Fruitful and disease-resistant cherry variety "Regina"
Regina is a promising cherry, one of the best late-ripening varieties. It is resistant to many diseases, begins to bear fruit early, produces a bountiful harvest and is suitable for cultivation both on personal plots and on an industrial scale. In this article we will talk in detail about the characteristics of the variety and the rules of agricultural technology when growing it.
What kind of cherry is this?
Regina is a late-ripening cherry variety characterized by annual flowering and fruiting.
The trees begin to bear fruit 3-4 years after planting. The yield in the first year is low (up to 5 kg), but increases every year, and up to 40 kg of berries are harvested from an adult tree.
Ripe fruits can remain on the tree for 10-12 days; they can be stored in the refrigerator without loss of quality for longer than 2 weeks.
Brief history of origin and distribution
Regina was bred in 1957 by German breeders based on the Roubaix and Schneider varieties. Planting material went on sale only in 1981.
The variety spread throughout European and post-Soviet countries after the end of the 25-year ban on the export of seedlings.
Characteristics and description of the variety
The tree is medium-sized with a neat, medium-dense crown of a pyramidal shape. The shoots are located at an angle of almost 90° to a pronounced central conductor covered with gray-brown bark.
The leaves are green, elliptical in shape with pointed ends and serrated edges.The outer surface of the leaf plates is leathery and glossy, the inner surface is matte and lighter.
Flowering depends on climatic conditions and begins when the air temperature reaches +15°C. Most often this is mid or late May. The flowers are large, five-petaled, white, collected in inflorescences of 2-3 pieces.
Reference. The trees grow annually by about 50 cm and reach a height of 3-4 m in adulthood.
Temperature resistance
This is a variety with an average degree of frost resistance: the trees can withstand air temperatures down to -25°C, but do not take root in regions with harsher winters.
Moisture and drought resistance
Drought resistance is average - drying out of the soil at the roots is unacceptable, otherwise the yield will decrease. With prolonged waterlogging of the soil, the quality of the fruit deteriorates.
Resistance to diseases and pests
Regina has good immunity to fungal diseases and pests. But under unfavorable conditions, the plant is affected by moniliosis, gum disease, mosaic disease, black aphids, cherry tubeworm and gypsy moth.
Characteristics and description of berries
The berries are round-heart-shaped, reach 3.2 cm in diameter and weigh on average 9-10 g, covered with dense, glossy, smooth dark red skin.
The pulp is slightly lighter than the skin, gristly, dense and juicy, has a rich sweet taste with a slight sourness. The bone is medium and separates well.
Areas of their application
Regina berries are consumed fresh, frozen, and used for making desserts, compotes, jams, marshmallows, juices, wine and tinctures.
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
Regina's main advantages:
- precociousness;
- consistently high productivity;
- excellent berry taste;
- high immunity to diseases and pests;
- late flowering, which eliminates the possibility of flowers falling off in case of return frosts;
- late maturation;
- good commercial quality of berries;
- transportability and good keeping quality;
- possibility of universal use;
- the ability of berries to remain on trees after ripening without falling off or cracking.
Disadvantages of the variety:
- self-sterility;
- poor resistance to frost and drought.
Growing technology
In order for trees to take root, grow and bear fruit, it is necessary to follow the rules and timing of planting seedlings and provide them with proper care.
Optimal conditions
Regina develops well and bears fruit on nutritious, loose soil with good aeration, moisture permeability and average acidity (pH 5.5). The best option is loamy and sandy loam soil.
For planting, choose 1- or 2-year-old seedlings with a trunk 1-1.5 m high, 3-5 skeletal branches 35 cm long, a leveled trunk, a well-developed root system and 3-4 main shoots.
Reference. There should be a slight bend on the trunk 5 cm from the rhizome with a healed cut of the rootstock.
Before planting, the roots of the seedlings are soaked for 2-3 hours in a solution of growth stimulants (Kornevin, Heteroauxin).
Landing dates and rules
Trees are planted in a well-lit place protected from the north wind, located in the south, southeast or southwest of the site. The depth of groundwater is at least 2 m.
Planting is carried out in the spring (mid-April - May), when there is no risk of return frosts, or in the autumn (late September - early October).
In the first case, the plants' resistance to frost increases, it is possible to monitor the phases of the growing season and the degree of adaptation of the seedlings, but the choice of planting material is limited, and the plantings require labor-intensive care.
Autumn planting is acceptable when growing Regina in the regions with a warm and mild climate. There is a wide selection of seedlings at this time, and newly planted trees require minimal care. Due to the inability to control weather conditions, the risk of tree death increases.
The site is prepared 6 months before planting - the soil is dug up to a depth of at least 30 cm and watered with a 3% solution of copper sulfate for disinfection. 7-10 days after this, for every 1 sq. m contribute:
- loams and sandstones - 20 kg of fresh manure and 400 g of superphosphate;
- acidic soil - 20 kg of compost, 20 kg of sand and 400 g of dolomite flour;
- heavy soil - 20 kg of manure and 400 g of superphosphate, 10 kg of peat and sand.
After applying fertilizers, the soil is dug up again to a depth of 30 cm.
Landing rules:
- A week before planting, prepare rows on the site at a distance of 3-4 m from each other.
- Every 3 m, dig planting holes 70 cm deep and 1 m wide.
- Fill each hole one third with a nutrient mixture: the top 30-40 cm of excavated soil, 20 kg of compost or humus, 10 kg of sand, 100 g of potassium sulfate and 1 kg of wood ash.
- Drive a stake into the center of the hole so that it rises 0.5 m above the surface.
- Fill the holes with water at the rate of 20 liters per hole.
- Form a cone-shaped hill in the center of the planting hole, place a seedling on it, spreading its roots over the area of the hole.
- Cover the seedling with soil mixture, distributing it between the roots.
- Level the grafting site so that it is 5 cm above the ground surface.
- Fill the hole with soil and compact it into the tree trunk circle.
- Water the seedling with 20 liters of water and mulch the soil with compost.
- Tie the seedling to the stake with a natural soft cloth.
The best neighbors for cherries are cherries, honeysuckle, and plums. The crop is not planted next to pear, linden, birch, conifers, nightshade crops, tobacco, eggplant, pepper and pome trees, especially apple trees.
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Further care
For 3 years after planting, trees are watered 2 times a month, pouring 30 liters of water under each. Mature fruit-bearing trees are watered monthly if the weather is dry, or 3 times per season: during bud swelling, 2 weeks after flowering and 3 weeks before the fruits are fully ripened. Water consumption – 60 liters per tree at a time.
Reference. In the case of a dry autumn, watering must be carried out in mid-October, otherwise the tree will not survive the winter.
After watering, the soil is loosened and weeded, and then the tree trunk circle is mulched with compost or fresh grass.
They begin to feed cherries a year after planting according to the following scheme:
- once every 2 years in mid-October - 40 kg of rotted manure;
- annually in the spring - 200 g of superphosphate and 100 g of potassium sulfate;
- during kidney swelling - 150 g of urea or 75 g of nitrophoska;
- 14 days after flowering - wood ash.
Every year in the spring, sanitary pruning is carried out, removing broken, damaged shoots growing inward. A sparse tiered, sparse form of the crown is formed over 4-5 years so that the lower branches are 50-60 cm from the ground, the distance between tiers is 50-60 cm, and each tier consists of 3 branches.
Possible problems, diseases, pests
Diseases and pests that threaten Regina:
| Disease/pest | Description | Treatment |
|---|---|---|
| Moniliosis | Branches and leaves darken and dry out, unripe fruits mummify, and the bark of trees bursts. | Trees and soil are sprayed twice with an interval of 10 days with the preparation “Horus” (2 g/10 l of water) at the rate of 1 l per 10 sq. m. m. |
| Gum treatment | An amber, viscous, bitter liquid—gum—is released from the cracks of the trunk. | The affected area is cleared of gum down to healthy tissue, the surface is disinfected with a solution of copper sulfate and sealed with garden pitch. |
| Mosaic disease | Clear yellow stripes appear on the leaves along the veins, the leaves curl, develop abnormally, and after some time turn red, turn brown and die prematurely. | There is no treatment. The infected tree is uprooted and burned, and nothing is planted in its place for 5 years. |
| Black aphid | The larvae suck the juice from the young leaves; after a month they curl up and dry out, and the buds wither. | Trees and soil are dusted with tobacco dust or wood ash. If this does not help, use the drug "Aktara". |
| Cherry pipe maker | The leaves fold, curl into a tube, sometimes fall off, and the hatched larvae eat them. | |
| Gypsy moth | Caterpillars eat heavily of cherry leaves. |
Wintering
Preparation for winter consists of:
- removing old mulch
- cleaning the trunk from damaged bark and whitewashing it with lime,
- shallow digging of soil,
- watering and covering the tree trunk circle with a new layer of mulch.
Young seedlings are wrapped in burlap and spruce branches to protect them from the cold and rodents.
Reproduction
The variety is propagated using cuttings.To do this, developed shoots are cut into pieces with 3-5 leaves no more than 30 cm long, dipped in a solution of a growth stimulator (Kornevin) and planted in moist and loose soil for rooting.
Reference. Trees grown from seeds or root suckers do not bear varietal characteristics.
Features of growing this variety depending on the region
Regina is not grown in northern regions with harsh winters, because the trees do not take root there. Otherwise, the variety’s requirements for planting and care do not change depending on the climate of the region. Only the timing of planting seedlings and the frequency of watering the plants vary.
Pollinator varieties
This is a self-sterile variety. To obtain a harvest, several are planted nearby. varieties-pollinators with similar flowering times.
Regina's best pollinators:
- Schneider late;
- Bianca;
- Karina;
- Silvia;
- Coral;
- Tray;
- Nephris;
- Sam;
- Donetsk beauty;
- Gedelfinger;
- Wanda;
- Lapins;
- Cordia;
- Summit.
How can you pollinate?
Pollen is carried by insects and wind, or by gardeners themselves using a brush or cotton swab.
Regina is also grafted with one or more recommended cherry varieties.
Reviews from summer residents
Summer residents speak positively about Regina.
Anna, Lipetsk: “I have a whole garden of cherries and cherries, and there is also a variety called Regina. I like that at the end of July we feast on delicious, sweet and juicy berries. Coral grows as a pollinator, they bloom at the same time.”
Vladimir, Krasnodar region: “I grow cherries on an industrial scale for sale. Regina is bought very well, there are no problems with care - the main thing is to water and fertilize on time. I performed formative pruning only once, and sanitary pruning regularly.”
Conclusion
Regina is a fast-growing, late-ripening cherry variety characterized by consistently high yields, persistent immunity to diseases and pests, and large, sweet berries suitable for universal use.
Regina is grown in all regions of Russia, except for the northern regions. With proper care, you can collect up to 40 kg of berries from one mature tree.