Content
Cherry Zhivitsa is a unique hybrid of cherry and sweet cherry obtained in Belarus. This variety has many names: Duke, Gamma, Cherry and others. The early maturing Griot Ostheimsky and Denisena Zheltaya were chosen as the parents of this variety. It was entered into the State Register in 2002, and since 2005 its active cultivation began in Russia and Ukraine.
Description of Zhivitsa cherries
The plant has an almost straight trunk and a rounded crown, slightly elongated from bottom to top. The density of the branches is medium, the foliage is high. The branches are raised and sagging. The trunk color is brownish-gray.
The leaves are elongated. They are about 12 cm long and 3-4 cm wide. The color is deep green. Most of the buds are formed on the shoots of the current year.
The flowers are medium-sized, white. The flowering period begins in mid-May. The variety is self-fertile, that is, fruiting without pollinators will be practically absent.
Cherry crown top Zhivitsa
The variety is classified as early maturing and winter hardy. Recommended for cultivation throughout Belarus and Ukraine, as well as in Central Russia. However, due to its good frost resistance, it perfectly adapts in colder regions. There is numerous evidence of the successful cultivation of Zhivitsa cherry in the regions of the Urals and Western Siberia.
The hybrid has also adapted in the South. It is successfully grown in the North Caucasus and the Astrakhan region, although it has no commercial value in these regions, since it is possible to grow more productive heat-loving varieties in them.
Sizes and height of Zhivitsa cherry
The diameter of the plant's trunk rarely exceeds 10-12 cm. The rounded crown has dimensions from 1.5 to 2.5 m. The height of the cherry Zhivitsa can range from 2.5 m to 3 m.
Description of fruits
Cherry berries Zhivitsa are round and medium in size. Their weight does not exceed 3.7-3.9 g. They have a relatively fragile delicate skin of a dark red color. The flesh of the hybrid is dense, but at the same time very juicy. It has the same color as the skin. The stone is small in size, freely separating from the pulp.
Ripe cherry fruits Zhivitsa
The taste is assessed as very good, close to excellent. A subtle sourness can be traced in it. On a five-point scale, the taste of Zhivitsa cherries is estimated at 4.8 points. The use of fruits is universal, they are eaten raw and processed. In conservation, they show themselves well, do not wander and do not explode.
Pollinators for cherries Zhivitsa
All cherry-cherry hybrids still lack self-fertile specimens. This is a serious problem for breeders, over which they have been fighting for decades. Cherry Zhivitsa was no exception. In addition, it lacks the possibility of cross-pollination with its cultivar or related ones. For this purpose, all "Ducs" need only parental cultures.
You can use the previously mentioned Griot and Denisenu as a pollinator, but the use of closely related varieties is also permissible. These include: Seedling No. 1, Novodvorskaya, Vianok.
As a last resort, you can try to pollinate with an unrelated crop. For this task, any varieties blooming around this time (1-2 decades of May) are suitable. It is possible that it will be possible to find a previously unknown spectacular pollinator for Zhivitsa cherry.
According to gardeners, the minimum required number of pollinating varieties for Zhivitsa cherry should be 3-4.
Main characteristics
The hybrid has high performance characteristics. It is one of the most profitable varieties to grow in cold climates, although some growers report average yields. On the other hand, this indicator is quite acceptable for a frost-resistant crop with fruits of similar quality.
Drought resistance, frost resistance
Drought resistance of the variety is high. Moreover, frequent watering is not recommended. Moisture should be applied under the Zhivitsa cherry only when there is a critical lack of moisture. The root system of trees is very powerful and can penetrate to a depth of several meters.
Frost resistance of the variety is high. The tree can withstand winters with temperatures down to -25 ° C. In the conditions of the Central zone, in Belarus and Ukraine, freezing was not observed even in the most severe winters.
Yield
Cherry hybrid Zhivitsa ripens in the middle of summer. Fruiting dates come at the end of June or in the first decade of July. The variety belongs to the early-growing - already for 3-4 years of life, bountiful harvests can be removed.
The yield, even with minimal care, is about 100 kg per hundred square meters. With the correct application of top dressing and adherence to planting agrotechnics, record figures are about 140 kg from the same area. On average, one tree produces about 12-15 kg of fruits.
The scope is universal. They are used for juicing and compote, as filling for baked goods. In conservation, despite the relatively soft skin, the fruits retain their integrity. Transportability and keeping quality of the variety are satisfactory.
Advantages and disadvantages
The positive qualities of the Zhivitsa cherry hybrid include:
- high productivity;
- excellent taste of fruits;
- versatility in application;
- early maturity;
- winter hardiness;
- resistance to most diseases;
- good bone separation.
Disadvantages of the variety:
- the need for multiple varieties of pollinators.
Landing rules
Planting cherries Zhivitsa does not have any peculiarities. Recommendations can only relate to the timing of planting and the layout of trees on the site. The rest of the points (pit depth, fertilization, etc.) are standard for cherries and sweet cherries in a temperate climate.
Recommended timing
Cherry Zhivitsa is recommended to be planted in spring. Autumn planting is not prohibited, but in this case, the seedling must be completely covered from frost with insulating material.
Site selection and soil preparation
There are no special requirements for the selection of the site and the quality of the soil. Cherry Zhivitsa grows well on all types of soil. The only important recommendation is that the site should be sunny.
Cherry seedlings Zhivitsa
To obtain good yields, a planting pattern of 3 m by 5 m is recommended. In this case, trees can be placed in both even rows and in a checkerboard pattern.
How to plant correctly
The planting algorithm is standard: seedlings 1-2 years old are placed in pits with a diameter of 60 cm and a depth of 50-80 cm. Up to 2 buckets of humus are placed at the bottom of the pit, which is placed in a slide.
A peg is driven into the center of the pit, to which a seedling is tied. Its root system is evenly distributed along the slopes of the hill, sprinkled with soil, tamped and watered with 20 liters of water.
It is recommended to mulch the trunk circle with a layer of sawdust or freshly cut grass for the first two years after planting.
Care features
Cherry care Zhivitsa is standard. This includes infrequent watering, top dressing in infertile soils, and regular pruning at the end of the season.
Watering and feeding schedule
Watering is done more often than once every 2-3 weeks, since the root system of mature trees is branched. With sufficient precipitation, artificial irrigation can be omitted at all.
Top dressing is done twice a season:
- at the beginning of spring - with nitrogen components (no more than 20 g per tree);
- at the end of autumn - superphosphate and potassium fertilizers (30 and 20 g per plant, respectively).
Pruning
It forms a crown on its own, so it does not need any specific pruning. However, it is believed that the farther north the growing area is, the lower the height of the tree as a whole should be. In very cold regions (with winters, when the temperature drops to -30 ° C), it is recommended to form a stem and crown in a bush-like form.
Too dense crown requiring regulatory pruning
Other types of pruning (sanitary, thinning and stimulating) have no peculiarities, they are performed as needed.
Preparing for winter
Cherry variety Zhivitsa does not need any special procedures in preparation for wintering. It is recommended to carry out sanitary pruning at the end of October and whitewash the trunks to protect against rodents.
Diseases and pests
Cherry Zhivitsa has good disease resistance. However, it is recommended to carry out regular activities to counteract diseases such as coccomycosis and moniliosis.
Cherry coccomycosis
These activities consist in regular digging of the soil at the beginning and end of the season, as well as in the destruction of dry grass and foliage in late autumn. It is recommended to spray trees and soil in the trunk circle with copper-containing preparations;
- copper chloroxide 0.4%;
- Bordeaux mixture 3%;
- copper sulfate 4.5%.
These measures should be taken during swelling of the kidneys.
Conclusion
Cherry Zhivitsa is an early ripening hybrid of cherry and sweet cherry, intended for cultivation in Central Russia, as well as in some relatively cold regions. Due to the unpretentiousness of the plant, the good taste of the fruits and the versatility of their use, this variety is one of the most successful for private cultivation in most regions. The plant's yield indicators are quite high.
