Cherry Helena

Columnar varieties of sweet cherries are very fond of summer residents who strive to make the most of the usable area of ​​the site. Such varieties are compact and also have decorative qualities. The Helena variety fully meets these characteristics.

Helena is a columnar subspecies of sweet cherry with a strong and sturdy trunk. The height of the tree reaches 3.5 meters, but the crown is only 1 meter wide. This means that you can safely plant cultivated plants near Helena: she will not shade them. Despite its compactness, the crown is leafy rather densely.

The foliage looks very beautiful: it is painted in a bright and rich green shade, and the surface is glossy, with slight ribbing. The edges of the leaf blades are clearly serrated.

It is worth noting that the main emphasis during the growth of a tree is placed precisely on the trunk. There are few branches on Helena, skeletal shoots are present, but they are very short. Therefore, the tree looks unusual for fruit crops and is quite decorative.

Cherry Helena forms large and incredibly attractive drupes. Each of them weighs from 12 to 15 grams. The color is expressive, ruby. The berries look so delicious that you want to eat them right away. The effect produced by the fruit is enhanced by a dense skin with a glossy sheen.

Helena's dessert berries have an amazingly sweet taste with a honey aftertaste. There is no sourness in the fruits at all. The pulp is very juicy, melts in the mouth, medium density. The harvest harvested from cherry trees can be used in completely different ways. In addition to fresh consumption, the fruits are canned, processed into compote, juice and jam. Due to their increased decorative qualities, whole cherries are used to decorate fruit salads, various sweet desserts, and soft drinks.

The first flowering and fruit formation is carried out approximately in the third year of the culture's life. In some regions, the tree begins to bear fruit in its fourth year. The harvests of mature trees are regular, annual. Drupes are harvested in the third decade of June. With proper care, the tree can bear fruit for up to 25 years.

Despite the diminutive size of the tree, it gives quite a decent harvest - up to 15 kg of cherries from one specimen.

Helena was most widespread in central Russia, but summer residents from the northern or southern regions can also try to grow it.

The downside of Helena is that she is self-infertile. For the formation of the harvest, experienced summer residents recommend placing the Sylvia variety next to it.

Helena requires an abundance of sun, so this crop should be planted in the most illuminated area. Even light shading is unacceptable. The tree is very afraid of piercing winds, so the site should not resemble an open field. Seedlings should be protected from drafts by planting close to buildings or tall crops.

The soil is required fertile, rich in nutrients. Sandy loam and loamy substrates are prepared in the autumn months, while chernozem does not need additional feeding. It is recommended to plant Helena at low elevations so that the groundwater does not flood the roots.

Caring for a columnar cherry is not particularly difficult, but some activities must be carried out without fail.

• Watering the crop should be regular. Such cherries differ from ordinary varieties, so it is unreasonable to focus on the classic ones 3 times per season. It is important here to monitor the level of soil moisture. If the soil is completely dry and begins to crack, then it must be watered. A couple of times a month, irrigation will definitely have to be carried out. The amount of water depends on the age of the tree.
• After watering, it is imperative to loosen the topsoil. This way the roots will be able to get a lot of oxygen, which they need for development. Weeding of the trunk circle is carried out as needed. If you don't have time to keep track of the soil, it is better to immediately put a small layer of organic mulch.
• Helena needs to be fed carefully and dosed. It is recommended to prefer mineral complexes to organics. The tree requires potassium, as well as phosphorus, so top dressing should contain exactly these elements. But very little nitrogen is needed, otherwise the cherry may not yield a harvest. Basically, no more than four dressings are made per season.
• This variety does not need pruning. However, the tree still needs to be inspected regularly. If sick, dry or frost-bitten branches are noticed, they must be carefully cut with pruning shears. The best time for this is early spring.

In favorable conditions and with due care, Helena is extremely rarely attacked by ailments and parasites.Diseases can occur when:

• non-compliance with the irrigation schedule;
• disembarking in a shaded place;
• ignoring weeds in the trunk circle;
• no processing of cuts if the gardener removed any branches.

Under the above conditions, cherries are affected by diseases such as scab, perforated spot, clotterosporium disease and some others. Such fungal ailments are usually treated with Bordeaux liquid at a concentration of 1%, which is sprayed on the tree before and after flowering. The tool can also be used for preventive purposes.

Pests on this variety are very rarely noticed. But aphids may well attack him. It is better not to wait for the parasite to multiply, but immediately treat the foliage with a solution of laundry soap. If other pests have appeared on the tree, insecticides should be purchased.

Plants of the described variety can survive temperatures down to -49 degrees, which is a very high figure. The trees of the first year need shelter for the winter, as well as those specimens that grow in regions with little snowy winters. The variety has good drought resistance, but it does not tolerate constant moisture deficiencies. The fruits are small and lose some of their taste.

Those who already grow Helena in the garden speak positively of the variety. The tree not only gives rich and attractive yields of tasty fruits, but also decorates the site. Next to the compact Helena, summer residents grow other crops, which saves space. They did not find any serious flaws, but they warn against buying from unverified sellers. According to gardeners, this variety should only be purchased from reputable nurseries.