Chocolate Girl - Sweet Queen of Cherries
Cherries can be found in most orchards and summer cottages throughout the country. At the same time, as a result of breeding work, dozens of new varieties have appeared, sometimes significantly differing from each other. This article will tell you about such an interesting variety as Shokoladnitsa cherry, its features and care conditions.
Description of the variety
Cherry Shokoladnitsa is the result of crossing the varieties Lyubskaya and Consumer goods black. Shokoladnitsa is a young variety bred in 1996. Its advantages: winter-hardy, has a high yield, self-fertile.
Cherry Shokoladnitsa usually does not grow higher than 2.5 meters (pictured), the crown of the tree does not differ in density, the leaf is ordinary obovate, with a sharp base, a blunt top and a matte green surface. The bark is gray-brown.
The tree bears its first harvest in the 4th year of life. Usually, the flowering time is May, and the berries ripen by mid-July. From the description, we conclude that this is an early cherry.
The fruits of the Shokoladnitsa (pictured) resemble in appearance and taste the ordinary cherries growing in the southern regions of Ukraine - they are dark burgundy in color (perhaps hence the name of the variety - the color of ripe cherries strongly resembles chocolate) and sweet, with a slight sourness. The average berry weight is 3.5 g, the seed is relatively small and accounts for 8% of the berry weight. In this case, the bone is well separated. The crop harvested from one tree is about 11.5 kg of fruits.
However, the variety also has disadvantages: Shokoladnitsa is susceptible to fungal diseases such as moniliosis and coccomycosis.
Growing conditions
The variety, according to the description, was originally bred for reproduction in the gardens of the Central region of Russia. Like most other cherries, it prefers slightly acidic, neutral light sandy loam soils that are rich in nutrients and have good drainage. Before planting, the soil is fertilized with humus or manure. It does not take root well in areas with groundwater passing close to the surface, as well as in humid lowlands. This cherry is very fond of the sun and warm climate, so it is recommended to plant it on the southern border of the summer cottage or garden, well-lit by the sun's rays, so as not to be in the shade of other trees. The tree can grow and bloom in the shade, but yields are significantly reduced.
Planting seedlings (the diagram is shown in the photo) usually occurs in mid-spring (April) or early autumn (September). The pit can be prepared just before planting or in advance. Traditionally, as for most cherry blossoms, the width of the dug hole should not be less than 60-70 cm, and the optimal depth should be 60 cm. Sprinkle the bottom of the hole with soil fertilized with ash or humus, place the seedling and fill it up. In this case, it is necessary to ensure that the roots of the plant do not bend or break. The seedling must be watered with standing water and, after the soil subsides, adjust the location of the trunk neck so that it does not go deep into the ground and is not located high above the ground. The ideal option is 3-4 cm from the surface. Then you should mulch the trunk circle with a mixture of sawdust and humus.
Cherry planting scheme
Care features
Cherries need regular maintenance. It should be noted: although the Shokoladnitsa cherry is a self-pollinated plant, experts recommend planting an additional pollinator nearby in the garden to increase crop volumes. For this purpose, ordinary varieties of cherries are perfect, as well as cherry Vladimirskaya, Griot or Sklyanka.
If you plant a garden with several trees of this variety, then keep a distance between the seedlings of 2-3 m. The annual growth of Shokoladnitsa is at least 0.7 m.
Agricultural technology includes regular activities for watering, pruning, fertilizing, loosening, weeding the soil around the seedlings. In early spring, pruning is carried out 3-4 weeks before the beginning of the process of bud swelling. Top dressing with nitrogen fertilizers is carried out in the spring, and phosphorus and potash fertilizers - in the fall. Mineral fertilizers are recommended to be applied during the growing season, before the plant begins to bloom.
The tree is generously watered at the flowering stage and when the berries begin to ripen (watering schemes are shown in the photo). During this period of time, up to 3-4 buckets of water are poured under the tree.
It is worth noting that a tree can tolerate not only severe frosts, but also drought, doing without watering for quite a long time due to its well-developed root system.
Due to the weakness of the Shokoladnitsa before fungal infections, it is necessary to regularly check the crown in search of diseased leaves and branches, and in case of detection, remove those and spray with antibacterial drugs.
The description of the features will not be complete unless it is clarified that in the winter period the bark of the tree is very popular with rodents - therefore, in winter it is advisable to wrap the trunks with cloth.
Cherry Shokoladnitsa is an excellent example of the art of selection. The variety turned out with excellent agrotechnical qualities. And if you know the intricacies of caring for this cherry - 12 kg of harvest from each tree are guaranteed to you.
Cherry Tree Care Video
This video will show you how to care for cherry varieties.