Leningrad black cherry: variety description, cultivation and care with photo

Modern selection offers a large number of different varieties of cherries, each of which has its own advantages. Gardeners of the middle zone, where winters are cold and frosts are quite strong, should pay attention to the Leningrad black cherry. This variety has high frost resistance, but at the same time produces a stable yield of tasty fruits.

Characteristics and description of sweet cherry variety Leningradskaya black

Leningradskaya black cherry variety is bred for cultivation in the northwestern part of Russia. The efforts of breeders were aimed at creating more hardy plants, increasing their winter hardiness, and accelerating fruit ripening.

Description of the Leningrad black cherry variety includes the following characteristics:

• tree height does not exceed 4 m;
• branches and shoots, covered with oval green leaves with a serrated edge, are fast growing;
• the crown is formed wide and sprawling;
• brownish-brown bark has a soft texture;
• white flowers bloom in the second half of May, collected in small inflorescences.

With proper care, the trees give a harvest in the 2nd year, by the 5th year of life it is 35 kg per plant. Tasters rate the taste of these berries at 4.2 on a five-point scale. Characteristics of the fruits of this variety:

• heart-shaped;
• berry weight 3-4 g;
• cherry, almost black skin color;
• sweet and sour taste;
• juicy pulp with fibrous structure;
• a small bone;
• spicy aroma.

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

Benefits of sweet cherry variety Leningradskaya black:

• low temperature resistant;
• stable above average yield;
• pleasant fruit taste;
• quick ripening;
• strong immunity;
• possibility of long-term transportation without loss of presentation.

Among the disadvantages are:

• self-infertility;
• need for watering;
• uneven ripening of berries;
• medium berry size.

The nuances of growing a tree

The main feature of the Leningrad black cherry is its self-fertility. To form the ovary, it is necessary to plant a pollinator nearby, which is usually used as a sweet cherry of a different variety. Conditions for successful pollination:

• coincidence of flowering period;
• distance between trees no more than 3 m;
• constantly warm weather;
• no heavy rains or prolonged drought.

To save space in the garden, cross-pollinating cherry varieties can be grafted onto one rootstock.

Varieties of sweet cherries recommended as pollinators for the Leningrad Black:

• Leningrad yellow or pink;
• Revna;
• Michurinka;
• And the path;
• Bryanochka;
• Teremoshka;
• Tyutchevka;
• Seda.

Time and place for landing

Leningradskaya black cherry variety bred for cultivation in cold climates. Seedlings will take root best if planted in early spring, before the start of the growing season. In warm climates, autumn planting is recommended when the growing season is over and the plants have already shed their leaves.

For growing Leningrad black cherries and pollinating varieties, choose a place with suitable conditions:

• abundant lighting;
• the surface of the plot is flat or with a slight slope;
• reliable protection against blowing winds;
• distance to nearest trees at least 3 m;
• ground water not higher than 2 m from the surface;
• acidity within 6.5-7.0 pH;
• loose loamy or sandy loamy soils.

Preparing the seedling

Seedlings are recommended to buy in reliable nurseries and garden centers. Their age should be 1-2 years, and the height is about 1 m. Before planting, the seedling must be inspected and carefully prepared:

1. The trunk and shoots must not be damaged or moldy.
2. The seedling should have a central conductor and several side shoots.
3. Dry twigs are removed.
4. When moisture is low, roots are soaked in water for several hours.
5. To enhance subsequent root growth, a small amount of stimulant is dissolved in water.

Boarding process

Technology for planting Leningradskaya black cherries is carried out according to the general rules:

1. The landing pit is prepared in advance. In autumn for subsequent spring planting or 3 weeks before planting cherries in autumn. Its depth is 60 cm and its diameter is 70-100 cm.
2. Up to the middle of the pit is filled with a nutrient mixture of black soil and humus. 270 g of fertilizers are also added there: 1/3 potash and 2/3 phosphate.
3. Pour up to 40 liters of water into the pit.
4. Extracted soil is stored until planting begins.
5. The third part of the soil is poured into the bottom of the pit.
6. The roots of the seedling are evenly laid out on the slopes of the hill and covered with earth, holding the tree upright. In this case, the neck should remain about 5 cm above the surface.
7. The soil is being compacted.
8. Water the seedling with 20 liters of warm water.
9. The trunk circle is mulched with crushed peat.

Subtleties of plant care

Caring for the Leningrad black cherry is easy, just follow the rules of watering, trim the crown in a timely manner and add the necessary nutrients to the soil.

Irrigation Rules

Leningrad black cherry is a moisture-loving variety, and it needs to be watered several times a season:

1. The first irrigation is carried out in the spring before flowering. For 1 tree you need 40 liters of warm water.
2. In summer, the tree is watered in dry weather, checking the soil moisture at a level of 40 cm from the surface.
3. The last time moisture must be applied in the fall when preparing the plant for winter. For a tree older than 5 years, 100 liters of water is enough. Watering is carried out after digging up the earth and fertilizing, but before mulching the trunk circle.

Cutting

The formation and thinning of the cherry crown begins from the first years after planting. Pruning is carried out in early spring, before the movement of juices. The pruning pattern depends on the age of the plant:

1. 1-4 years. Completely remove dry shoots, as well as those that grow towards the central conductor or at a right angle. The rest are cut by 20%, the central one is kept intact.
2. 5 years or more. Remove dry and old branches, as well as damaged and diseased shoots.

Water and mulch

For cherries to grow and produce high yields, the soil must retain moisture. If a soil sample taken at a depth of 40 cm is sticky and well crushed in a lump, then additional watering of the trees is not necessary. Stagnation of moisture and waterlogging can lead to rotting of the root system and a decrease in the amount of oxygen.Mulching the soil will be a good substitute for constant irrigation. As a suitable material for this, you can take:

• crushed peat;
• humus;
• needles;
• straw;
• sawdust;
• leaf litter.

Feeding

The scheme for applying additional fertilizers is simple, the plant is fed twice a year:

1. In May, the soil is enriched with a mixture of urea, potassium sulfate and superphosphate in equal proportions. 60 g of top dressing is enough for one tree.
2. After harvesting, cherries are fertilized with superphosphate in the proportion of 50 g per square meter of crown projection.

Every 3 years, the soil under the crown is dug up and mixed with organic fertilizers, which are used as humus from manure or bird droppings.

Prevention of diseases, pests and preparation for winter

Despite strong immunity and resistance to many diseases, the Leningrad Cherny cherry variety needs preventive measures against such diseases:

1. Moniliosis. A 1% solution of Bordeaux mixture will help prevent the appearance of dark spots on the fruits. Tree spraying is carried out in early spring.
2. Game flow. The cracks formed on the bark are protected, treated with copper sulphate and covered with garden pitch.
3. Clusterosporiasis. From this disease, the annual spraying of plants with fungicides will help. It is carried out at the beginning and end of each growing season.

Modern insecticides help get rid of typical fruit pests such as leafworms, moths, cherry flies and aphids.

Preparing sweet cherries for winter includes loosening the near-stem circle and abundant watering of the plant. To retain moisture in the soil, the entire surface of the earth under the crown is carefully mulched. Young trees for the winter can be wrapped with burlap or a special protective fiber. High frost resistance allows Leningradskaya black cherries to survive the winter without additional heating measures.

Harvesting and preserving the harvest

The timing of fruit ripening depends on the region of cultivation. In a cold climate, the first berries are harvested in the second half of July, in a warm climate much earlier - at the end of June. Cherries ripen gradually, and the collection can take several weeks. At the same time, the berries hold well on the branches and are not prone to falling off on their own.

Danger is represented by numerous birds that are not afraid of noise and scarecrows, so it is recommended to cover the crown with a special net.

Store fresh fruits in a refrigerator or cellar with a temperature of 2-4 ° C for up to 14 days. Berries perfectly retain their taste and nutrients when frozen. They are suitable for preparations such as compotes, jam, jam and marmalade. Cherry juice can be canned or frozen.

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