Content
To grow a beautiful garden on a small backyard, many gardeners acquire columnar fruit crops. They do not take up much space, are unpretentious in maintenance, and the harvest is quick and easy. Cherry Delight is the perfect solution for a small garden. But before purchasing a seedling, you need to carefully read the external characteristics, find out all the positive and negative qualities.
Description of Columnar Cherry Delight
The columnar cherry of the Vostorg variety is a small tree with a compact root system. Thanks to this, it can be grown not only outdoors, but also in large flower pots. But since this fruit crop is not frost-resistant and can die during severe frosts, it is not recommended to plant it in regions with an unstable climate.
Suitable for small home gardens
Height and dimensions of an adult tree
Cherry varieties Delight belongs to the columnar, dwarf type. When grown in a garden, it grows up to 2 meters. The narrow pyramidal crown practically does not branch out, so the harvest is quick. In spring, small, oblong, emerald leaves appear on the tree. In May, the fruit crop is covered with snow-white, fragrant flowers.
Description of fruits
Column-shaped cherry of the Delight variety according to the description, photo and reviews bears fruit with bright burgundy juicy, sweet berries no more than 15 g in size. The separation from the stalk is dry, the stone is easily separated from the bright red pulp with small pink veins. When overripe, the berry falls off, so the harvest must be carried out in a timely manner.
Cherry Pollinators Delight
Cherry Delight belongs to the partially self-fertile varieties. Without pollinators, the tree gives 50% of the possible yield. Therefore, in order to achieve maximum fruiting, pollinators are planted next to the columnar cherry of Delight. Ashinsky hybrid is perfect for Delight cherries. Since both species bloom in May, they will be able to pollinate each other, thereby increasing yields.
Main characteristics
Cherry Delight belongs to the conditionally columnar varieties. It is suitable for growing in small areas, in regions with warm winters. But before purchasing a Delight cherry seedling, it is important to read the description, reviews and view photos.
Drought resistance, frost resistance
Pyramidal cherry Delight is not a winter-hardy fruit crop. Therefore, it is not recommended to grow the plant in regions with cold winters. But if you like the variety, and the weather does not allow you to grow it without shelter, then the tree is wrapped in agrofibre for the winter, and the soil is insulated with a layer of mulch.
The root system of a fruit crop is located superficially, therefore, in a dry summer, the tree is watered regularly and abundantly. At least 1 bucket of water is consumed per plant.
Yield
Cherry Delight belongs to mid-season varieties. The seedling starts bearing fruit 2-3 years after planting.Ripening of berries occurs in mid-July, subject to agrotechnical rules, up to 35 kg of a tasty and healthy harvest can be removed from an adult tree. The volume depends on compliance with the rules of care, weather conditions and the presence of pollinating varieties.
Since the berry has a juicy, sweet pulp, it is used to make compotes, preserves and jams. It can also be dried and frozen. For harvesting, they choose a sunny, low wind day. The removed berries are put in boxes lined with paper. Without additional processing, the harvested crop remains fresh for a week if stored in a cool room.
The harvested crop will be to the taste of children and adults
Advantages and disadvantages
Cherry Delight, like any fruit crop, has its positive and negative sides. The pluses include:
- yield;
- compact size;
- unpretentiousness;
- decorative look;
- immunity to many diseases;
- good taste.
The disadvantages include partial self-fertility and low frost resistance.
Landing rules
For the garden to be decorative, flowering and fruitful, it is important to choose the right seedling and choose a site for planting. Also, fruiting, growth and development of a tree depend on adherence to the rules of planting and further care.
The seedling must be purchased from trusted suppliers or garden centers. A healthy plant should have a strong root system with no signs of drying out or rot. The trunk should be evenly colored, have a complete apical bud, bark without cracks or damage.
Recommended timing
Delight cherry can be planted in spring and fall. Spring planting is suitable for growing fruit crops in the Central region of Russia. During the summer period, the cherry will grow roots, will be able to adapt in a new place and safely go into hibernation.
Autumn planting is suitable for southern regions. The seedling is planted in a prepared place a month before the onset of cold weather.
Site selection and soil preparation
Since cherries are thermophilic crops, the planting site should be located on the south side and be protected from northerly winds. Cherries prefer loose, fertile and well-drained soil. The location of groundwater is 1.5-2 meters.
How to plant correctly
Planting cherry seedlings is a crucial moment, since the growth and development of an adult tree depends on it. Landing technology:
- Dig a planting hole measuring 50x60 cm.
- A drainage layer is laid out on the bottom: broken brick, expanded clay or pebbles.
- The excavated soil is mixed with humus and mineral fertilizers.
- The seedling is placed in the center so that the root collar is 5 cm from the ground.
- The voids are filled with a nutrient mixture.
- The top layer is tamped, spilled and mulched.
The root collar should be located above the ground
Care features
Columnar cherry according to reviews and descriptions is an unpretentious variety. But this does not mean that you need to forget about the planted plant. In order for it to bear fruit well, it is important to timely water, fertilize, prune and prevent diseases.
Watering and feeding schedule
Since the root system of a tree is superficial, it cannot extract moisture from the bowels of the earth. Therefore, a young seedling is watered 1-2 times every 14 days. In dry summers, irrigation is carried out weekly. At least 10 liters of water are consumed per plant. An adult, mature tree is watered 4 times a season:
- during flowering;
- during the period of fruit formation;
- after harvest;
- in the fall, before the onset of cold weather.
Top dressing is carried out during the growing season. To do this, use nitrogenous fertilizers, diluted strictly according to the instructions. During the flowering period, a universal complex is introduced under the tree. After harvesting, the tree is fed with phosphorus-potassium dressings.
Pruning
Cherry Delight is a columnar variety, so the tree does not need formative pruning. It grows almost vertically without forming side shoots. But every spring, the tree must be examined and dry, not overwintered, disease-damaged shoots must be removed. The procedure is carried out with a sharp, sterile instrument, the cut is treated with garden pitch.
Preparing for winter
Since columnar varieties are not highly frost-resistant, the plant must be prepared and covered for the winter. To do this, a month before the onset of cold weather, the soil is abundantly shed and mulched with straw, foliage, rotted humus or compost. A week before the first frost, the crown is wrapped with agrofibre, burlap or spandex. To protect against rodents, a metal frame is installed or the trunk is wrapped in a net.
Diseases and pests
Cherry Delight is resistant to many diseases. But if agrotechnical rules are not followed, the tree can be infected with diseases and pests, for example:
- Cherry weevil - the beetle appears in early spring. It feeds on the juice of swollen buds, without treatment it passes on to flowers, leaves and fruits. If you do not take timely measures, you can be left without a crop. Help consists in treating the tree with insecticides, diluted strictly according to the instructions.
- Aphid - appears in large colonies on young foliage. Pests suck the sap from the tree. It weakens, lags behind in growth and development, and the yield decreases. The leaf plate is twisted into a tube, dries up and falls off. To destroy colonies, tobacco infusion is used with the addition of laundry soap.
- Hole spot - an infectious disease affects young leaves, buds and fruits. The leaf plate is covered with brown spots, which dry out and fall out. For prevention, the tree is treated with Bordeaux liquid and colloidal sulfur.
Conclusion
Cherry Delight is a columnar variety, suitable for growing in small household plots. The tree is high-yielding, decorative and not whimsical. Subject to agrotechnical rules, 30 kg of tasty and healthy berries can be removed from an adult crop, which is perfect for preparing winter storage.
