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Cherry Nadezhda (duke) is a hybrid of cherries and sweet cherries, obtained as a result of the selection work of specialists from the Rossoshansk fruit and berry station. Since the mid 90s. of the last century, the duke of the variety Nadezhda participates in the state variety testing on the territory of the Central Black Earth region.
What does Cherry Hope look like?
The tree of the cherry-cherry hybrid Nadezhda is distinguished by its tall stature and wide spreading crown. The trunk is dark gray, almost black, with pronounced roughness and vertical cracking in young specimens.
Young shoots are green with a brown tinge, darkening with age and becoming reddish-brown. The leaves are large, up to 12 cm long and about 5 cm wide, oval or ovate, with a rounded base and a pointed apex. The outer surface is dark green, smooth, the inner has a lighter shade and slight pubescence.
Cherry variety Nadezhda forms inflorescences of 2–3 large (up to 40 mm in diameter) flowers. The opened buds are snow-white, but by the end of flowering, pink spots appear on the petals.
Cherry Hope in full bloom looks very picturesque
This duke is best suited for cultivation in the Central and Southern regions of the country.
Height and dimensions of an adult tree
In adulthood, a tree of this variety can reach a height of 6 m. The crown is of medium density, broadly pyramidal or rounded, sprawling. In adult specimens, its width can be 7 m.
Description of fruits
The description of the Duke Nadezhda variety contains the following fruit characteristics: cherries are large, rounded, slightly flattened on the sides. With a fruit size of 2,3–2,5 cm, its weight is 5,7–5,9 g.
The stone is small, in well-ripened berries it is easily separated from the pulp.
The skin is dense, painted in dark red color. Pulp of the same shade, medium-dense, uniform consistency. Red juice exudes on the cut.
Evaluation of taste according to the results of tasting – 4,5 points. The berry is sweet, with a slight sourness, there is no astringency.
Due to the dense skin, the berry does not crack, and the thick short stalk prevents the fruit from shedding.
Pollinators for Duke Hope
Cherry Duke Nadezhda is a self-fertile hybrid. This means that in order to set fruits in the area where it grows, it is necessary to plant cherries of other varieties. The best pollinators of Duke Nadezhda are Lada, Kentskaya and Black large cherries.
The hybrid is characterized by early flowering: in the southern parts of the country it occurs in the first decade of May, in the central part – in mid-May.
The main characteristics of the sweet cherry Nadezhda
Cherry Nadezhda is a mid-season productive variety with good drought and frost resistance. The hybrid is immune to the most common cherry and sweet cherry diseases and needs basic care.
Drought resistance, frost resistance
Cherry Hope shows good frost resistance, as well as resistance to temperature extremes, but prolonged frosts can damage flower buds. The description of the Nadezhda cherry variety, as well as the reviews of gardeners who are well acquainted with this variety, contain information that the tree can withstand temperatures down to -30 ° C, while neither young shoots nor flower buds suffer from frost.
Like other varieties of cherries, Duke Nadezhda is drought-resistant – trees are watered several times during the season, but excessive moisture is detrimental to them.
Productivity
In the description, the sweet cherry Nadezhda is characterized as a culture of medium ripening. When cultivated in the Central part of Our Country, the fruiting period begins in the first decade of July; in the southern regions of the country, the harvest begins in the last decade of June. Duke Hope bears fruit 4–5 years after planting.
Experience shows that from a young tree about 15 kg of fruit can be harvested, a middle-aged cherry produces about 20 kg of berries, and the harvest from specimens that have reached 15 years of age can be up to 60 kg. These indicators correspond to a high level of productivity.
Cherry Hope belongs to the universal table varieties. Its berries can be used both fresh and for making juice, compotes, jams, etc. The fruits are widely used in cooking. The berries of this Duke perfectly tolerate deep freezing.
The fruits of the Nadezhda hybrid have good keeping quality under the conditions of storage of cherries (cherries), as well as high safety of commercial qualities during transportation.
Hope cherry berries have an attractive appearance
Advantages and disadvantages
Gardeners note the following advantages of the Dukes of Hope:
- high stable yield;
- excellent taste;
- good keeping quality and transportability;
- unpretentiousness;
- frost resistance;
- immunity to cultural diseases.
The disadvantages of the variety are often attributed to the high growth of trees, which complicates the care of plantings and harvesting, as well as the self-infertility of the duke.
Rules of landing
Planting Cherry Hope does not require special skills. With the right choice of location and preliminary preparation of the soil, the seedlings take root well and give growth the very next year.
Recommended dates
You can plant cherries both in spring and autumn. Many gardeners prefer autumn planting so that the next spring, young trees will quickly grow. In regions with cold winters, it is better to plant cherries in the spring so that non-rooted seedlings do not freeze.
Like other varieties of cherries and sweet cherries, Duke Nadezhda is planted in mid-April or in the second decade of October.
Site selection and soil preparation
When choosing a landing site, it should be borne in mind that cherries do not tolerate close groundwater. It is best to choose a dry sunny site for it with neutral medium loamy or light soils. Alkaline soils are also suitable, but Nadezhda does not tolerate acidic substrates.
The soil mixture for seedlings is prepared in advance, about a month before the intended planting. The same amount of humus, 1 kg of wood ash, 1 st. l. with a slide of superphosphate and potassium chloride. If the soil is clayey, river sand is added to it at the rate of 1 bucket of sand per 1 cherry seedling.
How to plant
The procedure for planting cherries is quite simple:
- pits are prepared with a depth of 40–50 cm and a diameter of 55–65 cm, the distance between which should be at least 3 m;
- seedlings are carefully inspected and damaged roots are removed;
- placed in a hole so that the root neck is at ground level. Fall asleep with the soil mixture prepared in advance;
- at a distance of about 30 cm from the trunk, a small depression is made in a circle;
- water the seedlings with water heated in the sun at the rate of 2-3 buckets per hole;
- the trunk circle is mulched with humus or compost.
Do not bury the root neck of the seedling
Features of care
Duke Nadezhda, like other varieties and hybrids of cherries, is not picky about care. Among the mandatory activities include: regular watering, top dressing, pruning, preparation for winter and disease prevention. Cherry also responds well to loosening.
Watering and fertilizing schedule
Cherry Hope tolerates drought well and usually does not require more than three waterings per season.
The first watering is carried out after flowering is completed, the second – when the fruits ripen, the third – before winter, when the leaves fall.
If the soil for planting has been properly prepared, young trees do not need to be fertilized for the first 2–3 years. In the future, top dressing is carried out during the autumn digging of the soil. Potash fertilizers are applied at the rate of 70 g and phosphorus fertilizers in the amount of approximately 200 g per plant. In spring, the soil around the cherry is fertilized with nitrogen fertilizers, the consumption rate of which is about 50 g per tree.
Trimming
2 years after planting, the crown of the tree begins to form. To do this, at the very beginning of spring, last year’s growths are cut to a third of the length. Cherries also need sanitary pruning. Broken, dry, frozen and diseased branches should be removed in a timely manner.
Preparation for winter
Thanks to its frost resistance, the Nadezhda cherry tolerates winter well and does not need shelter. In late autumn, only young, recently planted trees are spudded. If there is a danger of severe frosts, the soil around the trunks is mulched. In other cases, plantings are abundantly watered after the end of leaf fall.
Mulching not only protects the root system from frost, but also retains moisture and prevents the growth of weeds.
Diseases and pests
Duke Cherry Nadezhda has good resistance to crop diseases. The most common and dangerous diseases are coccomycosis and moniliosis, to which the cherry of this variety is also immune.
Rodents also do not pose a danger to cherries, since the trees have a bitter bark.
Conclusion
Cherry Nadezhda is excellent for growing not only in the south of the country, but also in the middle lane, requires minimal care, and is resistant to diseases. At the same time, it has excellent taste and consistently high yields. The description of the Nadezhda variety, numerous photos of fruits and trees, as well as reviews of this duke testify to its popularity among gardeners.