Sweet cherry "Leningrad": features of the variety and agricultural technology

Sweet cherry is a southern plant that does not tolerate cold and frost. Her homeland is hot Turkey. Previously, it was impossible to grow it in the northern regions with a cold climate.But breeders have always set themselves the task of adapting this tree to different weather conditions. Today there are varieties that are resistant to severe frosts. One of their representatives is Leningradskaya Black Cherry. It is suitable for northern gardens and orchards of the Central Black Earth zone. There she calmly experiences winter bad weather.

Sweet cherries, depending on the variety, are divided according to the following features:

• ripening period: early ripening, mid-ripening and late;
• fruit color: dark red (so-called black), yellow, pink, orange;
• fruit taste: sweet or sour-sweet;
• pulp structure: gini is characterized by tender pulp, bigarro pulp is dense and crunchy.

The first received frost-resistant sweet cherry was sour, but the breeders by their work achieved the coveted sweet taste. The peculiarity of the "Leningrad" sweet cherry is that it lays its buds early, and by the end of summer the growth of young shoots ceases and they become clogged with cork. This is what protects the tree from freezing. This variety has several advantages:

• precociation - the first large fruiting occurs when the tree reaches 4 years;
• high yields - about 35 kg of cherries are harvested from the tree with good pollination;
• a fairly small size of the tree - about 3 m, which makes it convenient to pick berries and prune extra branches;
• middle ripeness - sweet cherry ripens in July in northern areas, and in the southern ones by the middle of the first month of summer;
• ripened fruits continue to hang on the tree, and they are not being sown at the same time;
• excellent flavoring properties of berries - the pulp is juicy, fibrous structure, sweet.

The crown of such trees is wide, possessing spreading branches. Cherry leaves in the shape of an oval, they have a little streak, the color is dark green. The fruit of the "Leningrad" black sweet cherry, not weighing 5 g.

Despite the name, “Leningradskaya black” berries are claret cherries, just a very dark shade. Represent the bigarro group. They have a rounded heart-shaped, fairly dense. The taste depends on the region where the tree grows - in the southern regions they are sweet, in the north they are slightly sour. This is due to the amount of sugar in them - the hotter the climate, the more of it. But recognizable spicy flavor is present in all fruits. By tasting estimates, the variety received 4.5 points.

It should be borne in mind that this variety is not self-pollinating, therefore, other frost-resistant varieties should be planted next to it. Enough 3 pieces. Well perform this function will be "Iput", "Tyutchevka", "Dawn", "Fatezh", "Veda", "Revna", as well as other representatives of the "Leningrad" series. But if you place a cherry next to it, both the trees and the second trees will bear fruit well. Cherry pollinators should be located no further than 40 meters from the tree. In the absence of space in the garden and the possibility to plant a large garden, it is possible to plant different varieties to one stock. Pollinators for "Leningrad" Cherry:

• "Leningrad pink". Berries ripen early. Starts to give fruit for 5 years after vaccination. The crops are much lower than the "Leningrad" black - only 16 kg of fruits are harvested from one tree. Cold tolerates satisfactorily. Fruits of this variety weigh approximately 3 g, have a pink tint with a red side. Juice, which highlights the berry, has no color.
• "Leningrad yellow". Gives the first berries for 5 years after vaccination. It belongs to the varieties of late fruiting. "Leningrad Yellow" has a good resistance to cold. The tree is not very large. Berries grow by weight of 3 g, a wide heart. The flesh of the fruit is colored yellow, sweet, with a slight bitterness.
• Tyutchevka. A variety of medium ripening, fruit weight reaches 5 g.Bone hard moves away from the pulp. Culture grade "Tyutchevka" has a high frost resistance. An adult tree reaches medium size, yields up to 14 kg from a single cherry. Perfectly tolerates transportation and is good for preparations in the form of freezing. This variety is not possible to self-pollinated.
• "Jealousy." The variety is average in terms of fruiting. When ripe, the fruits become dark red in color, reaching a weight of 5 g. The pulp has a high density, allowing the bone to easily move away from it. The variety is partially self pollinated. Sweet cherry "Revna" is not predisposed to diseases and exposure to cold. At the same time, the yield is extremely high - up to 30 kg from each tree.

• "Go". Very popular variety. It has large-sized gini berries, it tastes sweet, weighs up to 5.5 g. The tree is not very large in height, but its crown is wide enough. The yield is high - about 30 kg. The tree has a phenomenal frost resistance - it will survive at -30 ° C frosts. The variety is not prone to fungal damage. It is partially self pollinated.
• "Veda". A new and very promising variety recommended for cultivation in central Russia. Trees grow small, their crown is dense, having a rounded shape. The fruits are colored black and red, their weight is 5 g. The pulp has a dense consistency. By yield gives the average. For pollination needs in the presence of a number of other varieties. Immune to diseases, especially fungi. It is experiencing cold winters.
• Fatezh. It is not self-pollinating, but it perfectly pollinates Leningradskaya black. The variety is mid-season, the berries are bigarro, sour-sweet, weighing about 4 g. The tree with a crown, resembling a ball, and falling branches. Will be suitable for landing in the central and southern region of the Non-Black Earth Region. The stem and branches have frost resistance, and the kidneys are exposed to cold weather. High-yielding variety with indicators of 30 kg per tree. Not prone to rot, fairly resistant to disease.
• "Dawn". The ripening period of this variety is average. At year 5, begins fruiting. Productivity is not very high - within 15 kg of wood. Does not possess strong resistance to frosts. The fruits are similar to an egg in shape, have a yellow color and tender pleasant flesh. This subspecies "Leningrad" also need pollinators.

Crop harvested in late June or late summer, depending on how warm the climate is in the region where cherry is growing. Berries need to be washed and dried well.

For planting choose seedlings of the first year of life. Well, if they are grafted on cerapadus - a hybrid of bird cherry and cherry. It is frost resistant. Young seedlings are preferable, because older ones take a long time to take root. The pit, which is planned to plant, it is better to cook on the slope on the south side. From the north, the tree should be protected from winds, and from the south it is necessary to open access to sunlight.

Preparation of the pit can begin in the fall. Do it this way:

• dig a hole a little less than m3 in volume;
• the clay layer is removed;
• the top layer of excavated land is mixed with compost, peat or manure in a 1: 1 ratio;
• pit 1/4 filled with rubble;
• the soil is mixed with sand and dolomite flour, poured into the pit;
• Cover the surface before planting in the spring.

The root system of adult sweet cherry covers 12 m² under the ground. Groundwater should not be higher than 1 meter to the ground. The distance between the trees must be kept within 3 meters.

When planting, you should follow these recommendations:

• well lit place with neutral soil;
• if the root system is bare, the planting is done in spring, and if the tree is purchased in a container, at the end of summer;
• when grafting, sweet cherry must be at least 8 cm above the ground;
• the pit is dug to a depth of no more than 40 cm, humus with superphosphate is added to the soil;
• after planting produce watering in the amount of a bucket of water.

The first ovary is formed by a tree after flowering at the age of three.

The soil must be moderately fertile, otherwise the plant will not be able to go in time to winter. This happens because the excess nutrients will not stop the growth of sweet cherry in the fall.

In May, before the start of flowering, nitrogenous fertilizers are applied to the soil, but with care. Further, when feeding, apply only superphosphate.

At the beginning of summer, flower buds are laid for the next year, so watering during this period should be sufficient. Lack of water will lead to crop loss. They pour cherries once a week, and it is better to divide it twice in the morning and evening.

Although Leningradskaya black cherry is frost-resistant, you need to follow a few simple recommendations to help it survive the winter. And if the year is particularly cold, it can even save the trees. Before the onset of winter cold, the trunk is warmed with spruce branches and agrofibre. In cold weather, it is important to ensure that snow does not blow out from under the trees. Proper and timely care for the crop ensures high yields.

Since the trees are low, the crown form up to 5 years of life. About 3-4 healthy and powerful shoots are left on the skeletal branches, shortening them by half to the outer bud. Conductor do 25-30 cm above the branches. All other branches and shoots just cut. Next, you need to follow the branches of the second and third order - they must grow into branches the same way. Every year in early spring it is necessary to carry out sanitary pruning.

The tree of the "Leningrad black" cherry is resistant to bacteria and fungi, therefore it is rarely subjected to infections. But rodents, hares and beetles pose a real threat. Special nets are used for protection. Natural insecticides will be effective against insects.

Gardeners who grow Leningradskaya black cherry are mostly positive reviews. They note its resistance to cold, high yield, good immunity to disease and undemanding care. The most important disadvantage is that this variety can not pollinate itself. Also, some do not like the sour taste of berries ripening in more northern regions.

The Leningradskaya sweet cherry variety provides an excellent opportunity for the northern regions not only to harvest the already familiar cherry, but also to savor the sweet fruits of this southern plant.

You will learn more about how to grow a sweet cherry in the following video.