Cherry Podbelskaya

The fruit tree, known as Podbelskaya cherry, is often grown in the south and in the climate of the middle zone. The variety is considered quite pretentious to growing conditions, but pleases gardeners with delicious dessert fruits. In order for the cherry to develop correctly and give a high-quality berry harvest, it is important to familiarize yourself with the algorithm for growing it.

The variety was created in Germany in the 19th century by a local breeder named Karl Koch. To obtain a hybrid, the German enthusiast crossed the cherry varieties of the “parents” Lotovaya and Griot Ostheimsky. In Russia, the variety was zoned by 1947, allowing it to be grown in the North Caucasus region.

Cherry Podbelskaya grows high, up to 5 meters. The tree has a voluminous crown, dense in density, flattens as it grows. It is round and somewhat weeping, broadly leafy, can grow up to 2 meters in diameter.

The flowering type is mixed, the same goes for fruiting. The grayish-brown branches are covered with a smooth bark with cracks in the longitudinal position. All shoots rush upward and bend down a little when berries appear.

The leaves are large, their size is 6 cm in width and 12 cm in length. The form is broadly oval, the color is green, they look dull, with a light pile.

Each inflorescence of Podbelskaya has 3-4 snow-white flowers. The delicate petals are round and 3 cm in diameter. Cherries are attached to shortened petioles.

The round fruit is larger than the standard average. A large berry weighs 4-5 grams. It is colored by nature in a dark red, almost black color. The juice is intensely red. The skin is shiny, with a noticeable ventral seam. There is a large bone inside. The pulp is quite easily separated from the cherry pits.

Sour cherries with moderate sweetness and light bitterness. The consistency of the pulp is dense, but tender and moderately juicy. The taste of berries is considered dessert, according to the assessment of tasters, its indicators deserve 4.8-5 evaluation points. Berries do not lose their juiciness under the active sun.

Cherry berries of the Podbelskaya variety are eaten fresh, compotes, juices are cooked from them, and canned food is prepared.

Ripening of cherry berries occurs 3-4 years after planting the seedling. The ripening period is uneven. Cherry begins to bear fruit from the end of June. Ripe berries do not fall for a long time, allowing gardeners not to rush to pick them.

Under favorable circumstances, the fruit tree is capable of producing up to 40 kg of berries from a cherry tree. Sometimes it is possible to get up to 60 kg of fruit. In warm climates, you can start harvesting from mid-June, and in the middle lane the berries ripen by July. For the first time, a tree of the Podbelskaya variety bears fruit only for 4 years. The maximum yield is obtained by 12-15 years of growth.

Cherry blooms early; in a warm region, flowering usually occurs with the arrival of May.Gardeners who grow it need to take into account that this is a self-fertile variety. For pollination of Podbelskaya, varieties growing nearby are needed, for example, you can plant a self-pollinated cherry Lotova or an early English cherry next to it.

In the middle lane and in the south, it is recommended to plant such cherries in April, as soon as the snow melts and the soil warms up enough. Since the cold is destructive for the variety, planting is not practiced in the fall. Otherwise, the tree will not have time to take root by the arrival of winter.

The tree must be planted in a well-lit area, since the lack of sun is badly affecting the development of Podbelskaya. It is preferable to place the seedling on a hill, away from groundwater.

Before planting, a pit is prepared with a size of 50x50 cm in depth and in breadth. The earth extracted from them is mixed with humus and a kilogram of wood ash is added, mixed with potassium chloride in an amount of 20 g and superphosphate, which is needed 10 g more. If the soil is clayey and too wet, it is recommended to add sand to it during planting.

The landing procedure is not difficult.

• The well is half filled with the prepared mixture.

• The Podbelskaya sapling, pre-soaked for 2 hours in water, is placed in a pit and covered with a substrate level with the surface of the earth. The root collar of the cherry seedling should remain above the ground.

• After planting, a couple of buckets of water are poured strictly under the trunk, the substrate is mulched with sawdust. You can replace them with compost.

The cultivation of cherries of German origin does not cause special problems, if, of course, the tree is grown in warm climates.

It is only necessary to follow the basic rules of watering, to make timely pruning and feeding.

The tree is watered carefully, remembering that cracking and deterioration of the berries can begin from excess water. It is recommended to moisten the soil in the near-stem zone only in case of severe aridity in the phase of flowering, the formation of ovaries and ripening of berries.

The first fertilization with minerals is done at planting. Then you can forget about fertilization for a couple of years. Subsequently, cherries need to be fertilized with potassium and phosphorus during fruit ripening and nitrogen during the flowering phase.

Pruning such cherries is required annually. It is produced for sanitary reasons, and to eliminate root growth. The main pruning is done with the onset of spring.

If necessary, in the fall, cut off dead shoots again and thoroughly clean the near-stem zone.

Cherries are distinguished by good immunity to fungal diseases. But the tree can be struck by a monilial burn, as well as attacked by cherry flies and aphids. Sawflies can also parasitize on it.

For prophylaxis in the spring, it is desirable to treat the tree with Bordeaux mixture and azophos. It will also require periodic digging of the soil at the roots and whitewashing the trunk. It is worth treating cracks using copper sulfate. They also cauterize all the wounds that are on the trunk or shoots.

This variety does not tolerate frosts; in the realities of the climate of the middle zone, Podbelskaya needs to be well covered for the winter with burlap or cardboard. For wintering, the soil around the trunk is mulched, spreading sawdust or a thick layer of compost under the tree. With the arrival of autumn, the near-trunk ground area is freed from dry foliage and dead branches.

Best of all, the fruit crop takes root and bears fruit in the North Caucasus and Crimea, where winters are quite mild. At the same time, Podbelskaya is resistant to short-term drought. Lack of water for a thermophilic tree is much safer than excess moisture. The fruit crop reacts negatively to waterlogging.

Gardeners confirm the dessert purpose of the berries. Good presentation and transportability are noted. True, many testify that cherries are suitable for storage only for a limited period.