Cherry Favorite Astakhova: description of the variety and pollinators, planting and care with a photo

Until quite recently, gardeners and gardeners in the middle zone of our country could not even imagine that tasty and juicy cherries could be grown and harvested on their plots. But thanks to the many years of work of breeders, the cultivation of this tree is now possible even in the coldest regions of the country. It is precisely such a fruit tree that the sweet cherry of the Lyubimitsa Astakhova variety is.

Origin and growing region

Bryansk Scientific Research Institute of Lupine is an innovator among the breeding of new varieties of fruit plants, and the leading role in the development of the sweet cherry variety Lyubimitsa Astakhova belongs to the famous breeder - Academician Kanshina.The cherry got its name thanks to her husband, the famous scientist Astakhov. Another name for the hybrid variety of this sweet cherry is “In Memory of Astakhov.”

A new frost-resistant type of sweet cherry was registered in 2011 and recommended for cultivation in the central regions of the country, in the Urals, the Non-Black Earth Region and in the southern regions. The new hybrid was bred from Leningrad and Voronezh plant varieties.

Therefore, gardeners of the Moscow region are now growing fruit crops in gardens and orchards with great pleasure.

Advantages and disadvantages of the memory of Astakhov

Although the Astakhov Memory cherry is a hybrid variety, it has both advantages and disadvantages.

Dignity:

1. Resistant to extreme temperatures and cold climates.
2. High quality fruit and taste.
3. With proper care, the crop shows high yields.
4. Because it is a hybrid variety, it is resistant to some diseases.
5. Small tree size.

Flaws:

1. The plant does not tolerate frost during flowering.
2. The fruit crop has poor self-pollination rates.

Important! Resistant to winter frosts, Astakhov's Sweet Cherry is not difficult to care for, so it is suitable for growing even a novice gardener.

Variety description

Lubimitsa Astakhov's sweet cherry differs from its counterparts in culture by late ripening, large fruits and the possibility of growing in regions with different climatic conditions.

Tree height and crown branching

Young cherry trees are fast growing. An adult plant reaches an average size of 3.5 to 4 meters. The oval-shaped crown is not distinguished by its density, which allows the rays of the sun to freely reach the fruits. Pointed at the ends of the leaves are green.

Pollinators and blooms

Active cherry blossom Astakhov's favorite falls at the end of spring. And since the tree's ability to self-pollinate is poorly developed, in the absence of the right neighbors, very few fruit ovaries are formed.

For good fruiting, a tree needs other varieties of crops, which are preferably planted at the same time. The varieties Tyutchevka, Large-fruited, Iput are best suited for pollination. Any other cherry variety that has the same flowering time can become a pollinator for Astakhov's Favorite.

Cherry or cherry trees planted in neighboring gardens and orchards will also become pollinators. Fruit ripening and yields

Important! Cherries of the Lyubimitsa Astakhova variety begin to bear abundant fruit in the 5th year of growth.

Proper tree care allows you to harvest delicious and juicy berries from mid-July. The culture does not have a periodicity of fruiting, so the crop appears annually. Large fruits have an average weight of 5-6g, but individual berries can weigh up to 7.5-8g. A small cherry tree produces an average of 10-15kg of berries per season.

Cherry of this variety is also grown on an industrial scale.

Transportability and use of berries

With juicy pulp, the fruits have a dense skin, which allows you to transport the crop over long distances without losing the appearance and taste of the berries.

Because of its sweet taste, this cherry variety is widely used in cooking. In addition to the fact that the fruits are consumed fresh, they are boiled, dried and frozen. They also make nectars, juices, and process them into jams, jams and marmalades.

Culture characteristic

The Astakhov Memory variety is hybrid, therefore it has distinctive features that allow you to grow a tree in any climatic conditions.

Sustainability

When developing new varieties of sweet cherries, breeders take into account the climatic conditions of the regions where the crop will be grown and susceptibility to the most common diseases. Therefore, hybrid varieties of fruit crops receive new characteristics that simplify their care.

To frost

A new variety of sweet cherry was bred specifically for growing in the conditions of the middle zone, the Urals and the Siberian region. Therefore, resistance to frost and a sharp temperature drop in a plant is much higher than average. But young seedlings need to be additionally warmed in winter.

To drought

Fruit crop does not like excess moisture. But in a particularly arid climate, it requires additional irrigation work.

Pests and diseases

Hybrid varieties of fruit trees are created taking into account increased immunity to many fungal diseases.

Lubimitsa Astakhov has high resistance to coccomycosis and moniliosis. And in order to protect the plant from other diseases and pests, preventive measures are needed, which are carried out annually from spring to autumn.

Methods of breeding cherries

Gardeners always want to increase the yield of tasty and he althy berries. But for this, the culture must be propagated.

Lubimitsa Astakhov's sweet cherry can be propagated in several ways:

1. Seeds. In this case, you should not expect that the new plant will have all the properties of the mother tree.
2. With the help of cuttings. In an adult tree, the upper shoots are cut off, which in 2-3 months acquire their own root system and are ready for independent growth.
3. But the best way for hybrid crops is to propagate by grafting cuttings onto an adult plant. This method rejuvenates already old trees that have decreased yields.

Important! A grafted cutting of any variety on Astakhova's sweet cherry can also serve as a tree pollinator.

Planting sweet cherries in memory of Astakhov

The yield and rate of plant development depend on how correctly and timely the planting work is done.

Choosing a he althy and strong seedling

It is recommended to buy hybrid seedlings only in official garden centers or nurseries. It is there that the varieties of plants that you need will be offered.

Sapling characteristics:

1. The age of the seedling is from 1 to 3 years. Young plants take root faster and take root better after planting in open ground.
2. Seedling height from 80 cm to 1 m.
3. The tree should have several strong, strong shoots, and the main trunk, which is also a conductor, should not have additional branches at the top.
4. The root system of the seedling is well developed, without traces of rot and fungal formations.
5. The bark of a tree without extraneous stains and damage.

Before planting, the seedling is placed in water for 3-4 hours. If the root system is too dry, then the time the plant is in the water before planting increases to 10-15 hours.

Date and disembarkation scheme

The timing of planting sweet cherry depends on the climatic conditions of the region where the tree will be grown.

In the southern regions with a warm climate, seedlings are planted in open ground in the fall, before the first nightly temperatures below zero. Young plants have time to take root and take root, so they will easily endure a mild winter.

But in the central part and northern regions, planting work is carried out in the spring months. During the summer, the tree will grow stronger and gain strength for wintering in the harsh conditions of cold winters.

Cherries are preferably planted on flat areas or small hills on the south or west side of the garden plot. The landing site should be well ventilated and exposed to sunlight.

Preparing the landing pit

Lime must be added to the soil with a high content of acids. The landing site is chosen dry. A prerequisite is the absence of ground and soil water.

Pits for autumn planting of seedlings are prepared a month before the start of planting:

1. Depth of the pit from 60 to 70cm, diameter t 80 to 90cm.
2. Filling the pit consists of black soil, organic fertilizers, compost, phosphate and potash supplements.
3. The pit is filled with water and left for 3-4 weeks.

If the plants are planted in the spring, the planting pit is still prepared in the autumn. Planting algorithm

As soon as the pit is prepared for planting, earth is poured into it, into which the seedling is tightly installed. The root system must be evenly distributed in the pit and sprinkled with earth so that there are no voids between the roots. Next, the soil around the young tree is carefully compacted and watered abundantly.

We organize competent care

To get a strong, strong tree that bears abundant fruit, it is necessary to take a number of measures to care for it.

Feeding and watering

Cherry does not like excess moisture, so the tree is watered 4-5 times during the season. In particularly dry regions, watering is done more often, as needed. For active growth and a bountiful harvest, the fruit crop needs fertilizer and top dressing, which must be started in the 2nd year of the plant's life.

In spring, sweet cherries are fertilized with organic matter and nitrogen supplements, which help the plant to move away from the winter period and promote development during the vegetative period. During abundant flowering, the tree needs phosphate and potash top dressing, which is usually combined with irrigation work.

Weeding and loosening the trunk circle

Caring for the trunk circle consists in carefully loosening the soil and mulching with dry grass or sawdust.Once every 3 years, the soil around the trunk circle is dug up and compost is added to it. Also, the trunk circle is completely cleared of weeds that interfere with the normal growth of the tree. Shaping and pruning

Sanitary pruning is carried out in spring and autumn. Her goal is to free the tree from frozen, broken, dry and diseased branches. Formative pruning is done annually in the spring, while the buds are not yet swollen. Every year, the strongest and densest branches are selected, which will lay the tiers of the plant. All other layers are cut off.

Timely pruning of sweet cherries not only allows you to increase its fruiting, but also protects against the spread of diseases and pests.

Preventive treatment

Before the onset of the vegetative period, Astakhov's sweet cherry is sprayed with a solution of urea or special preparations that can resist the spread of fungal diseases and destroy pest larvae.

Cortex protection

After spring and autumn pruning, the trunk and bark of the tree are protected by whitewashing, which saves the plant from sunburn and the development of various putrefactive processes.

Preparing for winter

Before wintering, the tree is watered abundantly. This procedure gives additional protection to the root system from freezing.

Young trees are wrapped with burlap or any other materials that have a natural base and will not block oxygen access to the plant. In regions with frequent snowfall, a snowdrift is made around the plant, which protects the fruit crop from freezing.

Reviews of gardeners about the variety

Maria Vasilievna, Kaluga.

Four years ago I persuaded my husband to buy Lyubimitsa Astakhov's seedlings, and have not regretted it for a single day. We have already harvested the first crop. Berries are tasty, juicy and sweet. We mostly eat fresh, but in the future I plan to make compotes and jams.

Egor Petrovich, Vladimir.

Several years ago, the nursery advised me to buy a new variety of cherries, Lyubimitsa Astakhova. The yield is excellent, it does not require special care, it is resistant to diseases.

Recommended