Cherry Julia: description and characteristics of the variety, pollinators, planting and care with photos

Yulia cherry variety is a tall tree with large and juicy fruits. The variety has become widespread among gardeners in the northern regions and in the Black Earth region.

History of selection

It was possible to breed a variety at an experimental gardening station in the city of Rossosh, Voronezh Region. For breeding, seeds of the local selection Gin red were used, which were pollinated by the yellow Denissen berry variety. Later, the variety was zoned for the Chernozem and Lower Volga regions.

Variety description

When planning the planting of cherries, you should read the detailed description of the variety. This will help you choose the right place for plants and think about the upcoming care in advance.

Height and crown size

Violent and actively growing trees reach a height of more than 8 m. The crown is sprawling, medium thickened, well leafy. The shape of the crown is pyramidal, with slightly inclined branches of the lower tier. The bark of the trunk is slightly rough or smooth, flaky, gray with a cherry tint.

Resistant to freezing temperatures and drought

Cherry Julia has a frost resistance index above the average value. Berry trees undergo cooling down to -30 degrees. Frosts do not affect the development of all elements of plants, including flower buds, roots and wood. When growing a crop in regions with a cold climate, most of the buds freeze in winter.

Insect and disease susceptibility

The variety has increased resistance to attack by harmful insects and fungal infections. In the case of periodic preventive treatments, the risk of developing gray rot and coccomycosis becomes minimal.

Pollinators

The Julia variety is classified as self-fertile, so it makes no sense to grow trees on the site one by one. Suitable pollinators are required for a good and regular harvest. According to experienced breeders, the following varieties are the best pollinators:

• Raditsa;
• Student;
• And the path;
• Bryansk pink;
• Revna.

The period of flowering and ripening

Blossom trees begin in early or mid-April. The variety has an average ripening period. In areas with a predominantly warm climate, berries ripen by mid-summer. When grown in the middle lane, the crop is harvested in the last decade of August.

Yield of sweet cherries

One of the distinguishing features of the Julia variety is a gradual increase in yield. The first collection is carried out 4-5 years after planting seedlings in a permanent place. The average yield reaches 15 kg from each plantation. In the future, the indicator increases to 25 kg. Most actively, the amount of the crop increases when growing berry crops in the southern regions.

Transportability and crop storage

Due to the dense fibrous pulp, sweet cherries can be transported over long distances without loss of taste characteristics and loss of marketable appearance. The average shelf life of ripe cherries when refrigerated is 2 weeks. Optimal storage conditions are 0 degrees. If the berry is harvested for future use, then it is placed in the freezer.

Scope of berries

One of the reasons Yuliya cherry is very popular with gardeners is its versatility. The berries are suitable for preservation, making jams and preserves, and eating freshly picked.

Tree planting technology

Tree planting must be carried out in accordance with the requirements of the variety. Compliance with planting technology promotes active growth and development, helps to avoid common mistakes.

How to choose a he althy and strong seedling

Checking the quality of a seedling, you need to pay attention to its trunk. It should have traces of a scion, since such specimens are more fertile. A he althy and developed seedling has many branches, which will later form a spreading crown.

The roots of a young seedling should not be dry and powerful. Before planting, it is recommended to wrap the roots in a damp cloth. The leaves on the seedling should be cut so that they do not absorb nutrients, weakening the plants.

Date and scheme of disembarkation at the site

Grafted seedlings are recommended to be transferred to open ground in the spring, when the snow cover has already disappeared, but the buds have not yet blossomed. Autumn planting is also allowed, but in this case it will be necessary to form, hill up the roots and insulate the trunk with covering material.

Preparing the landing pit

The landing hole for spring planting is dug in advance in the fall. During the autumn landing, the pit begins to be prepared in 2-3 weeks. First you need to choose a suitable place for the pit. It is recommended to consider the following requirements:

1. The soil should be light and fertile. The acidity index is neutral.
2. Root development requires moderate humidity, no drying out or stagnant moisture.
3. Natural light throughout the day will promote active growth. Slight semi-shading is allowed.
4. The place for planting plants should be protected from through blowing and sudden gusts of wind.
5. The optimal indicator of groundwater occurrence is more than 2.5 m from the soil surface. Otherwise, land on high ground.

What crops can and cannot be planted next to cherries

Yulia cherry actively develops and bears fruit when planted next to stone fruit crops, including plum, cherry plum and blackthorn. The main requirement is to maintain the optimal distance between plantings, which should be at least 4.5 m. Neighborhood with seed crops is allowed only at a distance of 4-6 m.

Algorithm for landing operations

When planting cherries, you must follow the step-by-step instructions. Landing operations include the following:

• preparing a pit measuring 70x90 cm;
• processing the bottom layer of the earth with a nutrient mixture of organic fertilizers (humus, wood ash, compost);
• construction of a small elevation in the central part of the pit;
• placing a cherry seedling on a hill and fixing it by tying it to a peg that is stuck next to the hole;
• sprinkling with earth, compaction, abundant watering and mulching of the tree trunk circle.

Organize proper care

A prerequisite for the development of berry culture and intensive fruiting is constant and proper care. In the process of growing a variety of sweet cherry Julia, it is required to comply with a set of agrotechnical actions, including the use of fertilizers, irrigation, mulching, pruning of plantations, sheltering trees for the winter period and preventive spraying to protect against harmful insects and diseases.

Feeding and watering

Yulia cherries need moderate watering. It is recommended to moisten the earth as necessary, taking into account weather conditions and rainfall. Before irrigating trees, squeeze a lump of earth from the surface in the palm of your hand - if it crumbles, then another watering is required.

Fertilizers are applied to the soil several times during the season. In autumn, complex top dressings are used, in which organic substances are combined with minerals. In the spring, Yulia cherries are fed with fertilizers with a high nitrogen content.

Caring for the trunk circle

Mulching the near-stem circle of trees is necessary to retain moisture in the soil and reduce the amount of watering, protect against insects and diseases, warm the roots, and eliminate the need to loosen the earth.

Mulching can be carried out immediately after planting the first watering of seedlings. As a material for mulching, it is recommended to use coniferous branches, compost or sawdust.

Crown formation

Pruning of trees is carried out starting from the 5th year of tree development. The formation procedure helps to increase the yield, reduces the risk of fungal infections and simplifies the process of picking berries. During pruning, old and damaged branches, dried and overgrown foliage are removed.

The main branch of the tree should always be 20 cm ahead of the rest in growth. When forming, it is important to control the length of all branches. It is recommended to prune in late autumn or winter when the trees are dormant. With the onset of spring, the damaged areas will be tightened, and the plantations will continue their active development.

Preventive treatments

Timely preventive treatments of trees help reduce the risk of damage to berry crops by pests and diseases. During the season, it is recommended to spray with insecticidal and fungicidal preparations 3-4 times.Also, always remove infected parts of the tree from the site.

As an additional measure to combat harmful insects, you can whitewash the tree trunk and use repellents (ribbons, rattles).

Preparing and sheltering a tree for winter

In anticipation of winter cold snaps, it is necessary to cover the trees, which is especially important for young and fragile seedlings. To protect Yulia cherries, you can use burlap, thick plastic wrap or a specialized covering material. Pegs are placed in the ground near the trees and material is pulled over them, which makes it possible to create a favorable microclimate around the ground part. The ground in the near-trunk circle of a tree is covered with a layer of mulch for the winter period.

How to propagate cherries

The best way to propagate cherries of the Yulia variety is cuttings. The procedure is best performed in late summer or early autumn.Cuttings are taken from the lower branches of an adult tree, the cut is treated with a growth stimulator, and the cut is sprinkled with wood ash on the mother tree. Prepared cuttings are rooted in open ground and provide comprehensive care. For the winter, the cuttings need to be covered so that they continue their development in comfortable conditions.

Reviews of gardeners about the variety

Vasily, 54: “I planted a few trees last season. I bought adult seedlings, so at the end of summer I already harvested the first crop. The berries are large and juicy, I used most of them for processing, but they are also very tasty when fresh.”

Anna, 35 years old: “I have been growing the Yulia variety for 3 years in a row. I want to note the high yield and easy care. Never de alt with pests. The only drawback is the high height of the trees, which makes picking berries difficult.”

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