Content
All cultivated varieties of cherries originated from five wild species - steppe, felt, Magaleb, common and sweet cherry. Dukes occupy a special place in this series. They were created by crossing cherries with sweet cherries, taking the best from each culture. Large, sweet berries grow on a tree that can withstand severe frosts. One of the most winter-hardy is the Zhukovskaya variety. In terms of their properties, duki are closer to cherries than to sweet cherries.
History of selection
Dukes owe their name to the English variety May Duke, which appeared in the 17th century from an accidental crossing of cherries with sweet cherries. It can still be found in gardens in southern Russia. The first Russian Duke was obtained in 1888 by Ivan Michurin by crossing the Winkler White cherry variety and the Bel cherry variety. It is called the Beauty of the North and is still one of the most frost-resistant. Due to low transportability and mediocre taste, it has not become widespread.
Cherries and sweet cherries are easily crossed, but new varieties of dukes rarely appear.This is due to the fact that most hybrids produce extremely low yields. The Zhukovskaya variety was created in 1947 and today remains one of the best for cold regions. Its authors are S.V. Zhukov and E.N. Kharitonova, employees of the All-Russian Research Institute of Horticulture named after. Michurina.
Description of culture
In taste, appearance, and growing characteristics, Zhukovskaya is more similar to cherries than to sweet cherries. It forms a tree of medium height, usually about 2.5 m tall, but can grow up to 3.5 m. The crown of the Zhukovskaya cherry is rounded, slightly spreading.
The curved branches are of medium foliage and thickness, the bark is reddish-brown, covered with yellowish-silver growths reminiscent of lentils. The oval, dark green leaves with a sharp tip are larger than those of the common cherry. They are attached to the branches on a long petiole at an acute angle and bend downward.
Most large white flowers appear on bouquet branches, only a few are attached to annual shoots. The berries of the Zhukovskaya variety are round at the base, with a slightly elongated top, which is why their shape resembles a heart. The size of the dark red fruits is uneven, on average - 4 g, individual cherries can reach 7 g. The berries are very tasty (taster rating - 5 points), sweet and sour, with dense but tender pulp. The pit of the Zhukovskaya cherry is large. The fruits hold tightly to the stalks and do not fall off after ripening.
Characteristics
In garden centers and nurseries, the Zhukovskaya variety is sold as a cherry, since in all respects it is much closer to this crop than to a sweet cherry.
Drought resistance, winter hardiness
Zhukovskaya cherry tolerates drought well. Lack of water does not harm an adult tree, but affects the quality and quantity of berries.With sufficient moisture, the cherries will be larger and juicier. This does not mean that Zhukovskaya needs to be watered every day - this will cause the fruits to crack and be tasteless and watery. In the absence of rain for a long time, water recharge is carried out twice a month.
In the Central Chernozem region, the Zhukovskaya cherry winters without any problems. To the north, flower buds often freeze slightly - the winter hardiness of the variety is average. In order to grow Zhukovskaya in cold regions, in the fall the tree trunk circle is mulched with a thick layer of humus, and the trunk is wrapped in burlap or other covering material.
It is impossible to name the exact time when it is necessary to build a shelter - it depends on the weather. If possible, wait until the first frost.
The Zhukovskaya cherry variety grows best in the Central, Central Black Earth, and Middle Volga regions.
Pollination and maturation period
Zhukovskaya cherry is self-sterile, average forty ripening. When pollinating dukes, close planting of any variety is not always successful. It's better to use cherry ones rather than cherry trees. For Zhukovskaya, you can plant Lyubskaya, Apukhinskaya, Vladimirskaya, Molodezhnaya, Griot Ostgeimsky or Shirpotreb Cherny as pollinators.
The ripening period for Zhukovskaya for the central regions is mid-July; in more northern regions, the berries ripen later.
Productivity, fruiting
The Zhukovskaya cherry begins to bear fruit in the fourth year of life. The tree reaches marketable yield by the age of 10 and increases productivity until at least 16 years of age. Then there are fewer berries. The lifespan of cherries is about 20 years.
The yield of Zhukovskaya is unstable. In a bad year, even an adult, well-pollinated tree can produce only 3-4 kg of berries. Under favorable conditions, the yield of the same tree is 4 times greater. At the peak of fruiting, 16-year-old Zhukovskaya can harvest even 30 kg of cherries.
The positive features of the variety include friendly yield. This allows mechanized berry harvesting to be done once per season.
Area of application of berries
Zhukovskaya cherry berries are very tasty, sweet and sour, with dense but tender pulp. They have a universal purpose - suitable for fresh consumption, for preparing sweet desserts, jams, compotes. It is Zhukovskaya that is good to grow as an industrial variety in large gardens - its berries are picked dry and transported well.
Resistance to diseases and pests
Although the variety is usually called cherry, some of the genes belong to sweet cherries. Thanks to this, Zhukovskaya has satisfactory resistance to coccomycosis and increased resistance to ring spot. Pests also rarely attack the variety. This does not mean that Zhukovskaya has complete immunity to disease. Preventative treatments need to be carried out.
Advantages and disadvantages
Griot Zhukovskaya, of course, is not ideal. But its advantages clearly outweigh its disadvantages:
- Excellent taste – tasting score 5 points.
- The visual appeal of berries and wood.
- High yield.
- Simultaneous ripening of berries, which allows for mechanized harvesting.
- Increased, compared to other cherries, resistance to coccomycosis and ring spot.
- The berries do not fall off after ripening.
- High transportability of fruits.
- Zhukovskaya cherry berries have a universal purpose.
The negative qualities of the variety include:
- Average frost resistance. Without shelter, Zhukovskaya winters in the Volga, Central and Central Black Earth districts.
- In cold winters, flower buds freeze.
- Self-sterility - the variety needs pollinators.
- Quite a large bone.
- Instability of fruiting - the Zhukovskaya variety has productive years and those in which the tree produces very few berries.
Landing Features
Zhukovskaya cherry grows well in the central regions of Russia. In the north, it requires the construction of a shelter for the winter, which is problematic for a 2-3-meter tree. In the southern regions and Ukraine, Zhukovskaya cherry feels great.
Dates and place of landing
The best time to plant dukes in central Russia is early spring, before the buds open. In the north, this period is the only possible one. A tree planted at the end of the growing season will not have time to take root and will most likely die in the winter.
Dukes do not like close groundwater even more than ordinary cherries. It is better if their level is located no less than 1.5 m from the soil surface. Choose a sunny place for planting, on a gentle hill (slope no more than 15%). Western, southwestern or northwestern slopes are ideal for planting cherries.
The soil should be loose, with a neutral reaction. Acidic soil will have to be improved with lime, and excessively clayey soil with sand. In any case, humus, potassium and phosphorus fertilizers are added to the planting hole.
Selection and preparation of planting material
To purchase high-quality planting material, seedlings need to be purchased at garden centers or directly from nurseries. The Zhukovskaya variety has average frost resistance. You can be sure that the seedling will winter well on your site if the nursery in which it was grown is located to the north.
One-year-old trees up to 80 cm high or two-year-old trees no more than 110 cm have the best survival rate. That is why we recommend not buying cut seedlings. You can remove the top yourself, but you shouldn’t trust the seller’s word on how tall the cherry was.
The root system must be well developed.
Landing algorithm
Although Zhukovskaya is a medium-sized cherry tree, it needs enough space so that the sun illuminates the crown from all sides, even when the tree grows. Private gardens are best laid out according to a pattern of 2.5-3 m between trees, rows at a distance of 4 m from each other.
Before planting the cherry, its root is soaked for at least 3 hours. Further procedure:
- Dig a planting hole 60 cm deep and 80 cm in diameter.
- Prepare a fertile mixture from the top layer of soil, a bucket of humus, potassium and phosphate fertilizers (50 g each).
- A peg is driven in a little away from the center of the hole to secure the seedling.
- The cherry is placed in the middle and covered with a fertile mixture, compacting it as it is filled. The root collar should rise 5-7 cm.
- An earthen roller is placed around the planting hole to retain moisture.
- The seedling is watered, using 2-3 buckets of water.
- The tree trunk circle is mulched with a thick layer of humus.
Subsequent care of the crop
After planting, especially if the summer is hot and dry, the seedling needs to be watered regularly. The soil should not dry out, but there is no need to drown the tree in water. Use 2 buckets for each cherry, and when the top layer of soil dries a little, it is loosened.
Once the seedling has taken root, watering is only needed if the weather is hot and dry for a long time. Then the soil is moistened 1-2 times a month, but generously.
In dry autumn, moisture recharging is mandatory, otherwise cherries may not survive the winter even in warm regions. Before harvesting, watering is stopped (about 2 weeks).
Cherry responds well to the application of nitrogen and potassium fertilizers; it is best to apply 1-2 buckets of humus and a liter jar of ash under each root in the fall. The plant also needs phosphorus, but in much smaller quantities. The doses contained in ash and humus are sufficient for cherries.
Zhukovskaya cherry grows as a tree; it will not be possible to insulate it for the winter like a steppe one - the flower buds will still freeze in the harsh winter. To protect against hares and other rodents, the trunk is wrapped in burlap or other covering material.
Cherry trees are pruned as early as possible in the spring in order to finish it before the buds open.
Diseases and pests
Zhukovskaya cherry is resistant to coccomycosis and other fungi. But this does not mean that diseases do not affect the variety at all. Preventative treatments need to be carried out, you just can choose a gentle drug.
When pests appear, the cherry is sprayed twice with an insecticide. The interval between treatments should be 10-14 days.
Conclusion
Duke Zhukovskaya is one of the best hybrids of cherries and sweet cherries, although it was created back in 1947. Attractive appearance, tasty large berries, increased resistance to fungal diseases, and the possibility of mechanized harvesting make the variety desirable in home gardens and industrial gardens.
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