Fatezh cherry variety suitable for growing in Central Russia

Fatezh cherry is adapted to the climate of Central Russia. One of its main advantages is frost resistance down to -27°C. Medium-sized, compact trees tolerate drought and sudden changes in weather without loss of yield. The berries do not crack due to rain. We will tell you how to choose seedlings and grow Fatezh on your site. Advice on agricultural technology taking into account the characteristics of the crop will be useful for beginners and experienced gardeners.

Description of the cherry variety Fatezh

Fatezh - winter-hardy, a self-sterile variety with an average ripening period. Named after the city of the same name in the Kursk region.

Obtained in 1999 from Leningradskaya yellow cherry. Authors: Evstratov A.I. and Enikeev H.K. Tests on the zoning of culture were carried out over two years. In 2001, Fatezh was included in the State Register for the Central and North-Western regions. The originator of the variety is the All-Russian Selection and Technological Institute of Horticulture and Nursery Growing.

Characteristics and description of trees

A tree from the group of medium-sized trees. The crown is spherical in shape with moderate density. The branches extend from the trunk at right angles. With age and under the weight of the harvest, they droop, forming an obtuse angle. The average height of the tree is 3.5 m, the maximum is 5 m. It bears fruit from the fifth year.

The leaves are dark green, large, smooth, lanceolate in shape with finely serrated edges.

The flowers are white, with wide corollas and long stamens, collected on bouquet branches. They bloom along with young foliage.

Temperature resistance

The winter hardiness of flower buds is lower than that of the tree. At a temperature of -27°C, the wood does not freeze, but some of the buds are damaged.

Reference. Fatezh has a strong regenerative ability. If the wood freezes, maximum productivity returns after 2 years.

Moisture and drought resistance

The variety is adapted to different climatic conditions. Sudden changes in weather and temperature changes do not affect yields. The trees tolerate drought, but the juiciness of the fruit depends on watering. Frequent waterlogging in flooded lowlands and the proximity of groundwater (up to 1.5 m) lead to rotting of the roots.

Resistance to diseases and pests

The variety has immunity to moniliosis and coccomycosis, resistance to fungal diseases and major crop pests. Trees are affected by gommosis (gum disease).

Characteristics and description of berries

Fruits are one-dimensional, round in shape. Located on short, one-year-old shoulder straps. Average weight - 4-6 g. Ripe berries are yellow-orange in color. To taste sweet and sour, dessert. The flesh is pink, juicy, dense and gristly. The stone is small, oval, and comes off easily and cleanly. A pronounced cherry-floral aroma.

Productivity in the first year of fruiting is up to 5 kg per tree, in subsequent years - 10-15 kg. The productivity of mature trees (over 10 years old) is from 30 to 50 kg. The harvest is harvested in late June - early July.

At a temperature of +1...0°C, fresh berries with petioles are stored for about 10 days. Can withstand transportation without loss of presentation. Taking into account long transportation, they are collected a week before biological ripeness. For preservation - 3 days before ripening.

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Areas of use

Fruits of universal use. Thanks to the sweet, crisp flesh with a refreshing acidity, they are good fresh. Do not crack or lose shape during heat treatment. They produce a lot of juice, a pleasant pink color and a rich aroma. They are dried, frozen, canned, and prepared into preserves, jams, compotes and candied fruits.

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

Advantages of the variety:

• the compactness of the tree simplifies harvesting;
• frost resistance and drought resistance;
• immunity to moniliosis and coccomycosis;
• high yield and maintaining productivity in any weather;
• one-dimensionality, dessert taste and transportability of fruits.

Flaws:

• vulnerability to gommosis;
• sensitivity to soil and waterlogging;
• self-sterility.

Growing technology

Agricultural cultivation technology begins with the selection of high-quality planting material, a suitable site and method of planting the seedling. At the stage of crop care, the main emphasis is on crown formation, treatment of the root circle and disease prevention.

Optimal conditions

Cherries grow only in light, well-drained soil with good aeration. Suitable soils are sandy loam and loam with neutral or slightly alkaline acidity. The permissible proximity to groundwater is 1.5 m. Trees are not planted in lowlands - stagnation of cold air reduces frost resistance. In flooded, swampy areas, the crop dies.

Landing dates and rules

A flat or elevated sunny area with protection from drafts is suitable for cherries. The optimal places are the southern location of the garden, the southern side of the house (3-4 m from the building).Self-sterile varieties are planted in pairs at a distance of 3-4 m. The minimum distance with other garden crops is 5 m. A powerful superficial root system can inhibit the development of neighboring trees.

Good neighborhood:

• cherries;
• cherry;
• columnar cherry plum;
• black elderberry;
• grape.

Invalid proximity:

• Apple tree;
• plum;
• apricot;
• peach;
• pear;
• nut;
• currant.

Cherries are planted in the spring at a stable temperature of +5°C or in the fall, a month before the first frost. One-year and two-year seedlings develop faster. Seedlings with a closed root system take root better - in containers.

Options for selection:

• exposed roots should be moist, branched, light-colored when cut;
• shoots are clean, straight, without damage, in two-year-olds - 3-5 pcs.;
• the conductor is not forked, the trunk diameter of one-year-olds is 1.5-2 cm, two-year-olds are 2-2.5 cm, height is from 0.8 to 1 m;
• at the site of budding, a slight curvature without a protruding thorn is noticeable (15-20 cm from the root).

The holes are prepared in advance so that the earth has time to settle.

Procedure:

1. The area is cleared of roots and larvae.
2. The size of the cubic hole is 70x70x60 cm.
3. The bottom of the planting pit is covered with drainage made of fine crushed stone.
4. Add 2 buckets of humus, 1 bucket of compost, 1 kg of wood ash, 300 g of bone meal to the soil. Heavy soil is additionally diluted with sand.
5. The nutrient mixture is poured into the hole and watered generously. For spring planting, the site is prepared in the fall, and for autumn planting, from the beginning of summer.
6. If a tree cannot be planted in a hole (due to the proximity of groundwater, flooding, lowlands), an artificial hill about 70 cm high is formed. The area is covered with turf, roots up, hay, chopped grass, a mound of nutrient mixture is poured, watered abundantly and covered with roofing felt.
7. After the earth has settled, a small depression is made in the hole or on the hill.
8. The roots of the seedling are straightened and installed so that the root collar remains 2 cm above the soil level.
9. The hole is filled with soil. The seedling is tied to a peg. The branches are cut by 1/3. If there are no branches, it is shortened to 60 cm.
10. A tree trunk circle with a diameter of 60-70 cm is formed.
11. Water the cherries (1-2 buckets) gradually until all the water is absorbed. The tree trunk area is mulched with a layer of organic matter about 10 cm.

Further care

The crown is formed and systematically trimmed. Water rarely, but abundantly. Once every three years the tree trunk circle is expanded.

Crown formation

Cherries are pruned only in the spring, before the buds swell. To obtain a low standard, annual seedlings are shortened to 50-60 cm.

From the second year, 5-6 strong branches are left. All branches are cut by 1/3. The central conductor remains erect. The lower tier of skeletal branches is formed from the lateral ones. They are bent at right angles and secured with stretch marks. In summer, the ends are trimmed again.

In the third year, skeletal branches of the second row are also formed, leaving no erect ones. They should be shorter than the lower tier so that the tree looks like a bowl.

The crown is formed before the fifth year. All cuts are treated with brilliant green and garden pitch.

Watering

Cherries are watered four times a season: before and after flowering, during fruiting, and before the first frost. For young trees, use 2-3 buckets of water, for adults - up to 5 buckets, so that the soil in the root zone is saturated with moisture to a depth of 40 cm. After watering, the weeds are removed and the soil is loosened.

Top dressing

In spring and autumn, seedlings are fed with wood ash, 200 g each. With the beginning of fruiting, add a bucket of humus or compost, 2 tbsp. a mixture of ash and bone meal.

Processing the tree trunk circle

In the second year, the tree trunk zone is increased to 1 m and expanded once every 3 years so that the radius corresponds to the diameter of the crown. The soil is loosened and mulched. The mulch is renewed every season.

Possible problems, diseases, pests

Errors in agricultural technology affect the development and productivity of trees.

Possible problems:

1. The seedlings do not take root - poor-quality planting material, the wrong time for planting.
2. Seedlings develop slowly - shaded area, drafts, plants older than 2-3 years are selected.
3. Diseases and pest damage - waterlogging, drought, poorly formed and treated trunk area, sanitary pruning and disease prevention are not carried out.
4. Uneven distribution of fruits on the branches is an error in the formation of the crown.

Poor care of cherries reduces winter hardiness.

Pests of crops:

1. Tube screwer. The beetles feed on buds and flowers and gnaw through fruits. Glue traps are attached to the trunk and treated with “Bitoxibacillin” at the beginning of flowering.
2. cherry fly damages the fruit. For the fight, the drugs “Actellik” or “Confidor” are used.
3. Aphid settles on young shoots. The leaves turn black and the formation of flower buds stops. In spring, trees are treated with Confidor.
4. Leaf roller. Caterpillars damage leaves, ovary and tree bark. Stripping and processing of wood is carried out after harvesting. Use chlorophos and copper sulfate. Treat in the spring, before the buds open.

Possible diseases:

1. Gum discharge (gommosis) - resinous deposits on the bark. A sign of insect infestation, the presence of diseases or infections after mechanical damage to the bark. The wounds are cleaned, disinfected and covered with garden varnish.
2. Clusterosporiasis - dark spots and holes on the leaves, shoots dry out. Trees are treated with Nitrophen before buds begin to bloom.

Sick trees are treated after sanitary pruning.

Wintering

In the fall, before frost, the root zone is loosened, watered abundantly and mulched. The trunk is whitened. For mature trees, a mixture based on slaked lime is used, for young trees - chalk.

The seedlings are insulated. A frame is installed around the plant and covered with a breathable film (agrospan, spunbond). Work is carried out at air temperature +2…0°C. In spring, the shelter is removed after the snow melts.

Reproduction

Cherries can be grown from seed, but the tree will lose its varietal benefits. This breeding system is used by breeders to develop a new variety.

A common method is vaccination. It is done in mid-April. A scutum about 30 cm long with a bud is cut from a green cutting. On a scion tree, the bark is cut along the length of the shield. Part of the bark is removed. 8-10 cm remains. The shield is inserted under the bark so that the bud is open. The scion and rootstock are tightly covered with electrical tape or plaster.

Propagation by cuttings is carried out in early June. Shoots of about 15 cm are cut from the lower branches. Leaves are left only at the top. The cuttings are placed in a container with a growth stimulator and kept for 8-12 hours. Planted in a greenhouse, in nutritious soil, with a depth of 3-5 cm and maintain a temperature of at least 24°C. Water 3 to 6 times a day to keep the soil constantly moist. They are transplanted to a new site in the spring.

Features of cultivation depending on the region

In the southern regions, cherries are planted in the fall. The root system has time to strengthen, and the tree gains strength. For the winter, seedlings are not insulated with frame protection.

In the northern regions of the Central region, given the short autumn, only spring planting of seedlings is possible.

Pollinator varieties

The best pollinators for Fatezh cherries are Iput and Chermashnaya. With such a partnership, trees show maximum productivity. Raditsa, Ovstuzhenka, Sinyavskaya, Krymskaya, Revna are also suitable.

Conclusion

Fatezh is a winter-hardy cherry variety for the Central and North-Western regions. It can withstand frosts down to -27°C. Sudden weather changes do not affect productivity. Gardeners appreciate variety for high yield (up to 50 kg per mature tree), good transportability and dessert taste.