- Pruning: requires short pruning to induce shoot growth
- Fruit shape: heart-shaped
- Keeping quality: 4 to 7 days
- Peduncle: long
- Authors: Czech
- Name synonyms: Kordia
- Growth type: vigorous
- Appointment: universal
- Yield: high
- Tree height, m: 4-5
Cherry Cordia is one of the best late varieties for universal use. Its fruits are very beautiful, and it is not surprising that this Czech variety is so popular not only in its homeland, but throughout Europe, including Russia.
Breeding history
A variety of cherry culture Kordia originates in such a European country as the Czech Republic. In fact, it is a random seedling obtained through free pollination. And if the Czechs call the variety Kordit, then on the North American continent, where it also spread, it has a different name - Attica. The variety is so popular everywhere for its catchy looks and great taste.
Description of the variety
The tree is vigorous, has a slender crown in the form of a cone or sphere. The plant forms many shoots. At 4–5 years old, it begins to form fruits mainly on bouquet branches, as well as on annual growth. Can set fruits on shoots.
It differs in that a young tree grows very quickly, in a year the plant will already be 1.6–1.7 m tall. Subsequently, when the tree has already grown and begins to bear fruit, the growth of the trunk and branches will gradually stop. The roots of the plant have strength, volume, and are shallow. The foliage of the tree is dense, oval leaves cover some of the fruits.
Fruit characteristics
Cherry Cordia is distinguished by large (up to 28 mm wide) and beautiful berries. Their usual weight is from 8 to 10 g. The fruits will not rot in the rain, crack, therefore they are well transportable over long distances. The berries can hang on the branch for a long time, so the collection can be carried out slowly, the berries will remain intact in any case.
The shape of the cherry fruit resembles the shape of a heart, the carmine-black skin has a bronze tint. The fruits are fixed on a strong, long (up to 5 cm) stalk.
Taste qualities
The berry is distinguished by an unusually beautiful ruby and juicy pulp, which is characterized by fleshiness and density. The taste is sweet, characteristic of the culture, with a recognizable cherry aroma. The taste characteristics were highly appreciated by the tasting committee: 4.8 points were given on a 5-point scale. The large size of the berry stone separates from the pulp quite easily, which makes it easier to use. Most often, sweet cherries are eaten fresh, fully enjoying their excellent taste and aroma.
You can save a tasty berry for up to 5 days in the refrigerator (main compartment), from 8 to 9 months, that is, until spring, in the freezer, and up to a year - with the help of conservation and thermo-drying.
Ripening and fruiting
The cherry tree will bear fruit for the 4-5 season. Flowering times are average, depending on the region and on the weather. It can be either the 3rd April decade or the beginning of May. For example, in the southern regions it will be possible to eat berries already at the end of June. In the central regions, the harvest begins from 25-28 July. Moreover, the ripe fruits sit firmly on the branches, so it is easy to harvest, you can do it not immediately, but in several approaches.
Yield
The productivity of the European variety is quite high and will depend on the agricultural technology and climate of a particular region, but on average it is in the range of 25-50 kg per plant.
Growing regions
Like all cherry trees, Cordia is thermophilic. Therefore, it is preferable for the crop to be grown in the southern regions. As for the central climatic zone, here the crop is most often grown in the Central region and in the north-west of the European part of the country.
Self-fertility and the need for pollinators
Since Cordia is self-fertile, the tree needs pollinating varieties. Therefore, it is worth planting nearby cherry trees with suitable flowering periods. For example, these can be varieties:
- Valery Chkalov;
- Burlat;
- Regina;
- Valeria;
- Karina;
- Wang;
- Aelita;
- Schneider late;
- Summit.
Growing and care
The cherry variety Cordia is a moisture-loving crop that reacts very poorly to arid conditions. It is very important to water the plant regularly and abundantly. This is especially necessary for young trees during budding, as well as when ovaries appear.
With regard to winter hardiness, it is a strong feature of the Cordia variety. Mature plants can tolerate temperatures as low as -25 ° C, but young plants suffer severely from winter frosts. The main thing is to insulate the bole well, to mulch the trunk circle. Especially cold temperatures can cause plants to freeze.
Disease and pest resistance
The European tree is quite resistant to most of the standard diseases characteristic of cherry varieties, but a monilial burn will be dangerous for the culture. To avoid the risk of infection, it is very important not to forget to treat Cordia with fungicides, and it is also important to take preventive measures, constantly make the necessary feeding in order to maintain and increase its immunity.
