The Leningrad region has a climate that is not very favorable for growing fruit crops. Gardeners often experiment, trying to determine which varieties to give preference to. Having familiarized yourself with the best varieties of cherries for the Leningrad region, their characteristics, features, it is easy to get a harvest.
Requirements for cherry varieties for the North-West
Adverse weather conditions, which often abound in nature, become an obstacle for gardeners in growing some fruit crops.To ensure that experiments with trees do not end in failure, you need to familiarize yourself with the rules for choosing varieties for the northern regions.
When choosing plants for the north-west of Russia, pay attention to winter hardiness. If the tree is intended to be grown in a warm climate, even a comfortable and warm cover cannot save it from freezing. Even some winter-hardy varieties will have to be covered at first; severe frosts can harm seedlings that have not had time to take root. Another rule is to choose only self-pollinating crops.
Vladimirskaya
Despite the emergence of new varieties with which breeders delight gardeners, Vladimir cherry does not lose popularity. A distinctive feature of the tree is its frost resistance. This is not enough to survive spring frosts; if the winter is long, there is a risk of flower buds freezing, which will affect the yield.
Benefits of Vladimir cherry:
- resistance to diseases (rarely affected by rot);
- scab resistance;
- resistance to dry weather conditions;
- productivity.
The buds begin to bloom in May, the first fruits ripen in July. Under favorable conditions and proper care, it is possible to obtain more than 5 kg of large fruits with small seeds.
The peculiarity of the plant is several trunks. It is recommended to vaccinate, which will allow the crop to be grown as a single-stem plant.
Ruby
This cherry variety is 4 decades old; the crop was first introduced by breeders in the 70s of the last century. It is characterized by high frost resistance, which is important for cultivation in the Leningrad region.
A distinctive feature of the plant is its resistance to moniliosis, although coccomycosis easily affects even mature trees with good immunity.The height of Rubinovaya rarely exceeds 2.5 m. The presence of a dense crown allows you not to worry about productivity.
Flowering begins in May, fruiting period is from early August to autumn. The disadvantage of this variety is poor transportability. When the stalk is removed, juice comes out abundantly, which reduces the storage time; the fruits should be used for immediate processing.
Star
One of the early varieties recommended for the Leningrad region. The buds do not freeze even in severe frosts, especially in mature trees. Resistance to cherry diseases is average; Zvezdochka is often affected by coccomycosis.
The tree grows up to 4 m in height. The crown is lush, with a large number of branches. It begins to bear fruit a few years after planting. A pollinator will be needed; the tree is not a self-fertile crop. It is recommended to grow cherries nearby, which will allow you not to worry about pollination.
A distinctive feature of the fruit is its sweet taste; separating the seeds is not difficult. The berries are easily transported and are used in canning, freezing, and baking.
Lyubskaya
A plant that tolerates winter frosts and summer drought well. Does not require regular maintenance, even rare watering will not affect the yield. Pollinators are not required - the tree is self-fertile. The disadvantage is low immunity, which will affect diseases; the variety is easily affected by diseases dangerous to cherries.
It is recommended to harvest the first harvest in early August. The fruits are quite large and tolerate long-term storage and transportation.
A problem may arise with flowers freezing; the buds bloom early, and often subsequent frosts destroy them completely.Grow the crop only on light soils; soils rich in nutrients can affect yields.
Shpanka Shimskaya
The peculiarity of the plant is its high resistance to low temperatures. The tree can even withstand frost down to 35 degrees. Spring frosts are also not an obstacle to good fruiting. Gardeners will also like the unpretentiousness of the variety; there will not be any particular difficulties in growing it. There is practically no need to fight diseases; Shpanka Shimskaya’s high immunity will protect against the most common cherry diseases.
The crop is tall, the tree easily grows up to 6 meters. There is a small drawback: you will have to plant other varieties nearby, and you will need pollinators.
The weight of the fruit exceeds 5 g, the color of the berries is dark purple. Shpanka Shimskaya is of little use for growing for commercial purposes. The berries have poor shelf life and are often damaged during transportation. Used in canning and freezing.
Amorel Nikiforova
A medium-sized (up to 3 m) spreading tree has many advantages - endurance, unpretentiousness, excellent frost resistance. Fruiting occurs 3-5 years after planting. If you take care of timely grafting, it is possible to get a harvest in just 2 years.
Flowering occurs in the second half of May, fruiting in July. Cherries are small (rarely exceed 3 g). The variety is not suitable for growing for sale; when the stalk is removed, a lot of juice comes out, which affects the shelf life. It is recommended to carry out processing immediately after harvest; even a short time is enough for the berries to begin to deteriorate.
Bagryannaya
The developed variety was recommended only for cultivation in the middle zones, but winter hardiness, which is a distinctive feature of the Crimson Cherry, soon attracted gardeners living in more severe conditions. The height of an adult tree is not impressive, rarely exceeding 2 m. Disadvantages also include self-sterility; pollinators will be needed.
The main value of the plant is its early harvest. The first fruits can be collected at the end of June. The berries are quite large, but are not transportable. The fruits are used for processing - jam, canning, baking.
Dessert Volzhskaya
The variety is recommended for cultivation specifically in the Leningrad region. High frost resistance, disease resistance, late flowering, beginning after the last frost, are the distinctive characteristics of the Volga Dessert Cherry.
The tree does not exceed 3 m in height and requires pollinators to be planted nearby. After grafting, fruiting begins in just 2 years. Dessert Volzhskaya will delight you with its yield; you can collect 10-12 kg of juicy fruits from one plant. It is recommended to grow for sale; the stalks are easily removed. Despite this, shedding does not occur; each berry must be picked.
Zarnitsa
A variety that thrives in cold regions. Practically not afraid of frost, easily tolerates spring frosts. Fruiting occurs early, 2-3 years after planting in a permanent place. Fruits appear only on one-year-old branches.
The fruits are small, even in favorable weather they do not exceed 2 g. This is the main reason for growing the plant only for processing in the kitchen; high yields for sale cannot be expected.The variety is prized for its taste; its juicy, sweet fruits are great for desserts and jam.
Features of planting and caring for cherries in the Leningrad region
Even novice gardeners will not encounter any particular difficulties when planting young cherries and subsequent care. It is better to plant in the spring; sending seedlings into open ground in the fall will be disastrous for the plant; it will not survive the first severe frosts. Cherry prefers light soil. It is recommended to prepare the soil mixture yourself by mixing:
- humus;
- coarse river sand;
- rotted compost (often replaced with peat);
- turf soil.
Take the components in equal parts; it is recommended to add wood ash (only 3-5 handfuls per plant). Be sure to complete the planting by laying out a layer of mulch (sawdust, chopped pine needles, bark, straw).
Cherry care consists of the following processes:
- Watering. Apply only warm liquid as needed during hot, dry summers.
- Loosening the soil. Carry out loosening while simultaneously removing weeds that can take nutrients from the soil, weakening the plant.
- Application of fertilizers. It is recommended to fertilize mature fruiting crops. Preference should be given to organic matter (necessarily rotted) and mineral compounds.
- Fighting diseases. When trees are affected by diseases, use chemicals; gentle folk remedies may not be effective. Strictly comply with the requirements of chemical manufacturers, do not exceed the dosage, irrigate the cherries using personal protective equipment.
Be sure to cover the cherries for the winter; even frost-resistant ones can suffer in severe frosts.
Cherry is a lush tree that is considered an adornment of every garden.You can grow a crop even in harsh conditions; you will need little to do this - decide on the variety, put in a little effort, and follow the rules of agricultural technology. The plant will definitely thank you for such care with delicious fruits.
