Top best cherry varieties for Central Russia

Sweet cherry is a capricious culture, so gardeners of central Russia often hesitate to plant this thermophilic plant. And completely in vain. Over the selection of the oldest cherry variety scientists have been working for many decades, and choosing the right variety for temperate or temperate continental climates is not a problem.

Requirements for the choice of variety

A gardener who decides to grow a sweet berry focuses on the characteristics of the crops intended for the region. The main characteristics of sweet cherry varieties for central Russia: frost resistance, short stature, late flowering.

Important! Since most trees are self-fertile, pollinating neighbors are planted next to them.

A selection of the best varieties

Gardeners of the Moscow region, the Leningrad region, the Volga region and other regions of the center of the European part of Russia prefer selective seedlings bred specifically for the continental climate. The top 10 varieties that performed well in the middle lane were included in our selection.

Fatezh

This cherry has been included in the State Register of Breeding Achievements since 2001. It was bred at the Moscow All-Russian Institute of Selection and Technology of Horticulture and Nursery.

The variety is medium early, the tree is low with a wide spreading crown. Begins fruiting at the 5th year of life. The berries are red with light pink sweet-sour pulp, weighing about 4.2-4.6 g. Tasting score - 4.7 points out of 5. Fatezh tolerates Moscow winters well and is resistant to fungal infections. Self-fertile, needs pollinating plants.

Iput

Back in Soviet times, breeders from Mytishchi bred this variety, perfectly adapted to the conditions of the Central and Central Black Earth regions. Iput is an early maturing culture. The tree is tall with a pyramidal crown. It gives the first harvests 4-5 years after planting.

The berries are large, dark red, weighing 6.2–6.5 g. The pulp is intensely carmine-colored, juicy and tender, with a high sugar content (11.7%). The plant is winter-hardy, almost exposed to diseases and pests, partially self-fertile, therefore requires a pollinator.

Tyutchevka

Mytishchi breeders also bred this variety, so beloved by gardeners. It was included in the State Register in 2001.

Tyutchevka belongs to low mid-late crops, partially self-fertile. It grows quickly, forms a spreading crown in the shape of a ball. The berries are dark red inside and out, medium in size and very sweet. Assessment of tasters - 4.9 points out of 5. The variety gives high yields: up to 30 kg per tree, the transportability of the fruit is excellent. For this feature, the plant is widely used by agricultural producers.

Jealous

Medium late variety with increased resistance to frost and immunity to coccomycosis. High-yielding (up to 40 kg per tree) and partially self-fertile cultivar. Berries of medium size, flattened, weighing 4.7 g. The skin is dense, almost black in color, the pulp is sweet, juicy, dark red.

Vasilisa

This plant, bred by Ukrainian specialists on the basis of the Donetsk beauty and Donetsk corner varieties, is not included in the domestic register.

In the conditions of central Russia, Vasilisa is actively grown due to its high taste and large-fruited (one berry weighs 11-14 g). The tree is low with a spreading crown, the fruits are bright red with very juicy pulp. Frost resistance up to -25 ° С.

Bryansk pink

This is the latest ripening cherry: when other varieties have already departed, Bryansk pink only begins to bear fruit. High resistance to frost and fungal diseases make it a favorite of gardeners. The plant is self-fertile, requires a pollinator.

A tree grows up to 4 m, forming a pyramidal spreading crown. The berries are medium in size, rounded, the skin is pink with small specks. The pulp is pale yellow sweet juicy.

Ovstuzhenka

Medium early fruitful cultivar, begins to bear fruit 5 years after planting. Partially self-fertile, so it is better to plant other varieties nearby.

Helpful! Tyutchevka, Revna, Iput are suitable pollinators.

Forms a low tree with a dense spherical crown. The berries are dark red oval. The pulp is purple and very sweet (taste rating - 4.7 points). Ostuzhenka is winter-hardy, moderately resistant to coccomycosis.

Lena

A late-ripening variety, forms a tree of medium height with a pyramidal crown. Average yield (25-30 kg per tree). The berries are black with bright red pulp and dark juice. Average weight - 6 g. Sweet and sour taste, assessment of tasters - 4.7 points.

Lena is resistant to fungal infections. Increased winter hardiness allows you to grow it in the Urals and Western Siberia.

Ryazan gift

Large-fruited sweet cherry of medium ripening. Forms a low tree with a wide spreading crown. The berries are large (average weight - 7 g) yellow. The pulp is light yellow, juicy, sweet. The juice is colorless.

Ryazan's gift is winter-hardy, almost not susceptible to diseases and pests. Requires no pollinating neighbors.

Sinyavskaya

One of the youngest varieties included in the State Register in 2013. Sweet cherry is medium early, grows low with a wide pyramidal dense crown. The berries are dark red with a juicy scarlet pulp. Increased sugar content (up to 13% per 100 g of berries). The cultivar is winter hardy and not prone to most diseases. It is weakly affected by pests.

Reference! The choice of a variety depends not only on the characteristics of the plant, but also on the taste preferences of the gardener. Someone more loves sweet and large black berries, someone likes tender yellow ones with a slight sourness.

Early varieties for central Russia

Such plants tolerate spring frosts, give high yields, and are resistant to diseases. Their berries are juicier and sweeter than those of other crops. The disadvantage is self-infertility, so they are surrounded by pollinators.

Chermashnaya

The tree grows up to 5 m, develops quickly, begins to bear fruit in 4-5 years. The crown is oval or spherical. The berries are yellow with a pink barrel, medium-sized. Juicy aromatic pulp with a slight sourness. Fruits ripen by the end of June. Sweet cherry is resistant to frost, diseases and pests, requires the presence of pollinating varieties.

Backyard

The tree develops for a long time, bears fruit for 5-6 years. Forms a rounded, strongly thickened crown. The height of the cherry is up to 5 m. The berries are yellow with a delicate creamy pulp, juicy and sweet. The backyard is resistant to frost and pests. At high humidity, the berries crack and are damaged by wasps. The crop bears fruit at the end of June and requires pollinators.

Maiskaya

The variety has the earliest ripening dates: late May - early June. The berries are red, smaller than average, sweet with a slight sourness. Sweet cherry, not used in conservation. Begins to bear fruit at 4 years old, the tree is medium-sized with a wide crown.

Reference! Early varieties are vulnerable to recurrent frosts. Sometimes gardeners do not have time to enjoy flowering when the tree crumbles without forming ovaries.

Average

Mid-ripening varieties of sweet cherry are distinguished by high frost resistance, good yield, suitable for long-term storage.The disadvantage is the exactingness of the landing site. They are grown in areas well-lit by the sun with moderate soil and air humidity.

Bull heart

One of the largest-fruited varieties. The berries weigh up to 10 g. High-yielding: gives up to 40 kg per season. Bears fruit amicably. The berries are almost black in color with bright red juicy sweet pulp. Unsuitable for transportation and long-term storage. Frost resistance is high, the plant is practically not affected by diseases and pests. The berries ripen by mid-July.

Rechitsa

The tree is medium-sized, fast-growing. Forms a pyramidal crown with medium-dense foliage. Fruiting from 5 years old, winter-hardy, not subject to coccomycosis. Self-fertile, requires nearby pollinators.

The berries are juicy, sweet (score - 4.5 points), almost black, weigh up to 5 g. Fruits for universal use, well suited for compotes.

General's

Ripens by mid-July, yield - up to 50 kg. The tree is vigorous, strong with a wide spreading crown. Resistant to frost, disease and pests.

The berries are fleshy, large, juicy and sweet. The skin is pale yellow with a pink barrel. General's cherry is self-fertile, so pollinators are planted next to it.

Late

Such plants bear fruit from mid-July to late August. The berries tolerate transportation well, are suitable for conservation and storage.

In memory of Astakhov

One of the best varieties for the middle lane. The tree can withstand frosts down to -30 ° C, is resistant to pests and diseases. Sweet cherry is of medium size; it begins fruiting at the age of 5-6 years. The crop is harvested in mid-August. Berries are dark red calibrated, weighing up to 8 g. The plant is self-fertile.

Staccato

The result of the work of breeders in Canada. A plant of increased winter hardiness, not susceptible to most diseases, not damaged by pests. It starts bearing fruit 3 years after planting. It is the main variety for industrial use in Europe.

The fruits endure transportation, do not crack in a cold rainy summer. Ripen in early August, gain weight up to 10 days. Berries are large red juicy.

Other parameters

Sweet cherry differs not only by the ripening period and geographical preferences, but also by the color and size of the fruits, the ability to self-pollinate, and the growth of trees.

Berry color

The most common and favorite varieties are those that have a bright color of berries (red, black, scarlet, pomegranate, burgundy). There are also many lovers of yellow cherries, white or pink. Bright fruits are more juicy, large and sweet. They contain the maximum amount of vitamins and minerals.

Medium and tall

Depending on the variety, cherries are medium and tall. To facilitate the work of harvesting and not to give berries to birds, they form a crown in a timely manner. Correct pruning prevents the tree from stretching too much. If the requirements for shaping are met, the tree is not injured, but develops at a height that is accessible for care.

Large-fruited

Cherry varieties vary in berry size. The smallest weigh up to 4 g, medium - from 4 to 8, large - from 8 and above. Some specimens reach 20 g or even more.

Self-fertile and self-fertile

Most varieties of sweet cherries are self-infertile: they need other pollinators to bear fruit - without them, only 4% of flowers will be fertilized.

In partially self-fertile trees, fertilization from their own pollen occurs on average in 20% of flowers, therefore, a high yield cannot be obtained without pollinators.

Rarely enough self-fertile plants do not need pollinators, since both male and female flowers grow. They give about 50% of the berries.

Columnar

Relatively recently, breeders have bred a sweet cherry comparable to a person's height. It is convenient for maintenance and harvesting. However, such trees do not live long: they are changed every 4-5 years. The yield of columnar cherries is much lower than that of traditional varieties: no more than 15 kg per tree.

It is interesting:

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

How to properly plant cherries in the fall: instructions for a novice gardener.

Rules for feeding cherries in the fall and the selection of the best fertilizers for these purposes.

How to choose a variety

In order not to make a mistake when choosing and not to waste time, gardeners are guided by the successful experience of their neighbors. If you want to grow a variety that is new for your area, they carefully get acquainted with its characteristics: the requirements for soil and weather and climatic conditions, the level of occurrence of groundwater.

Advice! The center of the European part of Russia is characterized by mild winters, but steady winds. Most plants do not like drafts, and they will have to be wrapped before full rooting.

In addition to the varieties described above, for the Volga region, Samara, Penza, Saratov regions, Rannyaya rozovaya and Dybera black are recommended.

Conclusion

It is not difficult to grow thermophilic cherries in the middle lane. Thanks to the efforts of breeders, dozens of frost-resistant varieties have appeared. The choice is wide: there are early and late maturing, black, red, yellow, pink, tall, medium and low trees. Berries differ in size: from the smallest (4-6 g) to large-fruited (15-18 g). When choosing a variety, take into account its requirements for soil, climate and humidity.