Sweet cherries for the Leningrad region: varieties, planting and care features
Until recently, the list of fruit crops recommended for growing in the North-West of Russia and in the Non-Black Earth Region was very small. Gardeners could only dream that someday a cherry tree specially bred for the Leningrad region would appear in their gardens, the varieties of which would withstand difficult winter conditions and a cool, not at all southern summer.
Today the situation is gradually changing, and enthusiasts are happy to share their successes in obtaining stable yields of these delicious, beloved by many fruits.
Difficulties of growing cherries in the Northwest
In the Soviet Union, the main focus of breeders was on crops that were grown on an industrial scale, rather than in small private gardens. Therefore, originally thermophilic cherries could be seen south of Voronezh and Donetsk, in Moldova. For the middle zone, and even more so for the northwestern zone, there were simply no varieties. Since the breeding work takes more than one year, and it is followed by field trials of new plants, officially there are no cherry varieties for the northwest in the State Register until then.
A natural obstacle in the way of culture is the lack of self-fertile varieties of sweet cherry for the Leningrad region. To ensure cross-pollination, you need to plant at least 2-3 winter-hardy varieties in the neighborhood, otherwise the number of ovaries on the branches is reduced by 90-95%.
And yet, summer residents near St. Petersburg, Kaliningrad and other regions of the northwestern zone do not despair. Several varieties have already proven their endurance, frost resistance and productivity in practice, and enthusiastic gardeners borrowed a number of varieties from colleagues from the Central region of Russia.
Cherry varieties for the Leningrad region
When choosing a variety for planting on your own site, it is better to give preference to already tested and well-proven varieties. First of all, it is worth paying attention to the cherries bred by the local Pavlovsk experimental station VIR, located in the vicinity of St. Petersburg.
Cherry Leningradskaya black
One of the most frost-resistant and unpretentious varieties for the Leningrad region, the middle zone and even the Chernozem region. The weight of dark, almost black fruits reaches 4 - 4.5 grams. Under the dense skin there is a sweet, pleasantly spicy pulp and a medium-sized bone. Tasting score - from 4 to 4.2 points.
Today, in the arsenal of summer residents of the Northwest, not only Leningrad black cherry, but also varieties of this variety with yellow, pink and bright red fruits.
Cherry varieties Zorka
A vigorous cherry variety with increased winter hardiness for the Leningrad region bears fruits weighing from 4.5 to 5 grams, pinkish-yellow thin skin and creamy pulp. Among the advantages of the variety is a high expert assessment of taste, which is 4.5 points, as well as excellent yield.
Cherry varieties suitable for planting in the Leningrad Region were bred not only by the local experimental station. Many excellent cherry varieties for central Russia were obtained through the efforts of the All-Russian Research Institute of Lupine, located near Bryansk.
Cherry Revna
Gardeners have long appreciated the widely rounded, almost black fruits of the variety. cherries Revna, gaining weight from 4.5 to 7.5 grams.Winter-hardy, resistant to common diseases, sunburn and freezing, the variety begins to bear fruit by the age of 5, in the presence of pollinators, regularly delighting with cherries of an excellent appearance and taste, deserving 4.9 points.
Cherry Bryanochka
Since 2006, this variety has been on state trials, but it is already clear today that its dark red fruits with dense pulp and excellent taste can ripen not only in the Non-Black Earth Region, but also near St. Petersburg. The average weight of sweet cherries varies from 4.5 to 7 grams. The taste score is 4.7 points. In harsh winters, trees can be affected by frost, but over the summer, fast-growing shoots restore damage. Cherry also shows high resistance to diseases.
Sweet cherry varieties Bryansk pink
The elegant fruits of this variety with sweet yellow flesh and creamy red ruddy skin weigh from 4 to 5.5 grams. Due to the frost resistance of the trees and their excellent resistance to fungi, cracking and rot, the summer resident will not be left without a crop even in unfavorable years.
Cherry Rechitsa
Another Bryansk cherry variety for the Leningrad region demonstrates similar qualities. Only fruits ripening in the middle period for the middle lane weighing 4.9-5.8 grams have a thick burgundy color, the same pulp and a more intense sweet taste.
Cherry Teremoshka
In 2201, the Teremoshka sweet cherry variety appeared in the State Register, successfully surviving frosts down to -34 ° C and suffering little from long-term spring frosts in the North-West region. Sweet dark red fruits weighing 5–6.5 grams deserve a score of 4.7 points.
Cherry variety Fatezh
The Fatezh variety is well known to many gardeners in Russia. Among its advantages is the highest, on a par with the old varieties cherries winter hardiness, disease resistance and excellent yield. Attractive red-yellow fruits gain weight from 4 to 6 grams and, thanks to the dessert taste with a slight sourness, will appeal to all gourmets.
In addition to the listed varieties of cherries, varieties such as Tyutchevka, Ovstuzhenka, Odrinka and Lena shown in the photo are suitable for planting in the Leningrad Region.
Features of planting and caring for cherries in the Leningrad region
The main trouble of summer residents who decided to grow cherries in the middle lane or to the north is the freezing of young seedlings, growth and flower buds, as well as perennial wood on large, already fruiting trees.
To prevent this from happening, you need to select the most hardy winter-hardy varieties, and also remember that cherries do not have self-fertile varieties, and in the Leningrad region, as elsewhere, it is required to plant 2-4 varieties for cross-pollination. Pollinators are selected taking into account the close flowering time and high requirements for frost resistance.
How to preserve the harvest of cherries - video