Cherry "Kharitonovskaya": characteristics and agricultural technology
In our country, cherry is considered one of the most popular horticultural crops, only the apple tree is ahead of it. To date, there are about 150 species of different varieties of cherry trees. This plant is valued not only because of the berries, but also because of the healing properties of the leaves and bark, which help with various ailments and health problems. One of these miracle trees is the Kharitonovskaya cherry.
Peculiarities
This cherry variety is considered relatively young, it was bred by breeders only about 25 years ago. Initially, the variety was recommended for cultivation only in the Central Black Earth region. Now its cultivation can be seen almost throughout the country. In length, the tree can reach from 3 to 4 meters.
The color of the bark of the tree tends to dark brown. The crown looks very beautiful, it is more spreading than other varieties of cherries. This variety has very abundant flowering and large snow-white flowers.
Advantages and disadvantages
Despite the fact that this variety of cherries is considered very good, it has both its advantages and disadvantages, thanks to which you can make a choice in favor of the variety.
Advantages:
- good resistance to weather conditions such as drought (this is important because cherries are very fond of water);
- abundant fruiting, which will delight every gardener;
- excellent taste of berries;
- this tree is quite unpretentious in care;
- well retains its appearance and taste during transportation even over long distances;
- berries have an excellent appearance;
- small bones;
- the possibility of self-pollination, although if other varieties are planted nearby, the yield level will increase significantly.
The biggest advantage of this variety is that the trees do not get sick with various fungal diseases, such as coccomycosis and moniliosis. Despite all the positive aspects, this variety also has its drawbacks:
- insufficient frost resistance, that is, during frosts, the tree may die;
- if the spring is cool, the buds on the tree may freeze slightly, then there is a chance of being left without a crop.
Care
Cherries are easy to care for. This work does not require any special skills and abilities. All you need to do for cherries is water them, form a crown and, if necessary, treat them for pests and treat them for certain diseases. If we analyze the process of watering cherries, first of all it should be noted that it can more easily endure a shortage of water than its excess. Therefore, it is necessary to adhere to the rule of the golden mean - do not forget to water the cherry, but do not fill it with water.
Only planted trees need to be watered when the topsoil dries out. One watering under normal weather conditions (in the absence of abnormally hot weather) is enough for 2.5-3 weeks. It should be noted that if the top layer of the earth is dry (about 15 cm), it is imperative to water the tree.
If the tree is already an adult, then it needs to be watered only 3 times for the entire season.The first time - before the flowers bloom, the second - after the entire crop has already been harvested, and the last time - when the tree is preparing for wintering. The amount of water needed is from 30 to 40 liters per 1 square meter of land.
If we talk about pruning a tree, then it must be said that this process begins in the second year after planting the tree. First of all, you need to choose the 2-3 strongest stems, and the rest of the shoots must be removed.
Left stems do not need to touch and cut. Otherwise, there will be a strong branching of these stems. This will negatively affect the quantity and quality of pods. This is due to the fact that the stems will not receive enough sunlight and minerals from the soil, as well as moisture.
In the spring of next year, before bud break and flowering begin, you need to remove those branches that grow down, as well as damaged and broken stems, frozen twigs. As for fertilizer, it must be produced twice in one season. In the spring, humus is used as fertilizer. In order to make it, you must first loosen the earth on the surface (about 10 cm). It is worth noting that only stale humus or bird droppings should be used. This is due to the fact that a fresh product can create a burn of the root system. In preparation for wintering, it is necessary to apply fertilizer based on phosphorus and potassium (fertilize according to the instructions).
In autumn, in preparation for wintering, the bark of the tree should also be painted white to avoid bark burns. But, it should be noted that it is not necessary to whitewash young trees (5-6 years from the date of planting). This interferes with the growth and development of the bark and the tree itself as a whole. It is better to wrap such trees with burlap.Trees are usually not covered for the winter, only seedlings in the year of planting, if the climate is very severe. If there is a possibility that the seedlings will be gnawed by hares, a mesh should be used. She creates a kind of fence that does not interfere with the tree itself, but also prevents the hares from spoiling the bark.
Yield and maturity of fruits
The yield of this cherry variety is very plentiful, the tree gives a harvest every year systematically. For a more plentiful harvest, you can plant a few more cherry bushes of a different variety nearby. It is important to consider that flowering in these trees should take place at a time. Cherry varieties "Kharitonovskaya" begin to bear fruit approximately 4 years after planting. Berries in this variety by weight can reach 6-8 grams. They are dark red in color. The pulp has a red-orange hue and at the same time a delicate structure. The berries of this variety are very easy to transport, remain the same juicy and are not damaged.
Cherry berries "Kharitonovskaya" are great for freezing for the winter, so you can enjoy their taste when there are not enough vitamins. As already mentioned, the yield of this variety is very high. From one mature tree, it is possible to harvest up to 27 kilograms of the crop. The seeds of the berries are medium-sized, they make up no more than 12% of the total mass of the fetus.
It is also necessary to say that the bones are very easily separated from the berry itself, this is very convenient when preparing blanks for the winter or a pie from fresh berries.
Diseases and pests, how to deal with them
Despite the fact that the Kharitonovskaya cherry is practically immune to diseases and pests, there are still times when it is impossible to cope with the problem without some help.For example, there are insects that can cause significant damage to the cherry crop. At the very beginning, you need to figure out why pests may appear. Perhaps in the garden where the cherry grows, there are a lot of weeds, the crowns of the trees are very dense and there are a lot of foliage that has fallen and was not removed in time. In this case, you can be sure that pests will appear in this garden. Insects love this environment.
If pests appear, it is necessary to start the fight against them immediately. For example, if aphids are found, it becomes noticeable very quickly. Leaves that are affected by aphids begin to quickly curl up and very small insects appear on the shoots. When fighting aphids, it is necessary to use special preparations, such as Aktara. Also, a cherry fly may appear on the cherry. If the tree is affected by this particular insect, it is necessary to use preparations aimed at pest control. A pest such as a cherry sawfly may also appear.
Adult insects eat the bark of the tree, and the larvae that appear later begin to feed on the leaves. Specialized preparations will also help here.
Cherry varieties "Kharitonovskaya" are very resistant to diseases. But, it must be said that if the summer turned out to be hot, there is a possibility that the tree may become infected with fungal diseases. With fungal diseases, the leaves begin to be affected, they turn yellow, brown spots appear on them. In some cases, the berries are affected, they begin to rot right on the branches. Also, various cracks can form on the tree, which will interfere with the ripening of the fruit.
In order to eradicate such unpleasant problems, it is necessary to systematically check for the presence of pests and various diseases on the tree, and also to monitor if any mechanical damage has appeared so that it does not develop into a serious disease. In this case, the tree will be healthy and will delight with its appearance and fruits for quite a long time.
The best pollinators
This cherry variety, unlike other species, is self-pollinating. It does not require special pollinators near it. But, it should be noted that for a richer harvest, several more varieties can be planted next to such cherries, for example, the Zhukovstskaya, Vladimirskaya and Lyubskaya varieties. Such a neighborhood will help to get a crop much more than without them.
Reviews
Reviews of summer residents about the Kharitonovskaya variety are only positive. Gardeners call this cherry variety the most resistant to pests and diseases, for example, to such common ones as coccomycosis, which can kill the entire cherry orchard if the disease is not properly controlled. And this variety tolerates the disease well and there is a high probability that the tree will not get sick at all.
Gardeners also note the excellent taste of the fruits of this variety and the fact that it is from this type of cherry that the best preparations for the winter are obtained in the form of jam and compotes.
You will learn more about the Kharitonovskaya cherry variety from the following video.