Cherry variety Bovine heart
Bovine heart is one of the largest cherry varieties of domestic selection. It owes its name to the size and shape of the fruit, which they take when ripe.
Photo by: Igor Ivanov, Moscow region
The trees are medium-sized, the crown is compressed, pyramidal, of medium density and medium foliage. Shoots are straight, light brown in color. The kidneys are ovoid. The leaves are large, dark green. Fruit ovaries are formed mainly on bouquet branches.
Inflorescences are 2 or 3-flowered. The size of the flowers is medium, the color is snow-white. The petals do not touch, they are located at a distance from each other. The cup is glass-shaped.
Cherry fruits Large bovine heart (average berry weight - 7 g, the largest specimens reach 10 g), flattened, flat-round shape, outwardly similar to a heart. The skin is smooth, very dense, in ripe berries it is painted in a rich dark red (almost black) color. The stone is separated from the pulp medium. The peduncle is of medium length. The separation of the berry from the stalk is dry.
The pulp is dark red in color, dense in consistency, very juicy, the taste is very pleasant and ranges from sweet with a slight tinge of acid to very sweet. The juice is dark red. The tasting assessment of the taste of the variety is the highest - 5 points. The use of berries is universal. It is noted that after boiling, compotes and preserves acquire a very beautiful rich dark red color.
Transportability and keeping quality of fruits are extremely low.
Flowering and ripening take place in the middle: mid-May and second half of June, respectively. The variety is partially self-fertile.
The winter hardiness of the variety is quite high, in comparison with most varieties of cherries: in winter, at temperatures slightly below minus 25 ° C, trees are not damaged. Resistance to fungal diseases is high. Almost complete immunity to coccomycosis is observed.
Among the main advantages of sweet cherries are the Bull Heart: very attractive large berries with excellent taste, abundant fruiting, resistance to fungal diseases, high yield and frost resistance.
This variety also has disadvantages. In unfavorable weather, especially when high air humidity alternates with a dry, hot wind, the fruits have a high tendency to crack. Cracking is also observed when the berries are fully ripe, so it is better to remove them a little earlier. Also, the berries do not tolerate transportation very well, even despite the very dense skin (since the pulp is too juicy). In this regard, the shelf life of ripe cherries is very short; after being harvested, they need to be processed immediately.
My friend has this lovely cherry on the site. Indeed, juicy and large berries. But we just have trouble with birds, starlings and sparrows very willingly eat this variety. We have to constantly struggle with this. Two years ago, on my plot, I planted two wild cherry trees with incisors taken from a comrade. Both scions have grown, I expect that I will get full-fledged trees and will be the happy owner of this variety.
All varieties are heavily eaten by birds. If you do not take action, they usually gobble up completely. Especially in the open.Therefore, cherries are also called "magpie".