Duke shpanka Donetsk description. We grow cherry varieties shpanka. The best pollinating varieties are

Those who wish to plant Shpanka cherries in their garden may be misled by the variety of varieties. The market will offer Shpanki: dwarf, Bryansk, Shimskaya, Donetsk. They differ appearance and size (from dwarf to giant), life and fruiting periods, berry quality and yield. Therefore, each Shpanka requires a closer acquaintance.

Description of the Shpanka cherry variety

Shpanka belongs to the so-called folk varieties, the authors and exact date whose origin is unknown. It was isolated in the 19th or early 20th century (and according to other sources - more than 200 years ago) as a result of crossing cherries and cherries, therefore, with scientific point of view, it is a hybrid that has become a separate resistant variety. For many decades, Shpanka has proven itself well and has spread widely throughout the territories of Russia, Ukraine and Moldova.

The origin of Shpanka cherry is difficult to establish, therefore it is called the "folk" variety.

The height of the tree reaches 6 m, but there are specimens up to 10 m high. The life of the plant is 20–25 years. In some cases, with proper anti-aging pruning, up to 30 years or even more, but that's not all. When the cherry begins to age, one root shoot is left under it. Then withered old barrel cut down, and a new tree remains on the way to fruiting. Thus, without any problems, it is possible to keep cherry plantings in one place for many decades. AT Central Chernozem and other regions, there are still old plantings of cherries that have been growing since the late 40s - early 50s of the last century.

With proper pruning and proper care the life of a cherry tree can be stretched for decades

The trunk and perennial branches of Shpanka are dark brown, young ones are much lighter. This is important to know, because cherries bear fruit exclusively on young shoots, which is taken into account when pruning. The leafiness of the crown is medium. Therefore, Shpanka is not prone to thickening, it does not shade itself inside the crown a little, even without thinning pruning. Branches do not grow up, like pyramidal varieties but at right angles to the trunk, parallel to the ground. This can be considered a minus, because under the weight big harvest they can sometimes break and require the installation of props. Shpanka's leaf is long, 7–8 cm, more like a cherry leaf, petioles are pink.

Shpanka gives the first small harvest 5 years after planting a 1.5–2-year-old seedling. Then, over the years, it increases the yield, reaching a peak at 15–18 years. At this age, one tree can produce 50–60 kg of berries. The average yield in other periods of life is considered to be 35–40 kg. The berry is flattened, up to 5–6 g in weight, which is considered large for cherries, in a ripe state of maroon color, juicy. The flesh inside is yellow, the stone is separated easily. The berries are sweet, juicy, with a slight sourness.

In terms of taste and quality of berries, Shpanka has very good performance among cherries precisely because it inherited part of its progenitor - sweet cherries. However, the fruits are not stored for long, they require quick processing or freezing.

Harvest ripens by mid-summer. Fruiting is gradual, stretches almost until the end of summer. Ripe fruits fall off by themselves at the slightest breath of wind, so they must be collected on time.

Shpanka is considered self-fertile, that is, it does not require cross-pollination with neighboring cherries - both male and female grow on the same tree. female flowers. A lone tree will bear fruit. But the harvest is more abundant and the quality of the fruit is higher if Shpanka grows in a group of cherries of any other varieties.

mature tree Shpanki gives up to 40 kg of cherries

Shpanka is a hardy variety that tolerates drought and very coldy in winter (up to -35 ° C). But the properties of the heat-loving ancestor (cherries) do not allow the variety to spread far to the north. Cherry can endure winter, but too short a summer will not allow the fruits to ripen. However, Shpanka is growing in the Moscow region and in the Middle Volga region.

cherry breeding

Shpanka is successfully propagated by root shoots. Removal of offspring under the trunk is a mandatory maintenance operation, because they deplete the main tree. And if the growth is not touched, then in a few years it will become a competitor to the main trunks and to each other, cause thickening, as a result, instead of a garden, there will be abandoned impassable jungles with a small crop.

The shoots are cut off at ground level, leaving no hemp, then thrown away or burned. But you can use it as a planting material. To do this, choose a suitable seedling from what has grown at the moment or, cutting out the shoots, leave a few of the strongest shoots in order to transplant them in a year or two. It is optimal to transplant 1.5–2-year-old shoots 60–80 cm high.

The seedling chosen for transplantation is dug up to the depth of the spade bayonet around the perimeter, pulled out along with the ground, trying to keep as many roots intact as possible. In the process of extracting the seedling, a horizontal thick uterine root coming from the main tree will find itself. It is chopped off with a shovel or bitten with a pruner. When digging up the undergrowth, one should not forget that the work is going on in the zone of the root system of a living tree, therefore there is no need to dig too much. The hole is then covered with loose soil and sprinkled with fallen leaves or mulch. The seedling is placed on damp burlap and covered with it all root system.

Properly cut root growth taken out together with the roots and earthen clod

But if you manage to find a 2.5-3-year-old shoot that already looks like an independent seedling, you can transplant it too, this will speed up the first harvest by 1-2 years. In an abandoned garden, you can also find a 4–5-year-old seedling. But the older he is, the worse it takes root, and the larger volume roots and earth will have to move with it.

It can also be propagated by grafting outbred but hardy cherries onto a stock. But it is more difficult and time consuming, because first you need to grow a stock, then wait for the grafted shoot to grow back.

Landing Shpanka

In the southern regions, Shpanka can be planted during the dormant period:

in autumn, as soon as the leaves fall and until about mid-October;
in the spring, before the start of sap flow.

Place

Shpanke needs sunny place. In the southern regions, shading is allowed below, for example, from remote fences or low buildings. In the Moscow region, other colder regions in shady places, snow melts longer, the earth warms up worse, the growing season of the tree is reduced, so the place should be completely sunny.

There are places between buildings where drafts blow even in calm weather. Such places are not suitable for cherries.

Priming

Shpanka needs loose, loose, but sufficiently moisture-intensive soil. Structureless sticky alumina or heavy loam is not suitable, in which the roots will not be able to develop well. The soil should not be acidic, but neutral or slightly alkaline, with a pH of about 7. Groundwater should be no higher than 1.5 m from the soil surface.

Landing algorithm

The sequence of steps when planting cherries:

Dig up landing pit by the size of the roots, better with a small margin in depth and width.
Fully mature loose humus is mixed into the soil in the proportion of 1 part of humus to 3 parts of soil. To this mixture is added wood ash at the rate of 1 liter per 20 liters of soil.
The root system of the seedling should be freely placed in the planting pit.
A wooden stake or a metal pipe is driven into the bottom of the pit in the center.
Yes, the bottom of the pit is filled with a mound of prepared soil.
On its top, the roots of the seedling are straightened.
The plant should be at the same depth at which it grew in the old place, which is clearly visible from the color of the bark. But in any case, you can not fill up the root neck, it should be at the level of the soil. If the seedling sat low, they pull it out, sprinkle the earth on the mound below.
The roots of the seedling are located on a mound, the root neck should not be covered with earth
Having decided on the height, the roots are covered with loose soil, leaving no air voids, the soil is gently rammed with a foot.
Water 10-20 liters of water, depending on the size of the pit and seedling, soil moisture.
The tree is watered, taking into account soil moisture
The seedling is tied to a support stake with soft linen twine or a strip of cloth.
The trunk circle is covered with mulch.

Features of care

Shpanka care - top dressing, pruning, pest and disease control - is almost standard, like for all tall cherries. Some features:

Shpanka is planted no closer than 3 m from each other. If the area allows, you can increase the distance to 3.5–4 m between the rows. This is a tall tree with a very branched root system - 2–2.5 times wider than the crown area.
In the process of growth, like all old varieties, Shpanka practically does not require top dressing, especially on black soil and other fertile soils. But competent top dressing with organic matter or modern fertilizers, especially on scarce soils, can be beneficial.
The variety is resistant to fungal diseases, coccomycosis and monolial burn, which simplifies care.
The tree may require watering if there is no rain, during flowering and ovary formation.
In abnormally cold frosts, it is important that the ground under the tree is covered with a thick layer of snow. If there is no snow, you will have to cover the soil with a layer of mulch made of sawdust, humus, foliage, hay, straw, manure, compost or peat with a layer of about 10 cm. The main thing is that the roots do not freeze.
If some of the branches freeze in winter, cut them off in spring.

Many years of experience in growing Shpanka has shown that almost the only problem in its cultivation is harvesting from a tall tree.

Varieties of the Shpanka variety

At the end of the 20th - beginning of the 21st century, on the basis of the old Shpanka variety, breeders created new varieties that are also worthy of the attention of gardeners.

Shpanka Bryansk

The variety was included in the State Register in 2009 and is recommended for use in the Central Region. The trunk is short, of medium height, that is, below the old Shpanka. The shoots do not grow parallel to the ground, but upwards, which is why the tree has a different shape. The color of the bark is gray-olive. The fruits are smaller, up to 4 g in weight, round-shaped, light red. Sakharov is gaining up to 9%, which is far from a record, so the taste of ripe fruits is not sweet and sour, but, on the contrary, sweet and sour. It is considered self-fertile, able to bear fruit on a single tree. early term maturation.

The average yield of Shpanka Bryansk, according to the State Register, is 73 q per 1 ha, that is, 73 kg per 100 m 2, or about 8 kg per trunk. According to other sources, Shpanka Bryansk gives about 35-40 kg from one trunk, which is closer to reality.

Shpanka Shimskaya

The variety was named after the place of origin - Shimsky district of the Leningrad region. Therefore, it is perfectly adapted to the conditions of the North-West.

An early ripening variety, the berries ripen in late June - early July. Fruits until August. The further south the region, the faster fruiting begins. From one adult trunk, you can collect up to 45–55 kg of fruit. It begins to bear fruit from 3-4 years, the lifespan is up to 25 years. Medium-sized fruits, up to 3.5 g, light red even when ripe, sweet, sour. The pulp is light pink, the juice is not coloring.

The tree is medium-sized, up to 3 m in height. The crown is bushy, sparse, not requiring thinning pruning. The bark is very dark, almost black even on young biennial shoots. It tolerates winter well, but can sometimes suffer from fungal disease, monilial burn, which will require treatment with fungicides.

The variety is self-fertile, therefore it requires planting in a group with pollinators, cherries of other varieties, for example, Vladimirskaya or Korostynskaya.

Shpanka Donetsk

Like Shimskaya, it was named after the place of origin - the Donetsk Experimental Horticulture Station. It is a hybrid of sweet cherry and cherry. The crown in the first years is in the form of a pyramid, then becomes rounded. The variety produces record-breaking large berries - up to 6–7 g. The fruits are light red, the flesh is yellow, the taste is sweet and sour. The variety is winter-hardy and drought-resistant. In severe frosts in winter, it can suffer, but is able to recover quickly. The susceptibility to fungal diseases is average.

The tree begins to bear fruit at the age of 3–4 years, reaching its peak at 9–12 years.

A variety of low self-fertility, a single tree will give a small yield. Therefore, it requires planting in a group for mutual pollination. In warm regions, for pollination, it is recommended to plant not cherries or hybrids, but cherries.

Shpanka Donetska has large light red berries

The berries of Shpanka dwarf are different excellent taste. It is a hybrid of cherries and sweet cherries, so it has the taste of sweet cherries combined with the best tasting cherries. The variety is considered tenacious and hardy, resistant to frosty winters, fungal diseases and pests, therefore it grows successfully in the North-West.

The average height of an adult tree Shpanka dwarf - no more than 3 m

Kursk shpanka

This variety was isolated by plant breeders almost a century ago. And in 1938, he was given a separate name Shpanka early, or Kursk, after the place of origin, in order to avoid confusion in the group of varieties also known as Shpanka. Many still confuse it with the large southern Shpanka. But it's two individual varieties, which are very different from each other. Kursk shpanka is not a hybrid with cherries, but pure cherries, it belongs to the Amorel type, that is, red cherries with colorless juice. The variety was widely distributed in the Kursk region, less common in neighboring regions. In more northern areas, it never grew, perhaps due to low winter hardiness. And even in the southern regions, cherries were heavily frozen in harsh winters.

The variety is early, the fruits ripen from mid-June. The tree reaches a height of 4 m. The crown is wide and sprawling, sparse, the shoots are thick, gray-brown. Productivity depends on wintering conditions of flower buds. If the buds do not freeze, the tree produces up to 30 kg of fruit. Fruiting begins at 4-5 years. Lifespan up to 25 years, peak yield occurs at 12-18 years.

Propagated by grafting on seedlings of sour local cherries. This increases its frost resistance. Although it can be propagated by root shoots. For pollination, you need to plant it in a group with varieties of the same height - Vladimirskaya, Kentskaya and varieties of the Griot group.

Something hot, sultry emanates from the name of the Spanka cherry variety. Spain is encrypted in it, the color of the berry resembles the blood of bulls injured in a bullfight, the sweet taste with pleasant sourness evokes memories of passionate Carmen. rare garden in the south, it does without sprawling trees, giving a light shade and a harvest of unusual juicy berries.

The history of the appearance of the Shpanka variety

It is known that cherries are descended from sweet cherries. Both have their own advantages. But hybrids of cherries and sweet cherries turned out to be even better, not without reason they were called duks. "Duke" means duke, and the status of the resulting hybrids is noble, corresponding to their special qualities.

Spanka berries are large and sweet

It remains a mystery as a result of crossing which varieties of cherries and sweet cherries Shpanka turned out, who called the successful hybrid that way, but according to the descriptions, Shpanka has been known in Ukraine for more than two hundred years. Thanks to great taste, productivity and disease resistance, the Shpanka cherry variety victoriously spread further to the south of Russia and Moldova. Shpanka got to Central Asia. The work of breeders on the zoning of Shpanka does not stop, the Shpanka Bryanskaya variety has already been registered in the State Register.

Variety Description

The tree is tall, can reach six meters, however, trees up to ten meters tall are also described, which makes it difficult to care for the variety and harvest. The crown is wide, rounded, not very dense and leafy. Thin, brittle like all cherries, the shoots depart from the trunk at a right angle. The leaves are oval, large, more like cherry. The flowers are white, collected in inflorescences of two or three. The anthers of the stamens rise above the stigma of the pistil, but the variety is partially self-fertile. Needs pollinators.

Shpanka flowers are collected in inflorescences of two or three

The fruits are large, the average weight of berries is 4–5 g. The skin is slightly lighter than cherry, with a barely noticeable abdominal seam. The shape of the berries is slightly flattened, easily separated from the stem. The pulp is very juicy, lighter than the skin, sweet and sour. The bone is easily separated. The taste depends on the place where the tree grows: what more light and heat, the sweeter the berry. The fruits do not tolerate transportation well and do not lie for a long time. Used in fresh, in home preparations and for making excellent wine.

Cherry berries of the Shpanka variety do not tolerate transportation well.

Shpanka blooms early, so the harvest suffers from returning spring frosts, although the tree calmly tolerates winter frosts down to -30 ° C. The flowering of the shpanka falls in May. The fruits ripen in June or early July. After ripening, the berries fall off, so you need to harvest on time.

Shpanka is not an early-growing variety. It begins to bear fruit in the fifth or sixth year, gradually increasing the yield. Fruiting is stable. The maximum yield is given by cherries at the age of fifteen to twenty years. The average yield of mature trees is 40 kg of berries, the maximum yield is up to 60 kg per tree. Trees usually do not live more than 25 years.

Due to the partial self-fertility of the variety, to increase the yield, it is recommended to plant pollinators: Brunetka, Griot Ostheimsky, Lyubskaya or any other varieties of cherries or sweet cherries that coincide with Shpanka in terms of flowering.

To attract bees blooming trees sprayed with a weak solution of fragrant honey.

Photo gallery: pollinating varieties for Shpanka variety

The first description of the Griot Ostheim cherry dates back to 1796. Cherry Brunetka - fast-growing, self-pollinating variety Cherry Lyubskaya - an old domestic variety, famous for its high yields

Cherry wood is resistant to frost, but the branches often break under the weight of the crop. The variety is resistant to diseases: coccomycosis, a thunderstorm of all cherry trees, and moniliosis. As a preventive measure, usually in the spring, plantings are treated with a 1% solution of copper sulfate or Bordeaux mixture.

Landing

Cherries do not like heavy soils. In the southern regions, the soil composition is more favorable for planting: sandy, sandy or light loams predominate. The soil reaction is slightly acidic or close to neutral, which is also favorable for cultivation. With a close occurrence of underground ground water cherries are planted on a hill or a kind of embankment is built to ensure a distance of at least one and a half to two meters from the water. At the same time, they try to protect the plantings from cold northern winds. When planting, take into account the need for pollinators to obtain a full crop. Between seedlings provide a distance of at least four meters. Cherries are usually planted in early spring.

It is better to purchase containerized seedlings in order to less injure the roots when planting.

For landing:

Features of cultivation and care

Shpanka is considered unpretentious variety so maintenance is not difficult. This cherry is resistant to frost and drought. To prevent frost cracks, it is necessary to whiten the tree trunk and the nearest skeletal branches. The variety is quite resistant to diseases, but it is recommended to carry out preventive spraying in early spring with the use of copper preparations or fungicides ( Bordeaux liquid, copper oxychloride, Tsifoks, Mustang and others).

It is necessary to water the tree in time so that the ovary does not fall off, since the formation of the ovary, along with flowering, is an important period for the ripening of the crop. And for laying the future harvest and in preparation for the winter dormancy period, they are watered immediately after picking the berries and at the end of October. The rest of the time, watering is done only if the soil under the mulch is dry, bringing 20–25 liters of water under the tree, depending on the need. Cherry Spanka does not tolerate excessive watering.

During the summer trunk circle you can mulch with freshly cut grass: the soil under it will remain loose and saturated with organic matter longer due to the overheating of greenery, and weeds will not grow.

Shpanka cherry - productive and unpretentious variety

Since the fruits of Shpanka are formed on bouquet twigs and annual shoots, regular pruning of the tree is necessary. Remove all weak branches, thickening, crossing, growing inside the crown, injured and rubbing. In addition, it is important to form a tiered arrangement of branches on the tree to ensure maximum crown illumination.

Video: Shpanka cherry pruning

Reproduction of Shpanka cherry variety

Shpanka is propagated by its own offspring or by grafting onto seedlings of other cherry varieties. Grafted cherries are characterized by earlier fruiting.

Shpanka cherries can be propagated by grafting onto other varieties

To prepare high-quality seedlings, the shoots are separated from mother plant and create favorable conditions for growth and formation of a branched root system: provide complete feeding and watering.

Every gardener who knows a lot about cherries has probably heard about her old variety - "shpanka". In this article, we will describe the spanka cherry variety and tell you how to grow it. You can learn more about this plant, which nature itself created in order to delight our taste and delight the eye.

History and selection

Cherry "shpanka" has been known for over two hundred years. It appeared in Ukraine as a result of an independent mutation or after cross-pollination of cherries and cherries. Ukrainians noticed the new kind and began to use it widely. “Shpanka” came to Russia a long time ago, but only in several subspecies: Shim and Kursk. Shpanka liked gardeners so much that today it is considered one of the best types.

general characteristics

Cherry "shpanka" is fruit tree, high and powerful. Its height can reach 6 meters. The bark covering the trunk and perennial branches is dark brown, and the young branches are more light shade. The foliage forms a crown of medium splendor, it resembles a ball. Branch arrangement - another varietal feature, that is, the difference between the cherry of this variety and others. The branches form a right angle with the main shoot and hang. This sometimes results in damage, such as during gale-force winds, bad weather, or under a load of berries. The fruits are slightly flattened, dark burgundy. Branches with them resemble garlands. The taste of berries is sweet, with a sour tint. On average, a tree begins to bear fruit no later than five years after planting.

Growing regions

From Ukraine, the cherry variety "shpanka" quickly spread throughout the territory of Moldova and came to the south of Russia. Appreciated in these areas, it conquers all large area with a harsh climate. Now her numerous offspring can be found both on the middle Volga and in the Moscow region. Of course, gardeners would not refuse to take possession of it either. Far East, the Urals and Western Siberia, only, alas, the climate of these regions is too harsh and unpredictable. But breeders continue their attempts to adapt the variety for cultivation in various regions of Russia.

Tree, leaves, flowers

The leaves, like those of a sweet cherry, are elongated, with a sharp end and no more than 8 cm in length. The color of the leaves varies from rich green at the tips to a light shade of green at the base. Petioles standard sizes with a pinkish sheen. During the flowering period, "shpanka" dissolves bright white inflorescences of several large flowers.

An old omen! If pregnant women eat cherries, then they give birth to healthy children. This fact can be explained by the content of iron in the berries. It is the prevention of anemia.

Fruit quality and yield indicators

This hybrid of cherries and sweet cherries bears fruit with large burgundy berries with gloss. Each berry weighs up to 5 g. Fruits are formed on twigs annual growth. At the "spanka", like the sweet cherry, the fruits are flattened. The diameter of the berry is 1 cm, and its middle is crossed by an inconspicuous groove. The pulp is juicy and dense, of a homogeneous structure, which distinguishes it from cherries. Clear juice does not have a red tint. The taste is pleasant and refreshing.

Ripening of berries lasts for 2 months. Despite this, the harvest must be quick, as the berries fall off quickly. Abundant fruiting begins from the 6th year of life, while the yield increases annually. From a tree that is 15 years old, you can collect about 50 kg of berries. The “shpanka” lives for 20–25 years. Berries can be consumed in any form.

Tip: “People suffering from insomnia are advised to eat a handful of berries at night or drink 100 g of cherry juice. The melanin it contains soothes nervous system and causes drowsiness. But do it to people with diseases gastrointestinal tract need to be careful."

Pollinators

The description of the shpanka cherry variety indicates that the variety is self-fertile, but its self-pollination level is very low, only from 5 to 10%. Therefore, pollinating trees are planted nearby for cross-pollination. It can be either cherry or cherry. The following types of cherries may be suitable:

"Griot Ukrainian";
"chocolate girl";
"loving";
"brunette";
"persistent";
"fiery".

Advantages and disadvantages

To decide on the choice of a variety, you need to know what characteristics it has. Pros:

withstands frosts up to 40 ° C;
calmly tolerates drought;
rarely gets sick or is attacked by pests;
It has high yield- up to 50 kg per tree;
the harvest ripens in the first half of summer;
the structure of the berries is dense, which allows long-term transportation.

The berries themselves have their beneficial and harmful properties. Some of the characteristics are typical of cherry berries, others you may not know about for the first time. Benefit:

berries are a thirst quencher and increase appetite;
can be used as an antipyretic, as well as for diseases of the respiratory system, cough;
contain B vitamins, iron, trace elements potassium, magnesium and phosphorus;
due to the content of iron, increase the level of hemoglobin, can be consumed during pregnancy.

Cherry pits should not be eaten in any form. They contain poison - amygdalin. In the body, it is converted into hydrocyanic acid.
You can not use berries for people suffering from chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and having contraindications to the use of cherries.

Popular varietal varieties

The popularity of the "shpanka" prompted breeders to develop varieties with improved characteristics. "Donetsk". The result of mixing cherries and sweet cherries. Valued for speed. Harvest can be obtained as early as three years after planting the seedling. The taste of the berries is sweet and sour, fruiting is plentiful. "Donetsk shpanka" is resistant to weather changes. One tree gives up to 50 kg of berries. "Kursk". "Kursk shpanka" - early cherry. Fruiting begins in the third year after planting. The yield is good. flattened berries, taste qualities excellent. "Dwarf". Trees of this species were obtained by mixing cherries with cherries. They do not have high altitude, grow no more than three meters. Berries are juicy and sweet bright rich color. One cherry bush brings over 30 kg of fruit.

"Large-fruited". This species grows on average up to three meters. Frost and drought resistant. Fruiting occurs three years after planting. Every year the yield increases. A fifteen-year-old tree bears about 50 kg of fruit. The berries are dense and large. Both fresh and canned are good. "Shimskaya". The tree grows up to three meters, is tolerant of low temperatures, so it is widely distributed in the northern regions. The fruits can be harvested in July. The berries are large with a sweet and sour taste. After 5-6 years, "Shim shpanka" gives up to 50 kg. "Bryansk". A typical "shpanka". A feature of this species is the dense pulp of the berries. They perfectly tolerate transportation, preservation and are stored fresh for a long time. The yield of one bush is more than 35 kg.

Landing Features

Planting "shpanki" does not differ from planting other varieties of cherries. The only difference is due to tall tree, you need to observe the distance between seedlings.

cherry should be planted only in spring, so that it has a margin of time for rooting and growth;
trees should be planted, keeping a distance of approximately 4 to 6 meters between them. Enough so that they do not shade each other, but close enough so as not to disturb the pollination process;
for planting, they dig a hole half a meter deep and a meter in diameter;
the soil should be light and nutritious, but in no case acidic or clayey;
fertilizer must be applied to the seat, it can be humus or 300 g of double superphosphate and 100 g of potassium sulfate;
the roots of the selected seedling must be undamaged, if present, the damaged areas must be carefully trimmed;
when planting a seedling, you need to ensure that the neck of the root is strictly at ground level;
having planted a tree, it is necessary to make a hole around it so that water does not flow out during irrigation, then water the seedling with 40–45 liters of warm water.

care requirements

Ease of care is one of the many advantages that a "shpanka" has. She has few growing features.

Rules for watering and feeding

Watering should be timely, especially you can not run the plant during the flowering period and during the formation of berries. Four waterings for the entire season will be enough. A good indicator of watering is soil moisture 40 cm deep. An adult tree does not need watering, but the introduction of additional moisture increases the yield and taste of the fruit. To a young seedling 15–20 liters of water is enough, for an adult tree - from 80 to 100 liters per watering.

On a note! If you do not water the cherry in a drought, then the berries will be dryish, without a characteristic taste and aroma.

As the seedling grows, it needs top dressing with a complex mineral fertilizers. It must be entered into next year after landing. Until this period, the plant uses those fertilizers that were applied during planting in open ground.

A four-year-old tree needs to be fed with nitrogen fertilizers, this will allow it to grow green mass. Any fertilizer must be applied to pre-moistened soil.

Important! The soil should be periodically loosened (once a month) to provide air to the roots. During the season, this must be done several times.

Pruning and crown shaping

correct and timely pruning branches will help to give the crown the necessary shape in order to ensure a greater yield and not allow the branches to break off under the load of fruits. Thickening interferes with proper ventilation of the branches and access to light. You can start forming a crown when the cherry reaches the age of four. The best time for the procedure is spring, when the frosts are over, and the movement of the juice has not yet begun. First of all, infected and damaged branches are removed. When pruning, skeletal branches are left, evenly distributing them in space. As a result, strong branches should remain, looking in different sides. Pruning is not mandatory procedure but its effectiveness is undeniable.

How to deal with pests and diseases

Weeds and unwanted vegetation should be removed immediately. Besides the fact that they retard the growth and development of the tree, this is an excellent bait for pests. Diseases characteristic of any variety of cherry:

scab;
moniliosis;
gum treatment;
clasterosporiosis;
coccomycosis.

Cherry pests include the following insects:

mite brown;
aphid cherry;
leaf cutter bee;
fly cherry;
subcortical leaflet;
codling moth plum;
various moths and caterpillars.

In autumn, all exfoliated bark is removed and burned, the cherry trunk is whitewashed with lime.
On the eve of winter, they dig up the soil around the cherry trunk, this will get rid of insects preparing for hibernation.
Periodically shake the branches to remove intruders.
During flowering, cherries are treated with insecticide solutions.

You need to start fighting pests from early spring, when insects wake up and begin to look for food.

Do you need winter preparation?

The description of the “spanka” cherry claims that it survives the cold season tolerably. But severe winter frosts and spring frosts capable of inflicting great damage on a cherry tree sapling. In autumn, before the onset of cold weather, cherries need to be watered, so we will help her make a supply of water for the winter. In order for the shpanka to endure the winter without loss, when planting it is necessary with north side fence it off with a fence or other structure. This measure will protect young plant from adverse weather conditions. This will protect against drafts and will not allow the winds to blow snow off the near-stem soil.

A good layer of snow on the surface will not allow the root system to freeze.

To protect the “spanka” from rodents, you can whitewash the trunk or wrap it with burlap. The soil around the trunk must be cleaned, the soil loosened and mulched. When snow falls, cover the trunk area with it.

Reproduction features

Shpanka can be propagated by coppice seedlings or by grafting onto seedlings of other varieties. Grafted seedlings are characterized by early fruiting. For planting choose specimens with a powerful root system. If shoots are used, then it is first separated from the main trunk and helps to build up the root system by watering and fertilizing. Saplings of a varietal root crop produce shoots with maternal characteristics.

Cherry "Shpanka" is a hybrid of national selection of Ukrainian origin. Cherry and cherry varieties, popular in Ukraine, served as parent varieties. "Shpanka" has become widespread in the southern regions, in Ukraine and Moldova.

Cherry "Shpanka": variety description

The tree at Shpanka is powerful, tall, up to 6 meters high. The trunk and branches are covered with dark brown bark, and young shoots have a light brown bark. The leaves are large, elliptical in shape, up to 8 centimeters long. The color of the leaves is green at the base, and as they move towards the top, they become dark green. Flowers are large, five-petalled, white color, collected in inflorescences of 2-3 pieces.

The fruits of Shpanka are large, weighing 4-5 grams. Their shape is rounded-flattened, the diameter is 1 centimeter. The skin color of cherries is maroon, sometimes with a dark brown tint. The pulp is light yellow, dense, uniform, juicy. The taste of cherries is pleasant, sweet and sour. The stone is well separated from the pulp.

There are several more varieties of "Shpanki". "Shpanka dwarf" - up to 3 meters high, "Shpanka Bryanskaya" - a medium-sized variety 3-4 meters high, "Shpanka Kurskaya" - up to 4 meters high, "Shpanka Shimskaya" - the variety is adapted to the conditions of Pskov, Novgorod and Leningrad regions. There is also Shpanka Donetska - bred on the basis of the Donchanka cherry variety and the Valery Chkalov cherry, and Shpanka early - the variety ripens at the end of June.

Shpanka enters fruiting late - 5-6 years after planting. However, on rootstocks, fruiting begins 2-3 years after planting. The variety is productive and produces up to 35-40 kilograms of fruit per tree. The variety is self-infertile and requires pollinators.

The advantages of Shpanka are: frost resistance up to -35 degrees, drought resistance, good and stable yield, good transportability of berries. The disadvantages include: tall tree, late fruiting, brittle branches, the need for regular pruning.

Cherry "Shpanka": planting and care

"Shpanka" is recommended to be planted near fences and curbs to create additional protection seedlings from the wind. The best time to land in the southern and central regions Russia - autumn, somewhere at the end of September, a month before the soil freezes. In the eastern regions, it is better to plant Shpanka in the spring, in April, after the soil has warmed up enough.

If groundwater approaches the site close to the ground, cherry trees are best planted in sunny and elevated places. Best of all, the Spanka cherry variety takes root on loose, fertile soils, the acidity of which is close to neutral. Acidic soils are limed: on sandy soils, 400–500 grams of lime per 1 square meter, on heavy loamy - 600–800 grams. Lime is carefully rubbed with soil in order to avoid burns of the root system of the seedling.

Pits for spring planting cherries are prepared in autumn: the depth of the pit is 50 centimeters, the diameter is 100 centimeters. The excavated soil is mixed with a bucket of compost or humus, 150–200 grams of simple superphosphate and 100 grams potash fertilizer. In addition, up to 500 grams of reverse ash is added to the mixture. For autumn planting, pits are prepared at least 2 weeks in advance.

When planting, do not forget about pollinators. The best pollinators for the variety are: "Griot Ukrainian", "Griot Ostheim", "Resistant".

"Shpanka" is famous for its drought resistance and can go without watering for a month at a temperature of + 35-40 degrees. However, twice during the growing season the tree needs abundant watering. This is the flowering period - the end of April - May and the fruit ripening period - from mid-June. During these periods, about 20–30 liters of water must be poured under each tree daily, otherwise the taste of the fruit will deteriorate significantly.

Cherries are also fed according to the usual scheme: spring - nitrogen fertilizers, autumn - phosphorus and potassium, and carry out regular pruning of the crown to prevent its thickening.

If the task is not to collect decent harvest cherries as soon as possible, it is worth trying to grow the Spanka cherry variety in the garden. This cherry appeared due to Ukrainian folk selection as a result of crossing sweet cherries and cherries, therefore, in the description of the Shpanka cherry variety and in the photo, there are common signs of both. Most often, Shpanka can be found in Ukrainian gardens, but in Russia and Moldova, the variety has also received recognition.

Description of the Shpanka cherry variety, photo of its subspecies

The cherry tree itself grows quite high - up to 6 meters, the crown is of medium density. The main trunk and old branches have a rich brown bark, and young branches are light brown. Due to the fact that Shpanka's branches grow at right angles to the mother shoot, they often break as a result of weather conditions, under abundant fruit or at harvest.

The leaves of the hybrid (unlike ordinary cherries) are pointed, rather long, like cherry ones, grow up to 8 cm in length. They have a transitional double coloring: from the green base to the dark green top of the leaf. The petioles themselves are pink. During the flowering period, the cherry throws out inflorescences from 2-3 big flowers five petals each.

The berries of Shpanka are quite large, up to 5 grams, burgundy shiny color, they also come with a brown tint. As can be seen in the photographs describing the Shpanka cherry variety, they are more like cherries in shape - slightly flattened, 1 cm in diameter, with an almost imperceptible groove in the middle. The pulp of the fruit, yellow and juicy, also looks like a cherry - the same dense, homogeneous structure, which is not found in cherries. Accordingly, the juice from such cherries does not have a rich red color. But, on cancellation from cherries, a small bone departs from the berry well.

Fruit ripening is uneven, occurs in June-early July. The arrangement of cherries of this variety is akin to sweet cherries - for the entire length of the annual shoot or with a dense garland they encircle a branch. For this reason, the shoots need periodic pruning. But unlike cherries, the attachment to the branch of the berries is fragile, so ripe cherries often crumble (see).

The Shpanka cherry variety bears fruit abundantly only from the age of 6. However, on rootstocks, a small amount of the first berries can be harvested in the third year of the seedling's life. With each subsequent year, the amount of harvest increases, and after 15 years, up to 50 kg of berries are harvested from one tree.

The variety does not tolerate transportation well, so it is better to use it immediately for making jam, compotes, wine, jam or in cooking.

Shpanka cherry has several subspecies, photos of which are provided below:

Shpanka dwarf (no more than 3 meters high).
Shpanka Bryansk (medium height from 3 to 4 meters).
Shpanka Kursk (4 meters).
Shpanka Shimskaya (medium height frost-resistant variety for northern regions).
Shpanka Donetsk (early hybrid of Valery Chkalov cherries and Donchanka cherries).
The spank is large-fruited.
Shpanka early (harvest is harvested in early summer).

Despite the fact that Shpanka is considered a self-fertile variety, it needs additional pollinators. They are others and cherries. Griot Ostheimsky cherry, Persistent cherry has a good effect on the yield of Shpanka.

Variety Shpanka perfectly endures both dry summers and severe frosts, and is also resistant to coccomycosis. For active growth and fruiting variety needs light and nutritious soil. If the soil is poor useful elements, the tree will begin to “cry” - traces of burns and inclusions similar to resin will appear on the main trunk and side branches.

Features of planting seedlings

Shpanka cherry has its own characteristics of planting and care. As for landing, the most suitable place for planting a seedling there will be a sunny place near the fence - it will protect the cherry from gusts of wind that are detrimental to it. It is even better if it is a hill, especially when groundwater is close. In the case of planting a whole garden between seedlings, a distance of 4 meters must be left.

As already mentioned, the Shpanka cherry variety loves loose nutritious soil. With increased acidity of the soil, it is necessary to add lime at the rate of:

for sandy loamy lands - 500 g per 1 sq.m.;
for heavy loamy - 800 g per 1 sq.m.

In the presence of severe clay soil sand is added to it.

In order not to burn the roots of the seedling, when lime is added to the soil, it is well rubbed with the ground.

For southern regions more suitable autumn planting(September), but in the east it is better to plant Shpanka in the spring. When planting cherries in autumn, they dig a hole and fertilize two weeks before planting. A feature of spring planting is that the planting pit (50x100 cm in size) should be prepared in the fall. The soil from the pit is mixed with fertilizers. For one seedling (that is, for one planting hole), it is recommended to apply the following proportions of fertilizers:

1 bucket of humus;
500 g of reverse ash;
200 g of superphosphate;
100 g of potash fertilizer.

Cherry seedlings should be inspected for damage before planting. If there are broken roots, they need to be cut off. If dry roots are detected, the seedling is recommended to be put in warm water to which add a little honey.

Pour the planted tree with warm water (3 buckets), while paying attention to the location of the root neck. According to the landing rules, it should be on a par with the ground.

Cherry care steps: watering, fertilizing, pruning

Despite the fact that the variety is drought-resistant, during the growing season, cherries must be watered abundantly. The first time - during flowering (April-May), the second - during the ripening of berries (second decade of June). If you do not pour two or three buckets of water under each seedling during these periods, the fruits may change their taste. To prevent moisture loss, mulch the soil around the seedling with compost or sawdust. Periodically loosen the earth under the tree and clean it of weeds.

In the spring, the tree is fed with Bordeaux acid, and in the fall - with potassium and phosphorus. In the conditions of a long and cold spring, gardeners practicing folk methods fertilizers, it is advised to spray the cherry with a solution of boiled water and honey. A similar solution is used to attract insects during the flowering period. AT general tree during the year it is necessary to fertilize three times: twice during the growing season and once in the fall when digging.

In autumn, you also need to prepare cherries for wintering: remove leaves and grass under the tree, dig up, whiten the trunk. Add to lime for whitewashing laundry soap and blue vitriol. When snow appears, cover the trunk circle with it, trample it well, cover it with sawdust from above. Such manipulations will delay the beginning of flowering and prevent the death of inflorescences from spring frosts.

So that the cherry crown does not become thick over time, and the branches do not break under the harvest, it is periodically cleared. The first branches begin to dry out approximately 7 years after planting the tree.

The nuances of caring for Shpanka cherries - video

Categories

Popular