Content
Cherry Cordia is popular among large producers and in private plots due to the high consumer qualities of the late dessert variety, transportability, and stable yield. Late flowering allows the tree to avoid recurrent frosts.
In the photo, ripe fruits of the Cordia cherry:
Breeding history
The Kordit variety was obtained in the Czech Republic as a random seedling as a result of free pollination. According to the description of the cherry variety, Cordia, a similar tree in the USA is called Attica. Cherry Cordia is popular in Europe due to its catchy appearance and attractive taste.
Description of culture
Cherry Cordia is more suitable for the southern regions of the country. In conditions of an average climatic zone, they are often grown in the Central and North-West regions. A young tree is carefully looked after in winter. The seedling is vigorous: within a year it reaches 1.7 m. An adult sweet cherry slows down the growth of wood during the fruiting period. The root system is powerful and shallow. The crown is spreading, spherical or conical.
The leaves are large, ovoid, with a sharp tip, rather thick: they hide part of the fruit. The petioles of the berries are strong, 45 mm long.
Heart-shaped berries of the Cordia variety are large, 28 mm wide, weighing 8–10 g. The dense skin is dark red, almost black in color, with brown dots. The pulp is intense dark red, juicy, dense, fleshy. The stone is large, well separated from the pulp. The taste is pleasant, sweet, with a characteristic cherry aroma. The cherry fruits of Cordia were rated by the tasters at 4.8 points.
Characteristics
The high commercial and taste properties of Cordia berries allow gardeners and consumers to rightfully call it the “queen” among late-ripening varieties. Sweet cherries are grown on different rootstocks, which determines the crown pattern. The tree forms many shoots.
Drought resistance, winter hardiness
The Cordia variety does not tolerate drought well and requires regular watering, especially at a young age and during the formation of buds and ovaries. And frost resistance is by no means a distinctive feature of the Czech cherry variety. Saplings are especially vulnerable. Mature trees tolerate frosts down to -25 ºC with possible damage to flower buds during prolonged cold snaps. A strong drop in temperature will lead to freezing of wood to the line of snow cover. Cherry flowers are damaged by frosts in May.
Pollination, flowering period and ripening times
Cherry Cordia cannot be planted alone: the plant itself is sterile. Trees of the same species with a similar flowering period are placed nearby. The best pollinators for Cordia cherries are the following varieties:
- Summit;
- Karina;
- Regina;
- Wang;
- Himself;
- Burlat;
- Mercant;
- Schneider late.
Depending on the region and weather, the Cordia cherry blossoms in late April or mid-May. Berries in the south ripen from the end of June, the most typical harvest time is the second decade of July.The late-ripening variety is harvested 1.5–2 months after the early cherry.
Productivity, fruiting
Cherry Cordia begins to bear fruit 4–5 years after planting. Berries are formed not only on bouquet branches, but also directly on annual shoots, which facilitates the collection process. The tree belongs to the medium-yielding type. Under conditions of a suitable climatic environment and high-quality pollinators, the yield from one cherry tree of the Cordia variety reaches 25-50 kg. Since the fruits are resistant to precipitation, do not crack, do not rot, they can be harvested gradually without loss of quality.
Scope of berries
The fruits of the Cordia variety are versatile, although they are more suitable for dessert. Berries are used to prepare compotes and sweet canned food.
Disease and pest resistance
The variety is characterized by low susceptibility to the main diseases of the species, but it is affected during the spread of moniliosis. Preventive spraying with fungicides or insecticides is required in case of pest attacks.
Advantages and disadvantages
According to the characteristics of the cherry variety Cordia, the plant is attractive for cultivation:
- high consumer performance;
- fruit resistance to cracking, rotting and moisture;
- transportability;
- stable regular yield;
- good growth vigor;
- late flowering, at a time when frost is unlikely;
- medium resistance to disease, low susceptibility to cancer.
The disadvantages can be considered:
- relatively low frost resistance;
- dependence on certain pollinating varieties for a bountiful harvest.
Landing features
The type of crown formation of Cordia depends on the type of rootstocks. When purchasing a seedling of a variety, it would be good to find out which seedling it is growing on. According to reviews about Cordia cherries, trees based on VSL-2 (cherry-plum hybrid), where the crown is laid at a height of 70-80 cm, have proven themselves well and later creates a lot of fruit wood. F12 / 1 rootstocks and poultry cherries give fast growth.
Recommended timing
Sweet cherries are planted in the middle zone of the country in spring, while the buds of the seedling have not burst. This applies to trees with an open root system. Seedlings in containers are planted with leaves. In autumn, landing in the south is possible.
Choosing the right place
The tree loves sunny areas protected from cold winds with loose and fertile soil. The occurrence of groundwater is not higher than 1.5 m. The distance between trees is 3-5 m.
What crops can and cannot be planted next to cherries
Cherries get along well with cherries or grapes. For apple, plum, pear, berry bushes, the neighborhood with a tree is unfavorable. A nut or apricot will shade the cherries.
Selection and preparation of planting material
Saplings are taken 1–2 years old for better survival:
- the root system is developed, fibrous;
- roots are fresh, moist;
- shoots are elastic, without damage;
- buds are live, swollen or green, healthy leaves.
Before planting, the roots are soaked for 2 hours in a clay mash with the addition of a growth stimulant.
Landing algorithm
The pit is prepared in six months. The hole diameter is up to 1 m, the depth is 80 cm. The nutritious soil mixture consists of garden soil, a bucket of humus, 500 ml of wood ash, 150-200 g of superphosphate.
- A peg is hammered in for support, a seedling is placed in the center and the roots are straightened.
- The root collar protrudes 4–5 cm above the soil.
- Fall asleep with a fertile mixture, tamp the soil and watered, forming sides along the perimeter of the pit.
- Shoots are cut by 1/3.
Follow-up care of the culture
The cultivation of Cordia cherries involves annual pruning, since the fruits are formed on the growths. For seedlings, the soil is moistened to a depth of 40 cm. In the summer heat, trees are given 20-30 liters for each square meter of the trunk circle, especially in the budding and ovary growth phase.Watering is stopped 10 days before picking berries. After autumn watering, cherries are fed on a bucket of humus, 1.5 tbsp. tablespoons of potassium fertilizer, 2 tbsp. tablespoons of superphosphate per 1 sq. m. Saplings mulch and wrap the trunk with burlap. Snow is thrown in in winter.
Diseases and pests, methods of control and prevention
Diseases | Signs | Treatment | Prophylaxis |
Moniliosis | Branches and leaves are dry | Copper spraying | Removing diseased branches |
Coccomycosis | Brown spots on the leaves | Fungicides | Early spring processing |
Clasterosporium disease | Dark spots on the leaves where holes later form | Autumn cleaning of the site | Bordeaux liquid |
Pests | Signs | Control methods | Prophylaxis |
Aphid | Young leaves twisted | Insecticide or soap / soda solution | Early spring processing, control of garden ants |
Cherry fly | Larvae in berries |
| Fufanon after flowering |
Conclusion
Cherry Cordia is a promising crop with simple but mandatory pruning and watering. In favorable climatic conditions, it bears abundant fruit and pleases with tasty large berries. One of the best choices for summer dessert and preparations.
