- Fruit shape: heart-shaped
- Peduncle: long
- Authors: A.F. Kolesnikova, A.V. Zavyalova, E.N. Dzhigadlo, A.A. Gulyaeva, Z.E. Ozherelyeva (All-Russian Research Institute of Breeding of Fruit Crops)
- Growth type: medium-sized
- Appointment: dessert
- Yield: medium
- Tree height, m: 3,5
- Crown: pyramidal, spreading, raised, medium density
- Escapes: medium, straight, yellowish, naked
- Sheet: oval, green, pointed, matte
Sweet cherry Malysh is an excellent example of the work of domestic breeders, which can be safely recommended to novice farmers. Excellent taste, early maturity, unpretentious care, resistance to unfavorable weather conditions, high yield and fruiting already in the 4th year - properties thanks to which the variety is becoming more widespread among Russian gardeners.
Breeding history
The predecessor of the variety was the famous Orlovskaya Amber No. 768, on which a team of scientists from the All-Russian Research Institute of Selection of Fruit Crops worked. For 20 years now, Malysh cherry has been under state variety testing and invariably demonstrates excellent growth and yield indicators.
The choice of the originators of Orlovskaya Amber is not accidental: it practically does not crack in a rainy summer, matures successfully with insufficient rainfall and perfectly resists both frost in a harsh winter and diseases from which sweet cherries usually suffer. The mutations carried out by the radiation method gave the Kid new valuable features and preserved the advantages of its predecessor - a unique taste, non-trivial color and high yield.
Description of the variety
Kid is a medium-flowering variety that ripens in mid-July. It is invaluable in regions where there are recurrent cold weather at the beginning of May, and the summer is short and not hot. It is easy to distinguish from other species by oval green leaves with a matte surface of anthocyanin coloration of the petioles at the base, abundant fruiting not only on bouquet branches, but also on fruit twigs. In contrast to the rather high Orlovskaya, it grows in height up to 3.5 m, which makes it easier to harvest for both amateurs and those who do it for profit, growing in large volumes.
Fruit characteristics
Retaining a beautiful pinkish-yellow color, the baby cherry has a narrow funnel and a slightly elongated top of the fruit. The stone takes up no more than 6% of the total mass in it, it separates perfectly from the pulp, but the stalk comes off medium. But the pulp is juicy, amber-yellow and not very dense, there are more than 10% of sugars in it, and only 0.4% of acids.
Taste qualities
The variety is characterized as a dessert variety, which means that it can be used for any culinary needs: for canning compotes and drinks, making jam and preserves, just eating with pleasure or making baked goods with filling. This is facilitated by good separation from the stone, high content of fruit sugars. The low percentage of acids gives it a piquancy and leaves a pleasant aftertaste.
Ripening and fruiting
Late flowering allows you to harvest by mid-summer - the time when the fruits are saturated with nutrients and juice. The weight of each berry is 3.6 g. It will take only 4 years to get the first harvest, of excellent quality, with juicy pulp and colorless abundant juice.
Reviews of gardeners speak of almost simultaneous ripening, excellent aroma, excellent resistance to transportation.
The tree is highly resistant to frost, and the flower buds are medium, so mid-May is the optimal time for flowering. Ripening by the middle of summer increases the demand: this is the period when other varieties have already departed and yellow berries have no competition on the market.
Yield
With qualified care, carried out taking into account the nuances and subtleties, the Kid is able to give a maximum of 127.8 centners per hectare. But even with the minimum necessary, it shows excellent results - on average 75.2 c / ha.
Growing and care
Experts advise to grow the tree on slopes, partially oriented to the south, in places where cold air currents from the east and north cannot reach. A small list of conditions to be met.
Planting in areas with high groundwater flow is not recommended - a stubborn tree is able to grow two-meter roots and extract water from deeper levels.
Of the soils, sandy loam and loam are preferred. If it does not meet the criteria a little, it can be ennobled.
One tree will not give a crop, so several cherries are planted side by side to get cross-pollination. They do not have to be of the same variety, but certainly with the same flowering times.
The pit must be prepared in advance, fertilized with everything necessary - then the need for a new feeding will arise only three years after planting.
From the elementary needs - spraying from pests and loosening the soil a day after a good rain or abundant watering.
Pruning and application of nitrogen fertilizers are carried out in spring, autumn. At the same time, it is necessary to clear the garden of leaves and pests in order to prevent wintering and reproduction of pests. The tree will more than thank you for even small care measures, but if you spray it in a timely manner when pests are found, the harvest will be excellent.