Anthracite Cherry: variety description and yield characteristics, cultivation and care

It is difficult to find a summer cottage where at least one variety of cherries is not grown. The fruits of the tree are very he althy and unusually tasty, various dishes are prepared from them, added to compotes and harvested for the winter. More than 10 years ago, the Anthracite variety was bred, which has become very popular for growing cherries in Russian gardens.

History of Breeding

The Anthracite cherry tree variety was bred thanks to the efforts of breeders G. B. Zhdanov, A. F. Kolesnikov, T. A. Trofimov of the All-Russian Research Institute in Orel more than 15 years ago, but received a registration number only in 2006.After being entered in the State Register of Selection Achievements of Fruit Crops, he began to gain popularity among gardeners in central Russia. It was obtained by free pollination of cherry seedlings of the Shirpotreb Chernaya variety, chosen as the best option, corresponding to the climatic conditions of central Russia.

Variety description

Anthracite refers to the Common Cherry (Prunus cerasus), Plum genus. The Anthracite Cherry is a partially self-fertile variety that can be harvested even if no pollinator is present. Anthracite cherry tree belongs to low-growing plants, quickly growing up to 2 m. The root is powerful, deeply penetrating, tolerates severe frosts.

The crown is sprawling, the branches are strong, flexible, quickly woody, acquiring a brown, shiny bark. On raised annual branches, cone-shaped fruit buds are formed. The bark of the tree is cracking, brown-burgundy in color with longitudinal cracks.

The leaves are dark green, curved upwards, ovoid, petiolate, pointed, shiny, up to 7 cm long, veins are clearly visible from below, the color is light green.

Fruits are formed on one, two-year-old branches, collected in inflorescences of 2-3 flowers, less often 4-5, flowering is plentiful, fragrant. Flowers consist of 5 white petals, sepals, with one pistil and up to 20 stamens. After flowering, it forms green fruits, which have an average ripening period (2-3rd decade of July), become maroon, almost black. The shape of the fruit is heart-shaped, rounded below, the funnel is wide, located on a short peduncle up to 1.1 cm. , weighing 4-5 g. The stone is small, creamy yellow, the weight of the fruit is up to 6%, it is well separated.

The berries of the described Anthracite cherry variety are classified as dessert varieties with high palatability with a score of more than 4 points.

Key Features

Cherry is partially self-pollinating, the flowers are bisexual, but for abundant fruiting you need pollinating varieties Sklyanka, Shokoladnitsa, Lyubskaya, Nochka, Vladimirskaya, Shubinka, Griot Moskovsky and varieties of sweet cherries with an average flowering period:

Frost resistance of the root system up to -37 °C.
Buds and young branches tolerate short night frosts well.
The variety is drought-resistant, easily tolerates hot weather without watering.
High yield from 96 to 107 c/ha.
Resistance to diseases and pests is average, so it is almost never used for cultivation in farms.
Fruits have a long shelf life, do not crack, are transportable.

The minimum distance for planting from a pollinated tree should be 25 m.

Pros and Cons of Anthracite Cherry

Anthracite cherry is often grown in individual gardens, as it has a significant minus - the average resistance to fungal diseases: coccomycosis, moniliosis. Anthracite cherry tree or shrubs short-lived, up to 15-18 years.

A big plus of the variety is high yield, good taste, which allows you to use the berry not only fresh, but also prepare confectionery, jams, compotes, juices.

Ripation and fruiting variety

Anthracite cherry fruits ripen in the second half of July from 15 to 25 on bouquet branches and annual growths. Fruiting begins from the 2-4th year after planting and depends on weather conditions and the region of growth. In the southern regions, ripening occurs in the first decade, in the northern regions by the end of July.

Growing in regions

The Anthracite variety is recommended for the Central strip of Russia: Moscow, Bryansk, Nizhny Novgorod, Smolensk, Ivanovo, Tver, Yaroslavl, Oryol, Kostroma, Vladimir, Kaluga, Tula regions, and is also suitable for cultivation in Siberia and the Urals. It became widespread in the countries of the former Soviet Union: Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Georgia, Estonia.

The appearance of the Anthracite cherry is attractive, decorative, can be used for breeding new varieties due to its fast growth and survival qualities of the scion, as well as for pollination. Bushes and trees have a comfortable crown and height for picking berries.