Cherry "Bull's Heart": characteristics of the variety, the best pollinators

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Every year, cherries gain more and more fans among gardeners not only in the south, but also in central Russia. Everyone wants to get sweet, full-bodied fruits, such as, for example, the Bull's Heart cherry, which is considered the largest-fruited variety obtained by domestic breeders.

The culture received its name due to the rich dark red hue of the fruits and their external resemblance to the heart of a large, powerful animal.

In Soviet times, this variety, also called Oxheart, was recommended for cultivation in Georgia, Azerbaijan and the south of the RSFSR, but today the boundaries of the comfort zone for the variety have expanded somewhat. There is successful experience in obtaining stable harvests on farms in the Black Earth Region and even in the center of Russia.

However, success accompanies only those who patiently take care of the plantings, follow agricultural practices and are well aware of the features, advantages and weaknesses listed in the description of the Bull's Heart cherry variety.

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Description of culture

After planting, the large-fruited Bull's Heart cherry shows rapid growth. By the age of five, an abundant crown has already formed. After this period, growth processes slow down.

As the Bull's Heart cherry tree matures, its height varies from three to five meters. The crown has a pyramidal shape with an average degree of foliage.

The leaf blades are large, with a dark green color. They have a lanceolate shape with pointed tips and double-serrated edges. The rounded base is attached to a strong short petiole.

Ripe berries reach a weight of up to 12 g. They are covered with a dark red dense skin with a pleasant wine tint. The very juicy pulp differs from the peel in a lighter tone. It is sweet, with a pleasant faint sour note, giving the fruit a piquant taste. The bone is removed with little difficulty.

White small flowers are collected in inflorescences. Each of them contains from two to four buds.

After planting in a place prepared in the garden, the Bull's Heart cherry begins to bear fruit quite early, on average already in the fourth year.

This variety of cherry, also called Oxen Heart, was originally recommended for the southern Russian territories. It was cultivated in Azerbaijan and Georgia.

Over time, the cultivation of Bull's Heart cherries began to be practiced in the conditions of the Black Earth Region and the center of Russia. By following agrotechnical rules and taking into account the characteristics of the variety in relation to the selection of a planting site, it is possible to obtain a stable harvest.

Characteristics

Gardeners choose an amazing variety of cherries, distinguished by very large berries, taking into account other characteristic features.

Drought resistance, winter hardiness

The possibility of cultivating Bull's Heart cherries in unstable climates is explained by the fairly high frost resistance of mature trees. They do not freeze in winter at a temperature of -25˚C.

Attention! The danger comes from spring frosts that occur at the beginning of flowering. Under their influence, flower buds and blooming buds die.

Bull's Heart cherries can tolerate short periods of drought, but the trees should not be left without water for more than one month.

Pollination, flowering period and ripening time

Considering the self-sterility of the fruit crop, it will be necessary to select suitable pollinators for the Bull's Heart cherry. Keeping an interval of at least 4 meters, the Tyutchevka variety is placed nearby. Iput or Ovstuzhenka cherries are suitable as pollinators.

These varieties have the same flowering periods in May, which guarantees the necessary pollination of the Bull's Heart cherry. In such a situation, the trees will delight you with a bountiful harvest.

Depending on the climatic characteristics of a particular area, the ripening period of the Bull's Heart cherry varies. In the south, in gardens, ripe large fruits appear by the beginning of the summer season. In more northern regions, mass fruiting occurs in the second decade of June.

Productivity, fruiting

The value of the fruit crop for gardeners lies in the fact that the fruiting of the Bull's Heart cherry is stable.

The yield is quite high. From each mature tree, up to 60 kg of berries with excellent taste characteristics are obtained annually.

Area of ​​application of berries

Mostly, the juicy, excellent-tasting berries of the Bull's Heart cherries are consumed fresh, collected during their full ripening period.

If necessary, they are processed to produce compotes with a rich burgundy color, savory jam, and delicious preserves.

Resistance to diseases and pests

An important criterion for choosing a certain species for planting in your own garden is such a characteristic of the Bull Heart cherry variety as the ability to resist the diseases and pests characteristic of this crop.

It is noted that trees of this variety are practically not affected by fungal infection. It is important that coccomycosis, which is dangerous for cherries, is rarely observed on them.

Advantages and disadvantages

When evaluating Bull's Heart cherries, you should compare the pros and possible cons of this crop.

Advantages:

• large fruits;
• outstanding product and taste characteristics;
• fairly high winter hardiness;
• rare susceptibility to disease and attack by harmful insects;
• high yield.

Flaws:

• deformation of fruits during transportation;
• low shelf life, which does not allow the berries to be stored fresh;
• susceptibility of fruits to cracking when overripe, as well as under the influence of temperature fluctuations, direct sunlight, and high air humidity.

Advice! The only way to keep fruits fresh longer is to quickly freeze them immediately after picking them from the tree. It is recommended to use them when cooking compotes and jelly for four months.

Cherry variety ox heart: photo

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Of all the berries, cherries are simply a delicacy! She is the first to sing (especially the “T-shirt” cherry), is incredibly tasty, and is endlessly loved by everyone. Yes. cherry, not cherry. Jam is practically not made from it. Her compotes are inferior to cherry ones. That’s why they plant cherries less often and eat them all alive! My mother once planted (knowing my love for her - as a child, my friends and I stole from our neighbors!) six seedlings. Five became luxurious queens of the court. (There is a photo!) One seedling immediately disappeared. Gardening experts said that an odd number should be planted. How much happiness; and from the cherry blossoms, and how much bliss there is from its almost honey-like, juicy berries. Bull's Heart is the best variety in the world! Lately, we've actually had some worms in our berries. Especially when there was a lot of rain and when the cherries were overripe. Wrote in memory of my mother, Klavdia Efimovna...

Landing Features

If the planting of Bull's Heart cherries on a personal yard is carried out taking into account the characteristics of this fruit crop, it is possible to annually obtain tasty, healthy fruits of incredible large size.

Recommended timing

The predominant time recommended for planting Bull's Heart cherries in the garden is the spring season. This is due to the young tree’s ability to adapt to new conditions and survive the winter.

Advice! If you managed to purchase viable seedlings in the fall, then before the onset of sub-zero temperatures, measures should be taken to protect them from freezing with the help of shelter.

Choosing a suitable location

When choosing a permanent place for the Bull's Heart cherry, take into account that this crop will not grow well if the aquifers are close to each other.

The area should be well lit by the sun. Protective shields are installed on the north side. Cherry does not like heavy clay and depleted sandy soils.

What crops can and cannot be planted next to cherries?

A properly selected combination of other plants ensures decent yield of the Bull's Heart cherry.

It is recommended to plant hawthorn, grapes, rowan, and cherry. They do not interfere with the development of cherries, so they can grow nearby. Apple trees, cherry plums, pears, raspberries, thorns, and plums are considered undesirable neighbors. It is advisable to place them no closer than six meters from the cherry tree.

Selection and preparation of planting material

When purchasing a Bull's Heart cherry seedling, you should carefully examine it. It is important that there are no dry or broken branches or damaged bark.

The seedling should not be deformed or show signs of disease. The most viable specimens will be those with a developed root system, dense buds, and a neat and visible grafting site.

Immediately before planting, sharp pruning shears are used to shorten too long and damaged roots. Soak the lower part of the seedling for two hours in settled warm water with a growth stimulator dissolved in it according to the instructions.

Landing algorithm

After preparing the planting material, it is important to properly plant the Bull’s Heart cherry, maintaining a row spacing of three meters and a row spacing of five meters.

Holes for spring planting are dug in the fall. The excavated soil is enriched with complex mineral fertilizer. Sand and rotted compost are added to clay soil in equal volumes.

The planting of Bull's Heart cherries is carried out in the following sequence:

1. A wooden stake is driven into the bottom of the planting hole, which will serve as a support for the young tree during gusts of wind.
2. A drainage layer is laid, the role of which is played by gravel, broken bricks, and cobblestones.
3. Pour a mound of prepared soil into the center.
4. The seedling is installed by carefully straightening and distributing all the roots over the earthen mound.
5. Lightly compacting the layers, fill the voids with soil mixture. The grafting site should rise above the surface.
6. Tie a seedling to a support and water it.

Subsequent care of the crop

It should be borne in mind that planting and caring for the Ox Heart cherry does not create difficulties for gardeners. The following activities are carried out:

1. In hot weather, an adult tree requires watering four times during the growing season. Young plants need to be watered more often.
2. Loosening of tree trunk circles is carried out as the crust forms. At the same time, weeds are removed and then the soil is mulched.
3. Feeding the Bull's Heart cherry involves the spring application of ammonium nitrate. In July, when the harvest has already been harvested, phosphorus-potassium fertilizers are used. In the fall, it is recommended to scatter rotted compost into the tree trunks and loosen the soil.
4. Pre-winter preparations are carried out in late autumn. The cherries are watered, the trunks and lower large branches are whitened with lime.
5. Young trees are protected from the cold by wrapping them with spruce branches. In winter, the snow around the trunks is trampled down to prevent rodents, adding it, if necessary, to the tree trunk circles.

Annual spring pruning to form the crown is required for the Bull's Heart cherry starting from the age of two. Shorten the shoots by a third of the length. In the fall, sanitary cutting out of damaged branches is carried out.

Diseases and pests, methods of control and prevention

Under unfavorable external conditions and irregular crown thinning, the Bull's Heart cherry can be susceptible to serious diseases and the development of pests. At the first sign, you need to start fighting to save the trees.

Main diseases:

The most common pests:

Diseases and pests of cherries Bull's heart

At the end of the spring season or at the beginning of summer, the leaves of the Ox's heart may become covered with small brownish spots. Subsequently, this leads to them drying out and crumbling. Less commonly, such spots appear on fruits. If you encounter such a manifestation, then it is coccomycosis.

Typically, a tree is rarely attacked by this fungus, but still does not have 100% protection. If cherries are affected by coccomycosis, the following measures must be taken:

• First of all, all infested parts are removed and burned.
• During the growing season of the buds, treat the cherries with special fungicides.
• After harvesting, cherries need to be treated with Bordeaux mixture.

Among the pests it is worth noting:

• Cherry fly. This is the most harmful insect for melon varieties. The fly lays its eggs in green berries. After the larvae hatch, they begin to eat the pulp from the inside. They fight this parasite with special insecticides.
• Cherry moth. This parasite loves the buds, leaves and young shoots of cherries. As in the previous case, the solution to the pest problem comes down to the use of special insecticides.