Cherries cannot boast of the large size of their fruits, like its other stone fruit.
However, there are among the sweet varieties such varieties, which in the intraspecific comparison are almost giants.
Among these, it is worth remembering the variety “Krupnoplodnaya” sweet cherry, the name of which speaks for itself.
We will tell about its features below.
Description of the variety. Fruits, tree, shoots and main advantages
The variety is the brainchild of the long labors of the Ukrainian breeders, who became M.T. Oratovsky and his colleague N.I. Turovtsev. Scientists took the "Napoleon Belaya" cherry, which became the main donor of all the positive qualities of "Large-fruited", as a basis for breeding. For pollination "Napoleon" used a mixture of pollen of different varieties of sweet cherries, among them "Valery Chkalov", "Elton" and "Jabule".
Back in 1983, a new variety took pride of place among other varieties of the Ukrainian Plant Registry. Today, thanks to the large size of the fruit and regular yield, the variety is distributed throughout virtually the entire part of southern and central Russia.
Distinctive qualities of the fruit
Thus, the weight of fruits of this variety varies on average from 10.4 to 12 grams. The maximum weight is 18 grams. Such an indicator is quite rare among other varieties of sweet cherries. The shape of the berries is wide-round, very attractive, which allows them to be used for sale.
The cherries are dark red in their color, but not at all similar to the fruits of “Divers Black”. They are distinguished by thin, but very dense, peel of fruits, which ensures the suitability of berries for transportation over long distances. Also, the skin can easily be separated from the pulp, and its surface is very smooth.
The flesh is the same color as the skin. Juice is also dark red. The structure of the pulp is dense and juicy, different cartilage. The taste of the fruit is very good. The taste is characterized as sweet and sour, the evaluation of professional tasters is 4.6 out of 5. The stone of the fruit is also quite large, but is almost ideally able to separate from the fruit.
The fruits of this sort of sweet cherry ripen in the average time, approximately in the second half of June. You can use them in different ways. Suitable for fresh consumption directly for food, and for the preparation of them compotes.
Description of the tree and its growth
The adult and fruit-bearing tree of the Krupnoplodnaya cherry variety is of medium size. The growth of a tree is very rapid, if you plant it on the site along with other varieties of sweet cherries, by the 4th year it will be significantly ahead of its neighbors in size. The crown shape of this tree is mostly spherical (unless the gardener wishes to form another). The main branches, which are of skeletal type, are represented in small numbers, but they are very strong and coarse. Crown thickened in the middle degree.
Cherries are mainly formed on such parts of the tree as bouquets and last year's increments.
In addition to large-sized fruits, the variety boasts and early onset of fruiting. It is able to give the first harvests as early as the 4th year after planting the seedling at a permanent place of growth.
The wood of this variety brings harvests every year without interruption, and their volumes are marked as quite high.
On average, from one tree bearing fruit for 10 years, about 44-56 kilograms of berries are harvested.
The merits of the variety
Besides the fact that the tree every year is capable of bringing abundant crops of large berries, it is also very beneficial in other aspects. After all, the Krupnoplodnaya cherry has a high resistance to low temperatures. In addition, the tree sustainably tolerates drought, which is practically not displayed on its fruits. It is not very demanding to the soil, it may not be fertilized regularly.
Cherry "Krupnoplodnaya" in fact not affected by moniliasis. The tree is very rare, but still sometimes can be affected by diseases such as coccomycosis and bacterial cancer of stone fruit plants.
Naturally, gardeners appreciate this tree primarily for large berries, which also have excellent taste.
The disadvantages of sweet cherry "Krupnoplodnaya"
However, the tree is practically sterile. If it is not pollinated with pollen from other cherries, the yield will be only 5 percent. Therefore, it is recommended to plant such varieties as “Surprise”, “Bugarro Oratovsky”, “Francis” or “Diber Black” on the plot with “Krupnoplodnaya” cherries.
How to plant a sapling sweet cherry "Large-fruited"?
To carry out the correct planting of the cherry tree, it is very important to know not only about the characteristics of the variety (although this is also important), but also about the necessary conditions for the growth of sweet cherry. After all, in order for a tree to grow well and be able to bear fruit, it needs good soil and proper lighting, proper and timely planting.
Time and place - what would be the best for “Krupnoplodnaya” sweet cherry?
First, about the time of year. Cherry seedlings usually have very long shoots, even if they are only one year old. But the resistance to frost in these shoots is low. And if such a tree is planted in the fall, it will simply freeze, as all the water contained in the wood will freeze. But the spring cherry planted in spring will already have time to get acclimatized to the new soil and will supply the necessary water to the shoots and branches.
But besides that sweet cherry is planted in spring - It is important not to delay with this occupation. Planting a sapling is important until all garden trees begin to grow during the growing season. Namely, it should be time immediately after thawing of the soil. That is, as soon as the earth begins to succumb to digging - take a shovel and start preparing a pit for a seedling.
The second important task that you need to perform before planting a sweet cherry is to choose the right place. Cherry is very susceptible to stagnant cold air and limited amounts of sunlight. Therefore, choose the southern slopes for it and in no case plant a sweet cherry in the deep depressions or yars. In order for the tree to have enough sun, plant it on the sunny side of the plot.
It is very important that the shadow of home constructions, houses or other trees does not fall on it. Note that when laying a garden, the distance between two cherries in the same row should be no less than 3 meters (if we are talking about such large trees as the “Large-fruited” cherry). At the same time, between the rows of sweet cherry the distance should be approximately 5 meters.
What kind of soil to plant sweet cherry "Krupnoplodnaya"
This sort of sweet cherry not particularly demanding on soil, but still it will not grow in absolutely fertile soils. It is best to squeeze it into fertile loamy or sandy soil, which may contain the optimum amount of water and air. Thus, clay or marshy land will not be a good conductor for water and will hold it for a long time.
This can cause rotting of the root system of the tree. Sandy soil will also have a negative effect on tree growth, as it will be too dry for sweet cherries.
But what type of soil would not be, you still need to take care of it regularly, dig it up (so that it is saturated with the optimal amount of air), and control its humidity. Keep in mind that groundwater level should not be higher than 1.5 meters. It can also be adjusted using a specially designed and self-made drainage system.
What nuances should pay attention when choosing a sapling?
For planting cherries, you can choose as single, so biennial sapling. Most importantly, its root system is very well developed and has no damage. It is especially important that the sapling does not have dry roots and they are not broken.
In addition, in the market it is very often possible to meet seedlings, expressed not by grafting, but from a stone. However, from the stone it is very difficult to grow exactly the sort you want. After all, through the selection of such seedlings breeders derive new varieties of trees.
Pay attention to the trunk of the tree - it must necessarily be a well-marked place for inoculation of varietal graft cherry “Large-fruited”.
How to plant a sapling cherry "Krupnoplodnaya"
We have already spoken above about what the distance between the trees should be. Therefore, in preparing the pits it is very important not to forget about it. Pit should be twice as large and deeper than the root system, since a large amount of fertilizer should be put on its bottom. Namely, half of the pit is filled with compost mixed with soil (the amount of compost should be about 3 buckets).
This layer is compacted and covered with soil, to which fertilizers were not piled ... Also, a strong and long stake must be dug into the bottom of the pit, because the cherry at a young age does not have a sufficiently strong stem that can easily be damaged by both winds and various animals.
Next, proceed to the immediate planting of a sapling. Before landing you need to re-examine its roots, because even with very careful storage, any misstep can cause the roots to dry out. In this case, the seedling is placed in water for about 8-9 hours, and only after that it sinks into the pit.
Neatly spreading the roots on the surface of the mound, which we created by pouring the fertilized soil into the pit. Gradually fill the hole to half, and trying not to damage the roots, compact the soil. We pour in a bucket of water and continue to fill the pit with earth until the end. It is very important not to prikopat root neck, it is best to leave it above the surface of the soil, so that it protrudes by 4-5 centimeters.
Having dug a hole in the ground, they seal the ground again and water it very well. For watering you can use another 10-20 liters of water. The space around the trunk is mulched. This will keep the land moist for a long time.
Care for the variety "Krupnoplodnaya"
The “Krupnoplodnaya” sweet cherry, although valued for large harvests of large berries, however, with improper care, all its advantages can be reduced to a minimum. The quality of the crop can be affected by improper watering and fertilizer, as well as improper preparation for winter and pruning.
What you need to know about the proper watering and fertilizing cherries?
Soil moistureIn which cherry grows, you need to constantly monitor. On the territory of Ukraine and the Central Russian region, as well as its southern regions, the tree needs regular watering. On one young tree about 20-40 liters of water are brought in with an interval of one month.
In the adult and fruiting sweet cherry, the demands will be higher, and its normal growth requires about 40-60 liters of water per irrigation. Naturally, with abundant rainfall it is not necessary to water the tree at all, and in their absence it is possible to participate in this procedure up to 4 times per month.
Top dressing it doesn’t have to be so regular. The young tree, except for organic fertilizers introduced during planting, will not require any additional feeding during the first three years of growth and before the tree enters fruiting. The only thing you can fertilize cherries in the second year after planting is urea, which will have a very positive effect on its growth.
For the third year, cherries will be needed nitrate and ammonium. But it is even dangerous to apply a large amount of these fertilizers to the soil, so no more than 25 grams should be used per 1m2. But the best will affect the growth of cherries and the formation of berries organic fertilizer - rotted manure. At the same time, you can make it no more than 1 time for 3 years. Every year, under the autumn digging of the earth around the trunk of a cherry tree, it is possible to introduce wood ash.
Pest and frost protection
The variety we are talking about is practically habitual pests are not terrible. Even the degree of damage to various fungal diseases in "Large fruit" is very low.
Therefore, in order to avoid saturation of fruits with various chemical and toxic preparations, it is better not to carry out any spraying unless it becomes absolutely necessary (after all, pests and diseases can get on this variety of cherries from other varieties adjacent to it; for very bad and long-lasting rains or droughts, the tree can also become susceptible to diseases).
In questions preparation of cherry "Krupnoplodnaya" for winterNo need to miss any details. The tree is of course winter-hardy, but only if it is well looked after by the gardener. First of all, you need to carefully dig up the soil and water it abundantly (if the ground is not moistened with rain).
A young tree for the winter must be tied to a special stake. The trunk of the tree is enveloped in snow and, for protection from rodents, is surrounded by roofing felt. It is possible to protect a tree from rodents also with the help of a spruce branch.
It is also interesting to read about the features of cutting cherries.
Sweet cherry - what kind of pruning does a tree need?
Formation of the crown of cherries occurs independently. The only thing that is important for a grower to do is to monitor the uniform growth of different branches and, if necessary, shorten the leader a little. Pruning the same young shoots is carried out in the same way as for other garden trees - they are shortened by ¼ or half in order to increase the quality of the berries.
However, it will have to tinker with the shape of the crown in the event that the tree was somehow damaged and its main conductor suffered. In this case, the main conductor immediately will have many competitors. If they are allowed to develop, in adulthood some of the roughest competing branches can break from abundant harvests.
Therefore, among the competitors, choose the one that has the most direct growth and is the strongest among all the others.
It is recommended to immediately prune damaged and affected branches and shoots. After trimming all cuts are processed. For this it is best to use copper sulphate. If pruning is done in the fall, the amount of this substance should be particularly abundant. Also, all cut branches must be destroyed with the help of fire.
