Shpanka Cherry: variety description, breeding history, subspecies and pollinators

New varieties of cherries appear regularly thanks to the precise work of breeders. But many give preference to old proven stone fruit hybrids. Among the popular varieties, one can single out Shpanka cherry, which has been grown for over 200 years. This sweet cherry-cherry hybrid is popular with gardeners in the southern and central regions. Spanish cherries are valued for the aroma and taste of large fruits.

History of occurrence

Natural cross-pollination of cherry trees with cherries was the beginning of the appearance of the Shpanka variety. Through its wide spread, the culture became known not only in its homeland, Ukraine, but also in the southern regions of Russia, in Moldova.The work of breeders to improve the variety led to the fact that varieties of Shpanka cherries appeared, which settled in the gardens of the Volga region, Moscow region, reached the Urals and Siberia.

Variety description

Shpanka cherry belongs to tall crops, reaching 6 meters or more. With an extensive crown of a rounded shape, which is formed by straight and long branches located at right angles to the trunk, it becomes a real queen of the garden. But note the fragility of shoots reaching a length of 3 meters. Strong winds can break them.

If the trunk and branches of the Spanka cherry are dark brown, then the young shoots are lighter. Therefore, when pruning, it is easy to remove old shoots.

On dark red petioles, oval leaves are attached to the branches, slightly elongated. The appearance of inflorescences with 3-5 pinkish flowers makes the tree the main decoration of the May garden. The structure of stamens and pistils is such that partial pollination of cherries occurs.

The description of the variety must include the fact that starting from the 5-6th year of life, the tree bears fruit with large berries with a woody stone inside. And the older the culture, the more fruit it produces annually.

Pros and cons

One of the reasons for choosing Spanka cherries for growing in the garden is that varieties of the variety can:

grow successfully in regions with hot and dry summers;
endure frosts and temperatures drop to -20 degrees in winter;
partially self-pollinate;
to bear fruit at the end of June;
stably produce 35-40 kilograms of berries from one tree;
resist disease resilience.

The disadvantages of the Shpanka variety include the fact that the berries are not stored for a long time, they do not tolerate transportation well. During the growing season, the tree often suffers from strong winds. Its branches break off due to its fragility. Weak in cherries and bark, which cracks from spring frosts, during periods of cold winter.

Characteristic

To start cultivating Shpanka cherries on his plot, the gardener must know all the nuances of the characteristics of the tree.

Growing regions

A hybrid with wonderful fruits, large and sweet, many gardeners want to grow on their plots. Cherry Shpanka comes from Ukraine, so the tree takes root and grows best in the southern regions. For her, the climate of Moldova and Belarus is preferable. Gardeners of Central Asia are happy to grow sweet fruits, because Shpanka easily tolerates drought.

There is also a tall sprawling tree in the gardens near Moscow.An early ripe stone fruit variety has taken root in the central regions with cold winters and short summers. Moreover, breeders have tried to breed varieties of cherries that successfully bear fruit in the Bryansk, Kursk, and Leningrad regions.

Fruit quality and yield indicators

The quality of the berries is most valued in cherries. In the Shpanka variety, fruit characteristics include:

weight up to 45 grams;
juicy pulp under bright light red skin;
round shape with slight flattening;
the presence of a yellowish bone inside, which is easily separated;
tastes sweet with a bit of acidity.

Fruiting in Shpanka cherries begins from the 2nd year of life. But first, a few berries appear, only by the age of 4 their number increases sharply. In a nine-year-old tree, all young shoots are strewn with clusters of fruits. The yield increases to 40 kilograms in an adult plant.

Fruit failure occurs when the buds are damaged by spring frosts.

Pollinators

Partial self-pollination of cherries occurs for 40-50% of flowers. The rest need pollinators from other trees. For this, cherry trees Griot Ostgeymsky, Ukrainian, Persistent are planted nearby. Successfully pollinated by the Lyubskaya variety. Cherry grows well next to mountain ash, elderberry, plum. At the same time, the tree is removed from other crops by 1.5-2 meters.

Popular varietals

Gardeners need to be well versed in the varieties of the Shpanka variety in order to choose the option that is suitable for a particular region:

Donetsk cherry was obtained at the experimental station by crossing with sweet cherries. Shpanka is valued for its large-fruitedness, as the berries can reach a weight of 6-7 grams.Peak fruiting of the species occurs in the 9th year of the tree's life. The advantage of the variety is its resistance to drought. After frost damage, the culture quickly recovers. For pollination of Donetsk Shpanka, it is recommended to plant cherries nearby.
The Bryansk cherry, specially bred for cultivation in the Central regions, has recently been included in the State Register. The tree is distinguished by a short trunk, straight, upward-growing shoots. The taste of medium-sized fruits is sweet and sour. The yield corresponds to 30-40 kilograms per 1 adult tree.
Shimskaya cherry has been bred for the North-Western regions, reaching a height of 3 meters. The first fruits appear on the shoots 3-4 years after planting. They reach 3 grams in weight, red in color, light in tone. The bushy type of cherry has a dark brown bark. To increase the yield, the variety requires regular crown formation.
Hybrid Dwarf Shpanka was obtained by pollination of cherry cherries.The tree rarely reaches a height of 3 meters. It easily tolerates low temperatures, so it is actively cultivated in the northwestern regions, in the Urals, in Siberia. The tenacious and hardy species of the Shpanka variety is loved for its resistance to diseases and pests.
Dessert cherry Large-fruited is intended for preparing blanks for the winter, freezing berries. The disadvantage of the variety is that the fruits do not tolerate transportation well, they cannot be stored for a long time, but must be processed immediately after harvest.

An interesting variety of variety bred for distribution in the Kursk region. Unlike other types of Shpanka, it is an amorel-type cherry, which has a red skin and colorless juice. Kursk cherry does not tolerate frost well, so it must be protected with spruce branches from low temperatures.

Features of planting and care

Shpanka stone fruit culture prefers light loose soils with neutral acidity. It is better to choose well-lit areas with groundwater below 1.5 meters.

A pit for planting cherries is prepared in advance, 2-5 weeks in advance. They dig it in accordance with the norm with a width of 60-70 centimeters, a depth of 40-50. Pits are covered with soil mixed with humus, phosphate-potassium fertilizers. On the day of planting, they take the top nutrient layer of soil and pour a mound in the center of the pit. A cherry seedling is placed on it. After that, the roots begin to fall asleep, not forgetting about the deepening of the root neck. It should not be 5-6 centimeters higher than the ground level.

After filling the pit, they crush the soil well, water the bushes. The trunk circle is mulched with a layer of sawdust or humus.

Shpank hybrid care includes regular procedures:

crown pruning for its formation, renewal;
watering, 5-6 times during the dry season;
fertilizing with organic and mineral fertilizers;
loosening the soil around the trunk;
mulching.

Pruning a tree is necessary, the more often its branches break. In spring and autumn, damaged shoots are removed. Cut out the old ones to increase the yield of the crop. Young shoots are not shortened at the onset of fruiting. Crown thinning is applied to a 9-year-old tree, cutting off diseased, poorly developed shoots.

In arid areas, mulching is carried out over the snow, then more moisture will remain in the soil. In autumn, a layer of mulch is covered by digging up the trunk circle. Throughout the summer, around the trunk of trees should be clean, and the soil should be kept loose. Every year in the spring they fertilize with mullein or bird droppings, diluting them in water, respectively, in a ratio of 1:5 and 1:12.

All types of work are carried out so that the tree develops, pleases with delicious fruits.

Features of reproduction

An aging tree cannot be fruitful, so you need to start propagating your favorite variety. To do this, the root growth is not cut to the ground, but strong and he althy shoots are left from it For reproduction, a shoot 2 years old and 60 centimeters high is suitable.Dig it up so as to leave it as intact as possible more roots. It is necessary to separate the seedling from the mother root carefully, chopping it off with a shovel or biting it with a pruner. The work is carried out carefully, without violating the integrity of the root system of the parent tree.

You can propagate the culture by grafting. Hardy varieties of cherries and sweet cherries are chosen for scioning. This method should be done by experienced gardeners, for beginners it is difficult and not always successful.