Cherries in the Urals: planting and care, selection of the best varieties, growing rules

Cultivation of sweet cherries in the Urals is a common practice for experienced gardeners. Planting and caring for cherries in the Urals require an integrated approach and adherence to important agricultural practices. Providing comfortable conditions for the growth of culture, it will be possible to consistently harvest

Climatic characteristics of the region

The climatic conditions of the Urals are far from ideal, so it is recommended to grow only those cherry varieties that are highly resistant to adverse effects. The main difficulties faced by gardeners are: cold winters, short and cool summers with an average temperature of 20 degrees, as well as a small amount of precipitation in the summer.

What qualities should cherries have

When growing cherries in the garden, it is important to choose a fruit crop with suitable characteristics. It is recommended to plant trees with frost resistance down to -30 degrees. It is also necessary to take into account the yield indicator, the height of plantations and the specifics of care.

Recommended varieties for the Urals

Choosing among a wide variety of good and best varieties for planting in the Urals, you should give preference to specimens from the rating of the most popular species. Cultivating proven varieties will help you avoid common mistakes and get a good harvest.

Early ripening

Early ripe cherries begin to ripen in early to mid-June. Early crop varieties for the Urals include:

1. And the way. The variety is characterized by a spreading pyramidal crown and large inflorescences. The berries are medium-sized, dark red, heart-shaped.
2. Leningrad black. Tall variety with small but juicy fruits. The shape of the berries is flattened-ovoid, there are honey notes in the taste.
3. Mayskaya. Vigorous cherry, resistant to many infections and frost. The fruits are small, rounded, with dense and sweetish pulp.

Mid-ripening crops

Middle-ripening varieties fall in mid-summer. Among these varieties are common:

1. Annushka. Vigorous trees with a spreading crown and fruits weighing up to 10 g. Berries have juicy pulp, pronounced aroma and sweet taste.
2. Adeline. A productive variety that forms medium-sized trees. Fruits of bright red color have a weight of up to 6 g and elastic pulp.
3. Teremoshka. A self-infertile variety that requires pollination from other crops. Trees with a spherical crown are resistant to diseases and bear fruits with a honey flavor.

Late varieties

Late-ripening varieties in the Urals are grown in rare cases due to harsh climatic conditions. When planting late varieties, complex care and frost protection are required. Late cherry varieties suitable for cultivation in the Urals include:

1. Michurinskaya late. Fruits weighing 6-7 g ripen at the end of August. The berries have a rounded shape, deep red skin and juicy flesh with a sweet taste.
2. Bryansk pink. Trees of this variety have a dense crown and medium-sized fruits with pinkish skin. The pulp of the berries is dense, yellowish in color. The crop endures long-term storage and transportation.

Winter-hardy varieties of wood

The index of winter hardiness is one of the important criteria for choosing a cherry variety. The most resistant varieties are:

1. The first swallow. Heart-shaped berries weigh more than 5 g and withstand a sharp drop in temperature. The skin of the fruit is shiny, the skin is dense.
2. Firstborn. Universal high-yielding variety of medium-late ripening. The fruits ripen in July and reach a weight of 7 g. The crop has a juicy pulp and a sweet aftertaste.

Fit features

When planting sweet cherries in the Urals, it is necessary to follow a number of standard procedures and take into account the climatic features of the region. To avoid difficulties in growing and get a good harvest, you need to determine the appropriate time for planting, choose a place on the site and prepare the soil.

Recommended timings

Due to the climatic conditions in the Urals, cherry planting is carried out exclusively in spring. It is necessary to wait for the snow cover to melt and the probability of return frosts to disappear, and then transfer the seedling to a permanent place of growth.

In the case of autumn planting, seedlings will not have time to take root and adapt to new conditions, as a result, they will freeze out with the onset of winter.

Optimal place for cherries

The place in the garden plot for placing cherry seedlings must meet a number of requirements. Specifically:

• sunshine throughout the day;
• no through blowing and protection from strong wind gusts;
• low groundwater level (not higher than 2.5 m).

Preparing the soil mixture for seedlings

Cherry loves soil with a neutral acidity index, so liming should be done before planting. On light sandy soil, 300-400 g of lime is used per square, and on heavy loamy soil, 600-800 g. Organic fertilizers (wood ash, rotted manure, compost) are added to the soil mixture.

Tree planting technology

It is recommended to transfer cherry seedlings to a permanent place using standard technology. For disembarkation you need:

1. Dig a planting hole in suitable terrain. The dimensions of the seedling hole are about 70 x 90 cm.
2. Earth is mixed with organic top dressing and a small hill is poured into the center.
3. The roots of the seedling are soaked in a growth stimulator and the plant is placed in the central part of the hole.
4. Sprinkle the seedlings with earth, tamp the soil and water abundantly.

Organize "Ural" cherry care

Caring for cherry trees when planting in the Urals involves an integrated approach. Depending on weather and climatic conditions, the frequency of irrigation, the use of fertilizers, the performance of crown formation and preventive treatments change.Taking into account the specifics of the region and carrying out appropriate care, it will be possible to ensure the active growth and development of plantings.

How often to water

Cherry is one of the moisture-loving berry crops and requires regular abundant watering. Moisten the soil should be as it dries, periodically checking the condition of the earth. During the period of intensive ripening of the berry, waterlogging can lead to cracking of the crop, and a lack of fluid in the soil leads to drying of the roots. Each irrigation is accompanied by loosening the soil so that water penetrates to the roots lying on the lower layers of the earth. Loosening is carried out only in the absence of a layer of mulch.

What to feed

Because sweet cherries are actively growing green mass, a minimum amount of nitrogen should be used when fertilizing the crop. Top dressing with nitrogen can be applied to the soil only in early spring and in small quantities.Nitrogen fertilizers stimulate the growth of shoots and inhibit their woodiness.

Also, sweet cherries are fed with calcium nitrate to reduce the risk of gum disease. In late summer or early autumn, sweet cherries are sprayed with a mixture of potassium sulfate and superphosphate. Foliar top dressing with the use of potassium monophosphate is performed in August to prepare the crop for the upcoming cold snap.

Caring for the trunk circle

Immediately after spring planting or before autumn frosts, the area around the trunk circle is covered with protective mulch. The mulching process performs several functions at the same time, including the following:

• warming roots by preventing soil freezing;
• reflecting sunlight;
• moisture retention in the soil, exclusion of rapid evaporation when exposed to the sun;
• control weeds that won't break through mulch;
• Ensuring looseness of the soil.

Shaping cut

You can perform the formation of trees in spring or early autumn. Pruning is carried out to limit the growth of plantings in height so that the branches can be bent or covered for the winter. To slow down growth, remove the central conductor, thickened foliage and damaged parts of trees.

Also, pruning helps to form a large number of new branches on which inflorescences grow. In addition, compact trees start fruiting earlier.

Preventive treatments

Cherry is rarely affected by diseases and pests, but an unfavorable climate can increase the risk of ailments. It is recommended to constantly inspect the trees and, if the first signs of damage are found, spray with fungicidal and insecticidal preparations.

For preventive purposes, you can perform treatments with immunomodulators and adaptogens. Such spraying is carried out in late August - early September. Prevention helps the berry crop easily endure the cold winter in the Urals.

Preparing for the Ural frosts

You can start preparing for cold snaps in early August. First of all, you should take care of the aging of the wood. If in the first decade of August the growth of the shoots does not stop, it is required to remove the tops of the shoots by pinching. This technique accelerates the maturation of wood and improves the frost resistance of plantations.

To speed up the fall of the leaves, it is recommended to spray the trees with a solution of urea. Processing will accelerate the formation of flower buds and prepare the wood for frost. If in the process of wintering the bark of trees begins to crack from a strong temperature drop, the tree stem is whitewashed.

Young seedlings for the winter period are protected by covering material - burlap, opaque polyethylene fabric or dense fabric. To fix the material, supports are used, which are placed in the ground next to the plantations.

Growing errors

Cultivating cherries in the Urals, many novice gardeners make common mistakes. These include:

1. Wrong choice of predecessors. Suitable precursor crops for cherries are pears, apples, carrots, peas and beans. Unsuitable predecessors - cereals, cabbage, strawberries, onions, cherries, plums.
2. Violation of the rules of leaving. In harsh climatic conditions, it is important not to neglect agricultural technology and take a comprehensive approach to caring for trees.
3. Bad soil. Choosing the wrong place leads to the death of plants and a reduction in the number of crops.
4. Planting unsuitable varieties. For landing in the Urals, you need to choose only those varieties that are highly resistant to cold snaps and undergo sudden temperature changes.

With the observance of agricultural technology, it will be possible to grow cherries even in the difficult climatic conditions of the Urals.

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