Review of the best winter-hardy sweet cherry varieties and criteria for their selection

It is quite possible to grow sweet cherries and get a rich harvest in the Moscow region, Siberia or the Urals. If you choose the right variety and take into account the timing of flowering, the tree will withstand the frosty winter and retain its productivity. Consider the features of the best winter-hardy plants and study the rules of their agricultural technology.

Requirements for winter-hardy cherry varieties

Cherry loves good watering, but does not tolerate excess moisture and root heating. Its flower buds are capricious to temperature fluctuations. The forks of the skeletal branches and the bark of the lower part are sensitive to frost.

The breeders took into account the nature of the crop and developed winter-hardy varieties with good yields. The fruits are of high quality and the trees are more resistant to disease. The work was carried out in regions with different climates, so each plant has its own characteristics.

General requirements for winter-hardy cherries:

• resistance to the maximum permissible frost for the variety;
• preservation of frost resistance during thaw;
• winter hardiness of flower buds with recurrent frosts;
• the ability of the bark to quickly recover after freezing;
• resistance to drought and moisture;
• unpretentiousness in terms of development;
• immunity to major diseases.

Also take into account:

• the timing of survival and fruiting;
• yield;
• practical collection and transportation.

The best winter-hardy varieties

The ideal characteristic of the variety for harsh climatic conditions will be a combination of winter hardiness of a tree and frost resistance of fruit buds. The taste of the berries, the timing of their ripening and the amount of harvest are no less important.

By the time of the beginning of flowering and ripening of fruits, plants are divided into 3 groups:

1. Early (Fatezh, Italian, Sadko, Gronkavaya). Harvested in late June - early July.
2. Mid-season (Rechitsa, Zyubarova, Adelina). Ripens in the 2nd decade of July.
3. Late (Bryansk pink, Veda, Tyutchevka). The berries ripen in the 3rd decade of July.

Rechitsa

A variety with an average ripening period of berries, self-fertile, with high winter hardiness of buds and trees... It actively recovers after severe freezing. Frost resistance - down to -30 ° C. Poor drought tolerance.

The tree develops rapidly and grows up to 3 m. The crown is pyramidal in shape and not very dense. The plant is resistant to fungal diseases. From 5 years old landing begins to bear fruit.

Fruits of deep burgundy color with sweet taste and dense pulp, weighing 5-6 g each. The berries are easily separated from the stalk, do not crack from rain. After ripening, they do not fall off within 10 days, they are universal in use.

Productivity - 30 kg. The fruits endure long-term transportation.

Italian

The variety is self-fertile, belongs to the early maturing. The winter-hardy qualities of the tree are higher than those of fruit buds. The culture is undemanding to development conditions, drought-resistant. Frost resistance reaches -28 ° C.

The culture grows about 4 m in height. The crown is lush pyramidal. With an average rate of growth and development, good resistance to coccomycosis.

Fruiting begins at the age of 4. The berries are large, claret, weigh about 8 g. The pulp is elastic, not too dense, easily separates from the stone. The taste is pleasantly sweet. The fruits do not crack from rain and are versatile in use.

Productivity - up to 80 kg per adult tree, taking into account unfavorable weather conditions.Excellent taste, uniform fruiting, high yield and resistance to transportation make the Italian woman suitable for industrial cultivation.

Fatezh

Self-fertile early ripe variety... The winter hardiness of flower buds is lower than that of a tree. It tolerates drought well, but is sensitive to waterlogging. Strong recovery ability after freezing. The plant can withstand temperatures ranging from -27 ... -35 ° C.

Sweet cherry grows up to 5 m in height. The crown is spherical drooping with medium density. The culture does not suffer from coccomycosis and moniliosis. Bears fruit since 4 years.

Reference! Fatezh is adapted to the vagaries of the weather. Rains and droughts do not affect yields.

Bright orange fruits with yellow barrels weigh from 4 to 6 g. Sweet taste diluted with refreshing sourness. The juicy pink flesh has a cartilaginous structure and clear separation from the stone.

The yield from a ten-year tree is from 30 to 50 kg. Strong berries are not afraid of long transportation.

Veda

The culture is self-fertile and late maturing. Temperature tolerance is equally high for the tree and flower buds. Average long-term drought tolerance. Minimal freezing of fruit buds. Does not like darkening, undemanding to soil composition. Withstands temperatures down to -30 ° C.

Sweet cherry with active development and a dome-shaped thickened crown. It grows no more than 2.5 m in height. It begins to bear fruit by the 4th year of life, it is resistant to coccomycosis.

The fruits are heart-like, dark scarlet, weighing up to 5 g. Delicate to the touch and juicy pulp. The pronounced sweet taste is complemented by a slight sourness. The berries do not crack, but after ripening they quickly fall off.

Productivity - from 23 to 66 kg. The fruits can withstand transportation.

Zyubarova

The variety is self-fertile with an average fruit ripening period... The winter hardiness of the buds is lower than that of the tree. Withstands drought and sunburn. Undemanding to soil and development conditions, long-liver. Frost resistance - up to -30 ° C.

The tree is fast growing and powerful. Without constant pruning, it grows up to 20 m. The crown is wide, pyramidal, thin. Strong branches withstand the weight of the snow cover, which protects the plant from freezing. Bears fruit for 4 years. Not affected by monilial burns and coccomycosis.

Fruits are globular, weighing up to 10 g, smoky red. The juicy pulp has an average density. The berries are sweet with an unusual flavor.

The yield is stable under all conditions: an average of 30 kg per tree. Does not deteriorate during long-term transportation.

Bryansk pink

Self-fertile late ripening variety... Flower buds of medium resistance to recurrent frost. The stem is not subject to frost breaks and sunburn. This frost-resistant cherry can withstand temperatures down to -31 ° C.

A tree with a strong, wide-pyramidal crown, which is raised. Differs in restrained growth and a maximum height of 2-3 m. Fruiting at the 5th year of life. Highly resistant to moniliosis, coccomycosis and clotterosporia.

Fruits are round pink, weigh 4-5 g. Dense structure of yellow pulp and piquant bitterness against the background of sweet taste. The berries do not crack from moisture.

Productivity - from 20 to 30 kg per tree. The fruits are resistant to transportation.

Sadko

Early self-infertile variety... Different winter hardiness of the tree and flower buds, but excellent tolerance to spring frosts and waterlogging of the soil. Withstand temperatures down to -30 ° C.

Cherry with medium density crown, which has a wide rounded shape. Grows up to 4 m. Fruiting in 4 years. Immunity to moniliosis and clasterosporium disease. Less resistance to coccomycosis.

Large oval berries weighing up to 8 g of deep red color. The sweet taste of the dense pulp is set off by an unobtrusive sourness. The fruits do not crack, they are easily separated from the stalk, for table purposes.

The crop ripens at the same time, up to 30 kg are harvested from an adult tree.

It is interesting:

What cherry care should include in fall: A guide from experienced gardeners.

How to properly plant cherries in the fall.

Why are cherry and sweet cherry hybrids good and what are their features.

Adelina

The plant is self-fertile, mid-season. High winter hardiness of the tree with medium - in flower buds. Moisture-loving, withstands frosts down to -25 ° C.

A tree with a raised crown of medium density and pyramidal shape. The maximum height is 3.5 m. From the 4th year of life, it begins to bear fruit. Possesses average resistance to pests and fungal diseases.

Important! The crop is harvested without removing the stalk.

Fruits are burgundy, heart-shaped, weighing 5–7 g. Cartilaginous juicy pulp of medium density with a bright sweet taste. The variety is classified as a canteen.

Productivity - from 15 to 25 kg per adult plant. The berries do not tolerate transportation well.

Tyutchevka

The variety is late-ripening, self-sterile, with a good combination of winter hardiness of the tree and flower buds. Excellent ability to regenerate quickly. Frost resistance - down to -35 ° C.

The tree has a spherical rare semi-spreading crown, height - up to 4 m. Fruiting from 5 years. With high resistance to moniliosis, the average - to coccomycosis and clasterosporiosis.

Fruits are wide-rounded with excellent sweet taste, weigh up to 7.5 g. The pulp is dense, juicy, aromatic. The berries are partially cracked from waterlogging.

Reference! The taste characteristics of Tyutchevka fruits received the highest marks from tasters (4.9 points).

The harvest reaches 40 kg from an adult tree, resistant to long-term transportation.

Gronkavaya

The variety is self-fruitless early ripe. The flower buds and the tree have good resistance to spring return frosts. The culture is hygrophilous, withstands frosts down to -27 ° C.

Sweet cherry grows and develops rapidly. The crown is wide and of medium density. The maximum height is 4.5 m. There is immunity to coccomycosis and monilial burns. The plant bears fruit for 4 years.

Heart-shaped berries, dark red, weighing 6 g. Juicy sweet taste. Productivity - from 20 to 40 kg per adult tree. Good transportability.

Which variety to choose

Self-fertile (self-pollinated) trees do not require cross-pollination, but from all flowers they form 50% of the berries on the strength. For this reason, self-fertility is not the main criterion for selection. To increase yields, you need pollinating varieties.

Attention! When planting cherries in pairs, keep in mind that the timing of flowering trees must coincide.

The flavor characteristics of the berries play an important role. Tyutchevka has the most delicious fruits. Sweet large-fruited plants - Sadko, Zyubarova, Italian. Gronkavaya, Veda and Fatezh are distinguished by berries with a sweet and sour taste.

At the dacha, it is more practical to plant low-growing trees from which it is convenient to harvest. The local climate and the immunity of the variety to major diseases are taken into account. For industrial orchards, important factors are yield, taste, appearance and transportability of berries.

Depending on the region

The Urals and Siberia are characterized by a harsh climate, so the yield will in any case be lower than in the central latitudes. Nevertheless, winter-hardy cherries are successfully grown here. Varieties are selected according to their adaptation to the regions.

Suitable for the Urals:

• Bryansk pink;
• Fatezh;
• Tyutchevka;
• Rechitsa.

For Siberia:

• Zyubarova;
• Sadko;
• Bryansk pink;
• Veda.

For the capricious climate near Moscow:

• Italian;
• Gronkavaya;
• Fatezh;
• Adeline.

For the northern regions, late crops are more suitable, for the central ones, early ripe ones.

Reviews

There are many good reviews about winter-hardy cherries. Most gardeners believe that growing failures happen only due to the inexperience of gardeners and the purchase of low-quality seedlings:

Svetlana, Moscow region: “Our neighbors near Ramenskoye have cherry varieties of Tyutchevka. The berries have appeared quite recently, but they are large and unusually tasty. We decided to plant ourselves the same tree. Recently we got our first harvest - this rich cherry taste cannot be confused with anything. "

Sergey, Berdsk: “I ordered seedlings on the Internet.I chose varieties for a long time. I was advised by Fatezh and Veda. We have a cold climate, and I was worried that the plants would not survive the first winter. However, everything worked out: the shoots were actively growing. "

Conclusion

Winter hardiness of cherries is a property inherent only in some varieties. Good growing care will not be enough. In order for the culture to take root, plants that are regionalized to the area are chosen. In early maturing, it is important that the flower buds withstand recurrent frosts.

Trees with high frost resistance are suitable for the Urals and Siberia, and those that are undemanding to weather changes are suitable for middle latitudes. First, they choose varieties for the climate and already among them - with the most delicious fruits.