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Every gardener dreams of bountiful harvests on their backyard plots. Dwarf cherry Winter pomegranate, due to its compact size, allows you to place more trees in a small area. Excellent yield and ease of maintenance makes the choice of this variety very obvious.
Description of the dwarf cherry variety Winter pomegranate
This type of fruit tree appeared relatively recently. Cherry variety Winter pomegranate is the result of selection of foreign farmers and scientists. Despite the short period of fame, the variety has proved to be excellent in household plots in Russia and neighboring countries.
Initially, this species was bred for regions with a continental climate. It perfectly tolerates hot summers and harsh winters. In Russia, the winter pomegranate dwarf cherry variety can be grown in most regions - from the Moscow region to Vladivostok. The only exceptions are the northern regions, where the average temperature in summer does not drop below 10 degrees.
Winter pomegranate reaches a height of no more than 2 meters
Among other types of dwarf cherry, this one stands out for its decorative component. A feature of the plant is an incredibly beautiful flowering period. With the correct formation of the crown, the inflorescences of white and pink color delight the eye with lush colors.
Height and dimensions of an adult tree
Like most dwarf species, cherries are small in size. The height of an adult plant reaches 1.5-1.8 m. Such dimensions provide convenience when pruning and collecting ripe fruits.
The trunk is divided into several main branches, from which neat shoots extend in all directions. Correct pruning, necessary for crown formation and improved fruiting, results in a lush tree. The green mass can reach 1.5-2 meters in diameter.
Description of fruits
A feature of the variety, for which it received its poetic name, is the ability of the berries to remain on the branches until the onset of cold weather. The fruits do not fall off, holding on to the stalks until the end of October. They have a dense skin that protects them from the scorching sun, preventing baking. Other characteristics of berries include:
- fruit weight 3.5-4 g;
- very small bone;
- sweet taste with noticeable sourness;
- color from ruby to maroon.
It should be noted that the prepared berry juice will contain about 14% sugar. Such indicators mean no cloying. The fruits of this variety have the most balanced taste among their relatives.
Does Winter Pomegranate Cherry Needs Pollinators
The variety is self-pollinated. Even in the absence of other trees in the household plots, you can count on a fairly bountiful harvest. The best pollination occurs when there are several plants of the variety nearby.
Cherry variety Winter pomegranate - self-pollinated
Flowering begins in spring - late April or early May. It lasts about 2-3 weeks. Depending on the weather, the conditions of the tree and the presence of natural pollinators, up to 90-95% of the flowers can become berries.
Main characteristics
Since the Winter Pomegranate is a fairly young variety, bred through scientific breeding, it combines most of the modern achievements. It was grown specifically for the northern regions, so it has a high frost resistance and survival rate. The tree is unpretentious to the ground and the surrounding air.
Drought resistance, frost resistance
The Winter pomegranate variety was bred specifically for regions with cold winters. According to experienced agricultural technicians, this species easily tolerates temperatures of 40-45 degrees below zero. Of course, such extreme conditions should not be too long, otherwise the yield of the tree could be significantly reduced next summer.
The variety is quite stress-resistant, it can easily endure a long time without watering. Despite the fact that the tree is small, its roots go deep into the soil. The shallow groundwater table allows the tree to have a water source and does not need watering.
Yield
The dwarf cherry begins to bear its first fruits in the third year from the moment of planting. However, the first few seasons, the harvests will not please with abundance. The tree will begin to bear the maximum amount of berries from 6-7 years. Yields and the time of the beginning of fruiting can vary significantly depending on the region and the care of the plant.
Up to 10 kg of berries can be removed from one cherry
Fruits acquire a ruby color by 2-3 decade of July. It's best to wait about 2-3 weeks for them to turn maroon and sweeter. The maximum yield from one bonsai is up to 10 kg.
Berries are used for making fruit desserts, compotes and as a separate dish. Cherry Winter pomegranate is also used for preparations for the winter - jam, marmalade and pastilles. Thanks to the dense skin, the fruits are excellent for storage, transportation and freezing.
Advantages and disadvantages
Based on the data presented, it is possible to form several main advantages of growing winter pomegranate dwarf cherries.
When growing such a fruit tree, farmers receive:
- high productivity in a continental climate;
- ease of transportation and storage of berries;
- frost resistance;
- early fruiting.
Despite all the apparent advantages of the Winter Pomegranate dwarf cherry, it has one serious drawback. In warm climates, it cannot compete with other varieties bred specifically for such regions. In the south of Russia and Ukraine, it is better to grow other types of cherries, which can benefit greatly from the amount of sun.
Landing rules
The secret of the future health of dwarf cherries Winter pomegranate is the right seedling. It is best to use 1-2 year old specimens with a well-developed root system. The stem should be straight with several branches.
It is best to purchase seedlings from professional nurseries.
Despite the fact that the dwarf tree is unpretentious to the ground, cherries grow best in loose soil that has good air permeability. If the soil is loamy or sandy loam, additional fertilizers are added to it. Richer chernozem soils do not require any additives or chemicals.
Recommended timing
An important part of the procedure is the preparation of the landing pit.In order for the soil to be saturated with oxygen as much as possible, the place must be prepared in the fall. The selected area is cleared of weeds and roots of former fruit trees. For the Winter Pomegranate dwarf cherry, it is not necessary to dig too large a hole - a sufficient size is 60x60x60 cm.
Like other dwarf trees, Winter Pomegranate must be planted outdoors during the spring. As soon as the snow completely melts and the soil warms up enough, you can start planting. In the middle lane, the ideal time for disembarkation is the 2nd decade of April. In colder latitudes, dwarf cherries can be planted at the end of the month.
Site selection and soil preparation
Correctly planted cherries will delight the gardener with rapid growth, abundant flowering and an excellent harvest. The selection of a landing site must be carefully considered. The dwarf variety loves the sun, so it is worth planting the plant in the southern parts of the site. There should be plenty of light. Do not plant Winter Pomegranate in the shade of your home and outbuildings, or behind taller trees.
Before planting, it is necessary to prepare a favorable soil for the future tree. Half of the soil from the planting pit is mixed with 300 g of superphosphate and 100 g of wood ash. The resulting mixture is filled into the bottom of the recess. Only after that dwarf cherry seedlings are planted.
How to plant correctly
Before planting a dwarf cherry, you must carefully inspect the seedling. Dry and broken off branches are cut with pruning shears and treated with garden pitch. It is also worth examining the roots to remove any rotten parts. A dwarf cherry seedling Winter pomegranate is examined for pests. If they are found, the trees must be treated with a special insecticide.
The best time to plant cherries is mid-April
Horticultural experts advise revitalizing the root system before planting. To do this, the seedling is placed in a bucket of water a day before planting. The greatest effect is achieved when a special root growth stimulator is added to the liquid.
The seedlings are placed in pits filled with special soil so that the root collar protrudes slightly above the ground level. After that, the roots are sprinkled with leafy earth. Each tree must be watered abundantly - the volume of liquid should be 20-30 liters.
Care features
Caring for a dwarf cherry is the key to a healthy tree. Despite the fact that the Winter pomegranate is quite unpretentious, timely care will allow you to get impressive yields. The main concerns of the gardener include:
- timely watering of dwarf cherries;
- regular application of the necessary fertilizers;
- trimming wood;
- preparation for the winter period.
In order for the tree to grow actively, the Winter Pomegranate needs to provide an improved air flow to the root system. To do this, it is necessary to loosen the trunk circles 2-3 times a year. Their diameter should be between 60 and 90 cm.
Watering and feeding schedule
Timely watering ensures that the plant receives the necessary nutrients. The first watering is carried out in the spring, when the earth warms up by 5-10 degrees. 15 to 20 liters of water are poured under each dwarf cherry. Further watering depends on the weather. During too dry months, care must be taken to maintain sufficient soil moisture around the Winter Pomegranate.
During the growing season, dwarf cherries need to season the soil with special fertilizers several times. Before flowering, nitrogen supplements are added to the soil. In the summer, organic fertilizers are periodically introduced.In the fall, to restore the mineral balance of the soil, it is fertilized with potassium, phosphorus and calcium.
Pruning
To maintain health and increase the fruiting of the Winter pomegranate dwarf cherry, you need to take care of the condition of its crown. Periodic sanitary and formative pruning will help control plant development. The first time such a procedure is carried out immediately after planting the seedling. Cut off all branches that are half a meter from ground level.
Correct pruning is the key to a beautiful crown
Dead shoots must be removed every spring. Formative pruning is carried out in March or early April - before the start of sap flow inside the dwarf cherry. The pruning sites are treated with garden varnish or wood ash.
Preparing for winter
As already mentioned, the Winter Pomegranate is able to withstand even severe frosts with ease. In the European part of Russia, gardeners may even refrain from preparing young trees for wintering. If the temperature does not drop below -15 degrees, the cherry will cope with the frost on its own.
An important parameter of wintering is the amount of snowfall. With its insufficient volume and low temperature, the soil may freeze and the trunk may crack. To avoid such consequences, it is better to cover it with burlap or other dense fabric.
Diseases and pests
Like most artificially bred varieties, the Winter Pomegranate Dwarf Cherry boasts excellent resistance to most diseases. To completely exclude them, as well as to protect the tree from pests, it is necessary to carry out a simple set of measures:
- whitewashing of trunks in the spring;
- treatment with karbofos from aphids;
- treatment with "Aktara" from weevil larvae;
- autumn digging of near-trunk circles and removal of fallen leaves.
The most common disease of dwarf cherry is moniliosis. If the initial stage is missed, this fungal disease can completely destroy the tree. The disease can be noticed immediately - most often it appears on neighboring fruit plantations. Winter pomegranate in such cases is treated with a fungicidal agent.
Conclusion
Dwarf Cherry Winter Pomegranate is an artificially bred variety that is excellent for growing in continental climates. Timely care of the plant allows you to constantly get large yields.
