Sweet cherry Bull heart

Sweet cherry in itself is loved by gardeners and consumers, and even the early one is a real gift from breeders. A hybrid variety of sweet cherries, Bovine Heart, is distinguished by early and abundant fruiting, high antioxidant content and delicious fruits. The berry has a universal purpose, it is used for fresh consumption, for deep freezing. Compotes, jams and sweet cherry preserves are distinguished by an unusually beautiful and rich dark ruby ​​color, as well as an excellent taste.

The authorship in the development of a new hybrid variety belongs to breeders from subtropical Georgia, at the time of the appearance of the variety, which was part of the USSR.

A medium-sized (3-5 m) tree is distinguished by a high growth rate - by the age of five, the plant already has a well-formed, pyramidal, medium-dense crown. Light brown shoots do not deviate too much from the skeletal branches, thus creating a neat and fairly compact habit (appearance).

Hybrid advantages:

• yield;

• large-fruited;

• drought, winter hardiness;

• attractive appearance;

• balanced chemical composition;

• strong immunity, excellent taste and marketability.

Bull Heart Disadvantages:

• the berry is prone to cracking if the harvest is delayed;

• fruits do not tolerate long-term transportation;

• impossibility of fresh storage;

• return frosts are dangerous.

The crown of the plant has an average degree of foliage. Large lanceolate leaves of a dark green color are characterized by a rounded base, a pointed tip and double-serrate edges. Each leaf is attached to a sturdy, shortened petiole. Medium-sized snow-white flowers have a delicate aroma, collected in two-, three-flowered inflorescences, fruit ovaries are formed on bouquet branches.

Large (7-10 g) fruits are characterized by a flat-round shape, similar to a heart, which explains the name. The berry has a rich dark ruby ​​color, in the bright sun it acquires almost black shades. The skin is smooth, with a glossy shine, the stone separates quite well from the pulp, it has an average indicator in this respect. The separation is dry. Unfortunately, despite the firmness of the skin, fresh berries can be kept in the refrigerator for no more than 2-3 days. For long-term storage, deep freeze or canning is suitable.

Juicy dark red pulp has a dense consistency and a balanced sweet dessert taste with some acidity. The juice of the berry has the same shades as the pulp. Cherry fruits Bull's heart received the highest tasting mark - 5 points.

The hybrid is a fast-growing hybrid - regular fruiting begins 4-5 years after planting. The mid-late berry is ready to be harvested in the second half of June; in the southern regions it can be eaten at the end of May.

The bovine heart belongs to high-yielding hybrids - up to 60 kilograms from one tree.

If initially the variety was intended for the subtropical climate of the Caucasus, then later it perfectly adapted in the regions of the Central Black Earth Region and central Russia. Compliance with the requirements of agricultural technology guarantees stable and high-quality harvests.

Bovine heart is a partially self-fertile variety, but cross-pollination has a positive effect on its yield. Pollinator varieties Iput and Ovstuzhenka suitable for flowering periods.

Cherry needs a lot of sunlight, so well-lit areas with protection from northern winds and drafts are chosen for it. It is unacceptable for groundwater layers to lie closer than 3 meters to the earth's surface. And also the plant does not tolerate low-lying wetlands. The bovine heart places high demands on the soil structure. The soil should be fertile, loose, breathable, with a neutral acidity level. Acidic soils are subject to mandatory deoxidation with dolomite flour, chalk, liming.

The optimal planting time for cherries is the spring season. Autumn planting is possible only in the southern regions. The distance between the roots is 3 meters, between the rows, if it is an industrial cultivation, 5 meters. The landing pit is prepared in two to three weeks. The depth of the hole should be twice the length of the roots, the diameter is 60-65 cm. A mandatory drainage layer is arranged at the bottom and a support is installed.

The upper fertile layer is enriched with organic matter (humus, compost, bird droppings), superphosphate and wood ash. River sand is added to dense heavy soil. A third of the earth is poured into the hole, and the roots of the plant are gently spread over the surface of the formed mound, then covered with the remaining earth. When planting, you need to carefully monitor the root collar - it must remain above the surface. A protective embankment is organized around the trunk circle and poured with 2-3 buckets of warm water.

Further care consists in observing simple, but mandatory agrotechnical rules.

• Watering. Even an adult plant needs to be watered four times per season. "Youngsters" are watered much more often, as needed. There are three buckets of water for each seedling, except for prolonged rainy weather. An adult tree has up to 6 buckets of moisture.

• Weeding. Weeds take the lion's share of nutrients from young plants, so removing them is a regular procedure. Loosening is equally important if the mulching method is not used. The loose earth provides oxygen to the root system. Mulching prevents moisture evaporation, crusting and cracking.

• Top dressing. Nutrient intake begins in the second or third year. In the spring, nitrogen fertilizers are applied, after harvesting, potassium-phosphorus preparations, in the fall, the trunks are covered with a thick layer of humus.

The crown is formed in the first years of growth, then the protruding shoots are only cut off, and the quality of the ventilation of the inner part is also monitored. Sanitary pruning is done in the spring when old, damaged, dry branches and root growth are removed.

Possessing strong immunity, the bovine heart perfectly resists fungal diseases, is practically not affected by coccomycosis, and successfully resists pest attacks. Birds are very fond of sweet berries, competing with humans in harvesting. In this case, the bird net helps out.

The tree is highly frost-resistant and perfectly tolerates temperatures as low as -23ºC, which made it possible to cultivate it in the central regions. Cherry also tolerates a short-term absence of rain, but with a prolonged (more than a month) drought, additional watering becomes necessary. The harvest can be ruined by recurrent frosts during flowering - negative temperatures "kill" the fruit ovaries.