Radica Cherry: variety description and characteristics, cultivation and care with photo

Lovers of large, tasty and juicy fruits will love Raditsa cherries. The description of this variety suggests that the tree is capricious, hard to endure winter, but the quality and quantity of the crop fully compensate for all the shortcomings. Experts recommend growing sweet cherries in the Central region, as they are not suitable for a more severe climate.

How the variety was bred

Breeders of the All-Russian Research Institute of Lupine worked on breeding the Raditz cherry. The merit of obtaining a new variety belongs to M.V. Kanshina, who crossed Kommunarka and Leningradskaya black, which were beloved by gardeners.In 2001, Raditsa was entered into the State Register and recommended for planting in the Central Region.

Photo and description

The description of the Raditsa variety allows you to highlight the characteristic features inherent in this particular sweet cherry and allow you to distinguish it from other similar varieties.

General Description

Mid-season variety, very productive. The tree grows rapidly, quickly gaining height and reaches 4 m in height. The crown is oval, not strongly thickened, well leafy. The fruits are red, tasty, with excellent commercial characteristics.

Kidney

The kidney of the sweet cherry is of generative type, large in size, shaped like a cone. She is strongly deflected from escaping.

Leaf and flower

Raditsa's leaf has an obovate shape, slightly elongated. Its color is bright green, notches are clearly visible along the edges, the base is rounded.The inflorescence contains 3 separate flowers with snow-white petals. The anthers and stigma of the pistil are on the same level, the calyx is of a goblet type.

Fruit

Radica cherry is famous for its fruits, for which both amateurs and professionals plant it in their gardens.

Mass

Depending on the growing conditions, the weight of the Raditza fruit is 4.6-5.7 g.

Height

The height of the cherry fruit is 2.5-3 cm.

Width

The width of the Raditsa berry reaches 2.5-2.8 cm.

Thickness

The stone accounts for only 5.2% of the total volume of cherries, because the berry is fleshy, with a thick layer of pulp.

Color

When ripe, the flesh of the fruit turns a dark scarlet color, and the skin turns red-black.

Peduncle

Radica's peduncle is small, pigmented, divided into 3 glands.

Bone

The stone is small, has a beige color, occupies a little more than 5% of the total volume of the fruit.

General characteristics

Raditsa refers to mid-season high-yielding varieties with fruits of universal use. The harvest is distinguished not only by high taste, but also by commercial characteristics. Cherries contain:

• sugar - 11.2%;
• acid - 0.4%;
• dry matter - 16.1%.

For every 100 g of product, there are approximately 13.5 mg of ascorbic acid. The fruits are not prone to cracking.

Taste

Cherry tastes sweet, tasters rated their quality at 4.5 points.

Nutritional content

There are a large number of useful substances in the composition of sweet cherries:

• vitamin C;
• thiamine;
• vitamin A;
• B vitamins;
• calcium;
• iron;
• phosphorus;
• zinc;
• potassium;
• betacarotene.

Tree height and growth rate

Raditsa is growing rapidly and rapidly. The maximum height of an adult tree reaches 4 m.

The period of flowering and ripening

Cherry begins to bear fruit 4 years after planting a seedling in the garden. Fruit ripening occurs at the same time. Flowering begins in the first half of May, and the harvest ripens by mid-June.

Yields

Raditsa is considered a high-yielding variety, giving about 60 centners of ripe cherries per hectare of plantings.

Transportability

Medium firm pulp ensures good transportability of fruits.

Drought Tolerant

The variety is not considered drought tolerant and needs regular watering. At the same time, the tree does not tolerate stagnant moisture.

Frost resistance

Radica Cherry is a frost-resistant variety that can withstand temperatures as low as -29 °C in winter. When this indicator is exceeded, the tree freezes by 1.5 points. In the event of spring frosts, yields are reduced by 56%.

Resistance to coccomycosis, moniliosis, clasterosporiasis

Raditsa has increased resistance to coccomycosis and moniliosis, as well as moderate immunity to clasterosporiasis.

Using fruits

Cherry is suitable for fresh consumption, as well as various types of processing:

• preparation of tincture;
• making homemade wine;
• preparation of compotes;
• preparing jam;
• preparing jam;
• jelly making;
• preservation;
• freeze;
• drying.

Basic soil requirements

Radica cherry prefers light, fertile loamy or sandy soil with good air permeability for planting. This variety can not be planted in areas dominated by clay, sand or peat. The groundwater level should not approach the surface by more than 2 m.

Preferred climate

Raditsa is excellent for cultivation in temperate climates. Also, the tree feels good in the gardens of the Moscow region.

How to choose a seedling

A real Raditza seedling should have a noticeable grafting site, which indicates that the plant is really a varietal. The sweet cherry selected for planting has a main trunk thickness of about 17 cm.

Preference should be given to a seedling aged 1-2 years, which has at least 3-4 branches about 0.4 m long. A tree with two trunks under the weight of the crop can easily break down. The root system should not be too dry. Sweet cherries are selected without mechanical damage, broken shoots or signs of disease.

Timing and landing pattern

The planting of the Raditsa cherry is planned for spring. Work is carried out before the buds begin to bloom on the seedlings, that is, almost immediately after the snow begins to melt. The distance between neighboring fruit trees or shrubs and planted cherries is about 4 m.

Before planting, the sweet cherry roots are dipped in a root formation stimulator for 10 hours, after which the damaged roots are carefully cut. A wooden peg is driven into the prepared planting hole, a tree is installed and the root system is carefully straightened, after which the hole is covered with earth. The root neck must necessarily protrude 4 cm above the soil surface.

Preparing the pit

Preparing a landing pit for sweet cherries begins in the fall. During this period, the necessary fertilizers are applied, in particular superphosphate, so that they have time to dissolve before spring.

In acidic soil, it is recommended to add a little lime or dolomite flour, and then dig the area. After 14 days, they dig a hole about 0.8 m wide and at least 0.5 m deep. A couple of buckets of compost or humus are added to the upper fertile layer of the earth, and another 1 kg of wood ash is poured in the spring.A tubercle is formed from the resulting mixture at the bottom of the planting hole.

You should not be too zealous with fertilizers, so that the sweet cherry does not give an excessive growth of twigs, which will not have time to ripen during the season and die in winter.

Care

Proper care and compliance with agrotechnical conditions are required to obtain a high-quality and abundant harvest of Raditz cherries.

Feeding and watering

Cherry needs to be fed only 2 years after planting. Until this period, she has enough nutrients and fertilizers that were introduced into the soil during planting. At the beginning of spring, nitrogen is introduced under the tree, and with the beginning of autumn, they begin to prepare it for wintering. For this purpose, superphosphate is embedded in the soil.

To ensure a good yield, Raditza is fed with green fertilizers. Lupine, vetch or sainfoin are best suited for these purposes.They are sown in the near-trunk circle of sweet cherries in early summer. It is advisable to plant nearby vegetation that attracts bees for pollination. With the onset of autumn, the entire green cover is mowed and buried in the ground for rotting and obtaining fertilizer.

Radica cherry is not a drought-resistant crop, therefore it requires regular watering. Seedlings are watered a couple of times a month. Before the onset of cold weather, the soil in the near-stem circle is carefully watered again so that the root system does not freeze out.

An adult tree is irrigated 4 times during the growing season. In autumn, the tree needs weekly watering. If flowering occurs during a dry period, then more moisture will be required.

Weeding and loosening

Immediately after planting, weeds are regularly removed around the sweet cherry. After each watering or heavy rainfall, it is necessary to loosen the soil, renew the mulch layer.

Crown formation

When forming the crown of the Raditz cherry, it is taken into account that the trunk should rise 20 cm above the skeletal branches.With the onset of spring, all annual shoots are removed. In the lower tier there should be 3 skeletal branches. At a height of 0.7 m from it, the next tier is formed from 3 more processes. When the sweet cherry reaches the age of more than 5 years, it will only need sanitary pruning, which involves the removal of frozen or damaged shoots.

Pollinators

Raditsa belongs to self-fertile varieties and requires mandatory planting of pollinators nearby. Therefore, experienced gardeners are advised to plant several more varieties nearby:

• Revna;
• Tyutchevka;
• And the way.

It is also possible to plant early-flowering cherries near Raditsa, which can also serve as pollinators.

Disease and pest prevention

Despite increased resistance to diseases, Raditsa cherries require timely preventive measures against certain pathogens and pests that can harm the plant.

Confidor

As a preventive measure, as well as to combat the invasion of aphids, it is recommended to spray sweet cherries with the "Confidor" preparation. The first time it is used before the buds begin to bloom, and then after 14 days. In order for the product to better adhere to the tree, it is recommended to add a little soap solution to it.

Tobacco dust solution against parasites

To combat aphids, an aqueous solution of tobacco dust is also effectively used in early spring. Due to the fact that the foliage on the trees is almost absent during this period, it is also recommended to add a little soap to it to increase adhesion to the twigs.

Cherry fly traps

The cherry fly causes a lot of trouble, because special yellow-colored traps are effectively used to combat it. Hang them up until the flower buds begin to bloom. You can buy such a device at a gardening store.

"Nitrafen" from moths

Gardeners to combat moths use the drug "Nitrafen", which is sold in specialized stores. It is bred according to the attached instructions, and the processing is carried out before the kidneys begin to swell.

Bird net

In order to protect the crop from bird invasion during the formation of ovaries and ripening of fruits, gardeners throw a fine fishing net or mesh material specially purchased for this purpose.

Spring treatment

With the onset of spring warmth, Raditsa cherries require preventive treatments and measures. In particular, the tree trunk must be whitewashed with a mixture prepared from clay, lime and water. Also at this time of the year, spraying is carried out with the Inta-Vir preparation, as well as with Carbamide, diluting 300 g of the purchased powder in a bucket of water.

Preparing for winter

With the onset of the first frost, the Raditsa cherry seedling must be covered. A frame is first built around it, and then agrofiber or spunbond is thrown over it. At the bottom, the material is pressed down with stones or bricks. With the onset of spring warmth, the shelter is immediately removed so that the cherry does not trample.

Pruning cherries

Sanitary pruning of Raditsa cherries is done in the spring, before the buds open. At this time, all damaged shoots are removed from the tree, as well as those that did not survive the winter and froze. It is also necessary to cut out the shoots growing inside the crown.

Reproduction

Radica cherries reproduce in three main ways:

• vaccinations;
• seeds;
• cuttings.

Experienced gardeners say that the most effective method is grafting.For its implementation, you will need a cutting and a ready-grown stock. It is preferable to cut cuttings in autumn and store in a cool place. As a stock, I use basal shoots, as well as seedlings of any variety. To make the survival rate better, the scion and stock are selected with the same diameter at the cut point.

For the propagation of sweet cherries using cuttings, planting material is harvested, which are twigs with growth buds about 0.3 m long. They are placed for 12 hours in a root formation stimulator and planted in a previously prepared greenhouse.

Further care consists in constant watering and maintaining the temperature regime at +25 ° С.

Seed cherries are propagated only for the sake of growing a high-quality rootstock. In this way it is impossible to obtain a tree with the same characteristics as the mother plant. Very often, the fruits of such plants are inedible and unattractive. But the grown stock will be compatible with any other variety.

Tips

Experienced gardeners have already gained some experience in growing and caring for Raditsa cherries. Some of their recommendations are very valuable.

Yields

In order for sweet cherry productivity to be at a high level, another pollinator variety must grow nearby. Otherwise, you will not be able to wait for a rich harvest. The tree loves soil with a low level of acidity, so care should be taken to deoxidize the soil and add a small amount of lime to it. Do not forget about timely top dressing. With a lack or excess of nutrients, cherries can drop some of the ovaries.

Additional waterings

During flowering and fruit formation, the tree needs additional watering. They should be stopped as soon as the cherries begin to ripen. Otherwise, the crop may crack and deteriorate right on the tree.If the autumn turned out to be dry, then additional irrigation will also be needed at this time so that the plant survives the winter well.

Pruning cherries

To increase the yield of sweet cherries, it is also recommended to pinch the ends of young shoots as soon as they reach a length of 0.6 m. This technique will make the crown thicker and provoke the formation of a large number of fruit buds.

Reviews

During the existence of the Raditsa sweet cherry variety, gardeners have learned from their own experience about all its advantages and disadvantages. They share their impressions with colleagues.

Natalya Mikhailovna: “I have been choosing cherries for my garden for a long time and considered several options. Raditsa attracted attention because the varietal characteristics promised good fruit flavor and early ripening. Together with her, she acquired another variety with a similar flowering period for pollination. I must admit that I received the harvest quite early.In the conditions of the Moscow region, the family ate red cherries already in mid-June. From an adult tree, we managed to remove 6 buckets of crops. The berries had an excellent taste, grew dense and juicy. We even managed to make small preparations for the winter.”

Vitaly Anatolyevich: “I chose Raditsa for my garden on the advice of my friends. I did not need a pollinator, because a tree with similar flowering times grows behind the fence of the neighbors. The seedling began to bear fruit 4 years after planting. Now the plant is already an adult and gives stable high yields. Due to the high resistance to diseases, there is no need for constant treatments with chemicals. Under the tree, the wife plants various flowers with a pungent smell to repel pests. Sweet cherries are enough not only to provide for a family of 4 during the ripening period, but also to prepare a small amount of preservation and freezing for the winter.”

Angelina Dmitrievna: “Raditsa remained on my site from previous owners along with a pollinator.Our family liked the variety, so we did not uproot it. Every spring, the tree pleases with lush flowering, and with the beginning of summer, you can treat yourself to fresh tasty fruits. We do not make preparations for the winter, we treat friends and acquaintances with surplus cherries. We do not have enough time for care, therefore we limit ourselves to watering and seasonal fertilization, and also carry out sanitary pruning in the spring. Processing from diseases and pests is carried out once, as soon as it gets warm. We use Inta-Vir.”

Alexandra Nikolaevna: “Raditsa bought cherries at the fair, paying attention to its varietal characteristics. However, at that time I did not attach importance to the fact that the tree definitely needs a pollinator variety. When the seedling grew up, and it was time to give a harvest, there were almost no fruits, although the flowering was plentiful. Frustrated, I wanted to remove the tree from my garden. However, a friend helped with advice.

She, as it turned out, has also been growing the same variety for a long time and gives abundant harvests.Only now a friend grows several varieties of cherries at once, besides, there are several cherries in the garden. It is they who serve as pollinators for Raditsa. After listening to the advice, I decided to give my tree a second chance and planted another sweet cherry and an early cherry nearby. A few years later, the tree was rehabilitated in my eyes and pleased with a rich harvest of beautiful cherries with excellent taste, which both adults and children rejoiced at.

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