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Most fruit trees are self-fertile. This means that in the absence of nearby related crops that can pollinate the plant, the yield will reach only 5% of the possible. Therefore, self-fertile varieties are highly valued, especially in small areas. If 2-3 apple trees in a private garden are always appropriate, then a second or third cherry may be superfluous. Lyubskaya belongs to varieties with high self-fertility, that is, without pollinators, it can give more than 50% of the possible yield.
Breeding history
The origin of the Lyubskaya cherry (Lyubka) is not known for certain. This is a variety of folk selection, which has been cultivated in the Kursk region since the 19th century. From there, it spread throughout the Middle Belt, and in 1947, at the suggestion of the Moscow Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution VSTISP, it was adopted by the State Register. The first description of Lyubskaya cherry was given by Michurin's contemporary, scientist N.I.Kichunov.
It is interesting that the Lyubskaya cherry in the Moscow region behaves in a completely different way than, for example, in the North Caucasus. The variety is prone to arbitrary mutations, which is why, not only in different conditions, but also in neighboring gardens, trees can grow, differing in yield, habit, size and quality of fruits. Because of this, the name of the Lyubskaya cultivar is often added "fruitful", "bouquet", etc.
Description of culture
Usually, the Lyubskaya variety is grown as a shrub, although in the State Register the cherry is listed as ordinary, and not steppe. In the northern regions, the tree is shaped by pruning so that it hibernates better. In the south, Lyubskaya cherry can be grown on a trunk.
The variety is a small tree, not exceeding 2.5 m in height. The trunk is covered with grayish-brown bark, covered with cracks. The branches are approximately 45⁰ apart from the trunk and form a rare weeping crown. This can be seen in the photo of the Lyubskaya cherry tree.
Buds from shoots deviate slightly, oval dark green leaves are pointed at the base and at the end. The flowers of Lyubskaya are collected in 3-4 pieces, white, located on a leg up to 3 cm long.
Fruiting occurs at a later date, mostly on annual branches. Berries of uneven size, medium or large, up to 5 g in weight. Their shape is almost round, with a blunt top. The color of the fruit is dark red; a light strip runs along the clearly visible abdominal suture. Cherry pulp Lyubskaya is red, juicy, with a mediocre sour taste.
A round seed with a sharp tip separates well, its size in relation to the berry is 6-8%. Green fruits sit firmly on the stalk, as they ripen, the connection weakens, but the cherries do not crumble.
Variety Lyubskaya is recommended by the State Register for cultivation in the following regions:
- Northwest;
- Central;
- Central Black Earth;
- North Caucasian;
- Middle Volga;
- Nizhnevolzhsky.
Brief characteristic of the variety
Despite its mediocre taste and instability to fungal diseases, Lyubskaya cherry is grown in private and industrial gardens wherever it can overwinter.This is mainly due to the high self-fertility of the variety.
Drought resistance, winter hardiness
Drought resistance of the cherry variety Lyubskaya average. This means that the bush must be watered in the absence of precipitation. Increased frost resistance, but insufficient, it is difficult to grow a crop in the North.
Reviews of gardeners about Lyubskaya cherry suggest that the life and fruiting period in the Middle Lane is about 15 years, while for the center or south this figure increases to 20-25 years. This is due to the fact that in cool climates at low winter temperatures, the bole or branches may freeze out. The older the tree, the more difficult it is for it to move back in the spring.
Pollination, flowering period and ripening times
Cherry Lyubskaya blooms in the last days of May, for 5-8 days. The fruits ripen at the same time, depending on the region, from late July to mid-August. The variety is distinguished by high self-fertility, even without the presence of pollinators, it gives more than 50% of the possible yield.
In the literature, you can find the remark that Lyubskaya is a potentially highly productive cherry. What does it mean? If she is provided with good care, plus other varieties are placed nearby, then the yield can be very large. The best pollinators for Lyubskaya cherries are Vladimirskaya, Zhukovskaya, Anadolskaya, Shpanka Rannaya, Lotovaya, Fertile Michurina.
Productivity, fruiting
Cherry variety Lyubskaya 2 after planting begins to bear fruit. It increases productivity quickly and yields good yields. This cherry is prone to arbitrary mutations, its fertility depends on its care and place of growth. Lyubskaya can give from 10-12 to 25 kg of berries, the maximum yield from an adult tree was 53 kg.
This is a technical grade. Reviews of summer residents about Lyubskaya cherry necessarily mention sour berries. It should be noted that the content of vitamin C per 100 g of pulp differs depending on the region. For the Middle band, this figure is about 20 mg, in the Krasnodar Territory - 11.7 mg. As you can see, in the south, Lyubskaya is much sweeter.
The berries ripen together, do not crumble, the separation is dry, transportability is good.
Scope of berries
Lyubskaya is a technical variety, this cherry is good for making jams, juices, and wine. It can be dried or frozen. Fresh berry taste will please not everyone - it is too sour.
Disease and pest resistance
Cherry Lyubskaya has low resistance to fungal diseases, including coccomycosis. It will not be possible to do without processing when growing it. Among the pests, it is worth highlighting aphids and cherry sawfly.
Advantages and disadvantages
Lyubskaya is one of the best technical varieties of cherries for the Middle Strip. The advantages include:
- High self-fertility.
- Late flowering - ovaries are not threatened by recurrent frosts.
- With good care, the yield of Lyubskaya cherry is very high.
- With low agricultural technology, the variety still yields a decent amount of fruit.
- Harvesting is easy thanks to the sparse branches and compact size.
- The seed is easily separated from the berry, which simplifies the preparation for processing.
- The berries do not crumble, but they are cleanly detached from the stalk.
- Keeping quality and transportability of fruits are good.
- The berries of the Lyubskaya cherry are above average in size and large.
Among the disadvantages of the variety, we note:
- Low resistance to fungal diseases.
- Insufficient frost resistance for growing in cold regions without shelter.
- Sour fruits.
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Shtamb Lyubskoy may suffer from sunburn.
Landing features
Cherry variety Lyubskaya gives high yields with good care. If a tree is planted and left unattended, there will be few berries.
Recommended timing and selection of a suitable location
Favorable days for planting Lyubskaya cherries come in early spring. It is necessary to "settle" a tree on the site before budding, otherwise it may not take root. If the planting material was bought in the fall, the cherries need to be dug in, a planting hole should be prepared, and planted in the spring as early as possible.
Choose a sunny place, on the western part of a gentle slope. Water to the surface of the soil should come no closer than 2 meters. The soil needs neutral, manured, ideally light loam.
What crops can and cannot be planted next to cherries
Of course, pollinating varieties should be planted next to any cherry. Even Lyubskaya will yield twice as much if you choose the right neighbors. Just don't forget that cherries should be well lit. And the Lyubskaya variety has a very modest size, it cannot be shaded by tall trees with a dense crown. Any stone fruit can be planted in the immediate vicinity. It is not recommended to grow together with such trees:
- oak;
- maple;
- Linden;
- Birch tree.
The roots of currants, raspberries, gooseberries, sea buckthorn tend to grow in breadth, with close planting they will certainly compete with cherries for water and nutrients.
To cover the near-trunk circle from the heat and retain moisture, you can plant under a tree:
- clefthoof;
- periwinkle;
- tenacity;
- mint;
- budru;
- Melissa.
You just need to choose the plant that does well in your area.
Selection and preparation of planting material
Cherries should be purchased from a nursery or a trusted garden center. The central shoot of a one-year-old seedling should be about 80 cm in height, a two-year-old should not exceed 1.1 m. Make sure that the bark is ripe, in the Lyubskaya variety it is grayish-brown in color, and the root is well developed.
Preparing cherries for planting involves soaking the root in water for 3 hours or more.
Landing algorithm
To plant a bush correctly, follow the instructions:
- Dig a hole 40-60 cm deep, 60-80 cm in diameter.
- Prepare fertile soil by adding a bucket of humus to the topsoil, 50 g each of potassium and phosphorus fertilizers. Add lime to acidic soil, add sand to excessively dense clayey soil.
- Drive in a garter peg just off center.
- Place a cherry in the middle of the planting hole. Fill in the root, constantly compacting the soil. The neck should remain above the surface (5-7 cm).
- Ring the hole with a roller made of earth. Pour 2-3 buckets of water into the resulting circle.
- Mulch the soil.
Follow-up care of the culture
The cherry seedling must be constantly watered for the first year after planting, and when the soil dries out a little, loosen it. This will increase the air flow to the root system and retain moisture. Mature trees are less moisturized. Watering is increased when the Lyubskaya cherry blossoms, and 3 weeks before harvesting, they stop. In dry autumn, moisture charging is required.
The harvest of Lyubskaya is highly dependent on fertilizers. It is best to mulch the soil with a thick layer of mullein, and use wood ash as an additive. This will provide your cherries with the necessary amounts of potassium and nitrogen. Phosphorus, which is needed less, is also found in organics.
Sanitary and formative cuttings of the Lyubskaya variety are carried out from the moment of planting. Dry, broken and thickening shoots are removed, the rest are thinned and shortened. This stimulates the growth of young branches, on which the main fruiting occurs.
In winter, the trunk circle is mulched with humus, in the northern regions the bush is tied with burlap, spruce branches or other covering material. This will also protect the bark from hares and other rodents.
Diseases and pests, methods of control and prevention
Cherry Lyubskaya is affected by pests, it suffers greatly from fungal diseases.If you do not carry out treatments, the bush will give a low yield, it may even die. The table lists the problems most often affecting the Lyubskaya variety and methods for solving them.
Problem | Signs | Control methods | Prophylaxis |
Diseases | |||
Coccomycosis | First, dark spots appear on the leaves, then the affected tissue falls out, forming holes. A gray coating appears on the reverse side. In the summer, infected leaves fall off | Spraying with copper-containing preparations is carried out along the green cone, after leaf fall - with iron vitriol | Remove leaves, do not thicken plantings, carry out preventive treatments |
Moliniasis | The bush looks burnt. First, flowers and young shoots wither. Then the whole branches dry out, the fruits rot and crumble | Cut the affected branches to living tissue, cover the wound surface with garden varnish. Treat cherries twice with a copper-containing preparation | Removal of fallen leaves, thinning of the crown, whitewashing of the trunk and skeletal branches. Preventive treatment of cherries in spring and autumn with preparations containing metal oxides |
Pests | |||
Aphid | Colonies of black or green insects appear on young leaves and shoots, sucking out cell sap. The affected area curls up and becomes sticky | Treat cherries with aphid preparation, there are many of them. Products containing bifenthrin help well | Fight anthills, do not thicken the planting, lighten the crown |
Cherry Sawer | Larvae, similar to leeches, covered with mucus, gnaw holes in the leaves in summer. | Treat the bush with an insecticide, for example, Aktelik | Carry out preventive treatments, make sure that the crown is ventilated |
Cherry Lyubskaya has been the queen of technical varieties for more than a hundred years. With proper care, even one bush will yield a rich harvest. The best jam can be made from this variety.
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