Duke Ivanovna

Duke is a hybrid crop obtained through the cross-pollination of cherries and cherries. One of the best and well-proven varieties of this plant is Ivanovna. We will talk about the features of the variety below.

Chervishnya (the second name of Duke) Ivanovna was bred by the breeder A.I. Sychov. The variety is universal in purpose and is a medium-sized tree. The height of this culture usually does not exceed 4 meters.

The crown of Ivanovna is very neat and compact, the tree is ideal for those who have small areas. The crown density is moderate, and the shape resembles a regular ball. It is leafy with rather long leaves. Moreover, they have an interesting feature: the colors and glossy shine are taken from cherries, but the dimensional parameters are more similar to cherry foliage.

The skeletal branches of the culture differ in thickness, they are painted in gray-brown shades. As for young fresh twigs, they are yellowish in color.

Flowering looks incredibly impressive, during this period the cherry becomes a real decoration of the site. White large flowers, similar to umbrellas, gather in inflorescences and completely cover the tree. They bloom mainly on bouquet branches, and most of the berries will also sing there.

Let's see what features the fruits of Duke Ivanovna have:

• the berries are very large, the weight of most samples reaches 8 grams;
• in shape, the fruits are similar to large peas;
• the skin shines spectacularly in the sun, has a dark red color;
• the pulp is very tender, without cartilage, moderate in density, its shade is the same as that of the peel;
• the stone is perfectly separated from the contents of the berry;
• the juice has a coloring red pigment.

Ivanovna's berries have a delicate and delicate aroma. They are sweet and sour, there is a cherry astringency, but very distant. The fruit tastes more like a sweet cherry. The benefits of berries are enormous, because they have absorbed the characteristics of two fruit trees at once.

Most of the useful elements can be obtained by eating fresh berries, but many housewives who have received large harvests process berries into compotes, homemade lemonades, fruit drinks. In general, they can be used for any type of food.

Ivanovna does not make gardeners languish for a long time in anticipation of harvests: the first useful berries are removed from the branches already in the third year after planting. The cherry is medium late, and you can enjoy its fruits after the 15th of July.

The yield of Duke Ivanovna is quite high, but there are no exact data in verified sources. Therefore, it is worth focusing on the average yield of dukes in general. Usually it is between 10 and 15 kilograms per tree.

Ivanovna feels great in unfavorable harsh conditions. Therefore, it is recommended for gardeners in Siberia.

Absolutely all dukes are self-infertile, and Ivanovna is no exception. It needs pollinators to form ovaries. Any varieties of cherries can be used as them. However, it is necessary that they bloom at the same time as the described variety.

Planting activities begin with choosing the right place. At the slightest shading, the fruits of Ivanovna's cherries will begin to shrink and become very sour, therefore, light should be provided throughout the day.

Gardeners recommend planting on elevations to exclude the possibility of flooding by groundwater. Another way out is to lay the drainage system.

The soil should be nutritious, but Duke does not like an excess of fertilizers. If there is black soil on the site, then it should not be additionally fertilized. In other cases, heavy soils are mixed with sand, and acidic ones are deoxidized by adding ash, chalk or dolomite flour. On acidified soil, Ivanovna dies, not even having time to develop.

For planting, choose seedlings 2-3 years old. They should have developed roots and evenly colored shoots. Planting is carried out only in the spring, since in the fall the chance of survival is very small.

The planting hole should slightly exceed the size of the root system. If several trees are planted, then the holes are located at a distance of 5 meters from each other. There are no other planting recommendations - everything needs to be done as with other trees. The growth point should not be deepened, otherwise putrefactive changes in the roots will begin.

Ivanovna is such an unpretentious variety that taking care of it will not raise questions even for a gardener who is on the first day on the site.

• The main point of cultivation is watering. Irrigation of young trees is carried out weekly. The liquid is taken warm, from the cold roots get stress. Some gardeners do not water mature trees at all, but only under normal summer conditions with occasional rains. If the drought is constant, then it is better to water several times per season so that the fruits are juicier.
• But you need to loosen the earth in the trunk circle. But also infrequently - only twice a season. Loosening is carried out after watering or precipitation. You can also put mulch, hay is suitable for this variety. Please note that mulch is only spread on wet ground.
• Fertilizers Ivanovna is not needed at all. The main thing is to add nutrients during planting, then you can already forget about this issue. On the contrary, this variety develops worse on overly fertile lands.
• The variety needs minimal pruning. Once the tree has been planted, it should be pruned so that the height of the seedling is 60 centimeters from ground level. You will also need to trim the skeletal twigs a little. In the 2nd year, lateral specimens are shortened by a third. After entering fruiting, the trees begin to thin out, and from the 5th year of life, rejuvenating pruning is carried out. To do them correctly, you need to note the growth of a four-year-old specimen and in the future adhere to this mark.

Another plus of Duke Ivanovna is remarkable immunity. The plant is rarely affected by fungal ailments, and most gardeners do not even carry out any preventive spraying. They are carried out only if the trees on the site were sick last season.

Pests almost never cause problems, but aphids or leafworms may appear in certain years. If the tree is just starting the growing season, it is advisable to buy a strong insecticide. At the moment of fruit ripening, only folk methods are allowed.

Duke Ivanovna is an excellent choice for cold climates. The plant easily tolerates frosts down to -30 degrees. However, young trees must be protected from the cold, even if the winter is very warm. The heat resistance of the culture is excellent, the berries do not crack or fall off even in the absence of water and strong heat.

When growing a duke on a site, you need to consider the following:

• the tree will not grow in low-lying areas;
• quickly dies on acidic soils and peat bogs;
• develops poorly on an overly fertilized substrate;
• withers and rots on moist soils with high groundwater.