Cherry variety Vasilisa

Early fruits are always valuable, which is why cherries are so popular in our gardens. The Vasilisa variety, in addition to early ripening, boasts large-fruited. The variety was bred at the Artyomovsk Experimental Gardening Station by crossing the parental forms Donetsk beauty and Donetsk coal. Our heroine is considered one of the best achievements of the Honored Agronomist of Ukraine Lilia Ivanovna Taranenko. In addition to its homeland, sweet cherry shows good results in the Moscow region and most of Russia.

Description

The tree has good vigor, medium to strong. It is advisable to limit growth at a height of 4 meters during formation. Good branching forms a dense spherical crown. The shoots of Vasilisa are thick, arched, but the curvature is not very pronounced, the bark is brown, the number of lentils is moderate. The leaves are green, large, rounded, short-pointed, with a wedge-shaped base and a jagged edge. The venation is gentle, the surface is matt. The petiole is ordinary, may have slight traces of anthocyanin coloration. The glands are small, colored, located near the base of the leaf. The sweet cherry harvest is formed on bouquet twigs and last year's increments.

The drupes of the variety are very large, weighing 11 - 14 grams. Outwardly, the fruits of Vasilisa are attractive, round in shape, dense, with a glossy shiny skin. The funnel is shallow and wide. Ripe berry is filled with a rich red color, subcutaneous points are numerous, noticeable. The flesh is fleshy, rather dense, gristly, which is why it can crunch in the mouth, but at the same time juicy, fragrant. Dessert taste, sweet, with sourness. Some call it sweet wine. The experts' assessment is high, but there are still disagreements. Some people rate the taste at 4.25 - 4.5 points, others - at 4.5 - 5. The stone is rather large, it separates well from the pulp. The peduncle is not very long, it is well attached to the fruit.

Characteristics

• During the fruiting period, Vasilisa enters 4 - 5 years after planting, and these are good indicators of early maturity;
• the harvest in Donbass can be harvested already on June 15 - 20, which is a little earlier than that of Large-fruited. In cooler regions, the fruits will ripen by early July;
• the yield is good - on average, up to 30 kg of cherries can be harvested from one tree. According to other sources, this figure is 2 times higher - up to 60 kg;
• fertile age lasts up to 20 years;

• average frost resistance - lower than that of Drogana yellow, but higher than that of Valeria Chkalova... In the conditions of Donbass, the frost resistance of flower buds is insufficient;
• but the drought resistance of an adult plant is excellent, but long periods of drought will not benefit the tree;
• immunity is good, the variety is highly resistant to coccomycosis, successfully resists moniliosis and fruit rot;
• during the period of prolonged rains, 10 - 20% of the fruits may crack;
• dense texture of berries increases their transport performance, fruits do not wrinkle, do not flow;
• the purpose of the fruit is dessert. But cherries are suitable for processing into confiture, jam, compote.

Pollinators

Vasilisa is self-fertile, therefore, in a pair, varieties that bloom with her at the same time are sure to be selected. There are quite a few species blooming in May, of which you can choose worthy candidates: Annushka, Aprilka, Valeria, Bigarro, Bigarro early, Valery Chkalov, Burlat, Drogana yellow, Donetsk coal, Bagration, Starking, Skorospelka, June early.

Planting and leaving

Planting, depending on the region, is done in spring or autumn with one- or two-year-old seedlings. The soil is preferable air and moisture permeable, nutritious. Loam meets these requirements.The subsoil water level should not exceed 1.5 - 2 meters to the surface. If the site is flooded, cherries are planted on artificial hills. In an ordinary garden, the distance between adjacent fruit crops should be at least 3 - 4 meters in a row, row spacing - up to 5. Maintenance is normal for the culture as a whole. Watering is carried out in circular grooves along the perimeter of the crown, but not at the root. Thinning pruning will save you from excessive thickening. Top dressing will help the tree to improve the quality and quantity of fruit.

In regions with a temperate climate, Vasilisa shows itself to be a reliable crop. The variety is especially appreciated for its resistance to diseases, excellent taste and large fruit size. In cool regions or in snowless winters, the trunk circle is insulated with mulch, which saves the plant from freezing.