Gardeners in Russia, especially in its northern regions, are faced with the problem of finding a frost-resistant variety that can produce a stable harvest. This problem is relevant not only for the north of the country, but also for most central regions, where the weather does not indulge in warm winters. Breeders involved in developing new varieties presented cherry lovers with a gift called the Ural Standard. What are the advantages of the Ural Standard cherry variety and how to grow it, we will find out below.
Origin story
The “parents” of the Ural Standard are considered to be seedlings of steppe and bush cherries. It was they who served as the basis for a new, frost-resistant variety, which appeared thanks to the efforts of breeders N.I. Gvozdyukova. and Zhukov S.V., who at that time worked at the Ural Scientific Research Institute of Agriculture and the Central State Forest. Their brainchild turned out to be frost-resistant, with good immunity from diseases and pests, and also pleasant to the taste.
Description of the variety
Cherry Standard of the Urals turned out to be a successful experiment, which was loved not only by local gardeners, but also received recognition in other regions of the country. Has the following characteristics:
- The average height of the bush is 1.7 meters.
- The branches are strong, intertwined into a wide, sparse crown.
- The cherries are large and fleshy. The mass of one cherry is 5 grams.
- It cannot pollinate itself, which is why it needs to be planted with other cherry varieties on the site. The following are suitable for this: Volzhanka, Vole Michurina, Mayak.
- On average, from 6 to 15 kilograms of crop are harvested from one bush. It all depends on care and weather conditions.
- The bush practically does not need pruning. All work comes down to removing dried branches and occasionally correcting neglected areas.
- Weakly susceptible to fungal diseases and attacks by insect pests.
- The berries tolerate transportation well without losing their attractive appearance.
Agree that such a description of the variety inspires confidence and awakens the desire to grow a couple of bushes on the site.
Note! The crop, due to the use of steppe varieties as the basis for selection, grows as bushes rather than trees.
Planting and care
Landing is carried out as follows:
- Holes are dug, the width and depth of which is 70 centimeters.
- The distance between holes is at least two meters.
- The bottom of each hole is covered with a layer of fine gravel.
- Next, the hole is filled up to half its volume with earth mixed with fertilizers.
- A wooden peg is driven into the ground.
- A cherry seedling is carefully placed in the prepared hole.
- Fill the hole with the remaining mixture of soil and fertilizer, and then tie the cherry to a peg.
Cherry care consists of the following actions:
- Watering is of medium intensity. Do not overwater the plant or dry out the soil. A few days before harvesting, the bushes are not watered.
- It is advisable to fertilize the soil with manure or mineral-based fertilizers.
- Pruning is carried out in the first month of spring, if necessary.
- In late autumn and early summer, cover the main branches of the bush with whitewash, and in winter, rake more snow around the bushes. Such actions will help the crop endure the winter in comfortable conditions.
Advantages and disadvantages
It has both positive and negative sides. The advantages include:
- frost resistance;
- pleasant taste with slight sourness;
- resistance to diseases.
Minuses:
- used as a basis for compotes, preparations and various kinds of tinctures. It is consumed less often in its raw form;
- need other varieties for pollination;
- begins to bear fruit no earlier than 3 years after planting.
Diseases and pests
It has no predisposition to any diseases or pests, as a result of which, to maintain a healthy state, rare preventive examinations are sufficient. Occasionally, you can treat the bushes with special preparations, which will further increase the plant’s immune defense.
