Cherry Anthracite

Anthracite is a compact bush cherry variety. He fell in love with gardeners for the high parameters of winter hardiness and productivity. The variety is also distinguished by its decorative qualities, which allows it to decorate the site.

Cherry Anthracite gained fame in 2006, because it was then that it was included in the State Register of the Russian Federation. Kolesnikova, Zhdanova and Trofimova worked on breeding the variety, and all the developments were carried out at the All-Russian Research Institute for Breeding Fruit Crops. Anthracite was obtained thanks to free pollination of the Black Consumer Goods variety. Today Anthracite cherries are grown both in private gardens and on huge plantations for commercial purposes.

This cherry is a bushy tree shape. The plant is weak, there are no cases when it grows above 200 cm. The crown is spreading, but its thickening is average. Its sparse twigs form. On the branches there are cone-shaped buds, they fit quite tightly. The length of each kidney does not exceed 3 millimeters.

The foliage looks decorative. The obovate shape is successfully combined with the dark green color and glossy sheen of the surface. The top of the leaf is sharp, and the bottom, on the contrary, is rounded. Weak serration is visible along the edges. The petioles of the leaf blades are elongated and have an attractive anthocyanin shade.

The inflorescence looks very much like an umbrella, it contains from 3 to 5 flowers. The flowers are small, open. Painted in a classic white shade. The tree blooms on the growths of the past year. And also beautiful flowers can bloom on bouquet branches.

Anthracite cherries have an attractive wide-heart shape, but can also be rounded. The fruit funnel of cherries is very wide, but the stalk is usually short. The size of medium fruits in most cases is 21x16x14 mm, and the weight ranges from 4.1-5 grams.

The rind of cherries has a medium level of firmness, colored in a deep red shade, which seems almost black. It is for this reason that the variety was named Anthracite. The skin hides a delicate and very juicy flesh of a dark red hue. Cherry juice, which can be obtained from the pulp, has the same color.

The stone is usually quite small, its weight does not exceed 0.2 g. It is very easily separated from the bulk.

It should be noted that the very sight of cherries immediately evokes an appetite. And experts agree with this, who gave the variety a rating of 4.9 points for its appearance. As for the taste, here the score was 4 points, and the taste itself will be sweet and sour. Due to the above indicators, Anthracite cherries can be used in different ways in cooking. In addition to preserves and marmalades, delicious compotes, cherry lemonades and fruit drinks are also prepared from them.Cherries are canned for the winter, and are also used to prepare and decorate cocktails and sweets.

Like most cherry varieties, Anthracite gives its first harvest in 4 years. The flowering time of the culture is from May 14 to 20, and the fruits on the branches are ready to be harvested on July 16-23. This medium late variety bears fruit for no more than 18 years.

Anthracite is distinguished by quite good yield indicators. With good care, 18 kg of cherries are removed from the tree, and if we are talking about more significant territories, then the average yield here will be 96.3 c / ha. The maximum indicator is 106.6 c / ha. The collected cherries have an attractive presentation.

Anthracite is zoned in the Central region, but tests have shown that it feels no less good in almost all corners of the country.

The plant is partially self-fertile. If it is not pollinated, the harvest will still be, but insignificant. Therefore, it is recommended to plant other cherry trees nearby. The flowering period of crops should take place at the same time. The following varieties are recommended for planting:

• Vladimirskaya;

• Chocolate girl;

• Night.

Cherry trees growing nearby will also improve the yield.

Seedlings with open roots are planted exclusively in spring, but if a tree is sold in a container, then the deadline for planting it is early September. Plants are planted in the southern parts of the site, not far from buildings that can provide natural protection from the wind. Lowlands and swampy areas are categorically unsuitable, but a small hill is ideal.

For planting, it is best to choose sandy loam or loamy loose soils. The acidity of the soil should be neutral. Raspberries, plants of the Solanaceae family, and fruit trees are not planted next to the Anthracite variety. One tree must have a growth area of ​​at least 9 square meters. A two-year-old seedling should be picked up.

Planting Anthracite is not difficult and is done in the same way as in the case of other varieties of cherries, sweet cherries. It is important that the roots of the plant are well spread at the time of immersion in the planting pit. Watering is divided into two parts: the first irrigation is carried out when the roots are slightly sprinkled with a substrate, the second is after the completion of planting. The root collar should not be buried in the ground. At the end of the work, the trunk circle is covered with a layer of mulch, and the branches are shortened by 0.2 m.

The tree resists drought well, but lack of water can affect the palatability of the fruit. Therefore, watering must be timely. Cherry trees are watered every 7 days, and here the watering also needs to be divided. In the morning and evening, the plant is given a 10-liter bucket. When the fruits on the tree start to turn red, irrigation is stopped.

Anthracite does not require special forming pruning, since it is a bush form of cherry.However, every year it will be necessary to remove dried and diseased shoots, as well as those that have been beaten by frost. Annual shoots are not pruned, since in this case the cherries will have nowhere to form. Every few years, rejuvenating pruning is carried out, during which the skeletal branches are shortened.

Top dressing for Anthracite is served in standard mode. So, in the spring it is worth adding urea to the soil. This is a maximum of 70 grams per tree. When the flowering ends, the soil is fertilized with organic matter, for example, manure. Fertilizer must be in liquid form. Two weeks later, feeding is repeated using the same product. In the fall, potassium (60 grams) and phosphorus (150 grams) will need to be added to the soil. Both dressings must be firm.

And also some gardeners claim that cherries give better fruits if they are fed with urea before flowering. Fertilizer concentration - 0.4%.

Anthracite is often affected by all kinds of diseases. She has an average resistance to coccomycosis and moniliosis. It is best to prevent such ailments by taking timely preventive measures and taking proper care. So, the near-trunk circle should always be cleared of weeds, and the fallen leaves will have to be removed. In autumn, the soil next to the trunks is dug up and fertilized with ash. When the buds begin to swell, the trees should be treated with Bordeaux liquid.

From aphids in early spring use "Fufanon", as well as from a cherry fly. In the latter case, treatment with the drug is carried out after the flowering of the tree.