Apple Cherry: description and characteristics of the variety, planting and cultivation

Early winter apple-tree variety Cherry was obtained as a result of crossing varieties Antonovka ordinary and Pepin Shafranny. Bred in VNIIS them. Michurin, the originators of the variety are breeders Z. I. Ivanova, V. K. Zaets, S. I. Isaev and G. A. Lobanov. Cherry apple tree is suitable for growing in the southern regions of Central Russia - Tambov, Kursk, Lipetsk, Voronezh regions.

Variety description

Apple Cherry is a high-yielding variety of medium winter hardiness. Weakly susceptible to freezing in a temperate continental climate with a relatively mild, snowy winter (negative temperatures fluctuate at -8 … -11˚С). Can tolerate frosts down to -27 ˚С.

Tree morphology

Apple Cherry belongs to medium-sized species, growing up to 2-3 meters in height, the roots lie at a depth of 50-60 cm.

Crown and branches

The tree has a rounded, medium leafy crown with a diameter of 1.5-2 m. The branches grow almost horizontally in relation to the ground, are compact.

Barrel

The trunk, branches and shoots of the apple tree are covered with a nasty, dense bark of an intense dark cherry tone.

Foliage

Leaves are smooth, oval, slightly pubescent on the back side, have fine serrations along the edges. Petioles of medium length, hairy, colored at the base, grow on shoots at an acute angle.

Escapes

Cherry variety tree produces straight shoots of medium length and thickness, with shortened internodes and a characteristic cherry color, covered with many small lentils.

Kidneys

Medium-sized buds form at the end of annual fruit twigs and spears. They are afraid of return spring frosts.

Flowers

Apple flowers Cherry of medium size, form inflorescences of 4 pieces. Oval petals of white or cream color, stigmas of pistils and stamens are at the same height.

Fruits

Cherry apples have a regular round or slightly conical shape and thin skin. The fruits are large, grow up to 110-140 grams, yellow-green at the stage of technical ripeness. Upon reaching full maturity, they gradually acquire a raspberry-red hue. The pulp has a dense structure, sweet, juicy, with a slight sourness and a weak aroma.

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

Apple variety Cherry has a good yield and consumer properties of the fruit. The following characteristics are important:

regular fruiting;
bright fruit appearance;
fruits are hardy in transportation, have good keeping quality.

The disadvantages of the variety include low immunity to frost, drought, diseases.

Subspecies

Medium-sized apple species are grown by grafting a cutting onto a medium-sized stock. The compactness of the tree allows it to be grown in small areas, harvesting without difficulty.

Columnar variant

Columnar apple trees have become very popular. A low tree, strewn with fruits, looks spectacular, does not take up much space. It is characterized by a thicker trunk, low height, a small number of lateral branches growing along the trunk. The trunk and branches of the apple tree are densely covered with annual short shoots on which fruits are formed.The compact crown of such a column is easier to cover from frost in winter. A tree of the Cherry variety bears fruit from the 2nd-3rd year.

Early Winter Cherry Apple Tree

Medium-sized apple tree is a delicate plant that needs careful care and feeding. The surface location of the root system allows planting a tree with a relatively shallow groundwater. In order to prevent the tree from falling during strong winds or softening of the soil during rains, it should be tied to special supports. The fruiting of the apple tree begins in the 5th year.

Characteristics of the variety Cherry

When all agrotechnical activities are carried out, the Cherry apple tree lives on average 10-15 years, after which the planting should be renewed. Compared to tall varieties, it tolerates cold better, is more resistant to diseases, its fruits are larger and sweeter.

Pollination

Cherry variety is self-infertile, requires pollinators. Suitable for this purpose:

Pepin Saffron.
North Sinap.
Antonovka ordinary.

Growth

The development of annual shoots depends on care - watering, fertilizing and competent pruning. On average, new branches grow up to 15 cm.

Precocity

Charging fruits of the Cherry variety begins in September at the stage of removable ripeness. Full maturity is reached in 2 weeks. The fruits are stored for 5 months without loss of marketability.

High yields

The apple tree bears fruit annually and abundantly. From one plant, including an adult, you can get up to 150 kg of crop with proper care.

Frost resistant

The Cherry variety is characterized by medium frost resistance, not suitable for growing in regions with severe winters. Most of all, young shoots and buds are subject to freezing, which inevitably affects the crop. Flowers are afraid of returning frosts. The plant recovers well after being hit by cold.

Disease and pest resistance

Cherry apple trees have good resistance to scab, against other diseases - cytosporosis, fruit rot and pests, appropriate measures must be taken.

Apple Cherry - description

Large fruits are located on a short thick stem. A funnel of medium depth is devoid of the “rusty” coating characteristic of many varieties. The saucer is small, with a closed, non-falling cup. The seed box contains large semi-open chambers.The seeds are small, dark cherry in color.

Taste and aroma of apples

Cherry apple fruits have white, crispy, juicy flesh with a delicate dessert taste and a harmonious combination of sugars and acids. Aroma is weak.

Useful properties

Apples have a positive effect on human he alth. The presence of antioxidants gives them the ability to rejuvenate the body, inhibit the aging process of cells. Regular consumption of apples has a general strengthening effect:

improves the functioning of the immune and cardiovascular systems;
leads to lower cholesterol levels;
promotes the elimination of toxic substances and slows down the development of cancer cells;
normalizes the digestive system.

Apple nutrient content

Fruit is low in calories (48 kcal) yet high in nutritional value:

Contents ContentsK278B2 0.02Fe2.5B5 B6 B9 S E K 0.25PP 0.3

Vitamins	mg/100g	Minerals	mg/100g
A	0.005	Ca	16
B1	0.03

0.07	Zn	0.15
0.08	Mg	9
0.002	P	11
10	S	5
0.0002	Cl	2
0.002	B

Benefits and harms of eating fruits

One fresh apple covers the body's daily need for vitamins and minerals by 20%. It is better to use them together with the peel, which contains a lot of fiber. The fruit is hypoallergenic, it can be safely introduced into the children's diet from infancy, introducing it into complementary foods. Diabetics should be careful. There are few contraindications to the use of apples, they are associated with individual intolerance to the product, exacerbation of peptic ulcer of the stomach and intestines.

Cooking Recipes

Cherry apple fruits can be consumed fresh, squeezed juice, prepare compotes, fruit drinks, jelly, used in the preparation of confectionery and hot dishes, canned for long-term storage.

Planting seedlings

For the Cherry apple tree, you should choose a well-lit sunny area with fertile soil and no possibility of stagnation of melt or rainwater.The tree develops well and bears fruit on chernozems, sandy loams and loams with a low level of acidity. The site should be well protected from the winds, where the snow is not blown, so that the tree can winter more easily.

Preparing land for planting

In autumn, the plot is dug up, weeds are removed. Sand, sawdust, vegetable humus or compost are introduced into dense, heavy soil. Light sandy soils are made heavier by adding clay, peat, rotted manure and ash.

Plot marking

When planting Cherry apple trees, the distance between plants in a row should be at least 3.5 meters and between rows - about 4.5 meters. Columnar seedlings are planted according to the scheme 1 x 1 meter. If the distance is not observed, the tree may not have enough nutrients and sunlight, which will lead to a deterioration in the quality and volume of the crop, a decrease in immunity and a greater susceptibility to diseases.

Preparing the ground

To enrich the soil, 30 kg of fertile land, peat and rotted manure should be added directly to the pit. It would also be good to add a pound of wood ash, 125 g of potassium sulfate and 400 g of superphosphate.

Dimensions of landing pit

The he alth of the plant depends on the preparation of the planting pit, it should be a nutrient complex for the seedling. Its depth and diameter should be 70 cm. If the groundwater is above 1.5 meters from the surface, it is necessary to make an elevation, and only then dig a hole.

Selection of seedlings

Seedlings should be purchased from reputable plant breeders. Best of all take root 1-2-year-old specimens. When choosing a young apple tree for planting, it should be inspected. The roots should be intact, without growths, elastic and not brittle.The plant should not have damage and leaves, have a green color under the bark.

When to land

Planting apple trees is best in early spring or mid-autumn. In the spring, you should wait for the time when the danger of frost has passed, but you should not delay it, the buds on the seedling should not bloom. If the spring planting is late, the young tree will get sick a lot and suffer from sunburn. In autumn, planting an apple tree is recommended in mid-October, 2 weeks before frost Seedlings with a closed root system can be placed in the ground from April to October - they will easily take root. Roots should not be cut.

Disembarkation sequence

Seating algorithm:

Dig a hole in a place prepared in advance, it is recommended to lay a drainage layer of small stones or broken bricks on the bottom.
Fill it halfway with fertile soil and fertilizer.
Fix the tree support a little away from the middle.
Place an apple tree seedling in a hole so that the root neck rises above the soil level, cover it with earth and tie it to a support.
Water the plant generously.

Agricultural works

The technology of growing Cherry apple trees is aimed at ensuring a high yield. The best result is achieved through plant care, soil enrichment, pest control.

Pruning and shaping the crown

Pruning an apple tree aims to create a compact crown. The central trunk should prevail in strength over the rest of the branches. If some skeletal branch begins to grow along with the central conductor, it must be shortened to 2-3 buds.With the help of pruning, the direction of growth of the branches of the apple tree is regulated, thinning ensures a sufficient supply of light to all parts of the crown. This event should be held regularly, at least once a year. Branches to be deleted:

sick, broken, frostbitten, severely infested with pests;
growing vertically or at an acute angle to the trunk;
crossing, growing down and directed towards the trunk;
strong upper branches of the apple tree are shortened, leaving 2-4 buds;
wolf shoots, shoots at the trunk and from the roots.

Care for color pollination

In spring, the apple tree blooms profusely and sets fruit. To improve the quality of the future harvest, the inflorescences are thinned out, leaving 2-3 flowers each. Weak fruit twigs that are in the shade are also removed. After the formation of ovaries, thinning is repeated, removing damaged, weak, deformed, shaded ones.In the spring, it is recommended to whiten the trunks of the apple tree, which will help protect the bark from overheating in the summer.

Irrigation

Apple trees need to be watered 4 times during the summer - abundantly and at a certain moment:

before bud break;
2-3 weeks after flowering;
2-3 weeks before harvest;
when preparing the apple tree for winter, in October.

Folk omen says that as many buckets of water should be poured into the roots of an apple tree as it is old.

Protection against diseases

The apple tree is susceptible to viruses and fungi. The most common are powdery mildew, scab, rot, cytosporosis, bacteriosis. Thinning the crown, draining and loosening the soil, timely removal of the affected parts of the plant contributes to the prevention of diseases.

It is recommended to spray apple trees with fungicides, antibacterial compounds, blue vitriol, Bordeaux mixture 3-4 times during the growing season. Aqueous solutions of mineral fertilizers help well in the fight against fungi - 15% potassium s alt, 10% ammonium nitrate, 10% ammonium sulfate, which are sprayed on trees.

Insecticides are effective against insects - "Aktara", "Karate", "Confidor", "Arrivo". The processing of the apple tree is carried out repeatedly - during the swelling of the kidneys, after flowering, during the ripening of the fruits. From folk remedies, decoctions of elderberry, calendula, tobacco, soap solution are used.

Poison treatments should be stopped a month before harvest.

Fertilizer

For the good development of the Cherry apple tree and the increase in productivity, the soil in the near-trunk circle is regularly loosened and weeds are removed. Top dressing with complex mineral fertilizers should be started from the second year, taking into account the age and fertilized area.Also, as a top dressing, slurry, bird droppings, peat fecal or vegetable compost are added to the roots of the apple tree.

Ripening

During the ripening of the fruits of the Cherry apple tree, care must be taken to preserve the branches, which can break under load. Particularly susceptible to this are those that are located at an acute angle to the trunk. This problem is solved by installing props or tying to a wire ring attached to the stem.

Fruiting

During the fruiting period of the Cherry variety, it is recommended to plant peas, mustard, alfalfa in the aisles, which will absorb excess moisture, preventing the apple tree from overgrowing, subsequently the green mass can be mowed and planted in the ground. In August, it is useful to cover the trunks with a mixture of 4 parts clay, 1 part mullein and 1 part ash, diluted to the consistency of liquid sour cream. You can add 0.5 cups of urea and 3 tablets of trace elements to the composition.

Harvest

Fruits from the Cherry apple tree are harvested upon reaching removable maturity, when they acquire the color characteristic of the variety and stop gaining weight. If the fruits are not removed from the tree in time, they will soon begin to fall to the ground.

Fruit picking

Remove apples from a tree following the basic rules:

the best time is early morning, after cooling the fruit at night;
move from the lower branches of the apple tree to the upper ones;
act carefully, avoiding damage to the fruit when removed from the branch and placed in containers;
cannot be harvested during rain or immediately after watering - apples must be dry;
after harvesting, they need to be cooled to +4 ˚С.

Storage and transportation

Apples can be transported by any means of transport, where protection from the effects of temperatures below 0 ˚C and precipitation.

The fruits of the Cherry variety are stored for up to 5 months, subject to the obligatory conditions:

Fruits must be harvested at the stage of technical ripeness. Unripe and overripe apples do not store well, the flesh darkens quickly.
2-3 weeks before harvest, stop watering and fertilizing.
Immediately after harvesting, the fruits must be cooled to +4 ˚С.
Apples are stored for a long time, wrapped in oiled thin paper.
Optimal storage temperature +2… +4 ˚С. When stored without special cooling, the keeping quality of fruits is halved.

Features of cultivation in the regions

When choosing an apple variety Cherry, you should find out if it is suitable for growing in a given region. The plant is characterized by low resistance to frost, planting in cold regions - in Siberia, in the Urals - will not bring the desired results, the tree may even die.

Moscow Region

The temperate continental climate of the Moscow region as a whole makes it possible to grow Cherry apple trees. But the plant should be protected from penetrating cold winds in winter and spring frosts that damage flowers. Trees should be covered.

Medium lane

Early winter, frost-resistant cherry apple variety grows better in the southern regions of central Russia. With proper care and measures aimed at protecting the plant from adverse natural phenomena, it is possible to grow it throughout the Middle Strip and get a good harvest.