Description of the cherry variety Ovstuzhenka, cultivation and care, collection and storage of berries
Sweet cherry is a popular tree in the CIS countries that gives sweet fruits. It is grown in almost every vegetable garden. A variety of cherries Ovstuzhenka gives large berries, is frost-resistant, has an excellent taste. The variety is the leader among its brethren. The tree is grown even in the northern regions of the Russian Federation. To plant Ovstuzhenka safely, you need to familiarize yourself with all the nuances of caring for her, a description.
Description and characteristics of sweet cherries Ovstuzhenka
The legendary cherry variety Ovstuzhenka was created for cultivation in the middle climatic zone of Russia by the breeder V. Kanyshina in 2001. The variety combines a number of valuable qualities at once: fertility, frost resistance, rich taste. The trees grow small in size, up to 3 meters high, and bear large fruits.
In the first five years, they gain height, grow rapidly. After, they begin to bear fruit. The variety has a dense, spherical crown, which makes it easy to harvest. The leaf is egg-like, pointed towards the top, with teeth. Ripe fruits are almost black, weighing about 7 grams. Berries have these characteristics.
| Berry appearance | Oval shape, large size |
| Colour | Maroon |
| Structure | Fruits of medium density, the flesh easily separates from the bone |
| Taste | 4.5 points on a 5-point scale, rich sweet, juicy taste |
| Dry matter content | Up to 17.7% |
| Ascorbic acid content | 13.4 mg per 100 grams |
The variety tolerates frosts well down to -45, but it needs to be protected from the wind, it loves the sun. Berries have tonic properties and can be consumed in any form. The variety is unpretentious to care for, is popular with inexperienced gardeners. Sweet cherry requires timely watering, about 15 liters per tree. Flowering occurs in mid-May, and the fruits ripen by mid-June. In the Trans-Urals, the harvest is harvested 1 month later.
Advantages and disadvantages
Sweet cherry is famous for its mass of good qualities, but there are also negative sides. Familiarization with them will help determine the choice of a variety.
| pros | Minuses |
| Frost resistance | Low self-pollination |
| Unpretentious care | Cold resistance of branches |
| Excellent taste of berries | |
| Early maturation | |
| High fertility | |
| Disease, pest resistance | |
| The tree grows small, making harvesting easier |
Growing a tree
Cherries should be grown in soil saturated with clay or sand. Do not plant it on peaty, clayey or sandy soil. When selecting sandy soil, pour a few buckets of clay on the bottom of the hole, and if the soil is clay, add 2 buckets of sand.
Choosing a place and time of boarding
The sweet cherry variety prefers to grow in a place where the north wind does not blow, the sun's rays are constantly shining. The tree should be planted on the southwest or south slope. It is better to give preference to a low rise, or to do it yourself: raise the ground level by half a meter. The place should have a low state of groundwater, and their occurrence should be 1.5 meters.
In warm areas, plant the tree in the fall to take root. In the Moscow region, spring planting is more suitable. From mid to late April, prepare the site, place the seedlings. The soil should have time to warm up by that time. If we are talking about autumn planting, it takes place in mid-October. The earth is not dry from the heat, but still warm.
Selection of seedlings
It is important to choose the planting material correctly. Experienced gardeners advise buying seedlings from the nursery. It should be with a central conductor, a lot of germs. It is worth purchasing planting material that is 1 or 2 years old. Only a properly selected seedling will form the required crown, which will facilitate branching.
In the absence of a guide, the shoot will break under the weight of the fruit. The tree must have a grafting site, which serves as an indicator of the variety.
Planting process
Plant cherries at a distance of 3 to 5 meters from each tree for successful rooting. One relies on 12 square meters or more.
If the planting takes place in the spring, it is necessary to prepare the site in the fall:
- dig holes 0.8 meters wide, 1 m deep;
- pour a third of a mixture of 1 kilogram of wood ash, superphosphate, a bucket of soil, 1 kilogram of potassium sulfate, 30 kilograms of rotted manure into the recesses.
When carrying out such preparation, plant the seedlings immediately. If the process is planned for the fall, a two-week preparation is required.
Pollinators
The variety is self-fertile, ovaries grow from 10% of flowers, even in the absence of a pollinator nearby. In order for the harvest to be large, you need to plant trees next to large-fruited cherry trees that bloom early. There should be a distance of 2.5-3 meters between them.
Preferred pollinators for sweet cherries of the Ovstuzhenka variety:
- Iput;
- Bryansk pink;
- Raditsa;
- Red hill.
If there is no free space on the plot, you can plant several rows of varieties on one tree.
Nuances of wood care
It is easy to care for the Ovstuzhenka cherry, the main thing is to do it right.
- Water the tree in a timely manner, treat pests and diseases.
- Feed the cherries with high-quality fertilizers.
- Trim, shape the crown.
- In the near-trunk circle, periodically weed the weeds. It takes nutrients, inhibiting the growth and maturation process.
- After watering or precipitation, loosen the soil so that it is saturated with oxygen. Due to this, the rhizome will quickly absorb moisture and useful trace elements.
Even a novice gardener can handle this care. The cherry variety is great for summer residents, since it does not require daily supervision.
Watering
Cherries should be watered on time, since the variety is moisture-loving. Requires 15 to 20 liters per tree. After reorganization, loosen the soil next to the trunk, no more than 10 centimeters deep. The procedure should be carried out after rains. Watering in July and August is not worth it, as this will reduce the resistance to frost, the tree will begin to form shoots more slowly.
When to water a tree:
- in May, when active growth is observed;
- in June, when the berries form;
- from October to November, before preparing for wintering.
Before the cold weather, pour 70 liters of water over the cherries. This will help her to endure the winter safely, preventing freezing.
Pruning and shaping the crown
Crown formation takes about 5 years. During this period, 4 tiers are obtained, which consist of strong healthy shoots. Cut dry, broken, old branches every year. Leave 0.5 meters between tiers. Trim the sweet cherry in the fall or spring, when there is no active sap flow. Treat the cuts with garden pitch.
Preventive treatment
Sweet cherry Ovstuzhenka is famous for its high immunity to coccomycosis and moniliosis. Despite this, it is better to play it safe and protect the berry from diseases. To prevent the tree from being attacked by pests, diseases, the trunk should be treated with a whitewash mixture. Better to buy it in a specialty store. Experienced gardeners can prepare their own whitewash.
You will need the following materials:
- 2 kg of chalk;
- 10 g casein glue;
- 500 g of copper sulfate;
- 10 liters of water.
Combine all components, stir. The procedure is carried out in the fall, before frost.
Top dressing
The tree does not require fertilization in the first year of life, as it is still in the active growth phase. After, add urea in a diluted or dry form.
| Dry fertilization method | Take 100 grams of top dressing, scatter in the area where the trunk is located, cover with earth on top and water. |
| Method of feeding with diluted fertilizer. | The selected mixture is taken 30 grams, diluted in 10 liters of water. Submit in May 3 times. |
Having chosen a feeding method, you need to carry out the procedure in a timely manner.
- After 4 years, fertilize again with urea. Do the manipulation from March to April. At the location of the crown, dig out grooves 30 centimeters wide and deep. Pour 200 grams of superphosphate into the wells.
- After 5 years, fruiting starts. In the spring, feed the berry with 300 grams of urea. In autumn, add 250 grams of potassium salt and 400 grams of superphosphate to the ground.
Once every 2 years from the start of fruiting, when the near-stem part is dug up, fertilize with 50 kilograms of compost.
Protection from cold weather and rodents
Cherries can withstand extreme frosts, but it is better to prepare them for cold weather. This is done as follows.
- Whitewash the trunk and skeletal branches.
- Around the tree, measure out an area that will correspond to the width of the crown, and mulch with a layer of 20 centimeters from sawdust and peat.
In young cherries, wrap the branches and stem with paper or burlap.
The principles of protecting a tree from rodents.
- Experienced gardeners are advised to treat with fungicides, insecticides from rodents. To do this, buy "Carbamide", "Karbofos", "Inta-vir".
- These are ready-made products that perfectly protect the tree from the attack of rodents and beetles. They are also suitable for the treatment of sweet cherries.
Pest control can be carried out 1-2 times a year.
Collection and storage of berries
From each tree, you can collect up to 30 kilograms of berries. When plucking fruits, it is better not to separate them from the stalk, then they will last longer. To increase keeping quality, sort the berries after picking. Then put the selected cherries in the refrigerator and can be stored for 5-6 days.
The variety is great for business as the tree produces a lot of berries. They safely tolerate transportation, do not rot for a long time. For summer residents, Ovstuzhenka cherry is also a good choice. Compotes, desserts, preserves, jams, juices are prepared from its fruits.
