The best cherry varieties for the Moscow region and a guide to their selection

Because of its light and heat-loving nature, sweet cherry is considered a fruit tree exclusively in the southern regions. Growing this berry in more northern latitudes is more difficult, but an experienced gardener can do this task. The main condition is the choice of the most suitable variety. We will tell you in more detail what characteristics to pay close attention to, and give a list of the best cherry varieties for the Moscow region.

Requirements for varieties of cherries for the Moscow region

The first obstacle to a rich cherry crop in central Russia is the climate. Summers in these regions are not long enough and warm, and winters are long and cold. The changeable weather is also dangerous, especially recurrent frosts during the period of swelling of the kidneys.

Among the positive features of the area are:

• stable snow cover (30-45 cm in height), which serves as a natural protection of the roots from freezing;
• slightly higher humidity in summer - plants usually do not suffer from drought.

The second drawback of most dachas in the Moscow region is the low fertility of sod-podzolic soils. The humus layer in this area is thin, the land is poor in mobile forms of nitrogen and phosphorus. Therefore, fruit trees require mandatory fertilizing.

Thus, when choosing cherry varieties for the Moscow region take into account:

1. Berry ripening terms. They should "fit" into the duration of the warm period in the region.
2. Demanding soil. The higher they are, the more difficult it is to provide trees with adequate nutrition.
3. Frost and winter hardiness. They prefer varieties that are resistant to low temperatures and their sharp fluctuations.

A selection of the best varieties of cherries for the Moscow region

What varieties are suitable for this region? We suggest that you familiarize yourself with the list of cherry varieties that have proven themselves among gardeners of temperate latitudes.

Backyard

An early ripe frost-resistant variety of Ukrainian selection. It is resistant to diseases, due to its short vegetative period, it is not damaged by cherry flies.

Tall - up to 4 m. Berries are large, slightly elongated, yellow in color with a red-pink "blush" and creamy pulp, ripen by mid-July. The variety bears fruit since the sixth year. Productivity - 50-60 kg per tree.

The variety is self-fertile. The best pollinators are Vinka, Skorospelka, Valery Chkalov.

Reference. In the middle lane, a special variety of the variety is widespread - Priusadebnaya yellow. Bred VNIIS them. IV Michurin, cultivated since 1998.

Bull heart

Russian frost-resistant variety - tolerates cold down to -25 ° C. It is immune to attacks of insect pests and fungal diseases, but is picky about the composition and structure of the soil. The berries are not intended for long-term storage and transportation, as they are prone to cracking.

The berries are large (7-8 g), heart-shaped, the skin is almost black by the end of the ripening period, the flesh is dark red. Fruiting from the fifth year. Productivity - up to 100 kg per tree.

Pollinated by varieties Iput, Ovstuzhenka, Tyutchevka.

Raditsa

An early frost-hardy and winter-hardy variety. Withstands temperatures down to -35 ° C. Resistant to coccomycosis and moniliosis, as well as berry cracking. Transportable.

A tree with a medium-dense crown grows up to 4 m. Yields a harvest for 4-5 years of cultivation. Fruits are oval, with black skin and dark red pulp, weighing 4.4 g.

The best pollinators are Iput, Revna, Tyutchevka.

Iput

An early ripe frost-resistant variety of Russian selection.

The tree is vigorous, the crown is of medium density. Fruits are cordate, weighing 5-6.3 g, top color is dark red. The berries are sweet, juicy, with a delicate consistency. Productivity - 50 kg per tree.

Pollinators - Bryansk pink, Revna, Ovstuzhenka.

Jealous

Winter hardy medium late variety. During flowering it can withstand frosts down to -7 ° C. Possesses good keeping quality and resistance to fungal infections.

The shape of the crown is pyramidal, the trunk is of medium height. Fruiting from the fourth year of vegetation. Fruits are flat-round, dark-burgundy, almost black when fully ripe, weighing 4.7 g. Sweet taste.

The variety is partially self-fertile (up to 5%). Suitable pollinators are Tyutchevka, Iput, Rechitsa.

The choice of varieties depending on the ripening period

In different regions, the flowering and fruiting dates of the same cherry varieties can be shifted even by a month.

Early varieties of cherries for the Moscow region

If in the southern regions the first crop is harvested already in May, then in the Moscow region and the Moscow region the earliest sweet cherry appears on personal plots only in mid - late June. During this period, Raditsa, Iput, Homestead yellow can please with berries.

Reference. Early varieties tend to have a delicate skin and are not intended for long-term storage. The best use for such cherries is to eat them right away or preserve them.

Medium ripening varieties

The average ripening period for cherries in the Moscow region is considered to be the beginning - mid-July. In this category, varieties are distinguished:

• Rechitsa (ripens by mid-July),
• Ostuzhenka (early middle ripening period, bears fruit from the beginning of the same month),
• Odrinka (medium late, ripens by the end of July).

The mid-ripening berry is universal in purpose and has better keeping quality than early varieties. Longer ripening promotes the accumulation of sugars in the pulp.

Late

The cultivation of late cherries in central Russia is fraught with risks. The berries may not ripen by the extremely early frosts. The longer growing season makes the trees vulnerable to fungal infections. Therefore, for the Moscow region, varieties with good frost resistance and immunity to coccomycosis, moniliosis and clasterosporium are recommended:

• Lena;
• Michurinskaya (named after the IV Michurin VNIIS, where it was bred);
• Veda.

Late-ripening cherries are the most transportable, store well and have high taste.

Other parameters

The variety of cherry varieties can be grouped according to the following characteristics:

• color and size of fruits;
• the height of an adult tree;
• pollination type.

Berry color

For cultivation in the middle lane, in particular in the suburbs, it is best to choose red cherry... This is the most common and widespread variety that can withstand temperatures down to -35 ... -44 ° C. The varieties loved by summer residents are Fatezh, Tyutchevka, Teremoshka, etc.

Among the varieties with yellow berries, Chermashnaya, Priusadebnaya yellow, Leningradskaya yellow, Ryazan's Gift are distinguished by frost resistance. They have an excellent sweet or sour sweet taste, but do not store well and tend to crack.

Black cherry berries actually have a darker burgundy hue. Most often, due to the dense skin, these varieties are the most stable and transportable, therefore they are widely represented on the shelves of stores and markets. In the gardens of the Moscow region, it will not be difficult to grow Leningrad black, Iput, Rechitsa, Revna.

Pink cherry belongs to the dessert berries. Its taste ranges from sweet and sour to sugary sweet. With proper care in the middle lane, you can get a good harvest of Bryansk pink.

Low and tall

The height of a fruit tree is not only a decorative feature.Low-growing varieties are suitable for the Moscow region. They are easier to care for, easy to harvest, but also more vulnerable to mechanical damage. Teremoshka and Raditsa have a low trunk (1.5-2 m).

Medium-sized trees include Chermashnaya, Fatezh, Tyutchevka, Sinyavskaya, Rechitsa, etc.

Tall varieties (up to 4 m) give an abundant crown growth, which consumes the supply of nutrients from the soil. Considering that the soil in the Moscow region is not very fertile anyway, it is better to refuse these varieties.

Large-fruited and self-fertile

Pollination of self-fertile cherries occurs due to the pollen of only their own flowers, therefore, to obtain a harvest, it is enough to plant one kind of fruit tree. This is the most attractive option for growing in a small area. The property is rare for cherries, so you have to choose from a limited number of varieties.

The best option is seedlings of self-pollinated Home Garden yellow, which has not only the highest self-fertility, but is also distinguished by frost resistance and immunity to pathogenic fungi. Partially self-fertile Iput and Ovstruzhenka (up to 10%).

Cherry fruits weighing 6 g or more are called large. Such characteristics are possessed by Iput, Narodnaya Syubarova, Michurinskaya, Valery Chkalov.

Columnar

The crown of columnar fruit trees is a leafy trunk with few and short lateral branches... Such a cherry looks like a pillar or a column, hence the name.

This variety is relatively young. Its main advantages are compactness and no need for pruning. However, the yield of columnar trees is lower than that of the usual varieties - no more than 15 kg per tree. Care is more laborious: even a frost-resistant cherry-column must be insulated for the winter, protected from the wind, and watered abundantly in summer.

The following varieties are grown in the Moscow region:

• Queen Mary;
• Helena;
• Sylvia and Little Sylvia.

Recommendations for choosing a variety

When deciding on a variety for a dacha near Moscow, they take into account the ability of a fruit tree to withstand the not very mild and unpredictable climate of the middle zone. The main property that you should pay attention to is frost resistance, that is, the ability to withstand low temperatures.

Second, but not least, winter hardiness... Returning frosts can overtake the sweet cherry when it has already opened its buds and ruin the harvest. The best results are obtained by gardeners who choose varieties with an average ripening period. The growing season of these trees falls on the guaranteed warm months.

If we talk about the appearance of the sweet cherry and its fruits, then trees of medium height are preferred for the middle lane. A limited supply of nutrients from the soil will go not for crown formation, but for sweet berry pulp.

Reviews of summer residents

On the forums of amateur gardeners, there are disputes about the advisability of growing cherries in the Moscow region. The participants who managed to get the harvest note the importance of choosing the right variety and adhering to agricultural practices.

Michael: “There are four varieties growing on my site in Noginsk: Narodnaya Syubarovoy, Priusadebnaya yellow, Ovstuzhenka and Revna. They never froze, even in a cold year, when the frost was below -30 ° C. The main thing is to organize drainage and cover well for the winter. "

Galina: “I planted Fatezh. For the second year we have been eating berries, but only from the lower branches, since the upper ones attacked the blackbirds. The taste is quite cherry, but I want more sweetness. Apparently, there is not enough southern heat and light. "

Lyudmila: “Cherry Iput grows normally, but it does not bloom and bear fruit every year - it depends on the weather. Ripe berries are tasty and sweet, almost black in color. "

It is interesting:

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

A guide on how to plant cherries correctly in the fall and avoid mistakes.

Conclusion

Growing cherries in the Moscow region will require a lot of effort, since even zoned varieties can suffer from frequent and abrupt weather changes, mechanical damage (gusty wind), poor soil and too close groundwater. These and other disadvantages of agro-climatic conditions are partly compensated for by competent planting care, in part - by a thoughtful choice of seedlings.