Cherry refers to heat-loving fruit trees, but gradually specially bred cold-resistant varieties are developed in areas north of the middle zone, in the Urals, southern Siberia.
Numerous varieties of this plant can be divided into three types, depending on the type of pollination of flowers: cherry self-fertile, partially self-fertile and self-infertile. In the northern regions, where the plantings of this fruit tree are few, and during the flowering period the weather is unfavorable for pollination, self-pollinated cherry is grown. Popular self-made varieties of cherries: Garland, Brunette, Cinderella, Youth, Chocolate. These plants are bred specifically for small farms, household plots with small areas.
Self-fertile cherries Brunetka has juicy, delicate, dark red fruits, sweet and sour taste, medium size. Trees are low, not always reaching 2.5 meters, which is convenient when harvesting.
Early ripening varieties, which are especially appreciated in the northern regions, include self-fertile cherries of the Garland variety. Moreover, her fruits are large, bright, dense, but juicy. The taste is sweet and sour. Well tolerate transportation and storage.
Cherry Cinderella's self-fertile varieties ripen in mid-summer; its fruits are light red, oval, medium in size, sweet-sour. Valuable qualities of this variety include frost resistance, high productivity (up to 15 kg per tree).
The self-fertile Shokoladnitsa varieties also ripen in July, the trees are stunted, but with a dense crown. The fruits are medium in size, weighing 3.5 g, very dark, dense, giving a sweet and sour dark red juice. The cherry pits can be easily separated, which facilitates the processing of the crop. Begins to bear fruit in the 4th year, gives high yields, tolerates frosts well, is not afraid of drought.
If you decide the question: where to buy trees, the answer is clear - in well-established nurseries and botanical gardens. Only there you will be offered varieties guaranteed to be selected for cultivation in your area. Cherry enters the fruiting season after 4 years, which means that a poorly selected seedling will nullify your four-year work.
You can control the selection of seedlings yourself. Annuals usually have a root length of 20-30 cm, a stem diameter of up to 12 mm and a length of 120 cm. It is very important that the root system is not damaged and dried.
The next stage is to properly plant trees, correctly form a crown. During planting, mineral and organic fertilizers are introduced into the pit. Repeated feeding is carried out after 2 years, and it is especially important during the fruiting period.
At the first pruning, you need to remove the shoots extending at an acute angle, select branches for the skeleton and cut them to 50-60 cm, intermediate branches to 25 cm. You do not need to cut those that extend at right angles. The conductor remains 20 cm above the side branches. Trimming is done every spring, while damaged, excess branches that obscure the crown are removed.
When caring for trees, remember: although cherry is a drought-tolerant tree, it should be watered in the absence of rain, especially during the formation of the fruit.