come off the stem with some effort.
Characteristics
The characteristics of the Zagoryevskaya cherry variety are important for those gardeners who are just planning to plant this tree. We will try to answer all questions that may arise.
Drought resistance, winter hardiness
Zagoryevskaya cherry is quite resistant to drought, so it can be successfully grown in the southern regions. But it does not tolerate stagnant water, so it is not planted in lowlands, and the groundwater level should not be high either.
According to reviews from the originators of the variety, the frost resistance of Zagoryevskaya cherries is average. But in severe frosts, it is not the shoots that freeze, but the flower buds. The root system of the Zagoryevskaya cherry variety also needs preventative protection from frost: it is advisable to mulch the trunk circle for the winter with humus or any other organic matter in a layer of up to 15 cm. Return frosts can also harm blooming flowers. In this case, the harvest will be minimal.
Therefore, if the temperature drops sharply to 0 or below during flowering, you need to take measures:
- carry out sprinkling;
- make smoke;
- or simply cover the tree with spunbond; the short growth of the bush allows this to be done.
All these measures will help preserve the harvest.
Pollination, flowering period and ripening time
Unlike many other cherries, which do not produce a harvest without the presence of a pollinator, the self-fertile variety of Zagoryevskaya cherries gives a large number of berries even without them. This tree will provide the gardener with a large harvest, even if it is in the singular in the garden.
For Zagoryevskaya cherries these are Shubinka, Lyubskaya, Vladimirskaya.
They, like Zagoryevskaya, bloom at the end of May. The berries of this cherry variety ripen in the middle period. Depending on the weather, this is the end of July or the beginning of August.
Productivity, fruiting
Starting fruiting early - in the third or fourth year, the Zagoryevskaya cherry quickly increases its yield. An adult tree is quite capable of producing up to 13 kg of cherries. This is one of the best indicators among all varieties with such a small habit.
Area of application of berries
A high tasting score of 4.5 points characterizes this variety as a dessert variety. Its berries make excellent jams, preserves, compote and cherry liqueur.
Resistance to diseases and pests
Russia has long been famous for its cherry orchards. But the mutation of pathogens of fungal diseases led to the formation of new aggressive races. The existence of cherries in Russia was threatened. It cannot be said that Zagorievskaya cherry is completely resistant to this scourge. It is moderately affected by coccomycosis and moniliosis.But the use of preventive treatments with fungicides will allow you not to worry about this.
Advantages and disadvantages
For convenience, we summarize them in a table.
Advantages | Flaws |
Small dimensions - convenient to pick berries | Sourish fruits |
Good frost resistance | Average resistance to fungal diseases |
High commercial quality of fruits | Freezing of flower buds during spring frosts |
Drought resistance |
|
High yield |
|
Self-fertility |
|
Precociousness |
|
Landing Features
Like any other crop, cherries have their own planting characteristics that must be taken into account in order for the tree to grow well and bear fruit.
Recommended timing
They depend on the region in which the Zagoryevskaya cherry is going to be planted:
- in the southern regions it is autumn;
- in the middle zone it can be planted in spring and autumn;
- where the climate is harsh, planting is postponed to spring.
When planting in autumn, you must not forget that a young Zagoryevskaya cherry seedling needs a frost-free period for rooting.
Choosing a suitable location
Cherry is a light-loving plant; its habitat should be illuminated throughout the day. To make her feel comfortable, the following conditions must be met:
- choose an area where melt water does not stagnate in the spring, and groundwater is low (no higher than 2 m);
- air circulation should be free, but without strong northern winds;
- soils with a light mechanical composition are preferred - sandy loam or loam, with a high content of humus;
- the optimal soil reaction is from 5.5 to 7.0.
Do not plant Zagoryevskaya cherry on peat bogs or areas with a predominance of clay.
What crops can and cannot be planted next to cherries?
The common cherry belongs to the large rose family, which includes apple, raspberry and many other fruit trees and shrubs. All of them are prone to fungal infections. Therefore, neighbors from this family are undesirable for cherries. You should not plant Zagoryevskaya next to tall fruit trees that have a developed root system. A small cherry tree simply will not survive next to them, competing for food and moisture.
Selection and preparation of planting material
The most win-win option is to buy a Zagoryevskaya cherry seedling with a closed root system. It is guaranteed to take root and can be planted throughout the entire growing season. But they are expensive and cannot always be found.
Therefore, let us pay attention to the criteria for choosing a Zagorievskaya cherry tree with open roots:
- it must be a one-year-old or two-year-old;
- the root system is developed, not overdried and without signs of rot;
- the trunk and branches are not damaged or dried out.
This procedure will not be superfluous for any Zagoryevskaya cherry tree with an open root system.
Landing algorithm
We prepare the planting hole for cherries in advance, optimally in the season preceding planting. The action algorithm is as follows:
- dig up the soil at the planting site, selecting the roots weed;
- we dig a hole 50x80 cm.We set aside the top layer of soil, about the depth of a spade bayonet, separately - this is what we will mix with fertilizers - 500 g of superphosphate and wood ash, 90 g of potassium sulfate, and organic matter - two buckets of humus.
- we install a peg for gartering a Zagoryevskaya cherry seedling;
- pour a mound of prepared planting mixture, place a Zagorievskaya cherry tree on it - the roots should be straightened;
- fill the roots with the rest of the planting mixture so that the root collar remains at soil level;
- lightly trample the soil;
- pour a bucket or 2 of water into the tree trunk circle;
- mulch and tie the Zagoryevskaya cherry seedling to a peg;
- we shorten the branches to bring into balance the underground and above-ground parts damaged during transplantation.
After planting, the young tree requires regular watering until it takes root.
Subsequent care of the crop
Subsequent care consists of fertilizing, watering, crown formation.
Feeding
As a rule, in the first year after planting the plant does not need feeding.
Starting next spring, nitrogen fertilizers are applied according to the norms on the package, but in two doses: half before flowering, the rest 2 weeks after it. During filling, the berries are fed with complete mineral fertilizer. In September, potassium and phosphorus fertilizers are applied, which helps to better prepare the Zagoryevskaya cherry for winter.
Watering
The Zagoryevskaya cherry needs watering most of all during the berry-filling season and during prolonged drought. Usually they use one or two buckets per tree. After leaf fall, it is necessary to carry out moisture-recharging watering of the tree trunk circle, which is especially important in dry autumn.
Trimming
Crown formation begins immediately after planting, when the shoots are shortened by a third of their length. Sanitary pruning is carried out in early spring. Zagorievskaya cherry does not suffer from a thickened crown, but every few years it is necessary to remove branches growing inside the bush.
Learn more about video trimming:
The tree trunk circle is kept free of weeds. Once every 5 years, the soil under the cherry tree is limed.
Preparing for winter
Autumn fertilizing and moisture-recharging watering have already been written above. To better preserve the root system in frosty conditions, the tree trunk circle is mulched with peat or humus for the winter. The trunks are whitened with lime mortar to which a fungicide has been added. This measure will protect the tree from burns in early spring and from damage to the trunk by fungi. Young cherries of the Zagoryevskaya variety can be wrapped in spunbond for the winter. In the future, the lower part of the trunk must be protected from mice and hares by wrapping it in a net.
Diseases and pests, methods of control and prevention
The main scourge of all cherries is fungal diseases. Zagoryevskaya is moderately resistant to them. But in a wet year, defeat is very likely. What does the Zagorievskaya cherry suffer from:
Disease | How it manifests itself | Treatment | Prevention |
Moniliosis | The twigs seem burnt, the leaves on them dry out | Cut out all damaged parts of the plant, including up to 10 cm of healthy tissue, treat with fungicides: Zineb, Kuprozan, Phthalan | In autumn, remove all fallen leaves and mummified fruits remaining on the tree.In the spring, preventive spraying is carried out with copper-containing fungicides before buds open. |
Coccomycosis | Brownish-red dots on the leaves, on the inside there is a coating of fungal spores, which has a white-pink color. Leaves fall off prematurely. The fruits become mummified | Removal of diseased parts of the plant, treatment with Topaz, Skor, Chorus or Fundazol Removal of diseased parts of the plant, treatment with Topaz, Skor, Horus or Fundazol | Triple treatment with Bordeaux mixture, Topsin-M or Skor: on a green cone, after flowering and in autumn |
Anthracnose | Pinkish coating on fruits, which then mummify | Triple treatment with Polyram: before flowering, after flowering and another 2 weeks later | Collection and destruction of diseased fruits |
Gum treatment | Transparent drops of gum emerge from cracks on the trunk. | Cover wounds with garden varnish | Whitewashing trunks in the fall and treating them with copper sulfate |
The following pests can attack Zagoryevskaya cherries:
- cherry aphid, they fight it with the help of Iskra or Inta-Vir;
- cherry weevil damages flower buds and ovaries, Intavir, Kinmiks or Karbofos helps;
- the larvae of the slimy sawfly are capable of eating away at the leaves; Iskra or Inta-Vir are used against them, but after harvesting;
- caterpillars of shoot moths damage all vegetative parts of cherries; they are fought with Decis, Aktara, Inta-Vir.
In order not to miss the appearance of pests, cherry trees should be inspected regularly.
Conclusion
Cherry orchards in Russia are gradually being revived, and such wonderful varieties as the Zagorievskaya cherry play a significant role in this.
