Frost-resistant cherry varieties bred for Siberia and the Urals

Cherries

Many regions of Russia have limited garden crop options due to extremely low temperatures throughout the year. Cherries, as we know, are heat-loving trees and, for example, did not thrive in Siberia for a long time. Breeders have developed new frost-resistant varieties that can survive the harshest winters. When choosing a species for planting, it's important to pay attention to its description and characteristics.

Peculiarities of breeding winter-hardy cherries

Extensive research and crossbreeding of various varieties of this heat-loving crop have been conducted to enable its cultivation in regions with unfavorable weather conditions. Breeders have succeeded in developing dozens of new varieties for temperate climates and Siberia.

Some varieties are highly frost-resistant, but frost damages the buds during flowering, resulting in a lost harvest. However, there are also varieties that can withstand low temperatures at any stage of development. Both varieties are suitable for planting in regions with varying weather conditions. For example, Tyutchevka will easily survive winters with temperatures as low as -30°C and recurrent spring frosts, while Bryanskaya Rozovaya may shed its flowers if the temperature drops below 0°C during their formation.

Attention!

The first cherry varieties resistant to severe frosts were bred in St. Petersburg last century. Therefore, the most common varieties are named after the city: Leningrad Black and Yellow.

Characteristics of frost-resistant crops

Unlike standard varieties, low-temperature-resistant ones lag slightly at each stage of development. Flowering occurs 2-4 weeks later, resulting in harvest in mid-summer or late summer. To survive severe frosts, the tree requires a compact crown and a low height.

Differences in fruits

Among winter-hardy varieties, there are berries with different characteristics. Depending on your preferences, you can choose pink, red, or yellow. Fruit size also varies, from small (2-4 g) to the largest (12 g each). Another distinguishing feature of all frost-hardy varieties is their easy pitting. Of all the varieties, only Iput can present challenges when preparing the harvest for canning; in the others, the pit can be separated from the pulp almost completely dry.

Characteristics of berries:

Fatezh – yellow-orange, 4-4.5 g, dense and juicy, dessert type.
Tyutchevka – dark garnet, firm, sweet. Weight 5-5.5 g.
Iput is a bright scarlet berry, soft and juicy inside, weighing 5.5 g.
Veda – fruits weighing 5g on average and burgundy in color.
Revna is a glossy, dark wine-colored berry with a firm interior. Average weight: 4.5-4.8 g. Excellent shelf life and transportability.

Benefits and chemical composition of fruits

Sweet cherries grown in temperate climates are just as beneficial for health as regular heat-loving varieties. Regularly eating a handful of berries during harvest season cleanses the blood of accumulated toxins and improves intestinal and kidney function. The darkest varieties help lower blood pressure and strengthen small blood vessels. 100 grams of sweet cherries contain 17-19 grams of dietary fiber and 11-13 grams of sugar.

Vitamin C content:

Fatezh – 29 mg;
Bryansk pink – 14.2;
Veda – 13.9 mg;
Iput - 11.5 mg;
Revna – 13.3 mg;
Tyutchevka – 13.6 mg.

Pros and cons of Siberian cherries

An undeniable advantage of winter-hardy varieties is their high resistance to the main common cherry diseases. Most species are immune to coccomycosis, moniliosis, and clasterosporium. The harvest usually tolerates transportation and storage well, maintaining its marketable appearance.

The main drawback of most winter-hardy varieties is self-sterility. To pollinate the inflorescences, there must be at least one other tree of a suitable species within a 50-100-meter radius. Also, in rainy springs and summers, the berries can crack, which spoils their appearance and reduces their shelf life.

Attention!

It's best to purchase seedlings from reputable local nurseries that zone their products. This way, the seedling variety will be suitable for planting in all respects.

Pollinator varieties for common frost-resistant cherries

The harvest of all garden crops depends on good pollination during the tree's flowering period. Cherries are often self-sterile, so there should be at least two, if not three, different varieties in the same or adjacent plots. However, even here, it's important not to plant just any seedling. Each species has its own pollinators. Without other varieties, the harvest will be meager or nonexistent. For proper pollination, trees should bloom at roughly the same time, or the pollinator variety should bloom slightly earlier.

Tyutchevka, Ovstuzhenka, and Iput are suitable for almost all other frost-hardy varieties. They are considered universal and in demand. Veda also benefits from Leningradskaya Sernaya and Bryanochka as pollinators, Revna from Rechitsa, Iput from Raditsa and Revna, and Ovstuzhenka from Rechitsa.

Classification of frost-resistant cherries

Due to the local climate, it's important to select a variety that will bloom and bear fruit at the appropriate time. Therefore, for Siberia, the Leningrad, Moscow, and southern regions, it's always necessary to choose completely different species.

Classification by ripening:

Early varieties. By mid-June, they bear fruit – Chermashnaya, Fatezh, Ovstuzhenka.
Average. Beginning of July – Teremoshka, Rechitsa.
Late. The harvest appears in late July or early August – Bryanochka, Bryanskaya Rozovaya, Veda, Tyutchevka.

There are three main types of cherries, based on berry color. Red cherries can be very dark or bright, spotted, glossy or matte (Teremoshka, Rechitsa). Yellow cherries are considered more bland, with a high sweetness and no tartness, sometimes with a hint of pink (Chermashnaya, Leningradskaya Zheltaya, Zhurba). The third type is pink cherries (Bryanskaya, Zhemchug).

In regions with harsh winters, trees grown in this culture never exceed 2.5-3 meters in height. This is due to the peculiarities of cold air movement during winter and spring. Therefore, they are not classified into separate groups.

Characteristics of culture for different regions

Selecting cherries in areas with harsh climates requires much more care than in southern regions. Winter hardiness is a key consideration here. For example, moderately hardy varieties are suitable for the Moscow region, while the most winter-hardy, delicious cherry varieties are needed for the central part of the country, closer to Siberia.

For the Moscow region and the Moscow suburbs

Although the region isn't as prone to severe frosts as northern regions, it's still important to choose varieties with high cold tolerance. Particular attention should be paid to the ability of flower buds to withstand spring frosts.

Winter-hardy cherry varieties suitable for the Moscow region:

For the central regions of the middle zone

For the Leningrad, Saratov, Novgorod, Moscow, and Penza regions, it's important to select frost-hardy cherry varieties that can withstand recurrent frosts during the period of flower bud formation. Among the selectively bred varieties, about two dozen with varying berry characteristics are suitable for this region.

Best varieties:

Adelina. Its compact crown, no more than 3 m tall, is suitable for planting in limited spaces. The tree is winter-hardy and tolerates recurrent frosts well. The medium-sized cherries weigh up to 6 g and are dark red in color. They are rarely susceptible to fungal infections.
Ovstuzhenka. An excellent winter-hardy cherry variety suitable for cultivation in the Leningrad Region, the Urals, and Siberia, as well as in northern regions with low temperatures. The spherical tree tolerates temperature fluctuations well. The berries are a rich burgundy color and medium-sized. The pits are easy to remove. It is used for canning, baking, and making compotes. When fresh, it is sweet with a slight tartness.
Yellow Homestead. This self-fertile cherry tree will save space on your plot. It produces a good harvest without partner trees. The berries are large and delicious.
Sadko. A fast-growing, pyramidal tree, it stops growing after reaching a height of 4 m. The crown remains dense for many years without human intervention. It tolerates drought and severe frosts typical of northern regions, surviving recurrent frosts without damaging flower buds. The ruby-red fruits, weighing 6-8 g, are very juicy and sweet. They ripen quickly, almost simultaneously, in late June. For a rich harvest, use Odrinka or universal pollinators.
Italianka. Often planted in garden plots in the central regions. Produces mid-season fruits with a slightly sour taste. Pollinated by the versatile Iput and Ovstuzhenka varieties.

For Siberia

For planting in this harsh region, it's important to select varieties with the highest frost resistance. There are also requirements that gardeners must adhere to to ensure a regular, bountiful harvest. For example, planting at a higher elevation, away from meltwater accumulation, and careful preparation for winter.

The most winter-hardy species:

Tyutchevka. Dark red berries weighing up to 8 g have a sweet, firm flavor. The pit separates easily from the pulp. The juice is red. The yield from a single mature tree can reach 90 kg. It bears fruit in late July. Self-fertile, it does not require close planting with other trees of this variety. Self-pollination does not produce its full harvest. If Raditsa or universal pollinators are planted nearby, the yield increases several times.
Fatezh. The fruits are red-yellow and orange, small, tasty, and sweet. The tree has a dense, spherical crown. It tolerates subzero temperatures and recurrent spring frosts well. One of the best cherry varieties for Siberia, the Urals, and central Russia. It should be grown in the same plot as Chermashnaya.
Iput. An early-ripening variety with large, heart-shaped berries of a garnet hue. The insides are juicy, firm, and sweet. They may crack if the soil is too moist or during a rainy summer. The first harvest begins in the fourth year after planting.
Odrinka. Large, burgundy fruits weigh up to 9 g. It is frost-resistant and virtually disease-free.
Bryansk Pink. Round, coral-colored, translucent berries. Suitable for fresh consumption or for making sweet jams, compotes, and preserves.

Attention!

To select a variety suitable for a region, you can look at which species are registered in the State Register for specific regions.

Growing tips

In the cool climate of the temperate zone, and especially in Siberia with its harsh winters, growing cherries is not easy. Much of success depends on choosing a variety with high frost resistance for the tree and flower buds. To this end, many nurseries specialize in seedlings of species suitable for growing in a particular region with its specific weather conditions.

To ensure cherry trees thrive and bear fruit annually, they should be planted 3 meters away from other trees. In areas where the groundwater table is closer than 2 meters from the ground surface, an artificial mound 50 to 100 cm high should be created. Otherwise, the root system will be constantly waterlogged, and the tree will become diseased and eventually die.