Cherry Morozovka

In recent years, coccomycosis has been destroying cherry orchards throughout the former Soviet Union. But before, this culture occupied 27% of fruit plantations and was second only to the apple tree in number. The creation of new varieties resistant to fungal diseases is the main task of breeders. Cherry Morozovka, created at the end of the last century, rarely suffers from coccomycosis and withstands frost well.

History of breeding

The variety of dessert cherries Morozovka was sent to the State sort test in 1988. Its author is T.V. Morozova, who works at the Institute of Horticulture. Michurin. The parent variety is common cherry Vladimirskaya, the seedling of which was treated with a chemical mutagen.

Description of the culture

Frost forms a small tree, which usually does not grow above 2,5 m. Raised strong branches form a wide crown of medium density. On the trunk and old shoots, the bark is light brown. Young branches are grayish green.

The serrated green leaves of the Morozovka cherry are oval, strongly elongated, of medium size. The petiole is long, anthocyanin in color.

White flowers are large, with rounded petals. Morozovka, like the parent variety Vladimirskaya, belongs to griots – cherries with dark red berries, pulp and juice. Fruit weight – about 5 g, taste – dessert, sweet, with a barely perceptible sourness. The shape of the berry is round, the ventral suture is hardly noticeable, there are no cover points. The pulp of the Morozovka cherry is dense, with a lot of juice. The oval stone is medium, it is well separated from the berry. Most of the fruits are tied on bouquet branches, much less on annual growth.

Morozovka cherry is successfully grown in the North-Western, Central, Nizhnevolzhsky, Middle Volga, North Caucasian and Central Black Earth regions.

Brief description of the variety

Morozovka is considered one of the best varieties of domestic cherry breeding. Tasty berries, high resistance to adverse growing conditions and diseases make it a crop suitable for keeping in farms and private gardens.

Drought resistance, winter resistance

You can water Morozovka, even in hot summers, several times a season – the variety has a high drought tolerance. High winter hardiness allows it to be grown in areas with a temperate and cool climate. According to gardeners’ reviews of the Morozovka cherry, flower buds can only freeze slightly in the north of the Chernozem region. Wood, on the other hand, can withstand low temperatures well.

Pollination, flowering period and ripening period

Cherry Morozovka blooms in medium terms. This allows in most regions to get away from late frosts and wait for the departure of bees and other pollinating insects. Morozovka cherries are harvested in the second half of July.

The best pollinators are Griot Michurinsky, Zhukovskaya, Lebedyanskaya. Cherry Morozovka is self-fertile, without other varieties it will set only 5% of the possible number of berries.

yield, fruiting

Frost is early, it gives a crop for the 3-4th season after planting. Berries on it appear annually, unless the flower buds freeze slightly in the northern regions.

Fruits differ in dessert taste and high transportability. They are easily separated from the stalk, mechanized cleaning by shaking is possible. Therefore, despite the conflicting reviews about the columnar cherry, it is convenient to grow Morozovka in this form in large farms.

In Michurinsk, the variety yields 50-60 centners per hectare.

Scope of berries

Although the Morozovka cherry in the VNIISPK catalog is classified as producing fruits for universal use, their taste is sweet, the acid is weakly expressed, and the pulp is juicy and dense. It is often called dessert and is consumed fresh, leaving only the remains of the crop for processing.

Meanwhile, excellent jams are made from Morozovka, wines and juices are prepared. The technological qualities of the berries are excellent, and they are transported well.

Disease and pest resistance

According to gardeners’ reviews of the Morozovka cherry, it has such a high resistance to coccomycosis that it rarely suffers from it even during the years of epiphytotics.

Resistance to attack by insects – medium.

Advantages and disadvantages

If we consider the culture as a whole, then the characteristics of the Morozovka cherry variety can be called outstanding. The advantages include:

1. High resistance to coccomycosis even in the years of mass destruction of cherries of other varieties.
2. Stable yield.
3. High drought tolerance.
4. Excellent berry flavor.
5. Morozovka is one of the most winter-hardy varieties of ordinary cherries.
6. The average size of the tree – it is convenient to harvest.
7. Possibility to grow Morozovka as a columnar crop.
8. The average flowering time allows you to get a crop in the northern regions.
9. Possibility of mechanized harvesting of berries.
10. The variety gives high yields even in adverse conditions.
11. The stone is well separated from the pulp, which facilitates the processing of fruits.

The disadvantages of Morozovka cherries include:

1. Self-infertility of the variety.
2. In the north of the Chernozem zone, flower buds can freeze slightly in a harsh winter.
3. The berries are loosely attached to the stem. They can be harvested using vibratory harvesters, but cherries can also fall off from strong winds.

Features of landing

The Morozovka variety is planted in the same way as other cherries. It is important to choose the right place, neighbors and fill the soil with plenty of organic matter.

Recommended dates and selection of a suitable location

In autumn Morozovka cherry is planted only in the south. In other regions, this is done in early spring, without waiting for buds to open. To make it easier to dig a landing hole, it is recommended to prepare it in the fall.

The landing site should be well lit. You can place the cherry on the south side of the fence or buildings. It is even better to plant a tree on a gentle slope. Soil water should not lie closer than 2 m from the surface.

Preferred soils are chernozem and light loam. Acidic soils must be deoxidized with lime or dolomite flour; sand is added to dense ones.

What crops can and cannot be planted next to cherries

Pollinator varieties or other stone fruits should be planted next to the Morozovka cherry. The main thing is not to arrange the trees so that their crowns are shaded.

You can not place bushes with creeping, rapidly spreading roots next to cherries – sea buckthorn, raspberries and blackberries. Blackcurrant will be a bad neighbor – cultures do not tolerate each other. Walnut, oak, birch, linden and maple will oppress cherry.

The trunk circle of a young tree must be kept clean and loosened regularly. When the cherry begins to bear fruit and takes root well, ground cover plants can be planted under it. They will cover the root from overheating and retain moisture.

Selection and preparation of planting material

You should not buy seedlings from the hands. It is better to take them from nurseries or trusted garden centers. Annual cherries about 80 cm high and biennial seedlings up to 1,1 m take root well. The bark should have a light brown color, and the root should be well developed.

Preparing cherries for planting consists in soaking for at least 3 hours. If you bought a tree with an open root system, not protected by a film or clay mash, dip it in water for a day, adding root or heteroauxin.

Landing algorithm

Prepare (preferably in autumn) a planting hole with a depth of at least 40 cm, a diameter of 60-80 cm. The root system of the cherry should be freely placed in it. Landing is carried out in the following sequence:

1. Mix the top layer of the earth with a bucket of humus and starting fertilizers (50 g of superphosphate and potassium salt each).
2. Add sand or lime if necessary.
3. Fasten a strong support a little away from the center of the pit, to which the cherry will be tied.
4. Place a seedling in the middle, cover the root, constantly compacting the soil so that voids do not form. The distance of the neck from the ground should be 5-7 cm.
5. Surround the trunk circle with a roller of soil.
6. Pour 2-3 buckets of water under each root.

Culture aftercare

In the first growing season, a cherry seedling is watered as the soil dries out, regularly loosened and weeded out. When the tree takes root, moisten the ground only in the absence of precipitation and in autumn during water recharge.

So that the fruits do not crack, moisturizing is completed 2-3 weeks before harvesting.

Culture is very fond of manure. It is he and the ash that are the best fertilizers for cherries. Mineral supplements are given, given that a lot of nitrogen and potassium are needed, phosphorus is much less.

Variety Morozovka needs regular pruning – sanitary and forming a crown. Just do not forget that although the main fruiting occurs on the bouquet branches, some of the fruits are tied to the annual growth. The columnar cherry Morozovka requires special attention when pruning.

Diseases and pests, methods of control and prevention

Frost has the highest resistance to typical cherry diseases, in particular, coccomycosis. For prevention, it is possible to treat Morozovka with a copper-containing preparation on a green cone, and after leaf fall – with iron sulphate.

Pests are controlled with insecticides.

Conclusion

Cherry variety Morozovka is resistant to frost and drought. She rarely gets sick even with epiphytotics. If we add to this large juicy fruits with good taste and high commercial qualities, consistently high yields, then the variety becomes one of the best for growing in Our Country.

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