Cherry Cordia

Cherry Cordia is popular among large producers and in household plots due to the high consumer qualities of the late dessert variety, transportability, and stable yields. Late flowering enables the tree to avoid recurrent frosts.

In the photo, the ripe fruits of the Cordia cherry: 

History of breeding

Variety Kordit was obtained in the Czech Republic as an accidental seedling as a result of free pollination. According to the description of the Cordia cherry variety, a similar tree in the USA is called Attica. Cordia cherries are popular in Europe due to the bright appearance of the berries and their attractive taste.

Description of the culture

Sweet cherry Cordia is more suitable for the southern regions of the country. In the conditions of the middle climatic zone, they are more often grown in the Central and North-Western regions. A young tree is carefully looked after in winter. The sapling is vigorous: already in a year it reaches 1,7 m. An adult sweet cherry during the fruiting period slows down the growth of wood. The root system is powerful, located shallow. The crown is spreading, spherical or cone-shaped.

The leaves are large, ovate, with a sharp tip, rather thick: they hide part of the fruit. Petioles of berries are strong, 45 mm long.

The heart-shaped berries of the Cordia variety are large, 28 mm wide, weighing 8–10 g. The dense skin is dark red, almost black, with brown dots. The pulp is intense dark red, juicy, dense, fleshy. The stone is large, well separated from the pulp. The taste is pleasant, sweet, with a characteristic cherry aroma. Fruits of Cordia cherries were rated by tasters at 4,8 points.

Features

The high commercial and taste properties of Cordia berries allow gardeners and consumers to rightfully call it the “queen” among late-ripening varieties. Sweet cherries are grown on different rootstocks, on which the crown pattern depends. The tree forms many shoots.

Drought resistance, winter resistance

The Cordia variety does not tolerate drought well and requires regular watering, especially at a young age and during the formation of buds and ovaries. And frost resistance is by no means a distinctive feature of the Czech cherry variety. Seedlings are especially vulnerable. Mature trees tolerate frosts down to -25 ºC with possible damage to flower buds during prolonged cold snap. A strong drop in temperature will lead to the freezing of wood to the snow line. Cherry flowers are damaged by May frosts.

Pollination, flowering period and ripening period

Cordia cherries cannot be planted alone: ​​the plant itself is fruitless. Trees of the same species with a similar flowering period are placed nearby. The best pollinators for Cordia cherries are varieties:

• Summit;
• Karina;
• Regina;
• Van;
• Myself;
• Burlat;
• Merchant;
• Schneider late.

Depending on the region and the weather, Cordia cherry blossoms in late April – mid-May. Berries in the south ripen from the end of June, the most characteristic picking time is the second decade of July. The late-ripening variety is harvested 1,5–2 months after the early sweet cherry.

yield, fruiting

Cherry Cordia begins to bear fruit 4–5 years after planting. Berries are formed not only on bouquet branches, but also directly on annual shoots, which facilitates the collection process. The tree belongs to the medium-yielding type. Under conditions of a suitable climatic environment and high-quality pollinators, the yield from one Cordia sweet cherry tree reaches 25–50 kg. Since the fruits are resistant to precipitation, do not crack, do not rot, they can be harvested gradually without loss of quality.

Scope of berries

The fruits of the Cordia variety are versatile, although they are more suitable for dessert. Compotes, sweet preserves are prepared from berries.

Disease and pest resistance

The variety is characterized by low susceptibility to the main diseases of the species, but is affected during the spread of moniliosis. Prophylactic spraying with fungicides or insecticides is necessary in case of pest attacks.

Advantages and disadvantages

According to the characteristics of the Cordia cherry variety, the plant is attractive for cultivation:

• high consumer performance;
• endurance of fruits to cracking, rotting and exposure to moisture;
• transportability;
• stable regular yield;
• good strength of growth;
• late flowering, at a time when frosts are unlikely;
• medium disease resistance, low susceptibility to cancer.

The disadvantages can be considered:

• relatively low frost resistance;
• dependence on certain pollinator varieties for a bountiful harvest.

Features of landing

The type of crown formation of Cordia depends on the type of rootstocks. When purchasing a seedling of a variety, it would be good to find out which seedling it is rooted on. According to reviews of Cordia cherries, trees based on VSL-2 (cherry-plum hybrid) have proven themselves well, where the crown is laid at a height of 70–80 cm and later creates a lot of fruit wood. F12/1 rootstocks and bird cherries give fast growth.

Recommended dates 

Sweet cherries are planted in the middle lane of the country in the spring, while the buds of the seedling have not yet burst. This applies to trees with an open root system. Seedlings in containers are planted with leaves. Landing in the south is possible in autumn.

Choosing the right place 

The tree loves sunny, protected from cold winds areas with loose and fertile soil. The occurrence of groundwater is not higher than 1,5 m. The distance between trees is 3–5 m.

What crops can and cannot be planted next to cherries

Cherries or grapes get along well with cherries. For apple, plum, pear, berry bushes, the proximity to the tree is unfavorable. Walnut or apricot will shade the cherry.

Selection and preparation of planting material

Saplings take 1-2-year-olds for better survival:

• the root system is developed, fibrous;
• roots are fresh, moist;
• shoots are elastic, without damage;
• buds live, swollen or green, healthy leaves.

Before planting, the roots are soaked for 2 hours in a clay mash with the addition of a growth stimulator.

Landing algorithm

The pit is prepared for six months. Hole diameter up to 1 m, depth – 80 cm. Nutrient soil mixture consists of garden soil, a bucket of humus, 500 ml of wood ash, 150–200 g of superphosphate.

1. They hammer a peg for support, put a seedling in the center and straighten the roots.
2. The root neck protrudes 4–5 cm above the soil.
3. They fall asleep with a fertile mixture, tamp the soil and water it, forming sides along the perimeter of the pit.
4. Shoots are cut to 1/3.

Culture aftercare

Growing Cordia cherries involves annual pruning, as the fruits are formed on growths. For seedlings, the soil is moistened to a depth of 40 cm. In the summer heat, trees are given 20–30 liters per square meter of the near-stem circle, especially in the budding and ovary growth phase. 10 days before picking berries, watering is stopped. After autumn watering, cherries are fed with a bucket of humus, 1,5 tbsp. spoons of potash fertilizer, 2 tbsp. spoons of superphosphate per 1 sq. m. Saplings mulch and wrap the trunk with burlap. Snow is thrown in in winter.

Diseases and pests, methods of control and prevention

Conclusion

Cherry Cordia is a promising crop with simple but mandatory pruning and watering. In favorable climatic conditions, it bears fruit abundantly and pleases with tasty large berries. One of the best options for summer desserts and preparations.

Reviews