Cherry Altana: description of the variety, photo, planting rules, cultivation

The article presents the Altana cherry: a description of the variety, photos, characteristics, instructions for proper planting, cultivation.

Cherry Altana: description of the variety, photos, characteristics

Cherry Altana

The Altana cherry variety has a very unusual and sonorous name. At the same time, we would like to dwell in more detail on the description of the main characteristics of this variety, on its properties and on how to plant a cherry tree correctly so that the result will amaze a person. Of course, I would like to start our description with a description of the breeding characteristics, since it is always interesting who, where, when brought this variety, and what is its peculiarity.

The Altana cherry variety was bred at the Buryat fruit and berry experimental station, the authors of the variety are very famous breeders - EZH. Badmaeva and Yu.S. Bolotsky, S.P. Vaulin and E.G. Sokratov, as well as D.A. Markov. They are the authorship of many other varieties, which to this day are considered one of the most famous and widespread not only in Russia, but also abroad. The variety was obtained thanks to careful selection among seedlings from free pollination, form 3-15-52 felt cherry. In general, the variety was not obtained by chance, although the tests were carried out for a long time. As a result, the variety was entered into the state register around 2005. today it continues to be researched, but by the gardeners themselves - they acquire seedlings in order to independently understand whether they want to see this variety on their site, whether they cope with agrotechnical requirements.

Of course, now we will briefly go over what characteristics this cherry variety has, and then we will dwell in more detail on the properties, description of the variety and on its features. Cherry gives a bush of medium-sized volume with a fairly dense and rounded crown, which lends itself to shaping and tolerates this process perfectly. The bark on the main branches and shoots is painted in a gray tint, you can also notice a greenish admixture. It is also worth saying that even in young shoots, the bark may peel off a little - this is one of the features of this variety, which does not mean any negative manifestations at all. The shoots themselves are straight and thin, but very strong, have a grayish-green color, as well as abundant pubescence - this distinguishes the variety from many other cherry crops. Lentils are small, light yellow, abundant. The leaves are also small, but when the tree gets larger, the leaves can grow to a solid size. This generally applies to the entire planting - with age, the crown can grow, the planting becomes larger, but still remains quite attractive, deserves attention from gardeners. They argue that since the tree is quite compact, it is very convenient to care for it and it is quite convenient to harvest, trim the crown and shape it into attractive sizes.

What fruits does Altana cherry give

Cherry Altana

The fruits are not very large, from 2.3 to 4 grams in weight, colored in a dark red tint.They are rounded, on them you can see a small depression and a seam at the very base. So when processing the fruit, it is convenient to break it in half to remove the stone. The peduncle is shortened, it can be easily removed from the branch. The skin also has a slight pubescence, like the whole tree as a whole. The pulp is colored in a red tint, very juicy and tender, pleasant to the taste, the juice is colored in a red-pink tint, sourish, but at the same time the fruits go well with other fruits and berries if you prepare salads, preserves and jams, as well as juices or compotes ... The stone is medium in size, well separated from the pulp, which makes it easier for the gardener to handle the crop. But there is a point, which is that, in principle, these fruits are not very good transportability, since they tend to wither and rot very quickly after removal. So it is advisable to take care of how the crop will be sold and processed in advance.

In general, the fruits are quite useful, they can be consumed fresh, since they contain a large amount of dry soluble substances and acids, sugars, ascorbic acid, vitamin R. These components have an excellent effect on different systems of the human body, on immunity, and accelerate metabolism. substances that improve mood. If you regularly consume cherries, you will notice that digestion will improve from the fruits, and the general condition of a person will noticeably improve. As for the tasting assessment, it sometimes differs. Someone assesses the fruit at 4.1 points, and someone at 4.6 points. This is a completely subjective characteristic, so it is worth planting this variety on your own site in order to understand whether the gardener will like it for its taste, or whether it is worth trying something else.

Cherry Altana: resistance, botanical characteristics

Cherry Altana

The variety has an average level of frost resistance, as well as average heat resistance and drought resistance. For this reason, it is recommended to create the most favorable conditions for planting so that the cherries feel comfortable and so that planting gives the maximum tasty yield. It should also be borne in mind that the variety sometimes has low lesions with various diseases, but at the same time it is still worth carrying out preventive treatments and measures so that the plantings feel much more comfortable, in complete safety.

Next, we will tell you more about the intricacies of this variety, and also, in the next part of our article, we will dwell on how to choose the right planting materials, how to plant cherries in open ground, how to care for them, and protect them from dangerous diseases. This information has been collected from various sources, and is a unique guide on how to create all conditions for planting and improve its performance in all aspects. The variety ripens early enough, usually removable consumer ripeness occurs in late June or early July. But, again, a lot will depend just on what weather and climatic conditions this planting will grow in. If the gardener creates comfortable conditions, then fruiting will begin early. By the way, plantings that have reached the age of three to four years usually begin to bear fruit. The advantage of this variety is that it is self-fertile. This means that you do not need to plant pollinators nearby - most of the crop will tie on its own. Self-fertility is generally assessed at a high level in this variety. Also, the plant is able to withstand a drop in temperature and attacks from pests. Due to the increased immunity, the tree is rarely more coccomycosis - the most dangerous fungal disease for cherries.

Cherry trees of this variety can be medium in height, but there are gardeners who say that, in general, these are fairly large plantings. Cherry height varies from 3 to 3.5 meters.It all depends on in what area and in what conditions the variety grows, since many factors can affect the growth. Some of them are generally supported by gardeners, and some, less favorable, should be constantly fought, because the vital activity of the planting, its strength and ability to produce as much high-quality and abundant, tasty and healthy harvest as possible, will depend on this.

The cherry crown turns out to be incredibly attractive - it is round, dense, and consists of a large number of bright dark green leaves. Twigs and shoots are literally covered with them, and at the same time, the planting really deserves attention. It becomes a kind of universal - not only does the cherry tree yield crops, but it can also display very decorative and attractive characteristics. Of course, the crown can be shaped, it lends itself to pruning, thanks to which you can create that shape that will meet any wishes and needs of the gardener. The peculiarity of the variety is that after pruning, the tree is remarkably restored on its own. The leaves have a crenate edge, they are slightly above average in size, but in general, many experienced gardeners say that they are large enough, capable of standing out against the background of other parts of the tree, and against the background of many other cherry varieties.

Shoots are straight, brown-brown colored. Fruiting of the variety usually begins on the shoots of the previous year, and fruits can also form on numerous bouquet branches. The most important thing is to constantly monitor the state of planting, not to allow unfavorable features, diseases to develop, and also so that cherries are in no way affected by pests. Young shoots that were formed in the current year bear only vegetative buds, but next year they will begin to bear fruit, so it is recommended to constantly monitor their growth, prune if necessary, so that the plantings feel more comfortable and safe. In addition, the overall appearance of the tree will depend on pruning, so you should be as careful as possible with all this. But we will talk about this a little later, when we move on to the part with agricultural technology and care for planting cherries.

Judging by the fact that gardeners leave a fairly large number of reviews about this variety, cherry differs in that the fruits are very large on it. But the originator initially indicated in his description that the fruits are miniature - one cherry weighs no more than four grams.

But even here it is worth saying that assessments of external characteristics are always quite subjective, and gardeners who have not yet grown cherries on the site before can assess the result and the harvest as plentiful, and the berries as incredibly large in size. Here it remains only to understand that in any case, the maximum result can be achieved, but at the same time it is necessary to invest your own time and energy so that in the future planting feels as comfortable as possible, and so that in a harmonious microclimate the tree does not fight for its existence, but calmly devoted all her strength to the formation of the harvest. It can be concluded that the size of the cherries, as well as their external characteristics and the abundance of the crop, are all determined by climatic and temperature conditions, as well as by the locality in which the planting grows, and whether it received enough care from the gardener.

Of course, initially it is worthwhile to carefully study the information about the varieties, about their features, so that in the future it will be easier for yourself to decide whether the gardener wants to plant this variety, whether he can devote his time to caring activities.But practice shows that even without this, sometimes plantings feel quite favorable, since sometimes it is enough just to create a normal microclimate for the plant, so that the cherries simply bear fruit in the future. Soil composition is also very important, and we will definitely talk about this a little later.

The opinions of gardeners may differ, since any assessments are built solely on the subjective opinion and understanding of the gardener. In addition, sometimes the opinion of an experienced gardener is completely different from the opinion of a gardener who has just started his activity, and this has its own subtleties. Most gardeners claim that the cherry variety produces incredibly rich and delicious fruits that really deserve attention. They have dessert characteristics and a universal purpose. But there are also those who claim that this is the most ordinary cherry, which may have its own characteristics, but certainly not in external or taste characteristics. In this case, disputes may arise, but we recommend that you try to grow this variety yourself on your site in order to make sure from our own experience whether this variety is so favorable and interesting, or if gardeners are still right, and such cherries are no different from most of the other varieties that are grown on the plots today. It is always worth checking out such moments from your own experience, so that later you can decide for yourself whether it is worth planting cherries on the site at all. Sometimes climatic conditions are unfavorable, the composition of the soil is not the most suitable, and in this case the harvest may not work, and even after planting the tree will not grow as actively as the gardener would like.

Specificity of the variety

In terms of their shade, both the fruits and the juice that is obtained from them are distinguished by a rich red hue. This means that cherries can belong to the group of so-called morels or griots. Now let's explain what this means: all varieties of cherries, depending on the color of the juice, can be divided into several groups - these are morel (griots) or amorel. In moroles, the juice is colored in rich shades (like in the cherry variety we are considering), but in amorels the juice can be very light, just like their color. So, when choosing a particular variety, a gardener should also pay attention to similar characteristics that can play a significant role. You always want to have classic cherry plantings, but there are those gardeners who deviate from the classics and can grow exotic varieties. Moreover, do not worry - even very unusual varieties today can adapt to the reality of Russian household plots, and the harvest is no worse, many do not even see the differences.

The flesh of cherries is very dense, but at the same time it is wonderful - fragrant and incredibly juicy. The stone is small in size, it separates from the pulp without any problems. Thanks to this, it is possible to process the resulting crop much faster and without difficulty for subsequent harvesting. The tasting score is 4.7 points on a five-point system - gardeners speak of cherries as incredibly tasty and aromatic. It is also worth saying that the composition of the fruits is quite rich and very useful for the human body, for its health, metabolism and immunity - dry substances, sugar and acids, as well as vitamin C, which perfectly affects different systems of the human body, go to the fruits. The most important thing is that cherries are really delicious, they can be combined with other berries or fruits, especially if the gardener prepares salads or preparations.

If we talk about the characteristics of the cherry variety, then immediately it is worth saying that they reflect a large number of positive points that can really attract gardeners - both experienced and those who are just starting to do gardening, and are in search of the most favorable and interesting varieties for growing on your site. To begin with, this cherry variety is distinguished by the fact that it is incredibly winter-hardy, and therefore, even in climatically unstable planting conditions, planting will feel as comfortable as possible.In fact, it is the parent cultures that will largely determine how strong the resulting culture is. The tree can easily tolerate a drop in temperatures down to -30 degrees, but if suddenly return frosts are observed in the spring, then this does not affect the tree in the best way. The point is that return frosts can harm the buds, which may freeze slightly, may not have time to open, and this leads to not very healthy external characteristics of the tree and to the fact that, in general, the yield of the variety may decrease.

Drought tolerance and heat tolerance are rated as medium. But if the variety grows in the middle zone of our country, then, in principle, this level will be enough, since the plantings initially feel much more adaptable and more comfortable, and the plants, in principle, are distinguished by sufficient resistance and capabilities to endure adverse conditions. If the tree grows in the southern regions and parts, then the gardener should organize regular watering, otherwise the planting will dry out and, as a result, this will lead to her death. So if the gardener lives in the South, then it is recommended for him to choose more hardy varieties, since the current one will not endure protracted droughts and dry soil in the best way.

One of the peculiarities of the variety is that it is a self-fertile cherry variety. This means that the cherry tree does not need additional pollination in order for a large amount of fruit to form on the cherry tree. Although some gardeners still plant several other varieties of cherries nearby, so that cross-pollination can be organized, and so that the harvest is not only plentiful, but also tastier. Insects always play the main role in cross-pollination - bees, bumblebees, which carry pollen from one tree to another, from flower to flower. But sometimes it happens that these insects are not present on the site, which means that cross-pollination becomes more difficult. But for this variety it does not matter at all, because self-fertility assumes that it will cope with flowering and ovaries completely on its own. The main thing is that the gardener provides support to the plantings, and then everything will certainly be fine. Moreover, self-fertility assumes that cherries will provide the gardener with fruits and a high yield in any year, even if suddenly the weather conditions are not the most favorable, planting will cope with its functions at the highest level.

So we can say that Altana cherry is a unique find for both beginners and experienced gardeners who always strive to get a bountiful and tasty harvest. Also, the variety can forgive some mistakes in care and agricultural technology, and this really is of great importance for those who do not have such a rich experience in gardening and caring for plants. It is also worth saying that sometimes the gardener does not have a lot of space for planting, but even there cherries adapt and take root remarkably. True, only one cherry variety will have to be planted, but given its advantages, the gardener will be able to achieve a very bright and attractive result, so he will be quite pleased with this purchase.

Cherry Altana: flowering, fruiting

Cherry blossoms occur in May, but it can shift to earlier or later dates - everything here will depend on the conditions and in what climate this planting grows. But usually the terms are shifted either to the first half of the month, or to the second, no other changes are envisaged. If flowering does not occur for a long time, then the gardener should think about why this is happening, what is wrong with the plant, why it reacts in this way to external conditions, and what needs to be changed in order for the tree to give flowers.The abundance of flowering will further depend on the abundance of fruiting, therefore this factor is one of the initial and most significant.

If we talk not about the timing of flowering, but already about the timing of ripening of cherries, then experienced gardeners and the breeders themselves boldly attribute this variety to the mid-season group. If, however, those who call cherries are medium late. Here, again, a lot depends on the climatic conditions of the area in which this variety grows, as well as on whether the gardener himself was able to take care of the cherries so that the tree would yield a crop ahead of schedule or on time. Hence the difference in assessments in that, sooner or later, fruiting begins. Sometimes it can be regulated - if you plant a tree in favorable conditions and regularly monitor it, implementing all the rules and subtleties of agricultural technology and care. Ripening usually occurs in the second half of July, and if cherries grow in very hot conditions, then the fruits can be harvested at the very beginning of July. In any case, many factors add up so that fruiting can be a little "floating".

Cherry Altana: yield, application

By the way, I would like to say a few words directly about fruiting and about the yield of this cherry variety. Cherries can be called fast-growing, since you don't have to wait long for the harvest. Trees grow to a large size quickly enough, and fruiting occurs in the fourth or fifth year after the seedling was planted in the open field. At this time, the height of the tree already reaches three meters, further growth slows down, but it still exists, and every year the tree adds several centimeters. Under favorable conditions, it will be possible to collect up to ten kilograms of large and ripe berries from a five-year-old cherry tree. According to this indicator, this variety is ahead of many other cherry varieties, which are also very popular today, and the gardener is striving to improve them. They have something to compare with in such an abundance of landings, and they have what indicators to focus on. In this respect, the cherry really managed to get ahead of many of its fellows, and even parental cultures.

The average yield of a cherry tree is approximately 45 quintals per hectare of land. On an industrial scale and in appropriate plantings, about one hundred centners per hectare of land can be harvested. Again, the plantings and their saturation depend on the purpose for which the gardener decided to grow this variety on the site. These can be small home gardens where from one to two trees will fit, or there can be industrial plantings, when cherries are grown not only for consumption and processing for their own purposes, but also for mass production and sale of fruits in markets, in supermarkets. Accordingly, the methods of care can also change from this, and the form in which planting is carried out and, of course, the amount of harvest from one site, from a hectare of land, changes. If we talk about average numbers, then the maximum yield of one adult tree varies from ten to twelve kilograms. The average lifespan of one tree can be up to fifteen years. If the cherry planting was carried out in the southern region, then the Altan cherry can live longer than twenty years and, accordingly, the fruiting period can also be noticeably extended.

I would like to say about what is the area of ​​application of berries. In general, cherries are considered very versatile berries, they have a very pleasant, pronounced cherry flavor in the dessert category. They can be eaten fresh immediately after the gardener has removed the fruits from the tree, and you can also prepare drinks, juices and compotes from cherries. In addition, the fruits are wonderful in preparations for the winter, in addition they can be frozen.They do not lose their gustatory and external characteristics for a long time, they perfectly tolerate long-distance transportation, if, of course, the gardener creates all the most favorable conditions.

Stability, advantages, disadvantages

Initially, the Altana cherry was bred as a planting that will have high immunity and stress resistance, and will be able to withstand a disease such as coccomycosis - a fungus that develops very actively and, accordingly, which can lead not only to the loss of an abundant and tasty harvest, but also to death the entire landing. If the year is rainy, and there is a lot of heavy wet rainfall, then this can lead to the fact that the tree will nevertheless become infected with the fungus, but this can be avoided - it is enough to carry out preventive and recreational measures and treatments so that the trees feel much more comfortable and safe. ...

If we talk about other diseases and dangerous infections, as well as pests, then, in principle, it should be said that this variety has an average level of resistance to them, but still the gardener should not ignore preventive measures and treatments that will help protect the tree itself, future harvest. So it is necessary to be very attentive to such conditions, and the result will not be long in coming. In addition, experienced gardeners recommend organizing treatments and preventive measures in spring, when the plant is already waking up after winter and can best accept all drugs or other substances, interventions by gardeners that can somehow affect the plant and its condition.

The variety has its advantages, but there are also disadvantages. Among the advantages of this planting, one can single out the fact that the variety is absolutely self-fertile, which means that planting does not require additional pollinator varieties to demonstrate a high level of fruiting. The second advantage is that the berries are very tasty and large, they want a lot here will depend solely on subjective assessments and on the tastes of the gardeners themselves, so everyone should try to grow a planting on their own, and then decide whether the fruits are sufficiently large and tasty, and is this tree worth the effort and time that the gardener himself invests in them. It is also worth saying that the yield of the variety is at a high level, but this can only be achieved thanks to the care and attention from the gardener himself.

But this variety has no drawbacks as such - it also grows well in comfortable conditions for itself, is demanding in some activities and additional care, if you grow the planting in those conditions where there is no climate stability and there are sharp temperature changes. Although experienced gardeners say that, in general, plantings react absolutely calmly to such conditions - sometimes they need the gardener to carry out additional fertilizing and simply maintain the vital activity of the planting with the help of treatments. But otherwise, it is a wonderful plant that has rules for planting and subsequent care that are quite standard for cherry crops. We will take a closer look at the intricacies of caring for a plant and tell you what the agricultural technology of this beautiful tree is. This is a felt type of cherries, but one way or another it does not differ from the rest, if we talk about the features and some subtleties that relate directly to planting and subsequent care. So we can say that even despite some peculiarities and subtleties, this variety, within the framework of agricultural technology, coincides with many other cherry plantings. It is worth paying attention to gardeners who are in an active search for a variety of procedures and activities, in order not only to create the most comfortable conditions for planting, but also to achieve the highest and highest quality yield from it.

Cherry Altana: planting guide

Of course, any variety can put forward its own needs for care, in agrotechnical aspects, which constantly affect the yield indicators, and also the external characteristics of the plantings. Without compliance with the conditions, it is impossible to achieve a positive result.But cherries today are mainly of such varieties that they do not require any overpriced caring procedures or complex measures. It is important to be able to identify planting ailments in time, as well as to do everything possible in time to get rid of negative manifestations or influences, especially from the outside. Only by observing the conditions, the gardener will be able to achieve the maximum that the planting will be capable of. But there are some points that you should definitely follow. These aspects include the following: the recommended time frame for planting a cherry tree; a suitable place in which the planting will feel comfortable and develop in accordance with the requirements of the variety; neighborhood with cherry planting; selection of healthy and viable planting material, preparation for planting in open ground; landing algorithm and subtleties; subsequent care of the plant so that the planting will live and bear fruit as long as possible, despite the external conditions and characteristics.

There are situations when a gardener has just purchased seedlings, and it happened in the fall. Then, residents of Central Russia or the middle zone are advised to dig in seedlings in a secluded area, spudding it with earth on all sides. In winter, the plant will be safe and will be able to survive until spring, and there the gardener will already carry out all the standard procedures for spring planting and subsequent plant care. But it is worth remembering that climatic conditions always play a very important role, and therefore it is imperative to focus on seasonal and temperature regimes, which just have a certain effect on the growth and development of plantings.

Further, the gardener should definitely focus on where the seedlings are planted. Ideally, this should be a fairly free and well-lit area, which is located on the southeastern and southern slopes. The sun should warm up well and illuminate the area, because the intensity of the growth and development of the planting will depend on this. Altana cherry can also grow in a semi-shaded place, but such conditions can in a certain way affect the taste characteristics of the berries and how the tree itself will grow and withstand negative influences from the outside. So it is worth remembering that the presence of good and constant lighting is the key to a healthy planting.

As for groundwater, they must be located at an impressive depth. For example, on the site, groundwater should be at a depth of one and a half meters, no less, because only in this way the plantings will feel safe. During growth, the root system will not touch the groundwater, which means that the risks are reduced that, due to constant moisture, putrefactive harmful formations will form on the roots. If the plots are deepened, then the gardener can create an artificial mound in the form of a mound, and plant a plant on it. The soil should be well-drained and fertile, saturated and loose enough to allow moisture and oxygen to pass directly to the root system. Usually, the gardener prepares a pit for planting in advance, mixes the soil with sand and wood ash, humus or compost, adding a mineral composition to the mixture. And only after that it will be possible to fill the root system with all this homogeneous mixture when planting. It is very important that the roots are immediately saturated and then show the best growth and development results. If the composition is not saturated enough, then this can lead to the fact that the seedling will take root and grow more slowly. As a result, the timing of fruiting will shift: they will be very late, the gardener will have to wait much longer than initially expected.

You should not plant a cherry plant in areas with little nutrition, where the soil is depleted, completely infertile.Before planting, it is necessary to process the topsoil, fill in all the missing elements so that the seedling feels as comfortable as possible, and so that the planting quality is high. Cherry Altana responds well to chernozem soils, sandy loam or loamy areas. It should also be a soil mixture with a neutral reaction, and here the gardener himself can adjust the acidity so that the site is as comfortable as possible for growing a cherry tree. There are several features that should be taken into account when the gardener is preparing not only the plot, but in particular the soil for the fact that very soon a cherry will be planted in it.

The first feature is that acidic peat bogs will definitely not be able to suit cherry seedlings, since in any case, the gardener will need to manually change the soil layer to a more comfortable and fertile one. This can be a serious test for those gardeners who do not have some kind of global experience in this matter. The second feature is that the acidity of the soil should always be neutralized - for this, gardeners use dolomite flour and wood ash. They can be purchased in special stores for gardeners and gardeners, which are just intended for planting and growing these plants.

I would like to list a few more features and aspects below:
- weeds or remnants of previous crops that grew on the backyard can greatly interfere with cherry plantings. Therefore, the soil should be dug up, do it carefully and not once, but several times. You should also manually remove all weeds, any other plants or their debris, because cherries will feel very uncomfortable in an uncleaned area.
- while digging a personal plot for planting cherries, it is necessary to add compost and manure, mineral fertilizers to the soil. Both those and other additives have an excellent effect on the general state of planting, saturate the root system and stimulate the growth and development of the aboveground part of the cherry seedling. As a result - a comprehensively developed planting, which will have a very high level of immunity and absolute immunity to those pests, bacteria and diseases that can have a very negative effect on the general condition of both the plant itself and the future harvest.

Of course, Altan cherry rarely grows alone - gardeners also plant other crops on their site. It is necessary to talk about the most favorable neighborhood for cherries - usually these are the same representatives of stone fruit crops. You can plant nearby cherries and plums, cherry plums or thorns, with which the cherry will feel incredibly comfortable next to it. But you should not plant apricots or peaches - they can deplete the soil very much, so these trees are placed as far from cherries as possible.

If we talk about shrub crops, then such a culture as honeysuckle perfectly coexists with cherries. But raspberries and currants, gooseberries - these plants are best planted at a distance from cherries, since they have a lot of common pests, bacteria that can actively reproduce. Also, for the same reason, it is best not to plant cherries near nightshade crops, among which peppers and tomatoes, eggplants are prominent representatives. This will protect all plantings from a massive attack from pests and bacteria. In fact, this is also one of the preventive measures that can become incredibly useful and save the life of plants and plantings from unwanted harmful effects.

Cherries should be planted as far away from other, very large plants as possible. The thing is that large plantings can shade cherries, especially when it is a very small seedling, and therefore it is worthwhile to play it safe once again.The distance from cherries to apple or pear plantings, as well as to spruces and birches, oaks or poplars must be at least ten meters. Then the Altana cherry will receive enough sunlight, and it will have enough space to grow and develop in accordance with all requirements. But if we talk about crops such as rowan or hawthorn, elderberry and grapes, then they will become ideal neighbors for cherries, they will be able to give it a little energy, and as pollinators they fulfill their role to the highest score.

Selection of seedlings, preparation for planting

Next, it is worth talking about how to select and prepare planting materials so that the seedlings are ready for normal growth and development. Seedlings should be chosen only in specialized garden centers, as well as in nurseries. In the same place, the gardener will receive all the most detailed information on what kind of variety it is, what type of rootstock is, and also what is the planting age, and whether the seedling is ready to be sent to open ground.

the root system of the seedling must be sufficiently developed, very strong. A large number of thin roots should also form on it, which just absorb useful and nutritious components, which can also develop, absorb moisture into the root system. There should be absolutely no damage on the shoots, and in general the entire planting should be as strong as possible, the bark should be free of damage or unnecessary growths, which may signal that something is wrong with the planting, that the seedling could pick up some infection.

The rules for choosing planting materials (seedlings) of cherries can be listed in the form of the following aspects:
- the seedlings are distinguished by absolute health, fresh and attractive appearance. The bark should be strong, free from damage, fungal or other growths that can signal that something is wrong with the cherries. The root system is also examined - it must also be completely healthy and without damage.
- the best seedlings are considered annual plantings, the height of which varies from seventy to eighty centimeters. You can also use two-year-old seedlings, which are 110-120 centimeters high.
- the root system must be complete and well developed, at least 25 centimeters long
- if the seedling has a height of over 120 centimeters, then this indicates that it was overfed with nitrogen-containing components in the store or nursery. Because of this, plants can be large, but at the same time they will be completely non-resistant, which means that with the first frost, there is a high probability that the plant will not survive and die. If the seedlings are exactly like this, then it is recommended not to plan planting before the onset of winter frosts, as this can lead to the fact that the seedlings will die from freezing.
- own-rooted seedlings - they are considered the most winter-hardy. But if we talk about grafted seedlings, then it is recommended to plant them in the spring, since it is at this time that they will feel most comfortable. If all these conditions are taken into account, then it is possible to strengthen the planting, to take into account all the subtleties of agricultural technology.

It can certainly be difficult for a less experienced gardener to grasp all of this information all at once, but overall it is not a problem. Cherry Altana can forgive some mistakes in planting, care or agricultural technology, if these mistakes are not constantly repeated. This is the only way you can learn something new, improve your knowledge of planting and caring for cherries and try to improve the condition of your personal plot.

About eight hours before the seedling is sent to the open ground, the root system should be dipped in a solution based on a growth stimulator.The root is the best option for this - this is ideal for the roots to awaken, so that the planting feels more comfortable, so that the roots begin to gradually saturate. At the same time, it is very important to take into account the planting algorithm, because the health and fertility of the plantings, their yield and, in general, how the plantings themselves will take root in the personal plot will depend on the timeliness and process.

If the gardener has decided to plant not one, but several cherry trees at once, then the distance between them should be about 3.5 meters, no less. Each planting needs free space, the plant should have the freedom to grow both at the roots and at the top. A pit for planting is prepared in advance, if it is a spring planting, the pit is dug in the fall. Much depends on the condition of the soil, on its composition. For example, if the soil is very heavy, it is clayey in composition, then it is necessary to create a drainage layer, which consists of sand or gravel. The drainage layer is installed at the very bottom of the planting pit, its height should be about ten centimeters. A peg is installed in the very center of the pit, to which the gardener will then tie the seedling. This is necessary so that a still very young and immature plant can develop calmly without succumbing to drafts or possible strong gusts of wind.

Around the established column, the root system of the plant is placed, which must be straightened. The roots are gradually covered with soil mixture, and the roots should be constantly shaken so that air pockets do not form around the root system. In planting cherries, not one, but two gardeners should take part - one will hold the seedling on top, and the second will install the root system. The grafting site and the root collar must necessarily be on the surface, since if they are deepened, this can lead to not very positive consequences. It is also worth mentioning that just after the hole is completely filled up, the gardener should water the seedling using one or two buckets of water. The water must be settled, at room temperature, since if you water with very cold water, this can lead to the fact that the root system of an immature plant will experience shock and will not take root normally, and even more so it grows or develops. After watering, the soil between the roots should be slightly compacted.

Cherry Altana: landing dates, care after planting

In general, every gardener has the right to independently decide for himself at what time to plant a cherry seedling - in spring or in autumn. There are no unambiguous requirements, installations or answers to this question, but there are recommendations that should always be followed in order to get the most meaningful and best result from this process. Some say that cherry seedlings are recommended to be planted in the fall, and there are several pretty good reasons for this:

- spring planting involves risks that do not exist if the gardener decides to plant cherries in the fall. In the spring, the seedling can be attacked by recurrent frosts, and also due to sudden temperature changes, immunity can also sharply decrease. As a result, in the spring, when all the plants wake up and begin the process of active life, cherry seedlings, on the contrary, can experience severe stress and ailments, and sometimes young plantings may not take root at all and die.
- during autumn planting, the plant is minimally affected by unfavorable external factors, especially if we are talking about factors of a natural nature. If the seedling is planted in accordance with all the requirements of planting and agricultural technology, and if all comfortable and optimal temperature conditions have been created, then in the fall the plant has more chances to adapt faster and more successfully and take root even before the very first frosts come. As a result, there will be another advantage in the autumn planting that deserves attention.
- in the fall, any damage and wounds will heal quickly and efficiently. Saplings can be pruned, and this can be done not only after planting, but even in front of it.For all the time of rest in the spring, the wounds will heal much faster. Thus, the fit will feel safe and comfortable, and self-healing will be regulated much more efficiently.
- trees that were planted in autumn develop much faster than spring plantings. The root system has time to adapt and grow, and with the arrival of spring, the trees increase their vegetative mass. Accordingly, there is a high probability that fruiting at the planting will begin much earlier. But, again, such a result can be achieved only if the gardener observes all the rules and regulations for planting and subsequent care for cherries. We will talk about these points in more detail later.

In addition to the fact that the autumn planting has its undeniable advantages, there are risks that we simply cannot ignore. The root system can freeze slightly and the entire tree can be uncomfortable when very severe winter frosts set in. So with an autumn planting, you should have time to do this before the frosts come (about two to three weeks before their onset), and for the winter the cherry seedling will need additional shelter. But usually this should be done in the first year after planting, then the cherries adapt, strengthen and, accordingly, in favorable territorial conditions, the trees will not need additional shelter.

Secondly, it is worth noting that in winter the seedlings can become icy, due to heavy snowfalls and sharp gusts of wind, planting may experience inconvenience. For this reason, the risk of developing diseases is high, or the seedling itself will be weakened. Because of this, while the gardener spends time restoring the planting, it is possible to shift the fruiting period to a later date. There is a third risk, which is due to the fact that rodents are very fond of eating the bark of the plant. Because of this, the plantings also become weaker, and in general the plant may not survive the piled stress. Altana cherry also does not tolerate transplants from place to place, so the gardener should take care in advance to choose a favorable place for planting. We have already mentioned this.

After the planting has been finally completed, the gardener should carry out the finishing touch - to mulch the trunk circle. To do this, you can use organic fertilizers. Subsequently, the mulch layer must be maintained in the same condition and at the same level. You can also add mulch about once or twice a season, doing this very carefully. Mulch plays a very important role - it can slow down the evaporation of moisture from the soil, keep it warm, and also protect the plant from attacks from pests and bacteria. So it's worth taking some time to mulch to make it easier for yourself to care for the plant. It is also worth saying that if the mulch is laid out on the site, then it prevents the growth of weeds. Thanks to this, the site looks very clean, well-groomed and neat, which means that the hygiene of the site is at a height.

If Altan cherry grows in central Russia, then it is necessary to additionally organize watering and soil moistening during the first year after the plant was planted in open ground. It is especially worth focusing on climatic conditions, since if the weather is hot and dry, and precipitation is not expected in the coming days, then there is a high probability that the plant may not react in the best possible way to such a thing. Accordingly, it is worth planning watering in such a way so that not only organize them in accordance with the schedule, but also be able to water the plants additionally when they especially need it.

Top dressing, weeding, pruning

Top dressing is the most important part of agricultural technology and additional plant care. They begin to fertilize the plants only when the tree enters the fruiting period.Usually, fertilizing is prescribed twice for the entire season. The first time is during the flowering period, and the second time feeding is carried out when the fruits begin to form. Plants can be fed with the help of humus, as well as with the help of mineral fertilizers and mixtures. Top dressing can be alternated with each other so that the cherry trees receive comprehensive support and development. Of course, it is also extremely important to take into account that top dressing can be prescribed depending on the state of the plantings, on climatic and territorial conditions. You cannot overfeed the plantings, as this will lead to the fact that the tree with its entire appearance will demonstrate the inability to normal growth and development precisely because of this.

The cherry tree trunk circle should be weeded out regularly or the mulch layer should be renewed regularly. Then, as we said above, the site will look very well-groomed and pleasant, and in general the plantings will feel great. It is also very important to keep in mind, because the plants must be in a well-groomed form and in a clean area - this is a guarantee not only of a neat appearance, but also a guarantee of plant health. If you save time on mulching the site, then you will have to spend a lot of time weeding, which usually does not really inspire gardeners. Otherwise, if all stages of the algorithm are carried out in a timely manner, then it will be possible to save the plant, it will be possible to strengthen the planting, and it will also be possible to achieve the maximum indicators of growth, development and fruiting. In addition, cherries will develop their own immunity, thanks to which the plant will be able to resist pests, diseases and bacteria that are dangerous for planting, especially while they are still very small.

Pruning is an important undertaking. Cherry pruning can consist of sanitary pruning and formative pruning. Sanitary pruning means that the grower will remove any dead, damaged, or weak branches that will not do the tree any good, but can significantly weaken it. If we talk about formative pruning, then thanks to it, the gardener will be able to create the most bizarre crown shapes that will stand out for their external characteristics. It is most convenient to form a crown in the shape of a ball, all branches that thicken it are removed. Altana cherry looks incredibly attractive, it looks really pretty good. For the rest, if the gardener observes the rules of agricultural technology, then even without some experience, he will calmly cope with these tasks. In general, shaping is very important, and it is worth starting to start it even when the tree is very young. If from an early age the gardener makes out the crown, then the tree will remember the shapes and will be able to grow in accordance with the declared parameters. Agree, this is quite convenient, in the future it will also save enough time and effort for the gardener himself. If the gardener doubts his abilities, then he should get acquainted with the video materials, which tells in great detail about how to carry out pruning, what are its key subtleties and rules.

Cherry Altana: protection

With the onset of later autumn, the tree trunk should be coated with garden paint. This will protect the cherry trunk not only from sunburn, but also from possible pests - primarily from rodents. If the gardener knows that they have divorced on the site or in nearby areas in very large numbers, then the stem of a still very young seedling should be wrapped in the first few winters. For shelter, such dense materials as plastic or roofing material are ideally suitable. Then no planting pests will be scary. If you plant cherries in the middle zone of Russia, then, in principle, you can not worry too much about additional shelter.Cherry Altana is already in the most comfortable conditions for itself, and will experience absolutely any troubles or moments that are just related to shelter or preparation for winter. But sometimes gardeners are advised to reinsure themselves - to find either more suitable conditions, or to additionally protect the plants, because this is extremely necessary not only for the health of plantings, but also for abundant fruiting, for their very attractive appearance.

There are two problems that can be quite critical for cherries - fungal diseases and pests, and both problems require either a very prompt resolution, or that the gardener can take preventive measures to protect his plantings. If the Altan cherry has been affected by fungi, then it is necessary to use a biological group of drugs. Ideally, you can use a fairly effective blend that includes Trichodermin and Baxis. Throughout the summer, it is worth using this drug and this mixture for spraying the crown, trunk and near-trunk territory. Processing begins after the air temperature is established at around +12 to +15 degrees. In the fall, after the gardener has harvested the entire crop, it is also worth spraying the cherry tree. For this, a one percent solution of Bordeaux liquid is suitable. In this case, you should always focus on the general condition of the plantings and make sure that preventive treatments are not frequent. Also, the plant is regularly examined for a variety of diseases or pests.

By the way, about the pests of cherries. Usually they can develop on cherry trees because the plant is not strong enough and allows such a thing. Also, pests can develop and multiply due to the carelessness of the gardener himself. In this case, it is recommended in the fall, with the onset of the first, albeit minor frosts, to treat the tree with a solution of urea (5%). With the onset of spring, cherries are processed with biological agents every three weeks. The safest for humans, but effective in pest control, are drugs such as fitoverm and acarin. It is recommended to use them in accordance with the instructions for use, so that the Altana cherry can feel comfortable and not lose its own immunity.

Conclusion

As we can see, all agrotechnical aspects and requirements are quite real for their implementation. They can be handled not only by an experienced gardener, but also by those who are just starting their journey and looking for opportunities to improve their knowledge and skills in gardening and cultivation of cherry trees. You can try to plant a cherry tree in your personal plot and not regret at all that this disembarkation took place. Altana cherry requires minimal attention, and care comes down to the most elementary indicators. With all this, the plant feels very comfortable, gives the most abundant and regular harvest. The fruits are very tasty and sweet, useful for the human body.