Cherry Napoleon

Every year, the number of fans of the Napoleon cherry variety is growing rapidly. The plant is cultivated as a supplier of tasty healthy berries, which are characterized by juiciness and sweetness.

History of variety breeding

Cherry Napoleon is one of the old varieties bred by European breeders in the XNUMXth century. The rootstock for Napoleon was the Magaleb cherry Antipka.

Description of the Napoleon cherry variety

Cherry Napoleon belongs to the high-yielding varieties of late ripening. A tree of strong growth forms a dense, spherical, well-leafed, spreading crown. In height it can reach up to 5-6 meters. At a young age, the plant grows intensively, and at the time of fruiting – moderate. A large-sized tree is decorated with leaves painted in dark green, in the form of an elongated oval with a pointed top, without pubescence.

They delight with their flowering in early April. Medium-sized flowers have saucer-shaped petals, collected in inflorescences of 2-3 pieces. Large fruits of dark red color attract attention, which, when ripe, acquire a black color. The weight of one berry is up to 6,5 g. The fruits have an irregular oval shape. Under the thick skin is the pulp, characterized by density and medium juiciness. Sweet and sour taste with a pleasant bitterness. Tasting score – 4,9 points out of 5.

Another late-ripening heat-loving European variety is the Napoleon pink cherry. It is rarely cultivated on the territory of central Our Country, since the culture is highly susceptible to high frosts. Therefore, the variety does not take root well and gives a poor harvest in areas with low air temperatures. And in the southern latitudes, it gives a rich harvest of delicious sweet cherries of bright pink color, which are distinguished by their large size and pulp density.

Cherry Napoleon yellow does not exist, there are only two types of this variety – it is black and pink.

Characteristics of a variety

When choosing Napoleon cherries, you need to familiarize yourself with the characteristics of the variety, which includes information about the resistance of the culture to low temperatures, excess moisture, diseases and insects, as well as information about the timing of flowering and ripening of berries.

Cherry winter hardiness Napoleon Black and Pink

Cherry Napoleon is characterized by an average yield, the plant can withstand up to -30 C. And also thanks to the deep root, which allows it to receive moisture from the lower layers of the earth on hot days, the crop can endure dry weather.

Who pollinates the sweet cherry Napoleon

Sweet cherry variety Napoleon is declared as self-fertile. But for a quality harvest, you can plant Valery Chkalov, Early Mark, Zhabule, Drogana Zheltaya varieties nearby. With significant plantings, seedlings are advised to be formed in paired rows.

Yield and fruiting

Fruiting of this late variety begins 4–5 years after planting. Harvest can be collected in the last days of June. The average yield of the Napoleon cherry variety is 30 kg, and when growing a crop in the southern regions, up to 70 kg per tree.

Scope of berries

Cherry Napoleon belongs to the universal varieties. Berries are not only an excellent dessert product, but also high-quality raw materials that are used to make jam, compote, dried fruits, as well as for various processing and freezing. Traditional healers widely use culture, as infusions and decoctions of berries can strengthen and tone the body, increase immunity and help in the treatment of many diseases.

Disease and pest resistance

Cherry Napoleon Black is resistant to fruit rot, moniliosis, coccomyosis. And of the pests, the cherry orchard can be chosen by the cherry fly, aphid, sawfly. The Napoleon Pink cherry is also susceptible to rot, although it has good resistance to fungal diseases, and it is almost not damaged by such a common pest as the cherry fly.

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

The Napoleon cherry variety is endowed with a mass of advantages, thanks to which it arouses interest and attention among gardeners. Positive features include:

• high yield;
• excellent keeping quality; the crop can be stored up to 14 days in a cool place;
• the ability to withstand transportation over long distances without loss of presentation;
• universality; berries are beautiful fresh, dry, twists for the winter and frosts;
• a source of nutrients that can protect the human body from many diseases.

With all the many advantages, the Napoleon cherry variety also has some disadvantages:

• intolerance to low temperatures;
• poor resistance to pests such as cherry fly.

Features of landing

Before the process of planting sweet cherries of the Napoleon variety, it is necessary to take into account all the needs of the culture for its normal growth, proper development and formation of the crop.

Recommended dates

Napoleon cherries can be planted in spring and autumn. Planting in the spring should be done before the buds swell, as a tree planted later will hurt and may not take root. Autumn is also considered a favorable time for planting. Before the onset of winter, the root will have time to deepen and take root. And with the advent of spring, intensive growth and development of cherries will be observed.

Choosing the right place

Cherry Napoleon is demanding on growing conditions, it does not tolerate wet and cold soils and needs a huge amount of heat. Groundwater must be at least 2 m, and the area is protected from drafts and shading. The plant loves a nutritious soil composition, so you should choose a moist soil with high-quality drainage and with sufficient water resistance and optimal acidity.

What crops can and cannot be planted nearby

Cherry Napoleon is quite whimsical in choosing the plants of its neighbors. The best solution would be to plant cherries, cherries, grapes, mountain ash, hawthorn nearby. But the apple tree, plum, cherry plum will shade the cherry tree, so they should be planted at a distance of 5-6 meters.

Selection and preparation of planting material

When buying planting material, you need to pay attention to its appearance. Cherry seedling Napoleon should be no older than 3 years, the bark should have an even color, without mechanical and thermal damage. Must have kidneys. The root system should have 3 roots of 0,2 m each. If the root is brown on the cut, then it is affected by frost, and such a purchase of such a seedling should be abandoned.

Landing algorithm

An important criterion for cultivation, on which the regularity of fruiting and the quality of the crop directly depends, is the correct planting.

Stages of the process of planting sweet cherries varieties Napoleon:

1. Prepare the site for planting in advance by digging, clearing it of weeds and fertilizing well.
2. Make landing holes, keeping a distance of 3-4 m between them.
3. Equip the bottom of the pit with fertile black soil mixed with a complex set of fertilizers.
4. Insert a peg, which in the process of growth will be a reliable support.
5. When installing seedlings, it is necessary to orient its root neck in a southerly direction, and it should also rise slightly above the soil surface.
6. Cover with soil substrate, carefully tamping to avoid voids.
7. At the end of planting, pour warm water and mulch the soil near the trunk circle with peat or humus.

Proper planting will positively affect the growth of the crop and the development of the tree as a whole.

Aftercare for cherries

In order to form a full-fledged high-quality crop of sweet cherries of the Napoleon variety, it is enough to perform such important procedures as:

1. Watering. It is necessary to properly organize watering, moistening the soil and maintaining it in an optimal state for the normal development of Napoleon cherries. The plant needs water at the end of flowering, during the formation and filling of fruits, as well as during the dry season, it is necessary to soak the soil to a depth of 40 cm. It is advisable to irrigate in the fall to saturate the plants with moisture before the cold season.
2. Trimming. It provides for the shortening of annual shoots, pruning of incorrectly located branches directed inside the crown, as well as the elimination of damaged, dry and frozen branches. After pruning, it is required to process the cut points, using garden pitch for quick healing and prevention of disease damage and insect invasion.
3. Additional fertilizing. To improve the growth of shoots of a crop, it is necessary to provide it with the necessary nutrients in sufficient quantities. For these purposes, add fertilizers using organic and mineral compounds.
4. Preparation for wintering. Winter shelter is needed if the crop is grown in a harsh climate. In rare cases, the shoots may freeze slightly, but the Napoleon cherry has a rapid recovery of frost-damaged parts of the tree.

Caring for sweet cherries is simple and within the power of all gardeners who wish to grow them. It is important to carry out all the activities, and it, feeling cared for, will grow and develop faster, bestowing delicious berries.

Diseases and pests, methods of control and prevention

Cherry cherries of the Napoleon variety must be protected from the cherry fly and other parasites that intensify their activity after the winter period. And also during this period, you need to constantly inspect the plant, because in the spring it can easily catch a dangerous disease, such as coccomycosis, fruit rot, moniliosis.

Prevention of diseases and pests consists in the spring treatment of trees using biological products and insecticides. Work to be carried out in April, before the onset of the movement of juice.

To protect the sweet cherry, it is necessary to spray using Bordeaux solution or azophos, and to achieve the maximum effect, combine the use of these products by alternating them.

Conclusion

The Napoleon cherry variety is loved by many gardeners, because it pleases with its bright taste. Observing all agrotechnical methods for growing and following the recommendations for care, you can get a high-quality crop of sweet and juicy berries.

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