Cherry «Krupnoplodnaya»

Derived from: Napoleon Bely + Elton + Valeriy Chkalov + Zhabule. Breeders N. I. Turovtsev, M. T. Oratovskyi.

Cherry ;«Krupnoplodnaya» (Prunus avium) – a variety of Ukrainian breeding. Bred at the Institute of Irrigated Horticulture of the UAAN by pollinating the «Napoleon Bely» cultivar with a mixture of pollen from «Elton», «Valeriy Chkalov», and «Zhabule». In 1983 the variety was entered into the State Register of Varieties of Ukraine.

It is a fast-growing tree with a globular crown. Scaffold branches are strong, coarse. The crown is moderately dense. It bears fruit on cluster (bouquet) shoots and last year’s growth. Begins bearing in the 4th year after planting. Blooms in mid-season. The variety is partially self-fertile.

Fruits are very large, weighing 10.4 – 12 g, broadly rounded. Skin fairly firm, thin, dark red, easily removable. Flesh dark red, dense, crisp, juicy, of good sweet-and-sour taste. Stone large. Juice dark red. Taste rating – 4.6 points. Ripens in late June. Yield regular, high. Fruits may crack from heavy rains. Yield 72 kg per tree.

Best pollinators: Syurpriz, Francis Iosif, Daibera chorna, Bigarro Oratovskogo.

Hardiness zone: -26°C. High resistance of generative buds to frost, as well as high resistance of flowers to spring frosts (-8°C).

Location: prefers sunny, windless sites. Does not like acidic soils, nor places with shallow groundwater (not closer than 1.5 m). Performs best on elevated sites, near fences or buildings where snow accumulates in winter. Undemanding to soil, drought-tolerant.

Planting: planting is recommended in spring. Before planting, improve the soil. The planting area should be dug over to a spade's depth and fertilized: manure or compost at 8-10 kg/m², superphosphate 150-200 g, potassium fertilizers – 100 g or complex fertilizers – 150-200 g/m². Recommended soil reaction pH 6.5-7. It is also recommended to add fertilizers to the planting hole – 10 kg of humus, non-acid peat or well-rotted compost, and 500 g of ash. The hole should be dug and prepared 2 weeks before planting.

Pruning: from 2–3 years pruning is necessary – remove suckers, remove lower branches to form the trunk, shorten the leader by redirecting to a lateral branch, and thin the crown. Pruning is carried out in early spring before bud swell.

Care: consists of regular pruning. In spring and autumn it is necessary to whitewash trunks and the bases of scaffold branches. In autumn it is recommended to cover trunks with fir boughs or other material to protect them from rodents. It is also necessary to protect ripening fruits from birds – special nets for covering trees are used for this.

Diseases and pests: The variety is highly resistant to moniliosis and coccomycosis

Usage: high and stable yields, comprehensive resistance to fungal diseases of stone fruits, high commercial and taste qualities, resistance of flowers to spring frosts and of buds to cold. Fruit have good transportability. The variety is recommended for commercial cultivation. Fruits are of general-purpose use.