Growing self-fertile cherry varieties is the choice of modern gardeners who need to free up space in their dacha and simplify the care process. Cherries do not require pollinators, so they are able to bear fruit even when grown separately. If you want to plant this variety of berries, you need to choose an option taking into account climatic conditions and soil type.
Features of self-fertile cherry varieties
Growing several varieties of cherries in the garden is not always advisable. When planting several bushes, you need to constantly care for them, taking into account certain nuances. Self-fertile types of berries, unlike traditional ones, are able to bear fruit intensively without the use of pollinators. Since such species do not require growing other seedlings nearby, this significantly saves space in the summer cottage.
Each variety of self-fertile berries has an individual description and characteristics. The Droplet variety has a special structure, since the length of the stamen and pistil of the plant coincide. As a result, the flower is pollinated even before the bud opens. Cherry Student and Annushka are distinguished by maximum productivity, since their pollen germinates within 2-3 days at a constant temperature of 10 degrees.
Main types of self-fertile cherries
Depending on the type of soil on the site and atmospheric conditions, it is necessary to select the appropriate type of trees. All varieties of self-fertile cherries are divided into the following categories:
- short;
- large-fruited;
- winter-hardy.
Large-fruited varieties
Large berries are easier to collect and process, so when choosing the type of tree you should take this indicator into account. Large-fruited cherries include the following:
- Garland. The height of the trees reaches 4 m. The berries are dark red in color, have a thick peel and juicy pulp.
- Lighthouse. Bush-like trees up to 2.5 m high. The burgundy-colored fruits have a sweet and sour taste. The variety is not prone to rotting, regardless of the type of soil.
- Youth. Mid-season variety, yielding up to 12 kg of berries from each tree. The fruits are bright red, juicy, oval in shape.
- Meeting. The trees reach a height of 3 m and form a dense crown. The weight of the berries is 15-20 g, the taste is sweet and sour. Up to 10 kg of crop ripens on one tree.
The most productive self-fertile cherries
The main criterion when choosing self-fertile seedlings is the yield. Growing productive varieties will satisfy the needs for consumption and stockpiling of berries. The following types of cherries are considered the highest yielding:
- Lyubskaya. A distinctive feature of the variety is the ability to grow in the form of a shrub or tree. The height of the plants reaches 3 m. The crown is medium dense and branched. The rounded fruits are burgundy in color and weigh up to 6 g.
- Apukhtinsky. Grows as shrubs up to 3 m tall. The yield is 7-9 kg per bush. The plant bears berries from the second year of cultivation. The taste of the fruit is sweet and sour.
- Volochaevka. Plantings grow up to 3.5 m in height and produce up to 15 kg of berries. Fruit weight - 4 g, taste - sweet with noticeable sourness, pulp - juicy. The only drawback is the low resistance to frost.
Low growing varieties
The spread of low-growing cherries is due to simple tree care. Low plants are easier to water, treat with fertilizers, and shape to create a neat crown. The plantings do not take up much space in the dacha area and bear fruit consistently.
The height of low trees does not exceed 2.5 m. Most plantings have an oval crown and are characterized by increased resistance to drought. Dwarf plants are in great demand in landscape design.
Frost-resistant varieties
In northern areas with a changeable climate and prolonged cold, frost-resistant trees should be grown. Among the most winter-hardy varieties are the following:
- Vladimirskaya. A medium-sized variety that bears sweet berries. One bush grows up to 10 kg of crop.
- Novodvorskaya. Tolerates frosts and frequent temperature changes.The disadvantage of this variety is its tendency to develop coccomycosis.
- Wreath. Frost-resistant dwarf variety with juicy fruits and a small seed. Seasonal yield is 8-10 kg. When grown in northern areas, the yield indicator is unstable.
- Star. Not a fully self-fertile species that is pollinated by cherries or similar plants. Productivity reaches 15 kg. The berries are sweet with exquisite taste characteristics.
Among this variety, every gardener will be able to choose a variety suitable for his conditions.
