Interest in cherry as a commercial fruit plant is consistently high due to its unique biological features and biochemical composition.
Of great importance in the promotion of this stone fruit culture is the selection of new varieties. One of these relatively new species is cherry minx.
It is of particular interest primarily for gardeners working in the southern regions with a fairly warm and favorable climate. Also, the Minx cherry, a description of the variety and photo of which you will find later in the article, has a greater resistance to diseases.
Breeding history and breeding region
One of the most "cherry" republics in the former Soviet Union has always been and remains so Ukraine. It was here that the Minx variety was bred.
It happened on the basis of the Melitopol Institute of Irrigated Horticulture them. Mf Sidorenko (formerly Melitopol Experimental Station, IS NAAS), known for developing dozens of original varieties of cherries and cherries.
At least the fact that at present about 90% of all cherry varieties regionalized in Ukraine were created in Melitopol speaks about the real role of this scientific and practical institution in the spread of cherry culture.
Breeding studies on the variety Shalunya were conducted in the Zaporizhzhya region in the mid-1960s and ended with the official registration of the variety in 1966.
The authors of this cherry are famous Ukrainian breeders - Doctor of Agricultural Sciences Nikolai Turovtsev and his wife, a specialist of the same institute, Valentina Turovtseva.
The basis of the selection of a new promising variety were taken cherry Samsonovka and Duke (product of the crossing of cherry and sweet cherry) varieties Kiev 19.
As a result of the gradual crossing of these varieties, a very interesting hybrid has emerged, distinguished by many positive qualities, including good yields, rather large tree sizes and large, tasty fruits in a southern way.
From its very birth, the variety has become widespread in the horticultural farms of Ukraine.
According to the results of additional research Minx in 1997 was officially included in the Russian State Varietal Register and zoned in the North Caucasus region.
The Podbelskaya, Black Large and Toy varieties also grow well in this region.
Appearance of cherry minx
Minx Cherry has the following characteristics that distinguish it from other cherry species.
Tree
Categorized fast growing plants. Dimensions of the tree fluctuate from medium to high growth. On the bark of the main trunk of this cherry, which has a grayish-brown color, distinct peeling is observed.
Crown, branches. Sufficiently long spreading branches of this cherry form a broad and rounded crown. The crown is significantly elevated above the ground.
Shoots. Straightened, have a brownish-brown tint. The thickness of most shoots is medium. On the shoots, especially on young trees, the numerous gray, lentils are well distinguished.
Growths are one-year-old growths, as well as bouquet branches. This circumstance must be taken into account in the process of cutting the tree, so as not to accidentally reduce the productive part of the plant.
In the mid-sized glands the rounded silhouette. Short stipules have a strongly dissected configuration, fall relatively early. Each leaf is kept on a short, thickened and pigmented petiole.
Fruit
Represent fairly large round berries of dark red (burgundy), often almost black color. The top of the cherry has a rounded shape, its base is marked by a slight depression, and a very small, almost imperceptible seam is fixed on the abdomen.
Lighthouse, Banks and Dessert Morozova can also boast large sizes of berries.
The berry is covered with a thin, but rather dense, with inconspicuous subcutaneous specks, skin, which, however, can be very easily removed from the pulp. Burgundy pulp has a soft-soft texture, contains a lot of dark red juice.
Inside the pulp is a small bone. The ripe fruit of the minx cherry weighs on average 5-6 g. Characterized by a very refreshing sweet-sour taste.
Such varieties as Chernokorka, Frostbite and Zhivitsa demonstrate great taste.
A photo
Characteristic variety
According to many experts, the Shalunya variety is an excellent cherry that demonstrates the properties of a high-quality commercial culture of universal purpose.
Universal are also Volochaevka, Griot Moscow and Lebedyanskaya.
It perfectly combines excellent taste, high yield, good resistance to various diseases.
This type of fertilization hybrid cherry belongs to a widespread category. self-infertile fruit plants. This suggests that without the help of nearby pollinating trees, fertilization with subsequent fruiting is impossible.
The memory of Vavilov, Zhukovskaya and Malinovka are also self-infertile.
Therefore, gardeners, who rely on impressive collections of delicious juicy cherries, are advised to take care in advance that other sorts of cherries are planted in the immediate vicinity of the Minx seedling.
Good pollinators for Minx are varieties of cherries. Samsonovka and Chernokorkaas well as sweet cherry varieties Winka and Valery Chkalov.
By the rate of ripening Minx belongs to the category of mid-season crops. Terms of ripening of its fruits depend on the place of cultivation.
In particular, in the conditions of horticultural farms of Melitopol - the homeland of this variety - full maturation usually occurs by June 20-25.
But we must bear in mind that the first harvests of this cherry can only give 3 years after landing sapling
With the normal care of the plant and in compliance with all agrotechnical requirements, Minx, starting from 5-6 years old, gives a season with a single tree up to 15-20 kg of fruits and with 10 years of age - up to 35-40 kg per tree.
Such cherry varieties as Turgenevka, the same age, Tamaris will also be pleased with high yields.
The fruits of this variety are one of the most delicious cherriespleasing the gourmets with his tonic sweet-sourish bouquet.
On a 5-point scale tasting attractiveness of the cherry, the Minxes are evaluated by experts in 4.8 points.
Taste sensations are consistent with the biochemical composition of the fruit, which looks like this:
| Composition | amount |
|---|---|
| Sugar | 10,4% |
| Acid | 0,94% |
| Dry matter | 16,0% |
Like many other cherry "rocks", beautiful and refreshing Minx is a very healthy product.
It contains large amount of vitamins different groups folic acid - A source of normal functioning of the circulatory and immune systems.
Also, the fruits are rich in such necessary for the human body substances as iron, calcium, phosphorus, copper, magnesium, citric and malic organic acids.
Along with drought tolerance, this cherry is considered to be sufficiently and winter hardy variety. but the weak point here is the flower buds.
Excellent winter hardiness is demonstrated by the varieties Vladimirskaya, Ashinskaya Stepnaya, Molodezhnaya.
So, if the temperature drops in winter to -25 ° C Since wood and tree shoots usually do not freeze slightly, the number of buds that died from frost in the flowering buds is often almost 58%.
When spring frosts occur, up to 30% of Minx flowers may die.
The ripe fruits of this variety are universal in use and can be eaten both fresh and processed (jam, jams, compotes, veins, etc.).
Planting and care
In order to perform the correct planting of this culture, you must first correctly select a place for it in the garden plot.
This place must meet several conditions at once. - it should be well lit by sunlight (most often this can be achieved by placing a sapling on the south side of the plot), to it groundwater should not be closer than 1.5-2 m (the overmoistened and therefore prone to excessive freezing soil is deadly for a young tree), the soil should be loamy or sandy.
Certain requirements are imposed on the process of planting seedlings. This procedure is carried out either in the spring (before flowering), or in the autumn (no later than the end of September).
For the seedling is dug hole about 50-60 cm deep and 60-70 cm in diameter
When determining the depth of the hole, it is assumed that during planting the roots of the seedling should be freely, without being squeezed, placed in the recess.
They dig it in such a way that after falling asleep by the ground (the soil before it is mixed with humus, 30-40 g of superphosphate and 20 g of potassium chloride) the root neck of the seedling rose 5-7 cm above the ground.
After the seedling is installed in the hole, and the roots are covered with soil mixture, the area around the trunk must be carefully compacted.
Then, with a radius of 30-35 cm, a funnel is formed around the trunk, the boundary of which makes a low earthen wall. In the formed funnel 2-3 buckets of separated water are poured. The soil settled after irrigation mulch 2-centimeter layer of compost or sawdust.
Traditional care for the naughty cherries is a periodic loosening the soil and timely removal of weed plants. It is also necessary to carry out regular pruning.
In particular, excess and weakened branches are usually pruned in early spring. In the same period It is recommended to remove and excess root shoots.
After 7-8 years after landing, when the drying of the main branches begins, it is recommended to cut them. But before removing them, strong root shoots should be prepared.
Proper tree care involves the precise determination of the quality of the soil in the garden.
If there is an excessive acidity of the soil that can greatly harm the plant, then to the soil at intervals of 5 years, you can add a lime solution. This should balance the level of acidity.
Watch the video about the rules for trimming cherries.
Diseases and pests
Variety minx exhibits excellent resistance to major diseases stone fruit, including such dangerous fungal diseases as coccomicosis and moniliasis.
Resistance to coccomycosis and some other fungi is demonstrated by Fairy, Hope and Zhukovskaya.
With regard to the influence of rodents, which can actively eat the bark of the tree in the winter, here apply the traditional methods of protection.
If all the conditions of the correct content of cherries are met, then Minx will delight with its freshness and become a real decoration of the festive table.
If you need an unpretentious variety of cherries, pay attention to Lyubskaya, Tamaris and Yenikeev Memories.
