Description and characteristics of the Leningradskaya Black cherry variety, cultivation and care
A lush cherry orchard is the dream of any gardener. In order to fully enjoy this spectacle and feed your family with tasty and healthy berries, you should carefully approach the choice of the variety and follow all the rules of agricultural technology recommended by the breeders. Only then will the dream come true. Among gardeners, the Leningradskaya Black cherry variety is especially popular. In the changeable climate of the Leningrad region, it demonstrates excellent yield and immunity to diseases.
History of origin
The breeders of the Pavlovsk Experimental Station, which is located near St. Petersburg, managed to develop a variety that takes root well in climates with cold and wet winters. Gardeners of the Leningrad Region appreciated its frost resistance and the ability to harvest tasty berries even in these latitudes.
Description of the variety
The description of the variety should start with the characteristics of the tree. His growth is average, which greatly simplifies the collection of ripe berries. Cherry varieties Leningradskaya Black begin to bear fruit in mid-July. The fruiting process lasts up to 2 months, which allows you to feast on fragrant cherries almost all summer. The culture demonstrates high yields: with competent agricultural technology, summer residents collect up to 40 kg of fruits from one tree. The use of berries is universal: they are eaten fresh, prepared in the form of jam and compotes, wine is made and frozen for the winter.
The berry is almost black in color, the drupe is not completely separated from the pulp, the structure is dense, the taste is sweet with a slight sourness.
The berries of this variety contain many useful substances and vitamins, which are stored in them during the entire period of fruiting. Farmers who grow cherries for subsequent sale on the market note the good transportability of the berries.
Landing features
Compliance with all planting rules will allow you to get the crop declared by the breeders and prevent diseases of the drupe culture.
Landing dates
If the planting of the seedling will be carried out in the northern regions, then the best solution will be mid - end of April. Over the summer, the seedling adapts to a new place, and winter frosts will not be terrible for him. In more southern latitudes with warm winters, planting can be postponed to autumn. The main thing is that up to subzero temperatures for more than 1.5 months.
Choosing a place and seedlings
For planting a cherry sapling of the Leningradskaya Black variety, a site with deep groundwater is suitable.If it is not possible to plant a cherry in such a place, then a mound is poured so that the water cannot damage the root system.
On all sides, the planting site should be illuminated by the sun, this will increase productivity and accelerate fruiting. In shady places, the cherry does not develop well, it can hurt, and the yield will decrease.
It is better to purchase a seedling in nurseries, where they are responsible for the quality of the planting material. First of all, it is worth examining the roots; they should not have growths and damage.
Planting process
For planting a seedling, a warm, windless day without precipitation is chosen:
- Pre-dig the landing site and make a hole. Its depth should be at least 70 cm.
- The selected soil is mixed with compost and rotted manure, add 20 grams of potassium salt.
- Previously, the cherry root system is immersed in a growth stimulator for an hour. Kornevin will do.
- Half of the prepared soil is laid out at the bottom of the recess and a seedling is installed.
- The root system is spread and covered with soil residues.
- Can be covered with sawdust to maintain moisture.
Experienced gardeners recommend installing a support for a young seedling when planting. This will allow you not to worry about its safety on a windy day.
Care
With proper and timely care, in a couple of years, the gardener will be able to enjoy the first berries. Watering, fertilizing, pruning, mulching and prevention of diseases and pests are considered necessary agrotechnical measures.
Watering and mulching
In the first year, the seedling is often watered, but not poured, so as not to damage the root system. A day after the soil is moistened, they must loosen the soil, remove weeds. To keep moisture in the ground for a longer time, the soil is mulched with sawdust and foliage.
An adult cherry tree is watered as the soil dries, but they must be watered during flowering, the formation of ovaries and in preparation for winter. 3-4 buckets of non-cold water are poured onto one tree. For the winter, it is recommended to mulch the trunk circle with peat, humus and dry leaves. This will enable the tree to survive the cold period without loss.
Pruning
In the first year, all damaged branches are cut off, the crown begins to form from the 2nd year of the tree's life.
Top dressing
In the first 2 years, a cherry seedling is quite enough of those fertilizers that were laid in the pit during planting. In the future, they are fed 2 times per season with organic and mineral compounds. In the spring, nitrogen compounds are preferable, and in the fall, phosphorus and potassium mixtures.
Diseases and pests: prevention and treatment
Leningradskaya Black is immune to fungal diseases, but this does not mean that prevention is not needed. Trees are treated with Bordeaux liquid, fungicidal preparations. The tree is rarely affected by pests, but if this still happens, folk and chemical remedies are used, for example, onion and garlic infusion, wood ash, the preparations "Fufanon" and "Karbofos".
