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Cherry Zhivitsa is a unique hybrid of cherries and sweet cherries, obtained in Belarus. This variety has many names: Duke, Gamma, Cherevishnya and others. Early maturing Griot of Ostgeimsky and Denisena Zheltaya were chosen as the parents of this variety. It was entered into the State Register in 2002, and since 2005 its active cultivation began in Our Country and Ukraine.
Description of Živica cherries
The plant has an almost straight trunk and a rounded crown, slightly elongated from the bottom up. The density of the branches is medium, the foliage is high. The branches are raised and sagging. The color of the trunk is brownish-gray.
The leaves are elongated. Their dimensions are about 12 cm long and 3-4 wide. Color – rich green. Most of the buds are formed on the shoots of the current year.
Flowers small, white. The flowering period begins in mid-May. The variety belongs to self-fertile, that is, fruiting without pollinators will be practically absent.
The top of the crown of the Zhivitsa cherry
The variety is classified as early ripe and winter-hardy. Recommended for cultivation throughout Belarus and Ukraine, as well as in Central Our Country. However, due to its good frost resistance, it adapts well to colder regions. There are numerous evidences of successful cultivation of the Zhivitsa cherry in the regions of the Urals and Western Siberia.
The hybrid has also adapted in the South. It is successfully grown in the North Caucasus and the Astrakhan region, although it has no commercial value in these regions, since more productive heat-loving varieties can be grown in them.
Dimensions and height of Zhivitsa cherry
The diameter of the plant trunk rarely exceeds 10-12 cm. The rounded crown has dimensions from 1,5 to 2,5 m. The height of the Zhivitsa cherry can lie in the range from 2,5 m to 3 m.
Description of fruits
Cherry berries Zhivitsa have a rounded shape and medium size. Their weight does not exceed 3,7-3,9 g. They have a relatively fragile delicate skin of dark red color. The pulp of the hybrid is dense, but at the same time very juicy. It has the same color as the skin. The stone is small in size, freely separated from the pulp.
Ripe cherries Zhivitsa
The taste is rated as very good, approaching excellent. There is a barely noticeable sourness in it. On a five-point scale, the taste of Zhivitsa cherry is estimated at 4,8 points. The use of fruits is universal, they are used in raw and processed form. In conservation, they perform well, do not wander and do not explode.
Pollinators for cherries Zhivitsa
All cherry-cherry hybrids do not yet have self-fertile specimens. This is a serious problem for breeders, over which they have been struggling for decades. Cherry Zhivitsa is no exception. In addition, it does not have the possibility of cross-pollination with its own variety or relatives. For this purpose, all “Dukes” need only parent cultures.
You can use the previously mentioned Griot and Denisenu as a pollinator, but the use of closely related varieties is also acceptable. These include: Seyanets No. 1, Novodvorskaya, Vyanok.
As a last resort, you can try to pollinate with a non-related culture. For this task, any variety that blooms around this time (1-2 decades of May) is suitable. It is possible that it will be possible to find a previously unknown effective pollinator for Zhivitsa cherries.
According to gardeners, the minimum required number of pollinator varieties for Zhivitsa cherries should be 3-4.
Main characteristics
The hybrid has high performance characteristics. It is one of the most profitable varieties for growing in cold climates, although some gardeners note the average yield of the variety. On the other hand, this indicator is quite acceptable for a frost-resistant crop with fruits of similar quality.
Drought resistance, frost resistance
The drought resistance of the variety is high. Moreover, frequent watering is not recommended. Moisture should be added under the Zhivitsa cherry only in case of a critical lack of moisture. The root system of trees is very powerful and is able to penetrate to a depth of several meters.
The frost resistance of the variety is high. The tree is able to endure winters with temperatures down to -25 ° C. In the conditions of the Middle Zone, in Belarus and Ukraine, freezing was not observed even in the most severe winters.
Productivity
Cherry hybrid Zhivitsa ripens in mid-summer. Fruiting dates come at the end of June or in the first decade of July. The variety belongs to early-growing – already for 3-4 years of life, you can harvest abundant crops.
The yield, even with minimal care, is about 100 kg per hundred square meters. With the correct application of top dressing and observance of agricultural planting techniques, the record figures are about 140 kg from the same area. On average, one tree produces about 12-15 kg of fruit.
The scope is universal. They are used to make juice and compote, as a filling for baking. In conservation, despite the relatively soft skin, the fruits retain their integrity. The transportability and keeping quality of the variety are satisfactory.
Advantages and disadvantages
The positive qualities of the Zhivitsa cherry hybrid include:
- high productivity;
- excellent taste of fruits;
- universality in application;
- precociousness;
- winter hardiness;
- resistance to most diseases;
- good bone separation.
Disadvantages of the variety:
- the need for multiple varieties of pollinators.
Rules of landing
Planting cherries Zhivitsa does not have any features. Recommendations may concern only the timing of planting and the layout of trees on the site. The rest of the points (pit depth, fertilizers applied, etc.) are standard for cherries and sweet cherries in a temperate climate.
Recommended dates
Cherry Zhivitsa is recommended to be planted in the spring. Autumn planting is not prohibited, but in this case, the seedling must be completely covered from frost with the help of heat-insulating material.
Site selection and soil preparation
There are no special requirements for site selection and soil quality. Cherry Zhivitsa grows well on any type of soil. The only important recommendation is that the site should be sunny.
Cherry saplings Zhivitsa
To obtain good yields, a planting pattern of 3 m by 5 m is recommended. In this case, the trees can be arranged both in even rows and in a checkerboard pattern.
How to plant
The planting algorithm is standard: seedlings aged 1-2 years are placed in pits with a diameter of 60 cm and a depth of 50-80 cm. Up to 2 buckets of humus are placed at the bottom of the pit, which are located in a slide.
A peg is driven into the center of the pit, to which a seedling is tied. Its root system is evenly distributed along the slopes of the hill, sprinkled with soil, rammed and watered with 20 liters of water.
It is recommended that the first two years after planting, mulch the near-stem circle with a layer of sawdust or freshly cut grass.
Features of care
Cherry care Zhivitsa is standard. It includes infrequent watering, top dressing in infertile soils, and regular pruning at the end of the season.
Watering and fertilizing schedule
Watering is done more often than once every 2-3 weeks, since the root system of adult trees is branched. With a sufficient level of precipitation, artificial irrigation can be omitted altogether.
Top dressing is done twice per season:
- in early spring – nitrogen components (no more than 20 g per tree);
- at the end of autumn – superphosphate and potash fertilizers (30 and 20 g per plant, respectively).
Trimming
It forms a crown on its own, so it does not need any specific pruning. However, it is believed that the further north the growing area, the lower the height of the tree as a whole should be. In very cold regions (with winters when the temperature drops to -30 ° C), it is recommended to form a trunk and crown in a bushy form.
Too dense canopy requiring control pruning
Other types of pruning (sanitary, thinning and stimulating) do not have features, they are performed as needed.
Preparation for winter
The Zhivitsa cherry variety does not need any special procedures in preparation for wintering. It is recommended to carry out sanitary pruning at the end of October and whitewash the trunks to protect against rodents.
Diseases and pests
Cherry Zhivitsa has good disease resistance. However, it is recommended to carry out regular measures to counteract diseases such as coccomycosis and moniliosis.
Coccomycosis Cherry
These activities include regular digging of the soil at the beginning and end of the season, as well as the destruction of dry grass and foliage in late autumn. Trees and soil in the near-trunk circle are recommended to be sprayed with copper-containing preparations;
- copper chloride 0,4%;
- Bordeaux mixture 3%;
- copper sulphate 4,5%.
These measures should be applied during swelling of the kidneys.
Conclusion
Cherry Zhivitsa is an early maturing hybrid of cherries and sweet cherries, intended for cultivation in Central Our Country, as well as in some relatively cold regions. Due to the unpretentiousness of the plant, the good taste of the fruits and the versatility of their application, this variety is one of the most successful for private cultivation in most regions. Plant yields are quite high.
Reviews about the variety of cherries Zhivitsa
