Cherry variety Apukhtinskaya

Cherry Apukhtinskaya has long been loved by gardeners of the Central region of Russia. But little is known about her history. Place of birth - the village of Apukhtino, Tula region. Most likely, the variety appeared as a result of folk selection, so it will be difficult to say for sure about the parent plants. Some attribute kinship with Lyubskoy, others - with Lotova Morel. The variety is not included in the State Register of Breeding Achievements of the Russian Federation.

Description

The tree is small, shrub type, height - 2.5 - 3 meters. The crown is rounded, not too thick, its constituent branches become bare and droop with age. Shoots are thin. The bark of young shoots is red-brown, smooth and slightly shiny, covered with light, medium-sized lenticels. The bark on old branches has a grayish tint. The buds grow slightly deviating from the shoot. Cherry leafiness is moderate. The leaf blade of Apukhtinskaya is ordinary, light green, with reticular veins. The leaf is elliptical, the edge is serrate. The surface of the plate is smooth, slightly shiny. The leaves are slightly folded along the central vein. The petiole is ordinary; at its base, an anthocyanin coloration sometimes appears faintly. One or two glands are present, they are small, unpainted. The flowers are white, five-petalled. The ovary of the variety is most often formed on annual growths.

Fruits are medium in size, one-dimensional, weighing 3.3 - 3.5 grams. Drupes are round-heart-shaped, dark red. The funnel is wide and shallow. The skin is thin, glossy. The pulp is moderately dense, juicy, tender, red in color. The taste is classic, rather sour, with a slight astringency, pronounced cherry aroma. Most gardeners assess the taste as mediocre, but this opinion is rather subjective, because the taste largely depends on the region of cultivation and the degree of lighting. The stone is large, oval, takes 12% of the total mass of the berry, it is easily separated. The peduncle is thin and long, firmly attached to the fruit. Semi-dry separation.

Characteristics

• Apukhtinskaya has excellent early maturity. In the period of fruiting begins 2 - 3 years after planting. And after vaccination, it can bring the first berries the next year;
• late-ripening variety, the harvest ripens in the second half of August;
• cherry yield is good, increasing over the years. According to some reports, 10 to 15 kg of berries are harvested from a 5-year-old tree;
• fruiting is stable, annual;
• the fruits hold firmly on the branches during the ripening period, do not fall off for a long time;
• the variety is considered highly self-fertile, so the harvest is tied even without pollinators. By the way, it is difficult to pick up a pollinator due to the late flowering of Apukhtinskaya, which occurs in June;
• according to reviews, cherry has good winter hardiness and drought resistance in regions suitable for growing;
• the immunity of the variety is above average. According to some reports, it tends to be affected by coccomycosis;
• the transportability of Apukhtinskaya fruits is low, since the stalk is separated along with the skin and provokes juice production;
• the way of using drupes is technical. The fruits are great for all types of processing and canning. But some people really like the taste of this cherry in its natural form.

Planting and leaving

It is recommended to plant 2-year-old seedlings. For breeding, it is best to use self-rooted plants. The right time for planting is autumn, about 3 weeks before the onset of persistent cold weather. During the preparation of the planting pit, nutrients are introduced - phosphorus-potassium fertilizers and organic matter, for example, well-rotted manure. The next feeding is carried out only after 2 years.Watering is moderate, the roots do not tolerate high soil moisture. It is imperative to carry out preventive spraying against diseases and pests. A well-lit place for planting is selected so that the amount of sugars in the berries increases.

Apukhtinskaya has established itself as a reliable and undemanding variety. Fruiting of the plant is annual and good, so the winter table will not remain without tasty preparations - jam, compotes, jam, jam. Cherries are also good in their own juice. And the small size of the tree makes it easy to care for.