High-yielding early ripe cherry variety "Malyshka"
Cherry variety Malyshka was bred by Saratov breeders, hence the second name - Saratov baby. The cherry got its name due to its small size. The berry has become popular among gardeners in the central part of Russia, as well as in the warmer southern regions. What are the advantages and disadvantages of the variety and what are the features of Malyshka cherries, you will learn from the article.
The content of the article
Description and characteristics of the cherry variety Malyshka
Before boarding It is recommended to find out about a new cherry variety its characteristics - yield indicators, taste and commercial qualities, ripening period. All sources of information are useful - reviews of other gardeners, sellers of seedlings, Internet forums.
Consider a detailed description of Malyshka cherries.
Description of the bush and fruit
The baby belongs to dwarf bush varieties - the plant reaches a height of no more than 2.5 m. The crown is of medium density, spherical, easily formed. Shoots are strong and powerful, brown in color, dense bark. The leaves are pointed, thick, dark green. Due to the low bushes, the Baby is suitable for planting in compact garden plots - unlike tall and dense plants, it does not take up much space. The small tree size makes it easy to care for and harvest.
The color of the fruit is deep red, the peel is shiny, glossy. The berry weighs about 6 g, the flesh is firm and juicy. The taste is refreshing, sweet and sour. The stone is large, easily separated from the pulp. Due to the dense skin, the fruits are suitable for long-distance transportation and are kept well. Cherries are used fresh or for making jam, compote, juice.
Interesting! To stock up on healthy and tasty berries for the winter, housewives freeze part of the harvest. The cherries are washed under cool water, the seed is separated from the pulp, the berries are dried and put into an airtight freezer bag or plastic container. Put in the freezer and take out as needed.
Frost and drought resistance
Cherry Malyshka is planted in the Saratov, Sverdlovsk, Orenburg, Samara, Voronezh regions. The variety can withstand temperatures as low as -20 ° C, which distinguishes it from most southern berries. If there are short frosts, the Baby will not be hurt.
Drought resistance is average, in the first years cherry is sensitive to lack of watering. If it rains frequently in summer, the fruits will grow larger and more juicy. It is important not to miss the first watering of the cherry - it is carried out after flowering and immediately applied top dressing.
Variety resistance to diseases and pests
The baby is resistant to a common disease of fruit crops - coccomycosis. Resistance to moniliosis, anthracnose and rust is average. Subject to agricultural practices, insect pests do not bother shrubs. If you do not follow the rules of care, then the Baby is affected by aphids, sawfly, weevil.
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Pollinators varieties
The Malyshka variety is self-fertile, therefore, when planting, it is important to pay attention to the presence of pollinating varieties. For a flower to become a fruit, pollen from another cherry or sweet cherry must get into its pistil. Suitable pollinators for Baby are Vstrecha, Nochka, Turgenevka, Toy varieties.
Insects such as bees and wasps can also be pollinators. However, in cold or wet weather, they do not fly, so it is better to play it safe and plant several other varieties nearby.
Flowering and ripening period, yield
Cherries give their first harvest in the third or fourth year after planting. The variety is early ripe, gardeners pick berries in mid or late June, depending on the growing region and climatic conditions. One bush gives up to 15 kg of juicy berries over the summer.
Advantages and disadvantages
The advantages include early ripening, frost resistance, unpretentiousness in planting and growing. The baby is suitable for those who have never before encountered planting berries on the site. Gardeners appreciate it for its juicy and tasty pulp, which is used for various culinary purposes. The baby is distinguished by its transportability and keeping quality, stable yield. Bushes rarely get sick, take up little space.
The disadvantages of the variety are self-infertility. To get a good harvest, other varieties are planted nearby. Also, after the berries ripen, it is recommended to immediately remove them from the branch - otherwise they will crumble and lose their taste and marketability.
Planting seedlings
For planting, select an area with light breathable soil. A place protected from wind and groundwater, such as a hilly area, is suitable. The pits are prepared in the fall, before frosts - they clean the ground from debris and plant debris, dig up and treat with a solution of Bordeaux liquid. It is recommended to apply fertilizers - a mixture of compost and superphosphate. They will make the soil more nutritious and suitable for a young plant.
Instructions for planting a seedling variety Malyshka
Cherries are planted in early spring when the snow melts. Seedlings are bought in advance - their roots must be healthy, without spots and signs of rot. The branches are strong and resilient, without dry areas. The recommended age of the seedling is 2 years, the length of the roots is at least 30 cm.
The landing algorithm is as follows:
- 14 days before planting, dig a hole with a diameter of 60-70 cm, a depth of 0.5 m. At the bottom, form a small mound and stick a strong peg into the ground.
- Put a seedling in the center of the mound, distribute the roots along the slope.
- Sprinkle with soil on all sides and tamp. The root collar should be 5 cm above the ground.
- Tie a bush to a peg. Water the plant abundantly with warm water.
- Pour mulch from sawdust, hay, foliage.
The distance between the bushes should be at least 2.5 m. Otherwise, the crowns will obscure each other, take away sunlight. This will lead to the fact that the fruits ripen slowly, grow small and sour.
Subtleties of further care
In order for Malyshka cherries to give a good harvest, gardeners follow the rules of care - they water the bushes in a timely manner, fertilize the soil, form and protect against diseases and pests.
Irrigation intensity
The first watering is carried out immediately after planting using a garden watering can. This method allows you to distribute moisture in the most rational way. For irrigation, it is recommended to use settled water at room temperature. In a dry summer, 2-3 waterings are carried out, in a rainy summer - one. The older the cherry, the less it needs hydration. When watering, it is recommended to ensure that the root collar does not get wet. If roots are visible during watering, then gardeners sprinkle them with dry soil.
Attention! To keep the water in the hole longer, moisten the cherries in the evening after sunset. The effect of watering increases if you regularly loosen the soil.
Fertilizing the soil
For cherries, organic and mineral dressings are used.... The first group includes manure, compost, sawdust. Organic fertilizers nourish the soil, provide the plant with vitamins for development.Mineral fertilizers are needed for a balanced nutrition of cherries - they saturate the fruits with phosphorus, nitrogen, potassium, and calcium. Minerals improve fruiting, make cherries juicy and sweet. They are contained in urea, potassium salt, superphosphate, ammophos.
Fertilizers are also divided into:
- root - dry compositions or solutions that are introduced into the near-trunk circle, having previously loosened the earth;
- foliar - spraying for preventive purposes to protect against insects and pests.
The following compositions are suitable for Malyshka cherries:
- for 10 liters of water 20 g of urea before flowering;
- for 50 liters of water 5 liters of mullein and 10 tbsp. ash during flowering;
- for 10 l of water 15 g of potassium sulfate and 100 g of superphosphate 2 weeks after the previous fertilization.
How to cut cherries Saratov baby
Cherries are shaped and pruned so that there are more large and healthy berries on the shoots. New shoots are pruned in early spring. It is important to do this before the formation of new kidneys. Next, remove all dried shoots. Gardeners pay special attention to the formation of the crown - they choose the central trunk and cut off all the processes at a distance of 40 cm from the ground. Subsequent pruning is carried out taking into account how quickly and in which direction the branches grow. They do it in the spring autumn pruning - of necessity.
Some gardeners use bending branches for shaping. With its help, the development of young bushes and the entry into the fruiting period are accelerated. The main branches are deflected from the trunk by 50 °, and the small branches are transferred to a horizontal position. To do this, use wire or twine.
Disease and pest control
Diseases occur due to a lack or excess of minerals, contaminated soil, waterlogging. Sometimes fungi and bacteria attack weak seedlings that have not been treated with disinfectants before planting.
Consider the main diseases of the culture:
- Moniliosis (gray rot) easy to recognize by the brownish-gray shoots and the rapid wilting of the plant. Spots appear on the bark that look like burns. Treat moniliosis with Bordeaux liquid or the drug "Cineb". If you do not take action in time, the plant will die.
- Rust common among most garden trees and shrubs. Orange-red swellings appear on leaves and shoots. Soon the plant loses strength, the fruits do not develop. For treatment, use the drug "HOM".
- Scab. Brown spots appear on the berries, the leaves curl, after a few days the fruits crumble. For preventive purposes, the treatment of seedlings and digging of the earth before planting are used. They are treated with sprays of Bordeaux liquid.
Of the pests, the Baby is occasionally affected by sawflies. They appear on cherries in June or July and suck out the juice. The plant withers, the berries fall off. Get rid of sawflies using the drug "Pyriton".
Harvesting and storage
Fruiting period of cherries Baby, extended... Harvesting begins with the appearance of the first ripe berries - the cherry becomes elastic, acquires a rich burgundy-red color. If gardeners want to preserve the berries or transport them over long distances, they collect the fruits two or three days before they fully ripen. They start harvesting in the evening in dry weather, so that there is no dew and hot summer sun. In the rain, the berries are not picked - the taste will become sour or insipid.
Attention! Watering is stopped 15-20 days before the harvest. Otherwise, due to moisture, the skin will begin to crack, the pulp will lose its taste.
For storage, choose healthy berries, without dents and damage. In addition to freezing, some gardeners dry out crops - remove seeds and wash them, lay them out in the fresh air or in the oven. Dried cherries are placed in an airtight bag and stored in a dark place. Fresh cherries are not stored for a long time, it is recommended to process the crop or make jam for the winter.
Gardeners reviews
We bring to your attention reviews about the Malyshka variety.
Anastasia, Moscow region: “I planted the Baby 7 years ago, and for 4 years now the cherry has been making me happy with delicious and beautiful berries. Their taste is pleasant, sweet and sour, I like to eat Baby just after harvest. It is not a hassle in cultivation - pruning and shaping are easy. For all the time, the cherry never hurt. Well suited for winter storage too. "
Alexander, Saratov: “I planted the Malyshka variety on the recommendation of a gardener friend. I will not say that I am delighted with this cherry. The fruits are too small, I like the Miracle cherry better. The taste is C grade, the yield is average. And last year the bushes got sick with rust - half of the berries died. "
Conclusion
Cherry Malyshka is a fruitful early ripening variety. Differs in frost resistance, is rarely affected by insect pests. Up to 15 kg of neat and beautiful berries of a rich red hue are harvested from one bush annually. Their flesh is dense and juicy, the taste is sweet and sour. One part of the crop is frozen, the other is used to make jam or eaten fresh. For stable fruiting, it is recommended to feed the plantings with organic and mineral fertilizers 2-3 times per season. Also, once a summer, gardeners form a crown and cut off excess shoots.