Cherry "Mayak": description of the variety

Europeans have long considered cherry beautiful, but not practical tree. It does not tolerate frost and does not always give a good harvest. However, long-lived cherries of the special variety Mayak are distinguished by very large juicy fruits and high resistance not only to cold winters, but also to hot summers. Features of this variety, we consider in this article.

Description of the variety

The variety was bred in 1974 in Russia, it is universal for cherry. “Lighthouse” is hard to call a popular tree, so probably few people, even from experienced gardeners, will be able to give a detailed description of this variety. Let's figure it out. This cherry is characterized by a crown in the shape of an oval on a low sprawling bush. You will never find such a plant over 2 meters. It has very sharp small buds, which usually do not adhere to young shoots.

The leaves of "Beacon" are quite elongated oval shape with a sharp end, they are saturated green with small teeth that frame the edge. At their base is 2-4 glands. Faceliness is not too abundant.

Cherry flowers are always collected in inflorescences of 3 pieces each, they are white in color, and the arrangement of petals is loose. The cup has a goblet shape. They love to bloom on annual branches or growths.

The flowering of the variety begins late in comparison with others - only in July, but it is no less spectacular. This variety begins to give fruit for 3-4 years after planting. It is durable, will bring berries for 30 years of life, of course, if you properly care for it.

Characteristics of the fruit

"Lighthouse" - a clear record among other varieties of cherries in abundance of fruits. From one tree it is quite possible to get about 15 kg of berries per season, and with warm summer even 20-25 kg. They ripen at the same time, in summer - from late July to August.

Interestingly, the fruits are not showered from the bush at all, so they do not have to be lifted from the ground. At high temperatures, the berries crack, but nothing wrong with that. The main thing is to monitor the ripening of the crop and collect it in time so that it does not spoil and does not get to the birds. Partial self-fertility varieties.

The berries of this variety are dense and large, each weighing about 5-6 grams. They are characterized by glossy burgundy skin. The flesh is red, fleshy, juicy and very sweet. The fruits are round, but slightly flattened on the side of the seam. They are distinguished by a high content of glucose and low acidity, which makes cherries look more like sweet cherries. This gave the fruits the love of many people, especially children. They are good for use not only in fresh form, but also as jam, jam, juice, compote and even kissel.

The stone at the berries is brown-gray, small, perfectly separated from the pulp.

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

Before choosing a cherry variety "Beacon", analyze its pros and cons to see if this variety is right for you. The advantages of this shrub are:

1. High frost resistance (the tree is able to transfer the temperature drop to -35 ° C).
2. Abundant fruiting and large berries.
3. The durability of the tree.
4. Partial self-fertility.
5. Pleasant taste of berries.
6. Resistance to drought.
7. The aesthetic appearance of the berries, which is very important for desserts.
8. The short stature of the tree, which facilitates the collection of fruits.
9. Relative resistance to plant diseases.
10. Good livability with a variety of plants-neighbors, therefore, perfect for garden and industrial cultivation.

Unfortunately, the beacon tree has some drawbacks, such as:

1. Very afraid of the wind.
2. Prone to garden rot, if not in time to pick berries.
3. May be infected with coccomycosis.
4. Does not have resistance to insect pests, so for the cultivation will have to use insecticides.
5. Poor matures in the absence of sunlight and heat.

Landing

Planting a cherry is a simple matter that does not require much effort on the part of the gardener. An important role is played by the choice of landing site. It should be windless, warm and sunny. Cherry loves light very much.

It is not recommended to plant a variety of "Beacon" in the lowlands or where water is close. This is due to the fact that the tree "does not approve" a large amount of moisture. Choose fertile soil. Planting trees must be carried out at a distance of 2-3 meters from each other and, preferably, with pollinating varieties in the neighborhood. Like any other fruit tree, it is best to plant cherries in spring (approximately the end of March - beginning of April). This will allow her to take root well and settle down before the onset of a cold winter.

It is necessary to prepare for planting in the fall, namely, to treat the area with wood ash. Its consumption will be approximately 500 g per 1 cu. m. Three weeks after the introduction of ash, you need to dig up the ground, select the grass, add humus, superphosphate and potassium sulfate.

The process of landing itself is as follows:

1. Dig a hole 50 cm deep and 60-70 cm in diameter.
2. In the recess it is necessary to pour humus, ashes, mineral fertilizers, soil.
3. Drive a peg into the pit.
4. Place the seedling in this groove so as not to bury the root of the neck.
5. Make a small hole around the cherry.
6. Pour a bucket of water under the tree and add dry humus.

Care

Like any other fruit tree, cherry lighthouse requires regular maintenance. It should be watered, fertilized and cut off excess branches. Do not forget about the need for pesticide treatment, which will protect against pathogenic fungi, diseases and insect parasites.

Watering

Drought to the tree is not terrible, so there is no particular need for frequent watering. It will be enough to moisturize the plant 4-5 times per season, and it will not feel the lack of moisture. The main thing is not to pour the cherry. It is believed that the ideal volume of liquid per bush of cherries will be 10-20 liters, depending on its size.

In winter and autumn, watering is not worth it. Absolutely every watering should be accompanied by a process of carefully loosening the soil and covering it with a thick layer of mulch. This will protect the root system of the tree from drying out in the summer and freezing in the winter.

Top dressing

The first fertilizer of the tree should be made in early spring - in March.To do this, you need a nitrogen fertilizer. Phosphorus-potassium fertilizer is a mandatory attribute of care for the variety "Mayak" in the fall. Before the process, the soil around the plant needs to be dug up.

When the cherry reaches the age of four, organic fertilizers are also used, but not more often than once every 2-3 years. Lime soil is necessary only once every five years.

Pruning

Although the tree is not high, yet the bush of this variety has the ability to grow strongly. That is why experienced gardeners advise to prune cherries.

This will contribute to a better and faster ripening of fruits, as well as facilitate you the process of picking berries. The pruning procedure should be carried out exclusively in the spring time, before the buds begin to swell. In an adult cherry tree, 7 to 13 main branches should be left.

Do it with special garden tools, not a kitchen knife, so the tree will not suffer. In addition to the branches, you will also need to remove root shoots, the appearance of which will be very abundant.

There is also such a thing as "rejuvenating pruning" plants. It consists in removing shrunken, diseased, frost, or too old branches. It is recommended to hold it after 9-13 years of cherry life, the need for this process will be clearly visible.

Diseases and pests

Unfortunately, the variety does not have much immunity against certain diseases. One of them is coccomycosis. This is a disease of many plants, which is caused by marsupial pathogenic fungus. It usually affects the leaves of the fruit tree, slowing its development. The infection manifests itself as red spots on foliage and berries. To overcome it, it will be necessary to do several procedures: in time in spring to process the plant with a fungicide and, of course, to destroy the diseased or fallen leaves of the diseased tree.

As a prevention of coccomycosis, the spraying of a shrub is performed using concentrated nitrogen fertilizer in late autumn.

The second common disease of the cherry beacon is fruit rot. This is also a fungal infection that has become a real disaster for modern gardening. Rot appears in the form of spots on the fruit, and then it completely affects them. These berries must be disposed of (usually burned).

In this case, the tree is sprayed with Bordeaux liquids at a concentration of 1%.

Variety "Lighthouse" does not like the slimy sawfly and aphids. These are insects that damage the leaves, bark and fruits of the cherry. To control them, insecticides are needed. However, the cherry can always be saved from any ailments, if you make an effort. It is just very important to take care of it: in time to do preventive treatment, pruning and fertilizing the plant. Then the possibility of collision with pathogenic fungi and pests will be minimal.

In short, the cherry variety "Beacon" is quite good, strong and, most importantly, very tasty. Grow it in your garden and enjoy the juicy fruits!