Cherry variety Shpanka (duke)
Shpanka is an early ripe cherry variety of national selection, obtained in Ukraine. More precisely, it is a cherry-cherry hybrid (duke). At home, Shpunk is found everywhere, especially in amateur gardens. Outside the borders of his country, this duke gained the greatest popularity in Moldova and Russia.
The trees are vigorous (up to 6 m tall), powerful, tree-like, with a large spherical, medium-thickened crown. The branches are not sticky, they extend from the trunk at an obtuse angle. Due to the fragile fastening of the branches, breaks can sometimes occur in the crown. Fruiting is concentrated on bouquet branches, as well as on annual growths.
Leaves are medium in size, with a serrated edge, pointed upwards, painted in a dark green color. Leaf blade with pinnate venation. Petioles are medium in length and thickness, pink in color.
Shpanka cherry fruits are large (average weight 4 - 5 grams), with a weakly pronounced groove, flattened-rounded shape. The skin is glossy, in ripe fruits it is burgundy-brown. The pulp is juicy, light yellow, sweet and sour (with a predominance of sweetness). The juice is transparent, slightly colored. The stone is small, rounded; in ripe berries it is easily separated from the pulp.
Fruit transportability is low. Berries are often used fresh, as well as in cooking as an additive to various dishes. It can be used for drying, freezing, preservation and processing (jams, wines, compotes, preserves).
The fruits ripen from late June to early July. Maturation is non-simultaneous. Ripe berries are not held very firmly on the tree, therefore they partially crumble. This hybrid is characterized by fruiting of the type of sweet cherries: the fruits hang on the branches with garlands or along the entire length of annual growths.
The level of early maturity of the Shpank cherry is medium: the first fruits in a small amount of trees bring about 5-6 years after planting. With each subsequent year, the level of productivity of the variety increases smoothly. Fruiting is regular; harvests from mature trees are plentiful. Trees reach maximum yield indicators starting from the age of 15 - up to 50 kg / der.
The variety is recognized as self-fertile, but the level of its self-fertility is very low - no more than 5-10%. To increase yields, many varieties of cherries are used as pollinators. Cherries are recognized as good pollinators: Griot Ukrainian and Griot Ostheim.
The level of winter hardiness of the hybrid is high: trees tolerate frosts well down to minus 35 ° C. The variety is drought-resistant. Coccomycosis resistance is relatively high.
It should be noted that this cherry is in demand in breeding work. The following varieties are known: Shpanka dwarf, Shpanka early, Shpanka large-fruited, the latest achievements of selection are Shpanka Bryansk and Shpanka Donetsk.
Despite the unpretentiousness of the variety, it is extremely important to choose light, fertile soils for it. When growing on heavy, nutrient-poor soils, burns and gum lesions can occur on trunks and branches.
On our site, the Shpanka cherry grows, already old (over 10 years old). The yield is almost always average. However, the trunks are thin, long, and it can be difficult to reach the berries. The fruits themselves are sour. If you make blanks from them for the winter, it is better to combine them. Jam from this cherry has no aroma, and you have to put more sugar in the compote than usual.Children love to feast on it, most of the harvest goes to the birds. You can plant it for a change and given that Shpanka is unpretentious and resistant to our frosts in the Black Earth Region.
Thank you for writing, we have a harvest for the first time this year. Planted as 4 years. I decided to make compotes, I read a lot on the Internet, I decided to put 250 grams of sugar. I hope it will not be enough. Just yesterday, one of the 3 trees broke down, and we had to act quickly. It turned out 12 three-livery, she did not spare the spanking, 900 grams per can, children love saturated. I did it from this species for the first time. After your feedback, I am worried that I have put in a little sugar.
You can always add sugar. Make dumplings with Spanky for the children. The only drawback is that the bone does not separate, but I think the kids can handle it. I wasn’t soared as a child.
With Shpanka, the most delicious dish is dumplings, you just need to boil them, not steam them. Inside, add 0.5 - 1 tsp. Sahara. Very juicy dumplings are obtained. Naturally, they eat with sour cream. Dumplings are tastier only with wild strawberries. It is advisable to eat freshly prepared, hot, hot ... After they cool down, all the charm goes away, although nothing too.