Cherries are considered the most ancient of the representatives of cherries and the Plum genus. It is known for its importance for beekeeping, because it is a wonderful source of nectar for insects. Unlike cherries, the berry of cherries has a very sweet, even honey taste. The sour fruit of this tree is extremely difficult to meet. For this sweet cherry and fell in love, it became much more popular than its "relative", and the price of its berries is much higher. Growing a plant is beneficial, so modern gardening every year presents new varieties that have not only different flavors, but also their own special color. Consider the characteristics of one of these varieties of cherries - "Red Hill" and its description.
Tree description
The tree of the "Krasnaya Gorka" variety is low-growing, reaching a maximum of 2-3 m. It develops very quickly, especially at a young age. His crown is thick and wide, has an ovoid shape. Young bark of a sweet cherry is usually brown, reddish or silver, with a large number of stripes, covered with brown lentils for a long time, and sometimes prone to flaking with transverse thin films. "Red Hill" can have two types of shoots, namely brachyblast and auxiblast. The root system is horizontal, sometimes abundant vertical roots are formed. For the foliage of "Red Hill" is characterized by the shape of the ellipse and a pointed end, it is green and quite large. The petioles are up to 16 cm long. The branches are whorled. This genus is characterized by three types of buds: generative, vegetative and mixed types, which, depending on their type, are found on fruit and growth shoots.
Did you know? Sweet cherry, which has the name "bird berry" among the people, was known as early as 8000 BC.
To grow a tree requires a windless location. It can not be planted in soil with strong acidity and places where groundwater is close. The krone develops rapidly and often becomes too thick. Therefore, she needs pruning, which is advised to hold in the spring from 3-5 years of life, "Red Hill".
Fruit Description
The cherry fruit is large, gaining a mass of 5-6 g during ripening. The berry has a classic rounded shape. The fruits are known for an unusual color: golden with a scarlet blush, very attractive look on the branches, and in desserts. The skin is smooth, smooth, glossy. Pigment berry pulp is not present, it is juicy, dense, soft, well separated from the small bone. The fruits are very tasty, sweet with a slight sourness. They are densely located on the branch, like a crown.
Did you know? Cherry berries include: 82% water, 16% carbohydrates, 1% protein. They have almost no fat, only 0.2 grams of lipids per 100 grams of product. It is believed that they contain less nutrients than cherries.
Pollination
The Red Hill has no inclination for even partial self-fertility, it is cross-pollinated. The best pollinators for the variety are such bird-like trees: “Revna”, “Farewell”, “Tyutchevka”, “Homestead”, “Raditsa”, “Bryansk Pink”, “Ovstuzhenka”. For the normal process of pollination requires planting at least 3 trees with the same flowering time at a distance of 80 cm from each other. The neighborhood with cherry will be very good and productive for sweet cherry.
Check out also the description of the varieties of cherries: "Adeline", "Regina", "Bullish Heart", "Large-fruited", "Iput", "Leningradskaya black", "Fatezh", "Chermashnaya", "Valery Chkalov".
Fruiting
The tree belongs to the class of fast-growing plants, the berries will appear as early as the 4th year of the life of Krasnaya Gorka. Full and abundant fruiting is typical for plants aged 6 to 12 years. Cherry fruits every year to 12-16 years of life. After that, the tree will no longer be useful, so you have to plant a new plant to get the berries.
Flowering period
Like all trees, cherry blossoms flowers in late spring. The period of flowering of this variety is considered early - from 5 to 10 May, although much depends on the climatic conditions of cultivation. The flowers near the tree are always bisexual, have a delicate light shade. Usually they bloom on young shoots shortly before the appearance of the foliage itself and form practically sedentary umbrellas. Each flower has 5 sepals and 5 petals, a large number of stamens and a single pistil.
Gestation period
Fruits ripen not at the same time by the middle or the end of June. The variety is considered quite early. For uniform and high-quality ripening sweet cherry "Red Hill" need a large amount of sunlight and heat.
Important! Watch the ripening process and collect ripe fruits in time, otherwise they will get to the birds or they will start to rot at all. Corroded berries are the first source of fungi that can later hit the whole tree.
Yield
With proper care, normal pollination and suitable weather conditions, an adult tree can produce a very good and stable crop - up to 45 kg per season.
Transportability
"Red Hill" can not "boast" good transportability. This group of cinnamon cherries, respectively, the fruits are incredibly juicy and soft, quickly deteriorate. For their transportation very good conditions are needed: a refrigerator, a package. Variety refers to the type of table purpose, so the berries are better not to transport, and use within a few days after harvest.
Winter hardiness
The sweet cherry of this sort of frost is “not afraid”. Very rarely there is a slight freezing of the plant, which has the ability to recover. She will be able to safely withstand temperatures up to -33 ° C. If, however, it is grown in latitudes with a colder climate, then for a period of decreasing temperature, it is necessary to cover the root system and perform some procedures that help the trees to “survive” the frost.
Application of fruits
Berries of an early grade of sweet cherry are accepted to be used fresh. They can be eaten as a dessert without adding sugar or honey, as there are plenty of glucose in the fruit. Due to the attractiveness of the bird berries, it has become an essential element for decorating cakes, kissels and other desserts. Sweet cherry magically fit as a filling for the pie. In restaurants, fruit sauce is often served with meat. It can be found in the bar menu: cocktails, liqueurs and tinctures.
Important! "Red Hill "is not suitable for jams or jam, as it has a very tender flesh and instantly turn into a mush when it is cooked.
Cherry has found its application in traditional medicine. Due to the content in it of vitamins A, B, PP, E, as well as ascorbic, malic acid and carotene, sweet cherry will be an excellent tool for the prevention of spring avitaminosis. After all, "Red Hill" matures early. Experienced housewives know that properly cooked sweet cherry is an excellent diuretic, which is good to use in case of kidney diseases. It is believed that regular consumption of "bird berries" improves metabolism. Thus, you can lose weight, stabilize digestion and improve the overall tone of the whole organism.
We advise you to read about the beneficial properties of strawberries, raspberries (black), currants (red, white, black), gooseberries, yoshta, pears, apples, sea buckthorn, cloudberries, cowberries, cranberries, princesses, mulberries, chokeberries, plums, cherry plums, peach, nectarine , apricots, tangerines.
Cherry also contains anthocyanins - plant glycosides, which help to reduce the inflammatory reactions of the intestinal walls, oxidative stress, and improve the barrier functions of the stomach with an excess of fats and carbohydrates. Fruits tone, improve mood due to glucose. The berries of "Red Hill" can strengthen the walls of capillaries, prevent hypertension and dystonia. This is the prevention of atherosclerosis. There are also rare coumarins in sweet cherries, which will lower the blood clotting threshold, prevent thrombosis and the formation of plaques, and have a good effect on the body during anemia. Berries are also used as an anesthetic, especially for such diseases as gouty rheumatism, arthrosis, problems with joints.
Cherry has many healing properties, but, of course, self-medication can harm your health, so be sure to consult with leading experts about its use as a medicine.
Advantages and disadvantages
Silver varieties "Red Hill" has several advantages and some disadvantages. Let's consider them.
pros
The advantages that will convince you to purchase this particular “bird berry” are:
- Excellent taste characteristics of the product.
- Large fruit size.
- Excellent frost resistance.
- Good immunity to coccomycosis, moniliosis, perforated spotting and other diseases, as well as insect pests.
- Abundant yield.
- A special aesthetic appearance of both the tree itself and the fruit.
- Cherry berries have many beneficial and even healing properties.
- The widespread use of fruits.
- Unpretentious care (does not need frequent watering, fertilizer, there is no urgent need for pesticide treatment)
- The short stature of the tree, which will facilitate the harvest.
- Durability.
Minuses
Unfortunately, the "Red Hill" has some drawbacks:
- Not suitable for winter harvesting.
- Poorly amenable to transportation.
- Negatively "reacts" to excess moisture.
- "Afraid" of the wind.
- Requires pruning.
- Not a self-fertile plant.
- Berries can cause allergic reactions in some people.
- It has a small shelf life, respectively, is not suitable for industrial use and implementation.
The Krasnaya Gorka sweet cherry variety is not a perfect and versatile plant, but if you create good conditions, this small tree will surely please with an immodest and delicious harvest. Purchase of seedlings is best done in official nurseries to avoid receiving discarded varieties that will not bear fruit.