Chocolate Cherry: description and characteristics of the variety, pollinators, planting and care

Modern breeders have bred a wide variety of varieties of fruit trees. Cherry is one of the most common types of fruit trees. Due to its unpretentiousness, it is grown in all regions of Russia. Among the varieties of cherry trees, the Chocolate variety won special attention. The variety was bred by Russian breeders relatively recently, but has already managed to fall in love with summer residents. Which is not surprising, because the chocolate cherry has a lot of advantages compared to other hybrids.

Selection and variety description

Hybrid Shokoladnitsa was bred in 1996 as a result of crossing the Chernaya Consumer Goods and Lyubskaya varieties. The main goal of breeding a new variety was to create a frost-resistant compact tree of medium size with large berries.

The height of an adult tree reaches 2.5 m. Trees grow in 3-4 years and begin to bear fruit. Branches and leaves are glossy. Leaves with a sharp tip, emerald green. The kidneys are distinguished by an elongated pyramidal shape. Close to the branches. The inflorescences are light pink in color and consist of three petals.

The crown of the tree is characterized by a conical shape. The density of branches and leaves is medium.

In appearance, the plant is an ordinary cherry, which is not much different from other hybrids. Chocolate belongs to early ripe hybrids and the first red berries on the tree appear in the second decade of July. The yield is high, fruiting occurs in the 4th year after planting the seedling in a permanent place. Up to 11 kg of crop is harvested from one tree. The berries are large, the average weight is 4-5 g. The peel is glossy, smooth. The pulp is juicy, with a barely noticeable sour taste.Compared to other hybrids, Chocolatnitsa berries are very sweet.

Characteristics of chocolate cherries

Before acquiring a variety of cherries, it is important to study all the characteristics of the tree and berries. By the appearance of a seedling, it is difficult to determine whether it is a good variety or not. Therefore, before buying a seedling and spending time growing it, it is recommended to take the time to study the main features of the plant.

First of all, you should pay attention to frost resistance, yield, fruit ripening time, resistance to insects and diseases, and taste of berries.

drought and frost resistant

One of the advantages of Chocolate Cherry, compared to other cherries, is that Chocolate Girl endures severe frosts in winter and rarely freezes even at low temperatures. In addition, the variety is different resistance to dry and hot summer.

Pollination and flowering period

Mass flowering at Chocolate Girl begins in the second half of May. If we talk about pollination, then there is conflicting information. Most official sources say that the hybrid is self-fertile. But some reviews of summer residents who grew a hybrid on their site note that without pollinators, the yield is extremely low.

Breeders, after conducting a series of studies, came to the conclusion that various factors influence the degree of pollination. To increase productivity, it is recommended to plant other pollinating trees next to cherries, in which flowering coincides with the flowering period of Chocolate. For example, the proximity to the varieties Lyubskaya, Turgenevka or Sklyanka can increase yields.

Berry ripening dates

Depending on what year it is, the timing of the ripening of the crop may vary.In most temperate regions, fruiting begins in the first decade of July. Fully harvest ripens by the end of July. During the ripening of the crop, it is important not to water the tree, otherwise all the berries will be lost. Ripe berries are very sweet and juicy.

Crop quantity and taste of fruits

Up to 11-12 kg of harvest is harvested from one tree. The skin and pulp of the berries are rich burgundy. Because of this, Chocolate is often confused with cherries. The mass of one berry ranges from 3 to 5 g. The pulp is dense, sweet, almost no sour taste is felt.

Methods of reproduction

Cherry Chocolate Girl reproduces in several ways:

• seedlings;
• cutting;
• bones.

The easiest way to propagate cherries is by seedlings. Seedlings can be purchased at the garden store. Planting a seedling is also not difficult.

Cuttings also apply to simple methods. To do this, with the onset of the first days of July, shoots are prepared. For future cuttings, shoots that have just begun to harden at the base of the branches are suitable. Branches with shoots are cut 30 cm long. To accelerate the appearance of roots, the branches are treated with a growth activator. Cuttings are planted in the soil to a depth of 2-3 cm.

Reproduction by bones is carried out in the fall. To do this, the bones are separated from the pulp, placed in a solution of potassium permanganate. Then the bones are covered with wet moss or sawdust. In October, the seeds are sown in the beds. In the spring, when sprouts appear, they are thinned out.

Immunity to diseases

Hybrid Chocolate is characterized by medium immunity to moniliosis and coccomycosis. To prevent the development of diseases, trees are regularly inspected. If spots appear on the leaves, and the fruits crumble en masse, this indicates the appearance of insects or disease.

Optimal conditions and care for abundant fruiting

Cherry prefers to grow in neutral or slightly acidic soil. The soil should not be too wet. That is why it is not recommended to flood trees. The Chocolate hybrid is classified as light-loving, so the seedlings are planted in open sunny areas. The gardener needs to know that in the shade the yield will be low, and the berries themselves will be small. Several times a month, the soil around the trunk is loosened and all weeds are removed. Leaving weeds to grow in the garden increases the risk of harmful insects.

First of all, mineral and organic fertilizers are applied to the soil to increase productivity. Dry and diseased branches are cut annually.

Soil Requirements

As mentioned above, Chocolate Girl prefers to grow on neutral or slightly acidic soils. It is not recommended to plant seedlings in wetlands or near groundwater.Excessive soil moisture adversely affects the he alth of the tree. The soil is desirable to choose loose and fertile. On heavy soils, cherries grow worse. Landing is carried out only in sunny areas.

Regularity and watering rates

Due to drought resistance, trees easily tolerate overdrying of the soil. Therefore, you can water the trees several times a month. If there is not much precipitation in summer, then the cherry is watered 4 times per season. The first watering is carried out immediately after flowering. The second time the plant is moistened in the second decade of June. The third watering is immediately 14 days before the harvest and the last time the plant is watered a month before the onset of autumn frosts.

3-4 liters of water is enough for 1 tree. It is advisable not to overmoisten the soil. Before watering, the soil near the trunk is loosened and weeds are removed. It is recommended to water the cherry with warm water. If cold water is used for moisturizing, the risk of fungal diseases will increase.

Feeding

To increase the yield, mineral and organic fertilizers are applied to the soil several times a season. With the onset of autumn, 85 g of potassium and 250 g of phosphorus are added to the dug up soil. Every three years, while digging the soil, compost or humus is added. In the spring, nitrogen-containing fertilizers are applied to the soil in the amount of 60 g. Ammonium nitrate or urea is added to the soil.

During the growing season, top dressing is applied to the ground twice. The first time when the cherry begins to bloom, and the second time two weeks after the flowering period to stimulate the formation of ovaries.

Use as fertilizer:

• 10 liters of mullein are mixed with 1 kg of wood ash and poured into 50 liters of warm water.
• The infusion is left for 4-5 days.
• After the fertilizer is ready, 5 liters of infusion and 3 buckets of water are taken per tree.

In addition, it is useful to use minerals. For example, 20 g of potassium chloride and urea are diluted in a bucket of water, 25 g of superphosphate are added. This solution must be applied in the same way as organic matter.

Preparing for wintering

Since Chocolate is winter-hardy, before the onset of winter, special efforts are not required to prepare the tree for the cold. After harvesting, they dig up the soil to a depth of 20-30 cm. Also, dry branches are cut before the onset of winter.

If the winters in the growing region are very cold, the soil around the trunk is mulched. The branches are slightly bent before the onset of cold weather. Those branches that are already more than 8 years old should be cut off. Pressed stems are covered with straw or hay. With the onset of winter, the areas around the trunk are covered with snow so that the roots do not freeze.

Young seedlings with the onset of autumn must be mulched with peat or a thick layer of sawdust and covered with a special cloth

Diseases of chocolate cherries and the fight against them

Pests and diseases appear if the gardener stops caring for the tree. Most often on a tree you can find aphids and plum codling moth. From these insects, a 3% solution of Nitrafen or Intavir is used. After treating the tree with chemicals, fallen insects are collected from the site.

Moniliosis and coccomycosis are common among diseases. To prevent the occurrence of diseases, trees are sprayed with a 3% solution of Bordeaux mixture with the onset of the flowering period. During flowering, the Chocolate Girl is sprayed with the Skor chemical. After the flowering period, copper chloride is used for processing.

What problems arise when growing

Problems in Growing Chocolate Girl:

• cherries do not bear fruit;
• seedlings do not take root well after planting;
• low yield;
• flowers do not bloom;
• very little ovaries;
• insects or diseases appeared on the plant;
• seedlings do not grow.

To avoid problems with growing cherry trees, they need to be regularly looked after. Timely application of fertilizers, properly organized watering and preventive measures against harmful insects and diseases of fruit trees help prevent problems with growing the Chocolate variety. Without proper care, cherries will die quickly.

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