Contents
Sylvia columnar cherry is one of the most popular varieties of compact fruit trees. Columnar trees gained their popularity primarily in industry, and then moved to households. Their clear advantage is their small size, which allows for a dense planting (at a distance of 1 meter).
History of breeding
The Sylvia variety originates in Canada in 1988. It was created, like many other columnar varieties of cherries, by scientists K. Lapinz, D. Jefferson and D. Lane. Obtained by crossing varieties Lambert Compact and Van. Initially, this variety spread to Canada, and then to the United States. The fruit conveyor for the collection and sale of these fruits lasts for 6 months – from May to October.
Variety description
Trees of this variety tend to:
- straight trunk no more than 3 meters long;
- practically no side shoots;
- decorative oval shape;
- no need for annual pruning.
Sylvia cherry fruits can be described as follows:
- large size;
- dark red;
- high taste qualities;
- the pulp is dense and juicy;
- the peel is strong, not subject to cracking;
- retain their appearance and taste for a long time with proper storage (in the refrigerator – about 3 weeks).
Sweet cherry Sylvia can be grown without any problems in the southern and central strip of Our Country, Ukraine and in the southern part of Belarus. For more northern regions, careful attitude and warming of trees will be required.
Features
This variety is unpretentious to grow, but still has its own characteristics that you must know before planting.
Among the main characteristics of the columnar sweet cherry Sylvia are:
- resistance to drought and frost;
- pollination, flowering and maturation;
- productivity;
- resistance to diseases and pests.
Drought and frost resistance
This variety has average resistance to such weather conditions.
Pollination, flowering and maturation
Sylvia and Cordia cherries, as well as Helena and Sam, are mutually pollinated, so experts advise planting them side by side. Flowering later, but the color can withstand frosts down to -2. Fruit ripening occurs in the first half of June (12-18 numbers).
Productivity
Fruiting cherries lasts a week – one and a half. The first harvest can be obtained already in the second – third year of the plant’s life. The first and second years, experts recommend removing all the ovaries for the seedling to take root in a new place, but in the second year, many are already harvesting fruits. The yield in the third year, with proper care, is about 15 kg per tree. Older trees can bring 50 kg per plant. Due to the high fruiting, the life span of such trees is about 15 years.
Disease and pest resistance
Variety Sylvia showed high resistance to various diseases, including fungal ones. For better resistance to pests and for protection from the sun, it is recommended to whitewash the tree trunk.
Advantages and disadvantages
Among the advantages are:
- compact size;
- decorative;
- large and tasty berries;
- resistance to frost, drought and atmospheric moisture;
- early maturation;
- growing and caring for Sylvia cherries does not require much effort.
Among the shortcomings of this variety can be called:
- does not tolerate winds, especially northerly ones;
- does not like excess moisture in the soil, which interferes with the flow of oxygen;
- despite its dislike for excess water, it does not tolerate severe drying out;
- the need for abundant sunlight;
- dislikes weeds and large vegetation.
Reviews of the columnar cherry Little Sylvia say that she retained almost all the properties of her older sister, but became even smaller in height and diameter – up to 2 meters and 0,5 meters, respectively. The fruits also ripen later.
Conclusion
The columnar cherry initially became popular with industrialists, but today it is increasingly appearing in home gardens. Here it also became a popular and beloved plant. Growing such cherries does not require much effort and gives excellent results. According to reviews of Sylvia cherries, you can be sure of the quality of these fruits and the advantages of this variety for gardeners and gardeners.
Reviews
