Most often, it is possible to grow cherry trees on personal plots, producing small, sour fruits that have little in common with the sweet, juicy, large berries sold in the market during the season. But unless we are talking about Chernokorka cherries. This fruit crop may surprise you - the tree bears decent-sized cherries with excellent taste. Naturally, the tree needs care, and it should be grown taking into account the characteristics of the variety, but all the efforts made more than pay off.
History of selection
Chernokorkka cherry is the result of the painstaking work of Ukrainian breeders, who managed to obtain an actively fruit-bearing crop for the climate of Ukraine and the southern Russian regions. In the 70s of the last century, Chernokorka gained great popularity; it began to be successfully planted in many regions of Ukraine, as well as in the Rostov region and Krasnodar Territory. And until now, among Ukrainian gardeners it is the leading crop among fruit trees.
Description of the variety
Judging by the description, Chernokorka grows in the form of a compact low tree, with a spreading, well-leafed crown, no more than 3 meters high. Such qualities make the crop very convenient for care, pruning and harvesting. Cherry shoots are of medium thickness and highly flexible, which gives them a drooping appearance.
Gardeners should take into account that cherries are prone to the fungal disease coccomycosis. It is important to take preventive measures and regularly inspect the planting.
It has average frost resistance, so it is more suitable for growing in the southern regions. You can increase stability by feeding the tree in the second half of summer.
Characteristics of Chernokorka cherry
The fruits of this variety are dark, deep burgundy, large in size for cherries - weight reaches 5 g. The pulp is fleshy, juicy, with a sweet, rich taste. Overripe berries become almost black. Sugar content is 9-11%; according to the tasting assessment, Chernokorka fruits are rated at 4 points.
The berries are held on a strong stalk, and even when overripe they do not fall off. Inside there is a medium-sized bone that can be separated from the pulp without effort.
Ripening and fruiting
The description confirms that this crop is mid-season, the first fruits ripen in the first third of June, and by mid-summer it is already possible to fully harvest a bountiful harvest. The crop begins to bear fruit only in the 4th or 5th year after planting the seedling. It tolerates the dry summer period and winter frosts inherent in the southern regions of Ukraine well.
The Chernokorka variety is self-sterile and therefore needs pollinating neighbors. They are planted nearby with a tree. For this you can use Lyubskaya cherries, Donchanka, Yaroslavna, and Aelita cherries. The variety is distinguished by increased productivity; if you take good care of the tree, you can get up to 50-60 kg of berries per season.
Features of cultivation in the regions
The Chernokorka culture grows best in the southern regions of Ukraine and Russia; it is not suitable for cultivation in the northern regions - the seedlings do not take root in the harsh environment. The warmer the climate, the earlier the tree begins to bear fruit.
It is worth considering some features of growing Chernokorka cherries in regions that do not meet all the requirements of the plant:
- Polesie lowland - in these areas, planting the crop can be successful, but it is recommended to choose suitable sites - on hills or southern slopes.
- The Central Black Earth region - the climate of the territory is quite harsh for heat-loving fruit trees. But cherry orchards are also found here; for planting Chernokorka, it is recommended to set aside the lower part of gentle slopes.
Fruit trees do not have high requirements for the quality of the soil; they can grow on sandy and rocky soil. But plants take root best and produce abundant harvests in black soil areas, on dark chestnut and chestnut soil.
If oaks, ash trees, hawthorn, and hazel grow in the area, then such land is excellent for growing stone fruit crops, including cherry trees.
Chernokorka is a cherry tree that bears fruit abundantly with berries with good taste characteristics, therefore it is highly valued by Ukrainian and Russian gardeners. Naturally, it requires some care - regular watering, fertilization, thinning of branches and preventive treatments. With good care, the cherry will not get sick and will provide the owner with a lot of tasty berries.
