Cherry variety Mayak

In a sharply continental climate, with cold winters with little snow and hot, dry winds, it is not so easy to grow cherries. In such regions, it is important to choose the right variety. And thanks to breeders, there are a lot of them. Among them is the common cherry, the name of which, Lighthouse, evokes thoughts of the sea. The place of her birth is the Sverdlovsk Horticultural Selection Station. Authors - N. And Gvozdyukova and S.V. Zhukov. The parental forms are free-pollinated Michurin varieties, sent at the age of one from VNIIGiSPR. The recommended growing region is Srednevolzhsky. But the species has taken root in cooler areas as well. In the state farms of the Sverdlovsk and Chelyabinsk regions, he has a high production rating. Popular in Belarus and the Baltics.

Description

The plant is bushy, with a sparse crown of a wide-round and spreading shape. The foliage is small. The height of the bush is 1.8 - 2 meters. The bark of the Lighthouse has a grayish tint. The leaves are oblong-obovate, with a pointed tip and a wedge-shaped base. There is a double-gable serration along the edge. The color is green, without traces of anthocyanin. The sheet plate is elastic, with a glossy surface, and has the shape of a boat. The petiole is purple, 7 mm long, 1 mm thick. 2 to 4 glands are located at the base of the leaf. The buds of the variety are cone-shaped, 4 mm long, spaced in relation to the shoot. The cherry inflorescence consists of 3 white flowers. The flat rim has a diameter of 24 mm, the petals are freely positioned. The stigma of the pistil is often located at the level of the anthers, very rarely a little higher. The length of the stamens is 7 mm, the pistil is 11 mm. The cup is shaped like a glass, sepals with medium, well-pronounced serration. The ovary at the Lighthouse is formed on bouquet twigs and annual growths.

Cherry drupes look attractive outwardly, large ones - 17 mm high, 18 mm wide, 7 mm thick. Weight 4 - 5 grams, maximum weight - 6 grams. The fruits of the variety are round, compressed from the side of the seam. The skin is thin, glossy, dark red. The juicy pulp is of medium density. The juice and pulp are colored red. The taste is pleasant, sweet and sour. Tasting score - 4.5 points. Appearance score - 5 points. 100 grams of fruits contain: sugars - 7.4%, acids - 1.7%, ascorbic acid - 2.0 mg, vitamin P - 101.5 mg.

The peduncle is long - 4.7 cm, thickness - 1.2 mm. The attachment to the fetus is quite strong. Separation occurs with partial separation of the pulp and the release of juice. The mass of a wide-round cherry kernel is 0.25 grams, which is only 6.2% of the mass of the entire berry. The top and base are broadly rounded, light brown in color. It separates from the pulp easily.

Characteristics

• In the period of fruiting, the culture enters the 3rd year after planting, which indicates a good early maturity;
• blooms in medium terms - May 25 - June 3;
• mid-ripening variety, berries ripen from July 25 to August 5;
• the yield of the Lighthouse is good. From one tree, you can get up to 15 kg of fruits, and in some years or in a warmer region - 20 - 25 kg;
• self-rooted plants, when carrying out anti-aging pruning, have a long life - 30 years;
• cherry berries are prone to cracking;
• winter hardiness of wood and buds can be confidently called satisfactory. The limiting threshold of winter hardiness reaches -35 ° C, after this mark, shoots and buds may freeze;
• drought resistance is excellent;
• the lighthouse's immunity is not too high, possible lesions by coccomycosis and fruit rot. In some years, lesions by plum sawfly and aphids are observed;
• the transportability of berries is rather low;
• the way of eating fruits is universal.Cherries are tasty and healthy in their natural form, perfect for processing into juice, compote, jam, jam etc.

Pollinators

The variety is partly self-fertile, so part of the crop can tie itself. But to improve performance, pollinating varieties are needed. The following are perfect for the Lighthouse - Worker of Tataria, Nizhnekamsk, Shakirovskaya.

Planting and leaving

Planting is best done in autumn and spring, although spring is considered the most appropriate. Given the small size of the tree, it is necessary to leave at least 2.5 meters to the nearest neighbor. The soil should be neutral, after deoxidation, planting is carried out no earlier than 2 - 3 weeks.

Despite the good drought resistance, the seedlings must be watered before they are fully rooted. During the growing season, you need to cut off all the shoots, which will draw off food and moisture. Thinning cherry pruning is carried out in the spring, taking into account the characteristics of fruiting. Preventive treatment will help keep the spread of diseases and pests under control.

Large-fruited, with good taste, the Lighthouse is perfect not only for private gardens, but also for industrial ones. The variety has prospects as a breeding resource. The disadvantage is the unsatisfactory resistance to coccomycosis. In cooler than the Middle Volga regions, the yield will be slightly lower than usual.