- Authors: V.P. Tsarenko, N.A.Tsarenko (Far Eastern Experimental Station VNIIR)
- Appeared when crossing: Summer x Sand-felt
- Year of approval: 1999
- Barrel type: bush
- Growth type: undersized
- Crown: wide-spreading, dense
- Escapes: annuals - reddish brown, pubescent
- Leaves: slightly concave, ovoid (4.3 x 2.9 cm), with a pointed base and a sharp apex, corrugated, hard, dark green, covered with short hairs on the abaxial side, tomentose on the adaxial side, the edge is double-serrate
- Flowers: saucer-shaped, medium-sized (2.3 cm in diameter of the corolla), five-petal, pink petals, medium open
- Flowering and fruiting type: solid along the branch: mainly on the growth of last year
The Eastern Darkie is a cherry variety that is often found on the territory of our country. Its such demand is due to its resistance to different weather conditions and high yields.
Breeding history
The Far Eastern Experimental Station VNIIR was engaged in breeding the variety; it was its employees who worked on this felt type of cherry. Gardeners got the opportunity to use seedlings in their backyards in 1999.
Description of the variety
Fruits of the Dark Brown Eastern universal purpose. The plant grows compact, but at the same time pleases gardeners with the level of yield. The fruits are of excellent quality. The Oriental dark-haired woman is immune to some fungal diseases and can be grown in large gardens. One of the disadvantages of this variety is the poor transportability of the fruit, so it is advisable that the processing point is located near the plantings.
The eastern dark-haired woman belongs to low-growing varieties, so it grows on average up to 1.2 m. At the same time, the crown forms a dense and wide-spreading one.
On the Eastern Smuglyanka, thick perennial branches are formed, which have a gray-brown tint and flaky bark. If these are annual shoots, then their color is different, it is reddish brown.
The fruits are formed on the shoots of the last year. In general, the Eastern Smuglyanka can live on the site for 18 years, and even longer with rejuvenating pruning.
Fruit characteristics
The eastern dark-haired woman produces large fruits weighing 2.5-2.7 grams on average. Cherries have a wide-rounded shape, dark burgundy color, very close to black.
The skin of the fruit of this variety has a glossy sheen and slight pubescence. The pulp inside is bright red, it will delight you with tenderness and juiciness.
One of the disadvantages of this variety is the poor separation of the pulp from the bone.
Taste qualities
The taste of Oriental Darkened cherries is sweet with a pleasant sourness. The sugar level is 7.36%. There is a lot of eastern ascorbic acid in the Darkmouth cherry. This variety received a tasting score of 4 points.
Ripening and fruiting
If you plant a seedling of the Eastern Darkie, then it will begin to bear fruit in the second year. Planting material, which is planted in the soil with a root system, begins to yield only by 3-4 years.
A tree of this variety blooms in mid-May, begins to bear fruit by mid-July. In terms of ripening, this is an average grade.
Yield
Despite the small size of the Eastern Darkie, it is classified as a high-yielding variety. When the tree is 7 years old, you can harvest on average up to 7 kg of ripe fruit from it.
Growing regions
Cherries of the described variety are grown in most territories of Russia, including in the south, as well as in the Central and Far Eastern regions.
Self-fertility and the need for pollinators
The Eastern Darkie is a self-fertile variety, therefore, it is recommended to plant other cherries on the site, which will play the role of pollinators.
Landing
Planting this cherry variety is required in a sunny area, not in a lowland, so that there is no draft. For this, a planting pit is prepared, the dimensions of which should be several times larger than the root ball.
After immersing the seedling in the ground, its roots will need to be leveled. First cover with half of the earth, then tamp well to remove air pockets.
After planting, be sure to water the Eastern Darkie. You can make a small groove around the trunk and put manure there. Thus, nutrients will flow to the roots, but at the same time organic matter will not harm them.
Growing and care
Harvesting cherry East Darkie can be harvested mechanically, which is very convenient for large planted areas.
In the first year after planting, it is necessary to regularly water the bush. Young seedlings need more moisture than adult plants, so they should be watered several times a week during dry periods.
It is imperative to take care that the trunk circle with a diameter of 1.5 meters remains clean of weeds, otherwise they consume large quantities of microelements from the soil, which will harm the Eastern Smuglyanka in the first year of life.
When growing this cherry variety, you can use small doses of herbicides, but only when the seedling is 3 years old.
Immediately after planting, it will be necessary to strongly cut off all the shoots of the young Oriental Darkie cherry, so that the vitality of the bush is directed to the development of the root system. In addition, pruning simplifies the formation of the crown, which is especially important when growing Smuglyanka oriental cherry in large quantities in one area.
We form the crown in the spring, but it will be necessary to renew the shoots on already fruiting plants in the summer, after harvesting the fruit - then the risk of fungal diseases is less.
To propagate this variety, it is better to take green cuttings.
Disease and pest resistance
The Eastern Darkie has a good immunity to coccomycosis. Fungal diseases do not often affect this variety, but prevention is still required. In this case, it is best to use Bordeaux liquid.
If the garden is overloaded with crops, or the region has a rainy season, then the Eastern Darkie is affected by moniliosis.
Requirements for soil and climatic conditions
It is worth saying that the buds, which are responsible for the formation of flowers, can withstand frost. However, annual shoots can be damaged by frost.
Drought is not terrible for this variety, the Eastern Darkie withstands the sultry summer period calmly, but a large amount of water in the ground negatively affects the development of the plant. If the crown is thickened, then the fruits and flowers will be affected by fruit rot.
The soil for the described variety must be fertile, then a rich harvest can be achieved.