Cherry Napoleon: variety description and characteristics, planting and care rules with photo

Napoleon sweet cherry became famous in Russia more than 100 years ago. It is grown mainly in the southern regions. Garden culture is valued for its high taste and keeping quality of large fruits, stable fruiting. When cultivated in the appropriate climatic zones, it takes root well, does not require special care during dry periods.

How the variety was bred

The origin of the variety Napoleon - Western Europe, late XVIII, early XIX century. Selection country - France.

Description

Napoleon Cherry is a mid-season, large-fruited variety. Grow in sun-warmed areas with structured, nutritious soil. Damp, cool weather leads to reduced yields, pathogens.

General Description

Trees are tall, with a dense crown in the form of a ball. Flowering - at the end of spring, fruiting - for 4-5 years, at the beginning of summer. Variety Napoleon is self-fertile. It has 2 subspecies: Cherry Napoleon black, Napoleon pink. The differences also relate to the shape and size of the fruit.

Dignity

Napoleon's sweet cherry can withstand a short-term drop in temperature to -30 degrees, provided that the trunk and root zone are covered. Deep roots allow you to endure a long dry period. Late flowering eliminates the effect of return frosts on the ovaries. Flowering trees serve as a decoration for a personal plot.

Flaws

Prolonged low temperatures cause the death of Napoleon's flower buds, frost. For cross-pollination, other varieties of sweet cherries must be planted on the site. Does not withstand neighborhoods closer than 5 meters with an apple tree, pear, plum. Napoleon pink adapts worse to cool and rainy summers, which is why it is not widely used

Kidney

On the bouquet branches in the center there is a growth bud, on the sides - flower buds.

Leaf and flower

Cherry leaves are large, dark green, elongated, with a pointed tip. White buds are collected in inflorescences of 3 flowers on bouquet branches.

Fruit

Napoleon cherries - oval or round, medium or above average, juicy.

Mass

Black fruit - from 6 to 6.5 grams, pink - up to 9-10 grams.

Height

Cherry Napoleon black - 1.8 centimeters; Napoleon pink - 2.0 cm.

Width

Black berry - 2.0 centimeters, pink - 2.2 centimeters.

Thickness

Napoleon black - 2.2 centimeters, Napoleon pink - 2.4 centimeters.

Color

In the mature stage, the color of the fruit is dark red and bright pink. The ovary of Napoleon pink is pink-yellow, the black one is red.

Peduncle

Long, thin, well-pinned.

Bone

The stone is medium, slightly narrowed, easily separated from the pulp.

General characteristics

Berries have an attractive appearance. Used fresh and for preservation.

Taste

Fruits are sweet when ripe. When unripe, pink-yellow fruits have a bitter taste.

Nutritional content

There is a high content in 100 grams of Napoleon cherries:

• vitamins C and E;
• potassium;
• magnesium;
• calcium.

In addition, there are:

• vitamins A, B, P;
• zinc;
• sulfur;
• iron;
• pectin.

Eating sweet cherry fruits can provide a balanced intake of vitamins, micro and macro elements.

Tree height and growth rate

The height of the Napoleon cherry crown reaches 6.5 meters. The annual growth of shoots is 70-80 centimeters.

The period of flowering and ripening

Buds open at the end of May. Berry picking starts in 3 weeks, ends at the end of June.

Yields

Napoleon's average yield is up to 30 kilograms.

Transportability

Napoleon fruits have firm flesh and skin, which ensures keeping quality and transportation over long distances.

Drought Tolerant

Napoleon cherries develop a powerful root system in 3-4 years, providing the tree with moisture. Young seedlings and adult plants need watering during flowering and fruiting.

Frost resistance

Fruit trees tolerate temperatures as low as -30 degrees.

Disease resistance

Napoleon cherries are susceptible to pathogenic lesions in high humidity and temperatures below 0 degrees.

Using fruits

Taste qualities, composition of nutrients, properties of pulp and skin make it possible to use the fruits of the Napoleon sweet cherry not only fresh.

Cooking

Summer and canned compotes and juices are prepared from Napoleon cherries. From a mixture of cherries with cherries, black currants, jams and jams are obtained.

In dietetics

Cherry berries are low-calorie: 50 kilocalories - 100 grams. The use of fruits gives saturation and at the same time reduces the energy intensity of food. If you want to lose weight, the cherry diet is the best way.

In folk medicine

Fresh fruits have a beneficial effect on the intestinal tract. The high content of potassium is good for the heart muscle. Vitamin C helps restore hemoglobin levels.

In cosmetology

Illuminating and nourishing masks from crushed fruits are useful for the skin of the face and décolleté.

Basic soil requirements

Cherry requires loose and fertile land: black earth, loam, sandy loam.

Fit features

The pit is prepared in advance: in autumn, regardless of the planting date. At the bottom, 20 centimeters of expanded clay / small gravel are poured, half the norm of the nutrient substrate. The procedure is necessary to improve the drainage properties and shrinkage of the soil, so as not to damage the small roots.

Seedling selection

Napoleon cherry is grown on rootstocks of cherries, wild cherries, which have frost resistance, resistance to diseases and pests. This method allows you to cultivate a light, heat-loving plant in more severe climatic conditions.

When choosing a seedling, you need to pay attention to the upper part (cherry stem) and the lower part (rootstock).

Root system

Roots of the rootstock must be branched, not damaged.

Barrel

The bark of the tree should be shiny, tightly fitting, without breaking the integrity.

Age

Cherry is planted in a permanent place at the age of 1-2 years.

Vaccinated

The vaccination site should be inconspicuous, dry.

Select pickup time

The timing of planting depends on climatic conditions: autumn or spring. Each case has its pros and cons.

Autumn

In regions with a long, warm autumn, a cherry seedling is planted 14-20 days before the onset of a cold snap. This time is enough for the root system to take root.

Benefits

The root system has time to take root. In spring, the plant will begin to develop in a new place.

Flaws

Underdeveloped roots can freeze in severe frosts and in shelter conditions. The seedling is generally weakened: buds and bark may suffer in winter.

Spring

With a sharp change in seasons, trees are planted in the spring, before the buds swell on the trees.

Benefits

Cherry will not suffer from the winter cold.

Flaws

The development of the seedling is slower compared to the autumn planting. It will take about a month for the plant to adapt to a new place.

Select site

Napoleon cherries should be grown in sunny areas protected from cold winds, without stagnant groundwater.

Preparing the pit

The size of the landing pit: depth - 70 centimeters, diameter - 60 centimeters.

½ of the nutrient substrate is poured onto the bottom, which is being prepared:

• from 2 glasses of ash;
• 2 buckets of manure;
• 2 buckets of fertile soil.

Further manipulations with the seedling are carried out after 20 days (when planting in autumn) or in spring.

Landing

The rest is poured onto the previously poured and settled substrate, making a cone out of it. The tree is placed vertically in the planting hole. Holding the trunk, the roots are spread over the poured soil. Further actions are to gradually fill the planting hole with soil and compact it.

The root neck should be slightly above ground level. They make a trunk circle, water it abundantly with warm water, mulch with hay or straw.

Pollinators

Napoleon cherry needs pollinators as it is self-fertile. The best varieties for cross-pollination are other sweet cherries.

French Black

The variety is productive, resistant to low temperatures and fungal infection. The fruits are large, dark red, sweet and sour.

Big Star

A cherry variety recently bred by Italian breeders. Fruit weight reaches 12 grams. Productivity - up to 45 kilograms.

Large-fruited

Cherry is resistant to adverse weather conditions, infection with fungal spores. Berries are round, dark red, 12-16 grams.

Drogana yellow

Dessert variety. Fruits are yellow, up to 8 grams. Sweet cherry tolerates drought well, is affected by cherry fly, gray rot.

Valery Chkalov

Versatile, early maturing, high-yielding variety resistant to moniliosis. Entered into the State Register in 1974. The fruits are dark red, sweet and sour, up to 8 grams.

Cassini early

Sweet-sour fruits, up to 5 grams, begin to ripen at the end of May. The tree is susceptible to frost and pests.

Zhabule

Dessert variety, bred in France. Early ripe. Frost-resistant, resists pests. Fruit medium size, dark red, loose, sweet.

Early stamp

Early ripe variety. Fruits - up to 3 grams, sour, not stale. A mature tree does not exceed 3 meters, has a non-spreading, pyramidal crown.

Care Secrets

Cherry Napoleon needs the full range of agricultural practices. Without their implementation, the tree will reduce productivity, will get sick.

Irrigation

An adult tree with roots up to 4 meters deep requires watering in early June, when ovaries begin to form. In dry, hot summers, cherries are watered once a month and in autumn - after the leaves fall.

Young trees are watered regularly: during the dry season - once every 5-7 days. With sufficient rainfall - at the end of flowering. Water consumption rate: 50 liters for a seedling, 100 liters for a mature tree.

Feeding

Feeding cherries is necessary in spring and summer. With the awakening of the kidneys, the plant is watered with a diluted solution of mullein (1:10) at the rate of 5 liters. During flowering, potash and phosphorus fertilizers are applied to the trunk circle (45 grams per square meter).

Cutting

For sweet cherries, they form a multi-tiered crown for 5-6 years:

• distance between tiers - 50 centimeters;
• number of skeletal branches per tier - 3-4;
• height of the center conductor is 3-3.5 meters.

Pruning is carried out in spring (March) or autumn (October). At the same time, all branches growing inside the crown, tops, dry, broken, with signs of damage are removed. Removal of large branches is carried out on the ring. To prevent the crown from growing in breadth, the branches are cut to the side branch.

Preparing for winter

Dry autumn water-charging irrigation is carried out.All mummified, dried fruits are removed from the branches. Fallen leaves are removed from the trunk circle. The earth under the tree is dug up to a depth of 30 centimeters. The lower part of the trunk and the basal part are covered with spruce branches from frost, with a net - from mice and hares.

Diseases and pests, their prevention

Timely pruning, watering and preventive treatment of the trunk, branches, ovaries avoid infection by pathogens and prevent pest attacks.

Fungus resistant

Napoleon pink and black are not as susceptible to infection by marsupial fungus (coccomycosis) and ascomycete fungus (moniliosis) as other varieties of cherries. The risk of injury occurs under certain weather conditions.

High immunity to diseases

Despite the low susceptibility to mycotic infection, it is necessary to carry out preventive measures that reduce the sporulation of fungi. The best way is to treat with fungicides.

Copper chloride

Fungicide of protective-contact action against fungal infection. The first spraying is carried out before the beginning of budding, the second - after the end of flowering. Under adverse weather conditions, spraying can be carried out up to 6 times per season.

Bordeaux liquid

Bordeaux liquid is a copper-containing preparation. Properties and method of application are similar for products containing copper oxychloride.

Cherry fly

Insect is the main pest of stone fruits of medium and late ripening. Lays eggs in the ovary of sweet cherries, from which the larvae that eat the pulp of the fruit are rejected.

Confidor

Insecticide of contact action against sucking and gnawing pests. Does not penetrate the fruits, remains effective for a month after spraying.

Aktellik

Strong enteric-contact poison; effective against most horticultural pests. Requires special care when using. Spray cherries once, after the formation of ovaries.

Aphid

Cherry aphid attacks the green shoots and leaves of the tree, feeding on their juice. Systematic pest control consists of removing weeds, ants, chemical treatment.

Sawfly

Insect lays eggs on the underside of the leaf in May-June, late July. The larvae of the slimy sawfly destroy the leaves of the sweet cherry. Pupation occurs in the trunk circle. Control methods: biological, chemical, manual collection of larvae.

Rot

Infection with gray rot spores occurs at the beginning of flowering, at low temperatures or high humidity. Tree treatment with fungicides is carried out before flowering.

Whitewash

Applying a solution of lime to the trunk is one of the ways to protect against pests and parasites, as well as from sunburn.

Bole wrapping

Shelter of the lower part of the trunk with a net, roofing felt, spruce branches is necessary to protect against frost and rodents.

Mulching

For young sweet cherries, mulching the trunk circle is relevant in hot, dry summers.

Insulation of the crown of seedlings

Cultivation of Napoleon cherry in the northern regions is associated with the risk of freezing and death of the tree. The crown of a young tree is covered from the cold with burlap stuffed with hay, fixed on the trunk.

Spring treatment

Before bud break, cherries are sprayed with a fungicide. They are digging up the earth near the trunk circle.

Caring for the trunk circle

During the entire growing season, it is necessary to weed weeds within the radius of the cherry crown and loosen the soil. Autumn and spring digging is necessary to destroy wintering pests and fertilize.

Harvest and storage of crops

The cherries are removed along with the stalk. Store in a shallow, spacious container, in a cool place. Berries retain their presentation and taste for 2 weeks.

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