Duke Hope

Hybrid varieties of fruit plants are becoming more and more popular among gardeners. Among them are dukes or cherries, as they are popularly called, which exactly reflects the essence of the hybrids created by crossing cherries and cherries. Duke Nadezhda is able to grow and give rich harvests not only in warm climates, but also in areas of risky farming. The fruits are of high marketability and good transportability. The berry is used fresh, for freezing, conservation and preparation of liqueurs.

The authorship in obtaining a wonderful hybrid belongs to the breeder of the Rossosh zonal experimental station of gardening A. Ya. Voronchikhina. Griot Ostgeimsky cherry and a mixture of pollen from the North and Likernaya varieties were used as parent varieties.

A vigorous (5-6 m) tree with a medium-dense, wide-pyramidal or rounded crown. Covered with rather dense foliage, the crown consists of straight shoots with long internodes, whose color is not uniform. Greenish brown at the beginning of growth, it then gives way to brownish red shades.

Benefits of Hope:

• unpretentiousness;

• strong immunity;

• regularity of fruiting;

• average winter hardiness and frost resistance;

• dessert taste, versatility in application.

Disadvantages:

• self-infertility;

• the height of the trunk, which greatly complicates the care of the crown and harvesting.

The pointed leaf plate has a leathery surface, oval or broadly ovate, also with a heterogeneous color: the lower part is green, but lighter than the dark green upper, 10-11 cm long, 4-6 cm wide.

Large (3.5-4 cm) snow-white flowers, attached to a short or medium-length stalk, acquire pinkish tints at the end of flowering, due to pink spots appearing on the petals. Flowers are collected in inflorescences one, two and three buds.

The sizes of large (5.8 g) fruits of a flat-round shape, slightly flattened on the sides, are equal: height 20 mm, width 24 mm, thickness 23 mm. The berry is covered with a dense glossy skin, the stone is 0.38 g in size, half separates from the pulp, the separation is dry, sometimes semi-dry.

Homogeneous dark red, wine shades, the pulp has a medium density consistency. It has a sweet taste with a slight sourness, but no cherry astringency.

Composition:

• dry soluble substances - 11.7-16.2%;

• sugar - 9.1-14.0%;

• acids - 1.2-1.6%;

• tannins and dyes - 0.10-0.15%.

Tasting marks: fresh taste - 4.5, in compote - 4.2, appearance in conservation - 4.6 points.

Regular fruiting begins 4-5 years after budding in the nursery. In terms of ripening, the variety belongs to the mid-late category - early flowering, the harvest is harvested in late June - early July.

Nadezhda is distinguished by high yields - on average, 21.6 kg are harvested from one tree, however, when ideal conditions are created, the plant is capable of producing up to 50-60 kilograms.

The duke is adapted for growing in the Central Black Earth Region.

Self-infertility of Nadezhda requires the simultaneous cultivation of pollinating varieties - Kent, Black large, Lada.

Hope should be planted in sunny places, protected from northerly winds during the growing season. A tall adult tree cannot be hidden behind a fence, but by this time it will have enough strength to withstand weather troubles. Soils should be light, breathable, well-drained - inadmissibly close proximity to groundwater and swampy lowlands. If a suitable site has exactly such unfavorable characteristics, then artificial mounds will have to be organized. Acidity level in the neutral zone. Strongly acidified land requires mandatory deoxidation. Dolomite flour is the ideal material for this.

The time for planting is spring - autumn. In spring they are planted in colder areas, the fall season is suitable for southern areas. Optimal parameters:

• landing pit - 60x60x80 cm;

• the distance between the holes is 3 meters;

• the distance between the rows is from 5 to 6 meters.

The ideal planting material is two to three year old seedlings grown in nurseries with appropriate certificates. The root system of a young plant should be well developed and long enough without dry areas.

The dug hole is equipped with a drainage layer, a support for the fragile stem is installed. The removed soil is enriched with organic matter, wood ash, superphosphate, potassium compounds. The third part of the mixture is poured into the hole, a seedling is placed on top, gently spreading the roots over the surface of the formed mound. Fall asleep with the remaining soil, making sure that the root collar remains above the surface or slightly higher. The earth is compacted, a barrier embankment is made around the trunk circle and watered with 2-3 buckets of warm water. The next day, the moist soil must be loosened to prevent crust formation and ensure oxygen access. Such procedures, together with weeding, must be carried out constantly until the plant reaches an adult state.

Further care for the duke is no different from caring for cherries. An adult tree is watered no more than three times per season: in the spring after flowering, during the pouring of the fruits, in the fall after leaf fall.

Nutrient applications begin in the third year after planting:

• spring - nitrogen fertilizers;

• after harvesting - potassium-phosphorus preparations;

• autumn - a large amount of humus is introduced into the trunk circles.

Formative pruning begins immediately after planting, shortening the conductors and branches, then each year the last year's growth is shortened by 1/3 of the length. From damage by rodents and pests, the trunks are whitened in spring and autumn with lime mixed with copper sulfate. For the winter, the lower part of the trunks is protected with special nets, roofing felt, burlap.

Strong immunity allows Duke to successfully resist many diseases and pests. It has good resistance to such dangerous manifestations as coccomycosis and moniliosis.

Nadezhda's winter hardiness and heat resistance are quite good.