Content
Sweet cherry Bull's Heart belongs to the large-fruited varieties of this garden culture. The original name of the variety is due to the similarity of the fruit in its configuration to the heart of a bull.
Breeding history
The Bull Heart sweet cherry has been adapted to regions with a warm climate, since the variety was bred in Georgia.
It is not included in the Russian State Register. Over time, the cultivation area expanded to the middle European zone, thanks to the popularity of juicy, very large fruits.
Description of culture
After planting, the large-fruited Bovine Heart sweet cherry demonstrates rapid growth rates. By the age of five, an abundant crown is already forming. After this period, growth processes slow down.
As it matures, the Bovine Heart cherry tree height varies from three to five meters. The crown has a pyramidal shape with an average degree of foliage.
The leaf plates are large, with a dark green color. They have a lanceolate shape with pointed tips and double serrate edges. The rounded base is attached to a sturdy short petiole.
Ripe berries reach a weight of up to 12 g. They are covered with a dark red dense skin with a pleasant wine tint. The very juicy pulp differs from the rind in a lighter tone. It is sweet, with a pleasant, slightly sour note that gives the fruit a spicy taste. The bone is removed with little difficulty.
Small white flowers are combined into inflorescences. Each of them includes from two to four buds.
After planting in a place prepared in the garden, the Bull's Heart sweet cherry begins to bear fruit quite early, on average, already in the fourth year.
This variety of sweet cherry, also called Volovye Serdtse, was originally recommended for the southern Russian territories. She was cultivated in Azerbaijan, Georgia.
Over time, the cultivation of Bull's Heart cherries began to be practiced in the conditions of the Black Earth Region and the center of Russia. Subject to agrotechnical rules and taking into account the characteristics of the variety in relation to the selection of a planting site, it is possible to obtain a stable harvest.
Characteristics
Gardeners choose an amazing variety of cherries, which are distinguished by very large berries, taking into account other characteristic features.
Drought resistance, winter hardiness
The possibility of cultivating Bovine Heart cherries in an unstable climate is explained by the rather high frost resistance of mature trees. They do not freeze in winter at a temperature of -25˚С.
The Oxheart cherry can withstand short periods of drought, but trees should not be left without water for more than one month.
Pollination, flowering period and ripening times
Given the self-infertility of the fruit crop, it will be necessary to select suitable pollinators for the Ox Heart cherry. Observing an interval of at least 4 meters, the Tyutchevka variety is placed next to it. Cherry Iput or Ovstuzhenka is suitable as a pollinator.
In these varieties, the flowering periods in May coincide, which guarantees the necessary pollination of the Oxheart cherries. In such a situation, the trees will delight you with a bountiful harvest.
Depending on the climatic characteristics of a particular territory, the ripening period for Bovine Heart cherries varies. In the south, in gardens, ripe large fruits appear by the beginning of the summer season. In more northern regions, mass fruiting occurs in the second decade of June.
Productivity, fruiting
The value of the fruit crop for gardeners lies in the fact that the fruiting of the Ox Heart sweet cherry is stable.
The yield is quite high. From each adult tree, up to 60 kg of berries, excellent in taste, are annually obtained.
Scope of berries
Basically, they use juicy, with an excellent taste, Bull Heart cherries, collected in the period of their full ripeness, fresh.
If necessary, they are processed, getting compotes with a rich burgundy color, spicy jam, delicious jam.
Disease and pest resistance
An important criterion for choosing a certain species for planting in your own garden is such a characteristic of the Bull's Heart cherry variety, as the ability to resist the diseases and pests inherent in this culture.
It is noted that trees of this variety are practically not affected by fungal infection. It is important that coccomycosis, which is dangerous for cherries, is rarely observed on them.
Advantages and disadvantages
Evaluating the Bull's Heart cherry, one should compare the pros and cons of this culture.
Advantages:
- large fruits;
- outstanding product and taste characteristics;
- rather high winter hardiness;
- rare susceptibility to disease and attack by harmful insects;
- high productivity.
Disadvantages:
- deformation of fruits during transportation;
- low keeping quality, which does not allow keeping fresh berries;
- susceptibility of fruits to cracking when overripe, as well as under the influence of temperature fluctuations, direct sunlight, high humidity.
Landing features
If on a personal backyard planting of Bull's Heart cherries is carried out taking into account the peculiarities of this fruit crop, it is possible to annually get tasty healthy fruits of incredible large sizes.
Recommended timing
The predominant period recommended for planting the Bull's Heart cherry garden is the spring season. This is due to the ability of the young tree to adapt to new conditions and endure the winter.
Choosing the right place
When choosing a permanent place for the Bull's Heart cherry, it is taken into account that this culture will not grow well with the close occurrence of aquifers.
The site should be well lit by the sun. On the north side, protective shields are installed. Does not like sweet cherries of heavy clayey and depleted sandy soils.
What crops can and cannot be planted next to cherries
Provides a decent yield of sweet cherries. Bovine Heart is a correctly selected neighborhood from other plants.
It is recommended to plant hawthorn, grapes, mountain ash, cherry. They do not interfere with the development of cherries, so they can grow side by side. Unwanted neighbors are apple, cherry plum, pear, raspberry, blackthorn, plum. It is advisable to place them no closer than six meters from the cherry.
Selection and preparation of planting material
When purchasing a Bovine Heart cherry sapling, you should carefully examine it. It is important that there are no dry or broken branches, bark damage on it.
The seedling must not be deformed or show signs of disease. The most viable specimens will be those with a developed root system, dense buds, a neat and noticeable graft site.
Immediately before planting, too long and damaged roots are shortened with a sharp secateurs. The lower part of the seedling is soaked for two hours in settled warm water with a growth stimulant dissolved in it in accordance with the instructions.
Landing algorithm
It is important, after preparing the planting material, to plant the Bull's Heart cherries correctly, maintaining a row spacing of three meters, and a row spacing of five meters.
Pits for spring planting are dug in the fall. The excavated soil is enriched with a mineral complex fertilizer. Sand and rotted compost are added to the clay soil in equal volumes.
Planting a Bull Heart cherry is carried out in the following sequence:
- A wooden stake is driven into the bottom of the planting pit, which will serve as a support for a young tree during gusts of wind.
- A drainage layer is laid, the role of which is played by gravel, broken brick, cobblestones.
- Pour a pile of prepared soil into the center.
- A seedling is installed by carefully straightening and distributing all the roots over the earthen mound.
- Compacting the layers slightly, fill the voids with the soil mixture. The inoculation site should rise above the surface.
- A seedling is tied to a support and watered.
Follow-up care of the culture
It should be borne in mind that planting and caring for the Bovine Heart cherry does not create difficulties for gardeners. The following activities are carried out:
- Watering an adult tree is required in hot weather four times during the growing season. Young plants need to be watered more frequently.
- Loosening of the near-trunk circles is carried out as the crust forms. Simultaneously remove weedsand then the soil is mulched.
- Top dressing of Bull's Heart cherries involves the spring application of ammonium nitrate. In July, when the harvest has already been harvested, phosphorus-potassium fertilizers are used. In autumn, it is recommended to sprinkle rotted compost into the tree trunks and loosen the soil.
- Pre-winter preparation is carried out in late autumn. The sweet cherry is watered, the trunks and lower large branches are whitewashed with lime.
- Young trees are protected from the cold by wrapping them with spruce branches. In winter, the snow around the trunks is trampled down from the rodents, adding it, if necessary, to the near-trunk circles.
Annual spring pruning, forming a crown, is required for Bovine Heart cherries from the age of two. The shoots are shortened by a third of the length. In autumn, sanitary cutting of damaged branches is carried out.
Diseases and pests, methods of control and prevention
Under unfavorable external conditions, irregular thinning of the crown, the Bull's Heart can be exposed to serious diseases and the development of pests. At the first sign, the fight to save the trees must begin.
Major diseases:
Name of the disease | Signs | Control measures | Prophylaxis |
Bacteriosis | Spreading watery spots on all parts of the tree | Watering without excessive waterlogging | Annual application of nitrogen fertilizers in spring |
Coccomycosis | Brown marks on leaf plates | Treatment in July, when the crop is fully harvested, with Topaz or Horus preparations | Irrigation at the stage of bud swelling with Bordeaux liquid (0.5%) |
Rot | Grayish mildew spots on berries | Treatment with preparations "Copper oxychloride", "Azofos" | Spraying the crown in April with Bordeaux liquid (0.5%) |
The most common pests:
Name | Danger to the plant | Control measures |
Cherry fly | Larvae damage berries | Spraying with insecticides |
Cherry shoot moth | Leaf plates, young shoots, buds are destroyed | Irrigation of the crown during the period of swelling of the kidneys with the preparations "Chlorofos", "Karbofos" |
Conclusion
Cherry Bull Heart with proper care allows you to annually receive a bountiful harvest of large fruits with great taste.It should be borne in mind that berries that are easily deformed during transportation are recommended to be grown for your own use, since it is difficult to sell them.
Testimonials
To get a complete impression, you should analyze the reviews of gardeners about the Bull's Heart cherry.
