Cherry, known to people a very long time, its sweet and juicy berries are loved by adults and especially children. Among the varieties of cherries intended for the southern regions of our country, Valery Chkalov is a prominent representative of these delicious fruits.
Description of cherries Valery Chkalov
This is an early variety of sweet cherry, named after the hero pilot Valery Chkalov. It is designed for the conditions of the southern and middle regions of our country; in the northern regions, this cherry grows poorly. Fruiting occurs at 5 years of age, at which time the tree has already formed a developed crown, which will gradually take on a spreading shape, which will eventually increase the yield.
A tree at the age of 10 can be easily recognized by:
• Dense foliage covering last year and new growth;
• Brown, smooth bark on the branches of the crown;
• Strong skeletal branches growing at an angle of 45-60 degrees;
• A powerful stem covered with thick gray-brown bark.
This variety has large leaves, with good care they reach 10 cm wide and 19 cm long, leaf blades on old branches are smaller. The upper part of the leaf blade is brighter than the lower and with a slight sheen. Burgundy, large fruits, grow in the shape of a heart, juicy and sweet pulp of berries, dark pink in color, with a large bone. Their mass reaches 7-9 grams, the fruits hang on a short stalk. Dessert variety, can be used for preservation, the first berries appear at the age of five.
Mass ripening of the crop is until mid-June, which makes it possible to consider this variety of cherries Valery Chkalov one of the earliest. The fruit weighs about 6-8 grams, in the south in a good year the tree brings even larger berries. It is difficult to separate the bone from the pulp without damaging the berry itself. The average tree yield in the middle strip is 20-30 kg, in the conditions of the Crimea a mature tree brings up to 60 kg of ripe berries. But gardeners appreciate this variety for a stable harvest and endurance.
Pros and cons of the variety Valery Chkalov
The main positive quality of this cherry is the wonderful taste of juicy and sweet fruits, which are sung noticeably earlier than other cherries. At the fruiting age, on strong trees many berries ripen, which really just strew the shoots. It is important that this cherry well withstands winter in the southern regions and in the middle lane. When planting a strong seedling and suitable care, it can withstand severe frosts up to 25 degrees without serious consequences. If low temperatures damage the kidneys, it’s only partially, allowing the tree to quickly repair the damage.
To protect the bottom of the crown and the stamb from damage, it is necessary to cover them with burlap, straw or lapnik until the first autumn frosts. From the trunk circle you need to remove the fallen leaves and cover it with mulch. Like most sweet cherries, Valery Chkalov is sterile, which means that for the formation of the ovary, it is necessary to plant other varieties nearby that bloom simultaneously with it.
The disadvantages of the variety include low resistance to gray rot and other diseases of stone fruits. For this reason, you need to regularly clean the crown of the tree, destroy pests and conduct a preventive fight against fungal diseases.
The advantages of this variety are:
• Cherry berries Valery Chkalov ripen very early;
• Berries are large;
• Tasty and juicy pulp;
• Harvest variety;
• Suitable for harvesting for the winter;
• The variety is partially resistant to low temperatures.
The cons include - insufficient resistance to fungal diseases.
Planting cherries Valery Chkalov
For planting in the garden you need to choose high-quality seedlings, they can be purchased at specialized farms in your area. Cherry should be planted in the first half of April, before the buds begin to swell. A sapling will be able to take root and grow in a short time during the season, it is impossible to plant in the autumn period, young plants will not have time to take root and die in the winter.
Growth buds in the crown cannot be removed, new shoots will grow from them. The area where the cherry is planted must be protected from drafts. The place you need to choose is sunny, excellent, if it is a hill, you can create it artificially. Pollinators for this variety are planted at a small distance (no more than 4 meters), for good fertilization of inflorescences. Ground water should be no higher than 3 meters from the ground to prevent decay of the root system.
For a seedling, a planting pit is prepared in the fall, 2 buckets of a mixture of garden soil and good humus are brought into it. This composition in the future will provide the young plant with nutrition necessary for development. Suitable soil for cherries is sandy loam and loam, they are good moisture permeers, and contain enough air.
Care of a seedling of a grade Valery Chkalov
In the first 3 years, it is necessary to regularly loosen the soil and water the young plant. Keep in mind that you need to water it so that the water saturates the soil to a depth of 40 cm, well moistening the area in which there are roots.
It is necessary to water the tree according to the schedule:
• Before the flowers bloom;
• During fruit setting;
• 20 days before picking berries;
• In October.
It is not advisable to water when the fruit is ripe, otherwise the berries may burst.
Crown crown formation Valery Chkalov
Annual plants are pruned in the spring, they do it like this:
• Seedlings are cut at a height of 0.5 meters, leaving 4-5 normal buds;
• Lateral shoots are cut to 1/3 of the length;
• The central shoot should be 20 cm higher than the others.
With a significant cropping of the annual growth to a length of less than 40 cm, the growth of shoots will sharply increase, many spinning tops will appear and the yield will greatly decrease.
In trees that have reached 5 years of age, growths are greatly reduced and you need to cut the cherry like this:
• It is necessary to maintain a tree height of about 3.5 m;
• The trunk and skeletal branches, you need to trim so that they are 20 cm higher horizontal branches;
• It is necessary to cut vigorous shoots growing inside the crown;
• Shorten by 1/3 all vertical shoots (tops);
• Trim the side branches.
Proper pruning protects many pests and guides the further development of the crown of the tree.
Each year, you need to expand the near-stem circle of cherries by 1-2 cm. This whole area needs to be covered with mulch and periodically updated. In the near-stem circle, all weeds are removed and the soil is loosened, in spring and early summer, trees are fed with fertilizers containing nitrogen, it accelerates the growth of leaves and young shoots. Potash and phosphorus fertilizing is carried out in the fall. The following fertilizers are required:
When preparing trees for winter, they are whitened, this will protect against diseases and pests.
To do this, prepare a special composition for whitewashing, there are 2 basic recipes:
1. Diluted in 2 liters of water - 2 tbsp. PVA glue and 300 g of lime;
2. Diluted in 2 liters of water - 100 g of milk, 1 tbsp. l dust and copper sulfate.
For the winter you need to protect the trees with spruce branches, skeletal branches and the trunk can be tied with burlap.
