The Zvezdochka cherry variety has gained popularity among gardeners due to its early ripening and increased resistance to fungal diseases. Beautiful and tasty fruits appeal to both children and adults. The tree can tolerate both dry conditions and cold climates. In spring, cherry blossoms decorate gardens, and in summer they provide an opportunity to replenish the body’s supply of vitamins and make delicious preparations for the winter.
History of variety development
Cherry Zvezdochka has become widespread throughout our country and even beyond its borders.Now gardeners are finding it difficult to find the correct answer, who was the author of this variety and when exactly it was bred, so the plant is usually classified as a specimen of folk selection. Seedlings for this cherry were selected from the nursery named after I.V. Michurin. Experts are not able to reliably establish which variety became the mother variety for Zvezdochka.
Description of culture
Depending on the type of rootstock and agricultural conditions, the Zvezdochka tree grows from 2.5 to 6 meters in height. Its crown is pyramidal in shape and has medium density. Requires systematic pruning and shaping, especially when grown in the climatic conditions of the middle zone. The sun's rays and air currents should freely penetrate deep into the crown. The foliage of this cherry is medium, the leaves are large, and there are jagged edges.
The description of the variety suggests that Zvezdochka's flowers are grouped into large inflorescences with long and very strong petioles.
The berries are large, round in shape, the weight of one reaches 5.5 grams. At the stage of technical ripeness, the skin acquires a beautiful scarlet color. Cherries are juicy and tender, their taste is sweet with a slight piquant sourness. The juice turns out pink.
The variety has an unusual yellow seed, which is easily separated from the aromatic and juicy pulp. Tasters rated the taste of Zvezdochka at 4.2 points. This cherry tolerates summer heat and drought, as well as winter frosts. In the middle zone it can winter without additional shelter. Star is sometimes confused with another popular variety, Nord Star, but they are two completely different plants.
Advantages and disadvantages
The Zvezdochka cherry variety has enormous advantages over its competitors, making it very popular among gardeners. These include:
- partial self-fertility;
- early ripening;
- high productivity;
- excellent taste and marketability of fruits;
- universal use of the harvested crop;
- excellent frost and drought resistance;
- undemanding in care and unpretentious in growing.
Among the disadvantages, practicing gardeners highlight the tendency to be affected by coccomycosis and moniliosis.
Popularity of Nord Star cherries
The Nord Star cherry variety has won the love of gardeners due to its self-fertility, very good frost resistance and small dimensions of an adult tree. Already in the second or third year after planting the seedling, you can enjoy the first harvest. The tree is almost not affected by diseases and pests, and therefore requires a minimum of attention and care. Nord Star repels some gardeners because the berries taste too sour. It is believed that they are suitable only for harvesting and preparing preserves. But there are lovers who consume cherries fresh.
Distinctive characteristics of the variety
The Nord Star tree is shaped more like a bush. Its maximum height reaches 2.5 meters, the crown is not spreading, and the density is average. In the first years after planting, the plant gives intensive growth, and then abruptly stops growing. The leaves of this cherry are medium sized and narrowly oval in shape.
Nord Star fruits at the stage of technical ripeness have a beautiful burgundy color. The cherries are large, weighing up to 5 grams. The stone separates easily, the flesh is tender and juicy, with a strong classic aroma.Due to the increased acidity, tasters rated the taste of the berries as only 4 points. Cherries ripen late and yields are high. The tree can withstand temperatures down to -40 in winter 0C. In summer, it withstands drought and heat.
Growing regions
Due to their good drought and frost resistance, these trees are excellent for cultivation in the central and northwestern regions, as well as the Volga region. In the conditions of the middle zone, the variety overwinters without additional insulation.
