Content
Cherries It is not for nothing that Franz Joseph has such an aristocratic name. This unique variety is indispensable in the industry due to its huge list of positive qualities. Many gardeners recommend Franz Joseph because of the unpretentious care and quality of the crop.
Breeding history of the variety
The history of Franz Joseph's cherry selection is unknown, but the fact that the tree is named after the famous Austrian emperor makes you wonder. Historians are sure that the cherries were bred by the scientist Joseph-Eduard Prokhe, who studied plant varieties. He named the culture after himself, modestly associating it with the name of the great namesake. The Franz Joseph variety was brought to Russia from the Czech Republic, where it began to be actively cultivated in the 19th century. Included in the state register in 1947.
Description of the cherry variety Franz Joseph
The tree is large in size with an oval crown of medium density. Large ovoid leaves with a pointed end. The fruits are round, with a well-pronounced groove, bright yellow in color and a ruddy side. Sometimes redness covers the entire surface of the berry. The yellowish juicy pulp has a sweet-sour taste.
The variety is successfully cultivated in the western regions of Russia, in the south of Ukraine, Moldova and Central Asia. Optimal conditions for growing sweet cherries Franz Joseph on the Crimean Peninsula.
Variety characteristics
Franz Joseph sweet cherries are specially designed for industrial use. The characteristics of the variety are in many ways different from other crops and require careful study.
Drought resistance, frost resistance
The main feature of the Franz Joseph variety is its adaptability to abrupt climate changes and severe drought. Even with a lack of water, cherries will bear fruit abundantly, but for active growth and rapid formation of fruits, the moisture level must be maintained by periodically watering. It is worth noting that after winter, cherries need more time to recover, unlike other varieties.
Sweet cherry pollinators Franz Joseph
Flowering begins in early May as the plant prefers warmth. The variety ripens quite late, only by the end of June. Sweet cherry Franz Joseph is self-fertile; varieties such as Drogana Yellow, Napoleon, Jabule, Gedelfingen and other crops with the same terms of fruiting.
Many gardeners use hand pollination technology. The process is troublesome and complicated, but it guarantees the maximum yield, and also protects against pests and diseases.
Productivity and fruiting
The yield of Franz Joseph sweet cherries is at least 2-3 times higher than other varieties. But the number of fruits depends on many factors, mainly on the place of growth, weather conditions, as well as care.
Franz Joseph begins to bear fruit only in the fourth year. At first, there will not be very many fruits, but a 7–8-year-old tree will certainly delight you with a quantitative, full-fledged high-quality crop.
Scope of berries
The fruits are endowed with a pleasant delicate taste and are well suited both for eating raw and for preparing homemade preparations for the winter. Dried berries have amazing taste and are much more original than raisins and dried apricots. The Franz Joseph variety is not recommended for freezing, as it loses its sugar content and juiciness.
Disease and pest resistance
Sweet cherry rarely gets sick and is practically not affected by pests. But in order to avoid trouble, it is recommended to regularly carry out preventive work.
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
The Franz Joseph variety gained its popularity due to its many positive qualities, which include:
- an impressive indicator of productivity;
- long shelf life and excellent transportability;
- good drought resistance;
- size and juiciness of fruits.
The disadvantages of Franz Joseph cherries include the inability to pollinate independently and abundant growth, which is why there is an urgent need for regular both formative and sanitary pruning.
Landing features
Cherry planting must be carried out at a certain time according to a special scheme, having prepared in advance for it. In order for the plant to start, you need to choose the right planting material and the place of its growth.
Recommended timing
It is necessary to plant in early spring, so that the tree has time to root well before the onset of cold weather, and sunny weather affects the growth and development rate of Franz Joseph cherries.
Choosing the right place
It is advisable to plant Franz Joseph cherries on the hills, closer to the south, in direct sunlight. Soil with a lot of sand, stones and clay will negatively affect the development of the seedling and greatly slow down its development. High humidity and excessive fertilization will also have a bad effect on the condition of the fruit. It is necessary to choose high-quality fertile soil with a normal content of organic and inorganic substances.
What crops can and cannot be planted nearby
Sweet cherry Franz Joseph needs pollinators, so it is worth planting varieties suitable for this nearby. The presence of such fruit trees as plum, pear and apple trees nearby will have a negative effect on the growth and development of the culture.
Selection and preparation of planting material
In order not to be mistaken in choosing a high-quality cherry seedling, you should ask the seller if there are documents for the plant. The seedling should be three years old and have many branches. If dark spots or dry areas are noticed on the root cuts, you should not purchase a seedling. During transportation, the root system must be wrapped in a damp cloth.
Landing algorithm
The speed of growth and development of the seedling depends on the correct planting, so it is worth carefully studying the sequence of actions when planting cherries Franz Joseph:
- In autumn, fertilize the soil with a bucket of compost and ash; if desired, you can use chemical fertilizers.
- Dig a hole 80 cm wide, 50 cm deep and loosen the bottom using a crowbar.
- Place the seedling, gently straightening the roots.
- Thoroughly tamping each new layer of earth, cover the root system of the sweet cherry.
- Shorten the branches by a third.
- Water the tree well.
The main thing is to plant a tree with love, and it will certainly thank you with juicy and tasty fruits.
Cherry follow-up care
To stimulate the growth of shoots, formative pruning should be carried out, shortening the branches by 1/5. After shaping, clean the sections with a knife or cover with special paint.
A large amount of water can only harm the tree, so in rainy weather it is worth refusing to irrigate. Only with prolonged drought and obvious drying out of the soil should a couple of buckets of water be added. It is important to apply organic and mineral fertilizers to accelerate the development of a tree, just not exceeding the dose.
Sweet cherry Franz Joseph does not tolerate frost well, so you need to carefully prepare for winter.In spring and autumn, it is necessary to whitewash the trunk and bases of the skeletal branches, as well as cover them with durable material from the effects of rodents. Good preparation for the cold is the introduction of phosphorus fertilizers.
Diseases and pests, methods of control and prevention
In damp and humid weather, Franz Joseph cherries can contract many diseases. But with proper care and preventive maintenance, their development can be excluded.
| Disease | Symptoms | Prophylaxis | Treatment | |
| Moniliosis | Leaves and flowers turn brown and dry. The pulp darkens and rots. | Plant in a well-ventilated area, prune regularly, loosen the soil and fertilize. | Cut off dead branches and burn. Treat with Bordeaux liquid. | |
| Clasterospirosis | Dark spots appear on the leaves and other vegetative parts of the plant, which turn into holes. Over time, the cherry dies off. | Feed the plant and remove weed vegetation. | Treat the cherries with Bordeaux liquid or another fungicide. | |
| Coccomycosis | Small brown spots appear, which increase over time. The plant withers and dies. | Remove fallen leaves and loosen the soil. Before whitewashing, add copper sulfate to the product. | Spray with a solution of copper sulfate (100 g per 10 liters of water). | |
| Pest | Prophylaxis | Mary struggle | ||
| Black aphid | Remove weeds and loosen the soil in a timely manner. | Use any insecticide or plant nearby plants that can repel dangerous insects. | ||
| Cherry fly | Remove fallen fruits and loosen the soil. | Apply special traps or insecticide. | ||
| Trubokvert | Get rid of weeds, and fertilize cherries. | Use a chemical agent or poke off insects by hand. | ||
If pests or similar symptoms of diseases have been noticed, you should get rid of the problem as soon as possible so as not to start the development of the disease and the reproduction of the pest.
Conclusion
Sweet cherry Franz Joseph is a fertile and resistant variety with a noble name. If you carefully study the planting algorithm and the tips for caring for the variety, you can get a tasty, high quality harvest.
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