Cherry Bolotovskaya

Cherry Bolotovskaya, the main of which was the wild steppe cherry, which, together with Ordinary, Cherry, Felt and Magalebskaya, is one of the five existing types of edible cherry.

Each type is special. If we talk about the steppe, then it grows in the form of a multi-stem bush and withstands the frosty cold. This is the main reason for its cultivation in the northern latitudes.

A bit of history

The basis of this cultivated variety of fruit cherries, created by the amateur gardener A.I.Bolotov, was the wild steppe cherry. Later, the Bolotovskaya cherry variety was tested in Sverdlovsk at a gardening station. The variety was studied in detail by N.I. Gvozdyukov and M.G. Isakov, and later it was transferred to the state varietal test. As a result, it was recommended to grow Bolotovskaya cherry on the Ural land.

Cherry Bolotovskaya: variety description and characteristics

Cherry Bolotovskaya: photo of the variety

At Bolotovskaya cherry, spreading bushes are formed, reaching a height of 1 m 80 cm. Bushes with a dense crown of medium size and drooping branches, with an angular arrangement of each bud to the shoot.

The leaves of the culture are oval, slightly wavy, elongated and serrated, with a pointed top, glossy, rich green. Cuttings reach a length of 0.8 cm, anthocyanin coloration.

The Bolotovskaya cherry variety is fast-growing: after a year, the plant gains maximum height, and later begins to grow in width.

In white flowers, petals are collected in five pieces on bouquet branches and last year's shoots.

The color of the fruit is dark red, the shape is broadly round with a medium funnel. The weight of one cherry is up to 4 grams. This variety is one of the largest among the steppe cherries. The pulp and juice of the fruit is red with a well-separating stone. The berry is sweet and sour (3.5 points, the taste is satisfactory). Cherries adhere perfectly to the stalk, crack or crumble very rarely.

Bolotovskaya cherry feels comfortable in the Urals.

Next, we will tell you about the characteristics of this variety in relation to the recommended growing regions. It should be noted that in the southern part of Russia, Bolotovskaya cherry will suffer from high temperatures, and in the north - from too low.

• About the degree of drought resistance and winter hardiness

Bolotovskaya cherry has a well-defined drought tolerance. If it is a rainy summer, then watering is not needed at all, however, in the autumn period, moisture charging is simply necessary.

Now about winter hardiness. With this, everything is very good: even in case of freezing, the plant quickly recovers.

• Pollination, flowering and ripening periods

The Bolotovskaya cherry variety is self-fertile, and, accordingly, does not need additional pollinators. Productivity is high even with lonely planting of fruit trees. It can also be pollinated by other varieties.

The blooming period of Bolotovskaya cherry is considered late - from the end of the last spring month to the beginning of summer. Late flowering guarantees that it will not fall into recurrent frosts.

The fruiting period is extended, from the first decade of August. By ripening, this variety belongs to the middle late.

• About yield and fruiting

We can safely talk about the regular fruiting of this variety, about an excellent harvest from the 3rd year and over the next thirty years (this applies to self-rooted plants). To maintain yields at a good level and for a long period, regular feeding and anti-aging pruning are necessary.The average yield of Bolotovskaya cherries per hectare of land is from 70 to 80 centners. Thanks to these numbers, it is easy to understand that this variety is actively used by both private and industrial horticulture.

• How berries are used

The Bolotovskaya cherry variety is mainly used for technical purposes. This is due to its mediocre taste (only 3.8 points) - sour cherry. But the juice, jam or compote from it are wonderful (4.3 points).

• About resistance to diseases and harmful insects

We can talk about the susceptibility of Bolotovskaya cherry to a number of fungal diseases (the main ones are moniliosis, coccomycosis). On the contrary, typical pests bypass it. Very rarely, she can be pestered by an invasion of a slimy sawfly or aphids.

Cherry Bolotovskaya: advantages and disadvantages

Cherry Bolotovskaya: photo of the variety

Knowing about the technical purpose of this cherry, one should not expect rare taste from it. But the excellent harvests and the usefulness of the fruits cover all the disadvantages.

So, in more detail about the advantages of Bolotovskaya cherry. Against the background of high frost resistance, self-fertility and resistance to hot temperatures, this variety has a high yield. Due to the small size of the bushes, you can easily collect cherries. In addition, the fruits do not crumble or crack, the plant bears fruit regularly with dry tearing of large berries. Due to the late flowering, you can be sure that the shrubs will not damage the return frosts. This variety is resistant to the defeat of harmful insects.

The main disadvantages of the Bolotovskaya cherry variety are its relatively sour taste, instability to some fungal diseases and the ability to grow far from all latitudes.

Cherry Bolotovskaya: planting varieties

Steppe cherry Bolotovskaya with its own characteristics and requirements. She is not capricious and difficult to care for. You just need to pay attention to the choice of the time and place of disembarkation.

• About the recommended timing

The Bolotovskaya cherry variety should not be in a hurry to plant, early spring is not suitable for this. It is necessary to wait until the soil warms up sufficiently. On average, this is May, and in the northern Urals - early June.

• How to choose the right place

For cherries, these should not be wetlands and lowlands. It is best to plant in an open area or a small hill, protected from the cold wind with a fence, wall or other trees.

The landing site should be well lit. For Bolotovskaya cherry, sunlight is the main thing that is needed for fruiting. Otherwise, rotting of the lower berries threatens, drying of the upper ones, and in general a lack of harvest.

Remember:

• the sun-love of the steppe cherry is much higher than the ordinary one;
• Bolotovskaya cherry gives preference to calcareous soils, therefore, dolomite flour should be present in other soil along with humus;
• if deoxidation of the soil is required, then it is better to do this using dolomite flour, and not lime.

• What is better to plant together with Bolotovskaya cherry?

Other varieties of cherry trees will become excellent companion neighbors for Bolotovskaya cherries. Since it grows beautifully on its own, it is better that there are no overgrowing shrubs nearby. Otherwise, there will be many problems with interlacing roots.

In the near-stem circle of the Bolotovskaya steppe cherry, even after rooting, it is better not to plant ground cover plants. With constant loosening, this will contribute to an excellent supply of oxygen to the root system.

• On the selection and preparation of seedlings

Bolotovskaya steppe cherry is perfectly propagated with the help of root shoots. Therefore, when buying seedlings, you should pay special attention to the developed root system. Moreover, such plants are not capricious and more durable.

For confidence in the purchase, buy seedlings from a special nursery or a large garden center.

The roots of the seedlings should be developed, the trunk with the bark intact, and the branches should be elastic.

Have you decided to take up the landing? Then water the young plants first. With an open root system, it should be soaked for three hours. With dried roots, they are soaked for a longer time (up to 24 hours).

• How to plant Bolotovskaya cherries correctly (in stages)

It is not necessary to prepare planting holes for Bolotovskaya cherries in the fall, since they are planted in heated soil.

You need to prepare a fertile earthen mixture. To do this, mix dolomite flour (0.5 kg), humus (bucket), phosphorus fertilizers (50 g). Dolomite flour contains a sufficient amount of potassium.

Planting pits (0.6 × 0.6 × 0.6 m) need to be dug a couple of weeks before planting.

And now the stages of planting Bolotovskaya cherry varieties:

• Saplings are installed in the central part of the pits.
• The roots are gradually covered with soil mixture and tamped with care so that no air voids remain. The distance between the root collar and the ground should be 50 mm.
• The near-barrel circle is framed by a side.
• Watering is carried out (2-3 buckets per 1 seedling).

Cherry Bolotovskaya: leaving

Cherry Bolotovskaya: photo of the variety

During the first season, seedlings of the Bolotovskaya cherry variety must be watered regularly, loosened the soil and weed out. For subsequent seasons, spring and summer should be watered with insufficient precipitation (once a month) and in the autumn period with the same frequency.

The culture is fed with organic fertilizers (ash, humus), I add an additional dose of phosphorus fertilizers, since Bolotovskaya has a special need for phosphorus.

Fertilization periods:

• Nitrogen - spring;
• Potash - autumn;
• Phosphorous - autumn.

The soil must often be loosened and freed from weeds.

Sanitary and formative pruning is done every year.

For a fifteen-year-old plant, a rejuvenating procedure should be carried out - the removal of old skeletal branches.

Shelter for the winter period of this cherry variety is not required, since the steppe cherry is not afraid of even very severe frosts. But protection against rodents should be installed: it can serve as a special mesh; burlap or straw may also work, but this is not very convenient.

About diseases, pests and methods of control and protection

Cherry Bolotovskaya: photo of the variety

Bolotovskaya cherry is quite resistant to many harmful insects. Most often it is affected by fungal diseases. We will tell you more about the main diseases, as well as about therapeutic and prophylactic actions.

With coccomycosis, the leaf blades are covered with dots, which gradually increase and form holes. The leaves turn yellow and fall to the ground. The plant is treated with preparations with copper (in spring) or with the help of iron sulfate (in autumn). For prevention: the fallen leaves are removed, regularly cut and sprayed with the above preparations.

With moniliosis, young vegetative organs and even whole branches dry out. If the disease is neglected, cracks appear on the bark. Plant treatment consists of removing the affected parts of the tree, partly along with healthy tissue. Preventive treatments with copper preparations are also useful. As a preventive measure, fallen leaves are also removed and pruned regularly.

With cherry aphids, the plant is covered with small winged insects that suck out cell juices from young leaves and shoots. As a result, the vegetative organs are deformed (stickiness appears). Treat aphids by spraying with soapy water (in case there are not so many aphids). In more serious cases, use appropriate insecticides. As a preventive measure, they destroy anthills and regularly prune them.

With a cherry slime, gnawed leaves appear due to larvae that look like leeches. Treatment with insecticide treatment is necessary (Aktelik). As a preventive measure, regular pruning and preventive treatment with an insecticide are used.

Cherry Bolotovskaya: reviews of gardeners

Anna Moiseenkova, 67 years old, Kurgan region: “We have Bolotovskaya cherries on our site, and every year we collect a large harvest of cherries. It is sour, and you just can't eat it, but the jams and juices come out of it excellent. We do not keep special pollinators for her, we do not cover from the cold. She doesn't need to. In some winter there was no snow at all, and one bush, they thought, would not leave. But in the spring he gave greens, and later - and beautiful berries. "

Raisa Stepanova, 49 years old, Kamensk-Uralsky: “Not every cherry is suitable for our climate. Bolotovskaya steppe cherry was a wonderful find for me. The variety is not at all a problem: I do not cover in winter, no pollinators are needed, it does not freeze in spring, as it blooms late. And he gives berries every year and in large quantities!

Outcome

In conclusion, I would like to say only warm words about Bolotovskaya cherry. Its capriciousness, resistance to the Ural bad weather and unpretentiousness only pleases its owners. Just like excellent preparations in the form of jam, compotes and juices. Cherry Bolotovskaya will delight those who are engaged in the cultivation and cultivation of cherries on an industrial scale in the Ural region.