Cherry in Siberia: planting and care, variety selection and cultivation rules

Cherry berries were previously grown exclusively in the southern regions, as they are heat-loving plants. To date, the direction of breeding work is rapidly developing and offers a large number of winter-hardy species. What cherry grows in Siberia, how to plant and care for it - information that you need to carefully study before purchasing seedlings.

What characteristics should cherries have

Cherry is one of the fruit crops that are accustomed to warm and sunny areas, but today breeders can offer varieties with the most unexpected requirements.Growing a heat-loving crop is complicated by the conditions of the Siberian climate. It takes a lot of effort to achieve a good harvest.

The main criterion for choosing a cherry variety for planting in Siberia is frost resistance. The speed of fruit ripening is also of great importance, since the summer period in the northwestern region is much faster. Plants in a fairly short time should have time to form fruits, saturate them with the maximum amount of nutrients, and also prepare for winter.

You should not choose cherry varieties for planting in Siberia, which are characterized by tall stature, since the gardener will have to direct all his efforts to crown formation. When choosing, you need to pay attention to types of culture that are resistant to hard picking.

The best varieties for the Siberian climate

The efforts of breeders when creating new hybrids were aimed at increasing the winter hardiness of flower buds. The possibility of growing sweet cherries in the harsh conditions of Siberia depends on this.

Early varieties

Early varieties of sweet cherries, the ripening period of which falls in mid-June, include:

1. And the way.
2. Student.
3. Red Hill.
4. Chermashnaya.
5. Symphony.
6. Fatezh.

Most of them were bred thanks to the Bryansk selection, where this was done by a team of scientists led by M. V. Kanshina.

Mid-ripening crops

Cherry varieties ripening in early July:

1. Rechitsa.
2. Teremoshka.
3. In memory of Astakhov.

These recommended cultivars for planting in Siberia have shown the most encouraging results in breeding, as they are distinguished by the ability of their buds to withstand temperatures as low as -35 degrees.

Late ripening varieties

By mid-July, such varieties of cherries will ripen as:

1. Tyutchevka.
2. Bryanochka.
3. Veda.
4. Revna.
5. Bryansk pink.
6. Odrinka.

The list of these cherry varieties will decorate the gardens of Siberia.

Frost resistant varieties

Before planting a fruit tree in a sharply continental climate, it is worth considering all the risks. Frosts reaching record levels can adversely affect the plant. When choosing, you need to take into account numerous factors of the microclimate.Siberian gardeners strongly recommend giving preference to frost-resistant varieties of sweet cherries, which are generally available in regional nurseries.

Fitting technology

Planting cherries in Siberia has its own characteristics. In order for the seedling to take root and not die in the first winter, you need to make every effort when planting.

When to plant cherries: recommended timing

The best time of the year for planting cherries in Siberia is spring, because if planted in autumn, the sprouts do not have time to adapt to the climatic conditions of autumn and may die with the onset of adverse times and severe frosts.

How to choose a he althy and strong seedling

It is recommended to buy cherry seedlings in early May, as the threat of frost returns continues until the first decade of June. When choosing a seedling, you need to pay attention to many factors:

• well-developed roots do not have swellings and outgrowths;
• bark is smooth, free of spots and scales caused by drying;
• the crown consists of at least 3 branches 30-35 cm long;
• there is no damage in the cloning area, otherwise development may be difficult in the future;
• seedling aged 1-2 years;
• the barrel diameter is at least 1.5 cm.

With all the above characteristics, there is a guaranteed probability of rapid growth of the seedling.

Determining the landing site

The choice of the future place of growth of the seedling should be treated with particular care and precision, since at least 50% of success in growing crops in Siberia depends on this. The selected site must have certain characteristics:

1. The presence of a natural barrier in the form of a hillside or a wall of trees in a nearby forest. You can also independently build a stone wall, a reliable fence, a hedge. This will protect the fruit crop in the future from exposure to cold, strong winds.
2. The absence of various relief depressions in the form of pits, hollows and hollows, as water collects in them due to spring snowmelt. The accumulation of water in the root system can lead to the certain death of the tree. Also, in such places, cold air masses predominate, which is dangerous for the crop at the time of flowering.
3. There is a reservoir nearby and a small hill with a steepness of no more than 5-9 degrees.
4. The most optimal composition of the soil. Poor sandy, clay or peaty soils are unsuitable for use in cherry cultivation. From such places you should not expect the active growth of the plant and a rich harvest. The soil should be loose, permeable, moisture-intensive, fertile, acidic (pH 5.5).Berry culture prefers sandy, loamy, soddy-podzolic soils, chernozem.
5. The flow of groundwater 2 meters from the surface of the earth. Otherwise, the root system will suffer from high humidity, which will lead to an early death.

Important! It is unacceptable to plant a fruit crop in the shade. The tree should receive the maximum amount of solar energy.

Preparing the soil and planting pit

After the landing site is determined with accuracy, you should proceed to the next step - preparing the soil and the landing pit. The hole should be at least 40 cm deep and about 70 cm in diameter. The hole must be equipped with substances such as:

• 2 buckets of humus;
• 150 g superphosphate;
• 50 g potassium sulfate;
• 1 l ash;
• 1 tbsp crushed eggshell;
• 1 bucket of sand.

When growing a cherry seedling in the harsh conditions of Siberia, it is worth taking care of the presence of all the necessary substances in the soil in advance so that the plant does not need anything.

Seating algorithm

To plant a cherry seedling in Siberia correctly, thereby provoking rapid growth and fruit formation, you need to know some planting points:

1. In a pre-prepared hole, place the seedling so that the root collar is on the surface.
2. Do not forget that the trunk should be slightly inclined for convenience in the construction of a winter shelter.
3. Pour 2 buckets of water and be sure to fix to the peg.

If you follow all aspects of aftercare, the likelihood of a rich harvest is greatly increased.

Rules for caring for cherries in Siberia

After planting sweet cherries in Siberia, from the very first days, it is worth taking care that the plant takes root and adapts to the environment. To do this, follow all the recommendations for caring for a fruit tree.

How often to water

The frequency of watering depends on the weather conditions of the northern regions: in the dry season, it should be carried out regularly to maintain normal soil moisture. In the heat, actively water the plant at the time of flowering and 3 weeks before the start of fruit formation.

What to feed for growth and fruiting

Cultivation of sweet cherries in Siberia involves the introduction of a large amount of fertilizer, namely:

• complex fertilizer in the spring, such as nitrophoska or ammophoska;
• at the end of June superphosphate;
• in the first decade of August potassium monosulphate;
• no more than 150 g of wood ash in August.

Following the fertilizing schedule for fruit-bearing cherries will help you get the desired crop in large volumes.

Tree formation instructions

Pruning cherries growing in Siberia has some peculiarities. The purpose of pruning is to limit the growth of shoots, so you need to form a low stem and a compact crown to make it easier to wait out adverse conditions. Do not cut the ends of the branches, the fruits will appear on them. It is recommended to remove only side branches.

The crown of cherry growing in Siberia is formed in several ways:

• in the form of a bowl from one tier, so that the main trunk is not noticeable, but at least 5-6 branches stand out;
• tiered-sparse form, which is characterized by the laying of three tiers of skeletal branches at a distance of 60 cm;
• in the form of a slate.

Timely removal of branches that grow inside the crown is necessary so that the plant gives all the nutrients to the formation and saturation of the fruit, and not to the growth of non-functional shoots.

Proper preparation for winter is the basis for the survival of cherries

The first winter is the most critical period for cherries, it is during this period that the risk of death increases. In the conditions of Siberia, where winters are very severe, it is worth taking a closer look at preparing a fruit tree for wintering and making it easier for him to pass this difficult time of the year. For this you need:

1. In August bend the lower branches.
2. Prevent the formation of a large number of shoots in the autumn and cut them in time.
3. Make sure that the crown is completely devoid of leaves. Otherwise, defoliate by spraying the plant with urea or blue vitriol to speed up leaf fall.
4. Carry out mass watering in the last days of September. Pour about 30 liters of water under one fruit tree.
5. Build a shelter using film, frame, spruce branches, cover the structure with plenty of snow.

Important! To protect the plant from rodents, the trunk and base of the skeletal branches should be whitened. The composition of the whitewash should differ in the content of clay, hot powder pepper, mullein, animal hair.

Growing errors

The experience of summer residents and gardeners will help those who first decided to plant cherries in the garden avoid mistakes. The main reasons for failure include:

• wrong variety;
• non-hardy rootstock and graft;
• high bole formation;
• overdose of nitrogen-based fertilizers;
• in rare cases - the absence of a pollinator.

Only through numerous trials and attempts, you can arm yourself with the necessary knowledge and grow a he althy plant.

It is rather difficult to achieve a good result when growing cherries in Siberia, since the idea itself is risky. But if you take into account numerous factors, study and follow the recommendations, this process will not seem difficult.

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