Content
It is impossible to plant many trees in a small area. Therefore, the layout of the garden must be carefully thought out and the crops that family members like best. But whatever the site, there is always a place for cherries on it. Here it is already important not to get confused in the abundance of varieties. If you need a tree that takes up little space and can supply homemade fruits that can be used in harvesting and eaten fresh, the Fairy cherry is perfect.
Breeding history
The Fairy variety was created by O.S. Zhukov. Cherry was registered in 1993, and in 2010 it was included in the State Register. The originator was the Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution named after V.I. Michurin. Fairy is a cherry-cherry hybrid obtained by crossing the varieties Coral and Premiere resistant to frost and coccomycosis.
Description of culture
Cherry Fairy forms a low tree that grows up to 2-3 m. Branches of medium thickness and density form a raised spherical crown. Elliptical dark green leaves do not differ in large size, they are attached to the shoots with reddish petioles.
White large flowers turn into pink one-dimensional fruits. Their size is average - only 3.3-3.5 g, rarely - up to 4 g, the shape is round, slightly elongated. The flesh of the cherry Fairy is pinkish-yellow, tender, with a lot of juice. Tasting assessment of sweet and sour fruits - 4.3 points. The peduncle is short, of medium thickness.
The Feya cherry variety is recommended for cultivation in the Central Black Earth Region.
Characteristics
All the following characteristics of the Feya cherry variety show on nutritious or well-fertilized soils. It is grown in the Central Black Earth Region. Of course, the variety will grow in poor soil, in cool regions, but it will not reach its potential and will require a lot of attention.
Drought resistance, winter hardiness
Cherry Fairy has an average drought tolerance. It is not recommended to neglect watering, especially in hot dry summers.
For the Central Black Earth Region, the variety has good winter hardiness, buds and wood can withstand frosts down to -27⁰ C. If the temperature drops below, the Fairy cherry can get irreversible damage.
Pollination, flowering period and ripening times
Mid-early cherry Fairy in the northern regions during flowering will not be able to escape from return frosts. Its yield depends only partially on pollinating insects - it is a self-fertile variety. Consequently, even a single tree can produce up to 50% of the possible amount of berries. But the best harvest will be if you plant the varieties Lyubskaya, Vladimirskaya, Turgenevka next to the Fairy cherry.
In the Central Black Earth Region, the fruits ripen by the end of June.
Productivity, fruiting
The early maturity of the Fairy cherry is average - only 3-4 years after planting it gives the first harvest. But then it bears fruit stably and on average gives about 83 centners per hectare. An adult tree bears 10-12 kg of berries annually.
Despite its compact size, self-fertility, tasty berries and a consistently high yield, Fairy cherry did not become a commercial variety. This is primarily due to the poor transportability of the fruit and semi-dry separation from the stalk.
Scope of berries
The Fairy variety has a universal purpose. It is remarkable in that it is among the cherries with the highest content of ascorbic acid (17.2 mg per 100 g of pulp). Berries can be eaten fresh, made jams, juices, compotes and wine. Only you need to process the fruits quickly - they are not stored for a long time, the pulp is damaged during collection.
Disease and pest resistance
Cherry Fairy is affected by pests in the same way as other varieties. But it has high resistance to fungal diseases, in particular, coccomycosis. It was passed on to the Fairy from the parental variety Coral.
Advantages and disadvantages
Cherry Fairy has many virtues:
- High resistance to coccomycosis.
- The universal purpose of the fruit.
- The region recommended for cultivation has high winter hardiness.
- Delicious berries.
- Compact dimensions.
- Self-fertility.
- Annual fruiting.
The main disadvantage of the variety is the difficulty of growing in regions with a cool climate and poor soils. It should be noted:
- Small size of berries.
- Semi-dry separation from the stalk.
- Poor transportability of berries.
Landing features
The main feature of Fairy cherry is its high requirements for soil fertility. This can be easily achieved if the planting pit is filled with a lot of organic matter.
Recommended timing
Cherry Fairy is recommended to be planted in the spring, before bud break. In areas where frost does not occur for a long time, you can place it on the site after leaf fall. If the seedling was bought late, and you are not sure whether it will have time to take root before the onset of winter, it is better to dig in the tree. And to start planting next year.
Choosing the right place
Cherries are planted in a sunny place protected from the cold wind. Groundwater should not approach the surface closer than 2 m. An elevation with a gentle slope is well suited for culture.
For the Fairy variety, soil fertility is of great importance. It can be improved by introducing a large amount of organic matter. A neutral reaction can be achieved by adding dolomite flour or lime to the acidic soil.
What crops can and cannot be planted next to cherries
Next to the Fairy, it is best to plant pollinating varieties - Turgenevka, Lyubskaya, Vladimirskaya. Despite the fact that the cherry is self-fertile, with such neighbors it will give the best harvest. Other stone fruit crops can be placed side by side.
You can not place walnut, oak, birch, maple, shrubs with creeping, rapidly expanding roots next to cherries. Black currant itself will develop poorly and depress the culture.
Selection and preparation of planting material
1-2-year-old seedlings take root best of all. Their root should be well developed, without signs of disease or damage. A properly grown one-year-old tree does not exceed 90 cm, a two-year one - 110 cm.
The branches should be firm with intact bark.
Landing algorithm
It is better to dig the planting hole in the fall. Its diameter should be approximately equal to 80 cm, depth - not less than 40-50 cm. A fertile mixture for filling the planting pit is prepared from the top layer of soil, a bucket of humus, phosphorus and potassium starting fertilizers (50 g each). Sand is added to the dense soil, acidity is neutralized with lime, dolomite flour. Then:
- Stepping back a little from the center of the pit, they drive in a support to which the cherry will be tied.
- The seedling is placed in the middle and covered with a fertile mixture, constantly compacting it in order to avoid the appearance of voids. The root collar should rise at least 5 cm above the ground.
- Cherries are tied to a support.
- Around the perimeter of the planting pit, an earthen roll is formed to retain moisture.
- The seedling is watered with 2-3 buckets of water.
- The soil is mulched with a thick layer of humus.
Follow-up care of the culture
If the Fairy cherry grows in the Central Black Earth Region, caring for it will not be burdensome. Only a newly planted tree needs regular watering and loosening of the soil. In the future, the soil is moistened only in the absence of rain for a long time. Autumn moisture charging is required.
Cherries need large amounts of nitrogen and potassium. She consumes phosphorus in modest quantities. All this can provide the culture with manure and ash. With mineral dressing, it should be remembered that nitrogen is given in the spring, potassium and phosphorus - in the fall. It is best to use special fertilizers, how to use them correctly is written on the packaging or in the instructions.
Cherries should be pruned regularly. So it will bear fruit better and be less affected by pests. Formative pruning is carried out during the dormant period, sanitary - as needed.
Cherry is protected from hares with spruce branches, burlap or a special net.
Diseases and pests, methods of control and prevention
Cherry varieties Feya are resistant to fungal diseases, in particular, to coccomycosis. To protect the plant from misfortunes, it is enough to treat it with a copper-containing fungicide along the green cone, and after leaf fall - with iron vitriol.
Of the pests, it is worth dwelling separately on aphids, which are almost always a companion of anthills that have appeared in the garden. They must be ruthlessly destroyed. With a weak defeat of aphids, cherries can be treated with a solution of laundry soap. If you missed the moment, and the pests have multiplied strongly, you will have to use insecticides.
Conclusion
Cherry Fairy is an excellent variety for small gardens in the Central Black Earth Region. Its fruits are good fresh and processed, and they also contain a large amount of vitamin C.
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