Self-sterile cherries, unlike their self-fertile counterparts, cannot bear fruit on their own. Most varieties require pollen from pollinating trees to form ovaries and fruit. To avoid missing out on a harvest, it's important to clarify the pollination method when purchasing fruit trees.
Self-sterile cherry tree – what does it mean?
Female cells, located on the pistils and ovules of flowers, are fertilized by male cells, found in the pollen of the stamens. If pollination is successful, an ovary forms in the place of the ovules, and from this an ovary grows a fruit. Such trees are called self-fertile; they can bear fruit without the help of other trees.
Self-sterile varieties require cross-pollination to produce fruit. Fertilization occurs via pollen from cherry trees of another variety; without it, the tree produces almost no fruit. This means that when planting a self-sterile cherry tree, it's necessary to plant a couple more suitable trees nearby.
Methods of pollen transfer:
- insects;
- artificial methods;
- by the wind;
- water;
- animals.
Cross-pollination of self-sterile cherries occurs mainly due to wind and insects.
Along with self-fertile and self-sterile varieties, there are partially self-fertile varieties. A self-fertile tree fertilizes 50% of its flowers as a result of pollination with its own pollen, while a partially self-fertile tree fertilizes 20%.
How to choose varieties for pollination
When growing self-sterile and partially self-fertile varieties in your garden, you must always plant a pollinator, or better yet, several. To maximize the number of fertilized ovules, it's essential to select good pollinator varieties.
Rules for selecting pollinators:
- The distance between a self-sterile tree and its pollinator should not exceed 40 m.
- No other fruit trees should grow between the tree being pollinated and the pollinator. Pollen from apple, pear, or apricot trees carried to the cherry tree by bees or wind will not fertilize the ovules.
- The optimal option for planting trees is in groups, with an interval of 4 m.
- When choosing a pollinator variety, it is necessary to take into account its flowering time - it should coincide with the flowering time of the self-sterile cherry tree.
Artificial pollination
According to experts, the presence of a pollinator does not guarantee a high yield. Agronomic literature states that pollination with pollen from neighboring trees can only produce 5-7% of fruit sets, which is catastrophically low for a good harvest. Therefore, gardeners are advised to master artificial pollination technology.
How to pollinate cherries yourself:
- The event is held only in sunny weather. There must be no rain or wind.
- Pollen from self-fertile cherries is collected in advance. It is placed in paper bags and carefully shaken from the flowers. The bags are tightly sealed to prevent loss of pollinating material.
- Using a small brush with the softest bristles, apply the collected pollen to the blossoms of self-sterile cherry trees. Be extremely careful not to damage the flowers.
- Not all flowers are pollinated—that would take a very long time. It's recommended to pollinate inflorescences that have opened for 2-3 days. Within a cluster of flowers, select those located in the center. This will ensure the cherries that develop are the largest and sweetest.
Self-sterile cherry varieties
Many cherry varieties are self-sterile, so when purchasing seedlings, it's important to check how pollination occurs. It's a good idea to choose both the variety and the pollinators best suited to it in advance.
Adelina
The medium-sized tree, up to 3.5 meters tall, produces large, richly red cherries. The fruit's distinctive pointed tips are distinctive. The pits and stems are easily removed. The flavor is excellent, with sugar content reaching 12%.
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Optimal pollinators are varieties with mid-season ripening. The average yield per tree is 20 kg. A plus is the tree's frost resistance. However, flower buds can freeze at extremely low temperatures. It can also be susceptible to fungal diseases.
Velvet
Velvet cherries are grown primarily in the southern regions. The berries are larger than usual, reaching 7.8 g. When fully ripe, they become almost black. The flesh is very dense, and the juice is dark red.
Velvet cherries have excellent flavor, both fresh and processed. Peak yield occurs at 13 years, with trees yielding up to 45 kg. This variety boasts good winter hardiness of wood and buds, resistance to fungus, and moderate drought tolerance. The fruits are well-suited for transportation.
Valery Chkalov
This variety thrives in warmth, so it grows in southern regions—Crimea, the Caucasus, and the Krasnodar Krai. The berries are quite large, weighing up to 8 g. They are initially red, turning reddish-black as they ripen. They contain almost 11% sugar.
The best pollinators are considered to be Aprelka, Skorospelka, and Iyunskaya Rannaya. They are moderately winter-hardy, withstanding temperatures down to -15-20°C. However, at such temperatures, flower buds freeze. According to statistics, at -23°C, about 70% of buds freeze.
The variety is not resistant to fungi. Coccomycosis and gray mold are particularly dangerous. However, under favorable conditions, the tree produces excellent yields – around 60 kg. The recorded record is around 175 kg. However, such colossal yields are only achieved in Crimea. In the Krasnodar Krai, yields are half as much.
Donetsk coal
A large tree with very large, dark-red, flattened fruits. Each berry weighs up to 9 g, with a sugar content of up to 24%. The yield per tree can reach up to a hundred kilograms.
The variety is frost-hardy and drought-resistant. The fruits are suitable for canning. Suitable pollinators include the varieties Valery Chkalov, Drogana Zheltaya, Aelita, and others.
Yellow Drogana
This ancient German variety is well known to our gardeners. Its distinctive feature is its yellow, super-sweet berries. However, they do not travel well. Drogana has been cultivated since 1947.
The light-yellow berries weigh 6.5-8 g and contain over 13% sugar. The Drogana berries make excellent compotes and can also be used to make excellent jam. The berries can be dried and frozen. The tree can remain productive for up to 25 years.
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A plus is the increased winter hardiness of the fruit buds. This variety ripens late, so the buds are rarely damaged by spring frosts. It is highly resistant to fungi. In damp weather, the berries can burst and rot. Cherry flies are very fond of 'Drogana,' so it's important to eliminate their larvae in advance.
Jeanette
The main advantage of the "Zhannette" variety is its magnificent fruit. As they redden and ripen, they become almost black. The fruit contains 10% sugar. The flower buds tolerate winter frosts well, and the flowers tolerate spring frosts.
The variety's advantages also include resistance to drought, heat, fungal infections, and pests. With proper cultivation practices, "Jeannette" can grow without the use of herbicides. This variety is widely used for large-scale cultivation. If cultivation practices are not followed or care is neglected, the fruits tend to become smaller.
Beauty of Kuban
An old, proven variety, cultivated since the 1960s. It is found primarily in southern regions. The berries are large, light cream-colored, and very attractive. When ripened in the sun, they acquire a delicate blush.
One of the most winter-hardy varieties. The wood tolerates frost well. Buds are damaged only in the most severe cold. However, it doesn't handle spring frosts well—the buds often freeze. The variety is resistant to drought and fungal infections. The main threats are gray mold and cherry fruit fly. The berries are difficult to transport.
Krasnodar early
Another proven early-ripening variety. The flavor of its dark-red fruits is inferior to many super-delicious cherries. The sugar content is 9%. However, this variety is quite resistant to diseases and pests. The fruits are suitable for desserts and are suitable for freezing. They are highly winter-hardy, and the buds tolerate frost well.
Lena
A relatively young, early-bearing variety with dark-red fruits weighing 6-8 g. They are distinguished by their sweetness – up to 12%. The first berries can be harvested as early as the fourth year. 'Lena' is resistant to all fungal diseases.
Melitopol black
This cherry has been cultivated for about fifty years. It attracts gardeners with its large and delicious, deep-red, almost black berries. The sugar content is high—over 13%. The fruits are beautiful and have an excellent marketable appearance, which is why the "Melitopolskaya" variety is often grown commercially, primarily in the southern regions.
The yields are high. At 15 years old, a tree produces almost 80 kg of berries. The tree is virtually immune to moniliosis and tolerates frost well. At -25°C, about 40% of the buds freeze. And spring frosts can kill more than half of the buds.
Napoleon black
An ancient variety from Western European breeders. Grown in southern regions. The tree is tall – up to 6.5 m. The berries are large, dark to black, sweet and juicy.
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The berries store well. They can retain their marketable quality for up to two weeks, without bruising or leaking during transportation. They are delicious fresh and canned. One tree produces an average of 27-29 kg. They have a high immunity, but are susceptible to damage by the cherry fruit fly.
Odrinka
A relatively young variety with medium-sized fruits—from 5 to 7.5 g. The berries are a standard red color. Sugar content is over 11%. "Odrinka" is winter-hardy and resistant to sunburn. It is resistant to fungal infections.
Raditsa
This cherry is widely grown in the Central region. The tree is characterized by rapid growth. Its fruits are medium-sized, weighing 5-6 g. The berries are dark and medium-dense. Sugar content is over 11%. At -30-35°C, 40% of the fruit buds freeze. Fungal resistance is average.
Rondo
A domestic variety developed in the 1990s, it produces medium-sized, golden-yellow berries weighing 4.5-4.8 g each. The sugar content is 12%. The main drawback of the Rondo variety is its unsuitability for transportation. The fruits are too delicate and become bruised and runny during shipping. However, this cherry is early-bearing and productive, withstands drought and frost, and is resistant to fungal infections.
Dewdrop
The Rosinka variety has a tall tree and produces fairly large fruits—almost 8 g each. The berries are very attractive—light yellow with a blush, covered with a waxy coating. The flesh is very sweet, containing over 13% sugar. The fruits are suitable for transport; their transportability is satisfactory. The yield per tree is up to 50 kg. A disadvantage is that they are susceptible to coccomycosis. They require protection from fungal diseases.
Sadko
This relatively young variety is distinguished by its large, oval fruits. Each berry weighs up to 8 g, with a sugar content of nearly 12%. It is distinguished by its early flowering and ripening. It is early-bearing—the first berries can be harvested in the fourth year. "Sadko" is resistant to fungal infections, and its berries are not prone to bursting in wet weather.
Teremoshka
'Teremoshka' is a short tree with medium-sized fruit. They are very sweet, dark red, and practically burst-proof. It is noted for its early fruiting and high resistance to fungus. Additionally, it tolerates transportation well.
Self-fertility is a rare quality for cherries; most existing varieties are self-sterile. Aside from their inability to bear fruit without a pollinator, they are in no way inferior to their self-sufficient counterparts. With the right pollinator trees, self-sterile cherries will produce full harvests.
The best cherry varieties for central Russia
How to care for cherries in the fall: preparing cherries for winter
How to prune a cherry tree: a pictorial guide for beginners
How and when to plant cherries in the Moscow region