Description and characteristics of the Zagorievskaya cherry variety, planting, cultivation and care
Cherry varieties Zagorievskaya are popular due to their increased resistance to fungal diseases. It is because of them that gardeners are now forced to deny themselves the pleasure of growing useful berries and making blanks from them. However, this variety will delight not only with a rich, but also tasty harvest with minimal care. The tree does not impose excessive requirements on agricultural technology and serves as a decoration of the site during the flowering period.
Breeding history
The workers of the VSISP in the city of Biryulevo worked on the creation of the Zagoryevskaya cherry. In the old days there was a village called Zagorje. The cherry owes its name to this place. The maternal varieties were known throughout the country Lyubskaya and Black Consumer Goods. Initially, it was supposed to grow Zagorievskaya in the northwestern region, but over time it has conquered much larger expanses. Until now, the variety has not been included in the state register, but the love of gardeners for cherries has not diminished from this.
Description and features
The description of the variety suggests that Zagorievskaya is a prominent representative of ordinary cherries. The tree is medium in size and can grow up to 3-4 meters in height. The crown is dense, its shape is rounded, highly spreading, it needs regular pruning and shaping.
The shape and color of the Zagoryevskaya cherry fruits are more like sweet cherries. The mass of one berry reaches 5 grams. Cherries are roundish, at the stage of technical ripeness they have a dark cherry color with a slight brown tint. The pulp is quite dense and tasty. The classic sweet and sour taste has a slight chocolate flavor. The stone is small, it can be easily separated from the pulp. Stalked fruits are separated with a certain effort.
Cherry Zagoryevskaya is distinguished by good drought resistance, but its frost resistance is average. In severe frost, the flower buds of the plant freeze over, leaving gardeners without a crop. The small height of the tree allows it to be protected from the cold, so experienced summer residents cope with this task without any problems.
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
The advantages of Zagorievskaya cherries include the following:
- small size of the tree;
- drought resistance and frost resistance;
- excellent commercial quality of berries;
- high yield rates;
- early maturity of the variety;
- self-fertility.
The plant is not devoid of certain disadvantages:
- sour taste of fruits;
- the possibility of freezing of flower buds in severe frosts and with recurrent frosts;
- average resistance to disease.
Features of ripening and fruiting
Zagorievskaya is capable of producing crops even without the presence of a pollinator variety nearby. However, if a tree of another variety grows in the neighborhood, which can additionally pollinate the flowers, then the yield increases significantly. Cherry begins to delight with the harvest 3-4 years after planting on the site. An adult plant produces up to 13 kg of high quality fruit.
Tasters rate Zagorievskaya berries at 4.5 points and call them dessert. The crop is suitable both for fresh consumption and for all types of processing.
Pest and disease resistance
The most terrible diseases for cherries are fungal, which mutate over time. Zagoryevskaya is distinguished by an average resistance to coccomycosis and moniliosis, however, timely preventive measures allow you to completely forget about the impending threat.
Frost resistance of Zagorievsk cherry
As the authors of the variety themselves testify, Zagorievskaya has average frost resistance. With a strong decrease in temperature in winter, the tree does not freeze the shoots, but the flower buds. The root system also needs additional protection. For the winter, the near-stem area is mulched, using humus or other organic matter for these purposes.
Spring return frosts are also dangerous for the cherry tree. To save the future harvest during this period, it is advisable to carry out sprinkling, smoke the area, cover the plant with spunbond.
In which regions is it better to grow?
Cherry varieties Zagoryevskaya are successfully grown almost throughout the territory of our country. The tree has a high drought resistance, therefore it is suitable for cultivation in southern climates. In the middle lane, it also has comfortable growing conditions. When organizing protection from cold weather in winter and frost in spring, crops are obtained even in harsh climatic conditions.
