Among the varieties of cherries intended for cultivation in the central part of Russia is Fr. Comparable in yield to many tall varieties, this dwarf cherry is primarily a practical option, especially for small garden plots.
Despite the wide crown, the undersized shrub does not create shading, leaving more free space for planting other light-loving crops. Indicators of taste, appearance and transportability of berries make the variety "Anthracite" interesting for growing commercially.
Description of Assol cherry variety
Breeders recommend growing Assol cherries in the Central Region. During its spread, the variety gained popularity in the Moscow region, but it is planted not only here, even in the Urals and Siberia, but also in the southern regions.
Height and dimensions of an adult tree
The Assol variety has a medium-sized tree, convenient for careful maintenance and for picking fruits:
- rises up to 2-2.5 m;
- pyramidal crown broadly spreading, rounded, with slightly drooping or straight shoots;
- not prone to thickening;
- the bark of the branches is brown, smooth.
The tree is fast-growing - by the beginning of fruiting, 3-4 years after planting, it reaches the declared height - no more than 3 m. The medium-sized leaves are somewhat elongated, obovate, of the usual dark green color, with a pointed tip. The leaf blades are slightly wrinkled, dull, with finely serrated edges.
Without proper pruning, it can turn into a shrub, since shoots grow densely from below.
Description of fruits
Assol cherries according to the description of the variety and a photo of medium size - 4-4.2 g. Fruits are round, with a juicy sweet and sour pulp. A small bone separates well from the pulp. The berries contain 15% dry matter, 10% sugar, 1.3% acid. Tasters rated Assol cherry fruits at 4.7 points. Cherries in the phase of full ripeness cannot be left on the branches for a long time, since, although they hold on to the stalks, they quickly lose their taste and quality of dense, elastic pulp. The Assol variety is suitable for planting in the southern regions, the fruits tolerate the sun well.
The peel of Assol fruit is dark red, the same color and pulp
Cherry pollinators Assol
The tree blooms in the recommended growing regions mainly by mid-May, the flowering period is short. The variety is self-fertile. Cherry authors point out that this property of the tree does not affect the volume of the harvest.
Growing in regions
The Antratsitovaya variety is recommended for the Central zone of Russia: Moscow, Bryansk, Nizhny Novgorod, Smolensk, Ivanovskaya, Tver, Yaroslavl, Oryol, Kostroma, Vladimir, Kaluga, Tula regions, and is also suitable for growing in Siberia and the Urals. Got widespread in the countries of the former Soviet Union: Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Georgia, Estonia.
The appearance of Anthracite cherry is attractive, decorative, can be used for breeding new varieties due to its qualities of rapid growth and survival of the scion, as well as for pollination. Bushes and trees have a comfortable crown and height for picking berries.
Main characteristics of Assol cherries
The mid-season Assol cherry variety, judging by the photo and description of the variety, is fruitful. From a medium-sized tree, 10-12 kg of juicy and tasty berries are harvested.
Drought resistance, frost resistance
Since Assol cherry was bred for the central regions of Russia, the tree has an average winter hardiness and at the same time is drought-resistant. The variety is suitable for cultivation in the 4th zone of frost resistance, which includes many regions of Russia. The wood can withstand frost up to 30 ° C. Like many cherry trees, Assol tolerates long periods of drought, but with regular, infrequent watering, the yield increases significantly.
Yield
The seedling is formed over 3-4 years. The first fruits appear in the 3-4th, sometimes in the 5th year after planting. At first, the yield is low, then after 2 years it increases to 7 or 10-15 kg per tree. The berries of the mid-season Assol variety are filled with juice by the end of June. Fruiting lasts until early July. The berries need to be picked quickly as they spoil, especially on rainy days.
Cherry yield depends on:
- from soil fertility;
- correct planting of the seedling;
- competent watering and dressing.
Juicy, soft cherries do not travel long distances. Transportation for 100-200 km is possible:
- in a container of small volume;
- in sealed packaging;
- if the berries are plucked with stalks.
The berries retain their presentation up to 20 hours. In the refrigerator - up to 2 days. Assol cherry fruits are universal in purpose. They are used fresh as a dessert and for various preparations.
Advantages and disadvantages
Gardeners are attracted by the positive properties of the Assol variety:
- self-fertility;
- good productivity;
- resistance to certain diseases characteristic of the culture;
- the adaptability of wood to the climatic conditions of the Central region of Russia, which includes such characteristics as frost resistance and drought resistance.
As a disadvantage, some gardeners note the excessive acidity of the berries. The reason for this property is an illiterate excessive watering, a rainy summer, or the collection of fruits that have not reached the full ripeness phase.
Selection of quality seedlings
When purchasing Anthracite cherries from professional gardeners or in specialized stores, as well as at all kinds of exhibitions, be sure to pay attention to a few points:
- The seedlings should not be more than 2 years old.
- The seedling should be no more than 60 cm high.
- The trunk diameter must be at least 2 cm.
- The presence of well-formed skeletal branches.
- Sufficiently developed root system.
- Abundance of root hairs.
There should be no molds, rotten areas, larvae on the rhizome.
Selection of quality seedlings
Planting Assol cherries
Compliance with the requirements of agricultural technology when planting a cherry tree predetermines its further development and fruiting. It is important to pay attention to every stage of building a culture.
Recommended timing
In the climate of the middle zone, cherries are recommended to be planted in spring at the end of April, early May. Over the summer, the tree takes root, gains strength, grows its crown and subsequently easily tolerates winter.
Having bought a seedling with a closed root system, it is also better to move the cherry to a permanent place at least until mid-June
Advice! Assol trees are planted when the soil temperature rises to 8-10 ° C.
Site selection and soil preparation
The Assol cherry variety is unpretentious, develops well and bears fruit on any type of soil, but the best results are obtained on soils with neutral acidity.
When planting cherries, you need to find a place for the tree in the garden that meets the following requirements:
- groundwater is not higher than 2 m to the surface of the earth;
- the plot is sunny, not shaded by buildings and tall ornamental trees;
- not blown by northerly winds;
- placing several cherries, they dig planting holes at a distance of at least 3-4 m so that the crowns of the trees are well ventilated.
How to plant correctly
High-quality Assol cherry seedlings are chosen according to the following criteria:
- the age of the tree is 1-2 years;
- height from 1 to 1.5 m;
- trunk diameter - 1.5 cm;
- on a tree at least 10 branches, up to 50 cm long;
- the length of the root processes is at least 25 cm.
At the selected site, a planting hole is dug up to a depth of 50-70 cm and the same width. A larger volume is chosen if a special substrate is laid on soils that are not favorable for cherries. On clay soil, part of humus, sand, peat is added to the upper fertile layer. If the soil is predominantly peaty or sandy, part of the clay and humus is mixed into the pit. 500 ml of wood ash, 25-30 g of potassium chloride, 50-60 g of superphosphate are added to the planting substrate.
Before planting, the roots of the cherry are soaked in a clay mash for several hours. Selected growth promoters are added to the mixture as desired.
Attention! If a cherry seedling has shoots near the ground, they are cut into a ring.
Finding the right place
For this cherry variety, an area with fertile, non-acidic, airy, non-clayey soil is suitable.
To improve the quality of clay soils, the following are well suited:
- sand;
- peat.
To reduce acidity, you can add:
- lime;
- dolomite flour;
- wood ash.
Important! Cherry Anthracite dislikes abundantly moist areas and stagnant rainwater. This variety prefers sunny places without unnecessary drafts.
Care features
The tree is not picky. With proper watering and feeding, it shows good yield.
Watering and feeding schedule
In the first year of growth, Assol cherries are watered 1-2 times a week. The trees are watered four times a month if there is no rain.
Superphosphate and wood ash are used as fertilizers, adding substances along the perimeter of the crown two or three times over the summer. In early spring and after flowering, nitrogen fertilizers are used. When the ovaries are formed, organic matter is introduced - mullein, wood ash or complex fertilizers with phosphorus and potassium, which are bought in various proportions in gardening stores. The last feeding is carried out in August with superphosphate.
In October, water-charging watering is desirable - up to 60-70 liters per tree.
Comment! The seedling is especially carefully looked after during the dry season, so that the soil at the depth of the roots is moderately moist.
Pruning
Assol cherries are cut in autumn, removing damaged shoots and undergrowth. Formative pruning is carried out in February or early March.
Preparing for winter
In autumn, after sanitary pruning, the stem is whitewashed with lime mortar. With the first frost, the tree is wrapped with protective material from rodents. The soil near the trunk is mulched.
Top dressing
There is no need to feed the cherries for the first 2-3 years after planting, the fertilizers applied during planting will provide the tree with all the necessary microelements. When the cherry enters the fruiting stage, they begin to regularly feed. This is done 2-3 times per season:
- The first is done in early spring after the soil freezes. Top dressing should be nitrogen. Urea or ammonium nitrate will do. Dissolve 20 g of fertilizer in 10 liters of water and water the near-stem circle. Then the earth is loosened.
- The second is carried out during the flowering period. For this, it is better to choose organic feeding. You can use slurry (200 ml of manure per 10 liters of water) or an ash solution (0.5 liters of ash per 10 liters of water).
- The third is done after harvest. Urea can be used. Dissolve 10 g of fertilizer in a bucket of water and spray the trees in the evening.
If the spring and summer are cool and the process of pollination and fruit setting deteriorates, the trees can be sprayed with water with the addition of honey (2 tbsp. L / 10 l) or boric acid (1 tsp / 10 l).
Diseases and pests
Assol variety is resistant to scab, coccomycosis, relatively rarely affected by moniliosis. The tree can be susceptible to some other diseases, therefore, in the spring, they carry out mandatory prophylaxis.Cherry and near-stem circle are sprayed with copper sulfate, Bordeaux liquid or modern fungicides, which are also used in the initial stages of damage: Fitosporin, Poliram, Topsin, Horus.
Insecticides are used against leaf-gnawing insects and larvae of flies or beetles that damage berries. But early spring spraying and harvesting of leaves in the fall, cleaning the bark, where insects hibernate, are more effective.
Testimonials
There are no negative reviews about the Assol cherry variety. The variety is to the liking of all gardeners, whoever grows it. Difficulties in growing cherries are rarely encountered. Experienced summer residents recommend feeding cherries 4 times a year. Older trees need nitrogen fertilization more than younger ones. To increase pollination during flowering, you can shake the cherry bush slightly so that the pollen falls on neighboring flowers. To increase yields, you can plant a couple of self-fertile varieties with Assoli, so pollination will occur more intensively. Berries are not recommended to be stored in the apartment for a long time, they lose their taste and appearance. From them, according to reviews, very tasty cherry compotes and jams are obtained.
The Assol cherry variety belongs to the proven varieties that do not fail and regularly produce tasty fruits. The variety has many positive qualities, it is known and is happily grown in thousands of summer cottages throughout the country and abroad.
Shelter for the winter
Before the coming winter, at the end of October, they begin to prepare the tree for winter. With proper preparation, the Assol variety will easily survive even the most severe winter and will not freeze. The main stages in the preparation are pruning of shoots, treatment with a layer of mulch of the near-trunk circle, whitewashing of the trunk, as well as watering.
Preparation begins with trimming and whitewashing the trunk. Only those shoots whose length exceeds 50 centimeters need to be shortened, young branches are not touched. If there are old and dry branches, they are pruned. The barrel is whitewashed with white enamel. Then the tree is watered with 3-4 buckets of water. Now you can lay a layer of mulch. Use hay, leaves, manure, the mixture can be combined. When the snow falls, it is scooped up to the trunk of the cherry. Snow will protect from cold weather and retain moisture in the ground.
