Description and characteristics of cherry varieties Julia, pollinators, planting and care

The cherry variety Julia is a tall tree with large and juicy fruits. The variety has become widespread among gardeners in the northern regions and in the Black Earth region.

History of selection

The variety was developed at an experimental horticulture station in the city of Rossosh, Voronezh region. For breeding, seeds of local selection Gin red were used, which were pollinated by the Denissen yellow berry variety. Subsequently, the variety was zoned for the Chernozem and Lower Volga regions.

Description of the variety

When planning to plant cherries, you should read the detailed description of the variety. This will help you choose the right place for the plants and think about upcoming care in advance.

Crown height and size

Vigorous and actively growing trees reach a height of more than 8 m. The crown is spreading, medium-dense, well-leafed. The shape of the crown is pyramidal, with slightly inclined branches of the lower tier. The bark of the trunk is slightly rough or smooth flaky, gray with a cherry tint.

Resistance to sub-zero temperatures and drought

Cherry Yulia has a frost resistance index above average. Berry trees experience cold snaps down to -30 degrees. Frosts do not affect the development of all plant elements, including flower buds, roots and wood. When growing crops in regions with cold climates, most of the buds freeze out in winter.

Susceptibility to insects and diseases

The variety has increased resistance to attack by harmful insects and fungal infections. If preventive treatments are carried out periodically, the risk of developing gray rot and coccomycosis becomes minimal.

Pollinators

The Julia variety belongs to the category of self-sterile, so it makes no sense to grow trees on the site one by one. To obtain a good and regular harvest, suitable pollinators are required. According to experienced breeders, the following varieties are the best pollinators:

• Raditsa;
• Ovstuzhenka;
• And the way;
• Bryansk pink;
• Revna.

Flowering and ripening period

Trees begin to bloom in early or mid-April. The variety has a medium ripening period. In areas with a predominantly warm climate, the berries ripen by mid-summer. When grown in the middle zone, the harvest is harvested in the last ten days of August.

Cherry yield

One of the distinctive features of the Julia variety is a gradual increase in yield. The first collection is carried out 4-5 years after planting the seedlings in a permanent place. The average yield reaches 15 kg from each planting. Subsequently, the figure increases to 25 kg. The amount of harvest increases most actively when growing berry crops in the southern regions.

Transportability and storage of crops

Thanks to the dense fibrous pulp, cherries can be transported over long distances without loss of taste characteristics or loss of marketable appearance. The average shelf life of ripe cherries when refrigerated is 2 weeks. Optimal storage conditions are a temperature of 0 degrees. If the berries are prepared for future use, they are placed in the freezer.

Area of ​​application of berries

One of the reasons why Julia cherries are very popular among gardeners is their universal purpose. The berries are suitable for canning, making jams and preserves, and eating freshly picked.

Tree planting technology

Trees must be planted in accordance with the requirements of the variety. Compliance with planting technology promotes active growth and development and helps avoid common mistakes.

How to choose a healthy and strong seedling

When checking the quality of a seedling, you need to pay attention to its trunk. There should be traces of the scion on it, since such specimens are more fertile. A healthy and developed seedling has many branches, which will later form a spreading crown.

The roots of a young seedling should not be dry and strong. Before planting, it is recommended to wrap the roots in a damp cloth. The leaves on the seedling should be trimmed so that they do not absorb nutritional components, weakening the plants.

Dates and scheme of planting on the site

It is recommended to transfer grafted seedlings to open ground in the spring, when the snow cover has already melted, but the buds have not yet blossomed. Autumn planting is also allowed, but in this case it will be necessary to carry out formation, hill up the roots and insulate the trunk with covering material.

Preparing the planting hole

The planting hole for spring planting is dug in advance in the fall. When planting in autumn, the pit begins to be prepared 2-3 weeks in advance. First you need to choose a suitable location for the hole. It is recommended to consider the following requirements:

1. The soil should be light and fertile. The acidity indicator is neutral.
2. For root development, moderate humidity, absence of drying out and stagnation of moisture are required.
3. Natural light throughout the day will promote active growth. Slight semi-shading is allowed.
4. The place for planting should be protected from through drafts and sharp gusts of wind.
5. The optimal level of groundwater is more than 2.5 m from the ground surface. Otherwise, planting work should be done at a higher elevation.

What crops can and cannot be planted next to cherries?

The Julia cherry actively develops and bears fruit when planted next to stone fruit crops, including plum, cherry plum and sloe. The main requirement is to maintain the optimal distance between plantings, which should be at least 4.5 m. Neighborhood with seed crops is allowed only at a distance of 4-6 m.

Algorithm for carrying out landing work

When planting cherries, you must follow step-by-step instructions. Planting work includes the following actions:

• preparing a pit measuring 70x90 cm;
• treatment of the lower layer of soil with a nutrient mixture of organic fertilizers (humus, wood ash, compost);
• construction of a small elevation in the central part of the pit;
• placing a cherry seedling on a hill and fixing it by tying it to a peg, which is stuck next to the hole;
• Sprinkling with earth, compacting, abundant watering and mulching the tree trunk.

We organize proper care

A prerequisite for the development of berry crops and intensive fruiting is constant and proper care. In the process of growing the Julia cherry variety, it is necessary to follow a set of agrotechnical actions, including the use of fertilizers, irrigation, mulching, pruning, covering trees for the winter and preventive spraying to protect against harmful insects and diseases.

Feeding and watering

Sweet cherry variety Julia needs moderate watering. It is recommended to moisten the soil as needed, taking into account weather conditions and the amount of precipitation.Before irrigating the trees, you should squeeze a lump of soil from the surface in your palm - if it crumbles, it means that another watering is required.

Fertilizers are applied to the soil several times during the season. In autumn, complex fertilizing is used, in which organic substances are combined with mineral ones. In the spring, Julia cherries are fed with fertilizers with a high nitrogen content.

Tree trunk care

Mulching the tree trunk area is necessary to retain moisture in the soil and reduce the amount of watering, protect against insects and diseases, insulate the roots, and eliminate the need to loosen the soil.

Mulching can be done immediately after planting the seedlings for the first time. It is recommended to use pine branches, compost or sawdust as mulching material.

Crown formation

Tree pruning is carried out starting from the 5th year of tree development. The formation procedure helps to increase yield, reduces the risk of developing fungal infections and simplifies the process of picking berries. During pruning, old and damaged branches, dried and abundantly overgrown foliage are removed.

The main branch of the tree should always be 20 cm ahead of the others in growth. When forming, it is important to control the length of all branches. It is recommended to prune in late fall or winter when the trees are dormant. With the onset of spring, the damaged areas will heal, and the plantings will continue to actively develop.

Preventative treatments

Timely preventive treatments of trees help reduce the risk of berry crops being damaged by pests and diseases.During the season, it is recommended to spray with insecticidal and fungicidal preparations 3-4 times. You should also always remove infected parts of the tree from the area.

As an additional measure to combat harmful insects, you can whitewash the tree trunk and use repellents (tapes, rattles).

Preparing and covering a tree for winter

On the eve of winter cold weather, it is necessary to cover trees, which is especially important for young and immature seedlings. To protect Julia cherries, you can use burlap, thick plastic film or specialized covering material. Pegs are placed in the ground next to the trees and material is pulled over them, which makes it possible to create a favorable microclimate around the ground part. The ground in the area around the tree trunk is covered with a layer of mulch in winter.

How to propagate cherries

Optimal cherry propagation method variety Julia is cuttings. The procedure is best performed in late summer or early autumn. Cuttings are taken from the lower branches of an adult tree, the cut is treated with a growth stimulant, and on the mother tree the cut is sprinkled with wood ash. Prepared cuttings are rooted in open ground and provide comprehensive care. For the winter, the cuttings need to be covered so that they continue their development in comfortable conditions.

Reviews from summer residents about the variety

Vasily, 54 years old: “I planted several trees last season. I bought mature seedlings, so at the end of summer I already harvested the first harvest. The berries are large and juicy; I used most of them for processing, but they are also very tasty fresh.”

Anna, 35 years old: “I’ve been growing the Julia variety for 3 years in a row. I would like to note the high yield and easy care. I have never encountered any pests.The only drawback is the large height of the trees, which makes it difficult to pick berries.”