Breeders have bred more than 100 varieties of cherry plum. All these varieties are different:
- According to the ripening period.
- The size, color and taste of the fruit.
- Productivity.
- Winter hardiness.
- Size and shape of trees.
This page contains descriptions of the most famous and popular varieties of cherry plum or "Russian plum" There are photographs of each variety, characteristics and brief recommendations for planting and care.
Self-fertile cherry plum varieties
Most varieties of plums and cherry plums are themselves sterile. For high-quality pollination, it is necessary to plant at least two trees of different varieties, but blooming at the same time. However, several cherry plum varieties are self-pollinating and can be planted individually.
Kuban comet
Kuban comet - mid-early, self-fertile cherry plum variety. Cross pollination is not necessary, but desirable.
- Productivity is high, up to 50 kg. fruits from every tree. Fruits every year.
- Fruits weighing 30 - 40 g. sweet and sour taste, ripen in mid-July - early August.
- The trees are low-growing 2 - 2.5 meters.
- Fruiting begins 2-3 years after planting.
- Winter hardiness is high, recommended for cultivation in the middle zone, Moscow region and North-Western region.
- The variety is resistant to major diseases.
There is also Late Comet, this is a variety of the same variety that ripens at the end of August. Since the Kuban comet is self-fertile, it will bear fruit without any pollinators. But if another cherry plum or Skoroplodnaya plum grows nearby, then the harvests will be much more significant.
Advantages: self-pollinating, frost resistance, high and stable yield, average drought resistance, extreme unpretentiousness. Comet can grow on any soil; treatment for diseases and pests is practically not required. The trees are low and easy to work with.
Flaws: The seeds are difficult to separate, but this is a common drawback for all varieties of cherry plum. The abundance of fruit often causes branches to break.
Reviews: only positive, the Kuban comet has proven itself well in all regions, from south to north. Many consider this variety to be the best.
Cleopatra
Cleopatra - a late, partially self-fertile cherry plum variety. If there is cross-pollination, the yield will be 2-3 times higher.
- Productivity is average, fruiting is stable.
- The taste of the fruit is sweet and sour, weight 30 - 35 g. ripen in September.
- The tree is medium-sized, 3 - 4 meters high.
- Early fruiting is average, usually the first harvest occurs in the fourth year after planting.
- Winter hardiness is high; this cherry plum variety is recommended for growing in the Moscow region and the middle zone.
- Good disease resistance.
To obtain a high yield, it is recommended to plant 1 - 2 other varieties of cherry plum or Chinese plum next to Cleopatra.
Characteristics of early cherry plum varieties
Traveler
Traveler - mid-early, self-sterile cherry plum variety.
- Productivity 30 - 40 kg. from an adult tree, fruiting is stable, annual.
- The fruits are medium-sized, weighing 20-25 grams, taste sweet and sour, ripen in July.
- The tree is medium-sized, 3–4 m high.
- Early fruiting is good, fruiting begins in the third year after planting.
- High winter hardiness, this variety can be grown in the middle zone and the Moscow region.
- Good resistance to viral diseases.
Advantages: early fruiting, winter hardiness, consistently high yield, early fruit ripening, good resistance to pests and diseases.
Flaws: relatively small fruits that fall off when overripe and are not suitable for long-term transportation. Possible freezing of fruit buds during early flowering.
Found
Found - a high-yielding, early-ripening cherry plum variety.
- Productivity 35 - 40 kg. from each mature tree.
- Fruits weighing about 30 grams. sweet taste and juicy pulp, ripen in July.
- The trees are medium-sized, from 3 to 5 meters high.
- Seedlings begin to bear fruit 2–3 years after planting.
- Good winter hardiness, can be cultivated in the middle zone and the Moscow region.
- Excellent resistance to pests and diseases.
Advantages: tasty, juicy fruits that do not crack or fall off when ripe. Consistently high yield, frost resistance and early fruiting.
Flaws: self-sterility, it is necessary to plant several different varieties of cherry plum for cross-pollination.
Gift to St. Petersburg
Gift to St. Petersburg - mid-early variety of yellow cherry plum.
- The average yield of an adult tree is 30 kg.
- The cream is small, weighing 12 - 15 grams, sweet and sour taste, ripening begins at the end of July.
- The trees are low, with a wide-spreading weeping crown (height 3 - 4 m.)
- Seedlings begin to bear fruit only 4–5 years after planting.
- Excellent winter hardiness, recommended for cultivation not only in the middle zone, but also in the northern regions.
- Good resistance to diseases and pests.
Advantages: It is characterized by consistently high yields, unpretentiousness and frost resistance.
Flaws: Small fruits, when fully ripe, they may fall off and become self-sterile.
The varieties Pavlovskaya Zheltaya and Pchelnikovskaya are recommended as pollinators.
Scythian gold
Zlato Skifov - mid-early, self-sterile variety of yellow cherry plum.
- The yield is average, 20 - 25 kg. fruits from a mature tree. It does not bear fruit every season; there are years when the tree rests.
- The cream is large, on average the weight of each is 30 - 35 grams. Ripening begins at the end of July, the taste of the fruit is sweet and sour.
- The height of the trees is 3 - 4 m, the crown is spreading and sparse.
- The first harvest can be tasted 4 - 5 years after planting the seedling.
- Winter hardiness is high, can be grown in the middle zone and the Moscow region.
- Disease resistance is weak.
Advantages: high winter hardiness and excellent taste.
Flaws: often affected by diseases and pests, the need to plant several trees.
Nesmeyana
Nesmeyana - a tall, early variety of red cherry plum.
- Productivity is average.
- The cream is red, round in shape, weighing about 30 grams, ripening in July.
- The tree is tall, with a spreading, sparse crown, up to 5 - 6 meters high.
- It begins to bear fruit at 3–4 years.
- Frost resistance is high, can be grown in the middle zone and the Moscow region.
- Weak resistance to disease.
Advantages: high winter hardiness, delicious cream.
Flaws: cross-pollination is necessary, often gets sick.
The best pollinators are Kuban Comet, Traveler, Cleopatra.
Vetraz
Vetraz - mid-early, high-yielding cherry plum variety.
- An adult tree produces 35 - 40 kg. tasty, juicy fruits.
- Medium-sized cream, weighing 30 - 35 grams, pleasant sweet and sour taste, ripens in late July - early August.
- Trees are from 3 to 5 meters high, with a rather sparse crown.
- The first harvest can be tasted 2-3 years after planting.
- Winter hardiness is good.
- Wind grass is resistant to major diseases and pests.
You can use Comet, Solnyshko, Lodva as pollinators.
marquee
marquee - a highly winter-hardy, early cherry plum variety.
- Enviable yield, from one mature tree you can harvest 35 - 40 kg. fruits
- Cream weight 35 g, sweet taste 4.5 points, ripens in mid-July.
- The trees are low - from 2 to 3 meters.
- They begin to bear fruit quite late, 3 - 5 years after planting the seedling.
- A highly winter-hardy variety, can be grown in the middle zone and the Moscow region.
- Resistant to major diseases and pests.
Advantages: cold resistance, practically does not get sick, low-growing trees are convenient for work, tasty and large cream, extended ripening period.
Flaws: Seeds are poorly separated, cross-pollination is necessary, and due to early flowering, fruit buds may freeze.
The pollinator can be any other cherry plum variety that blooms at the same time as the Tent.
Flint
Kremen is a mid-early cherry plum variety.
- Productivity is average.
- The cream is round, weighing 20 - 25 grams, sweet and sour in taste, ripens in mid - late July.
- Trees are 3 to 5 meters high with a dense crown.
- Winter hardiness is average.
- Resistance to major diseases and pests is good.
Advantages: The fruits are ideal for canning and tolerate transportation well.
Flaws: poor winter hardiness, need for cross-pollination.
Description of the best varieties of cherry plum of medium ripening
The varieties that ripen in August are considered average.
Chuk
Chuk - self-sterile cherry plum variety of medium ripening period.
- The yield is average, about 30 kg. fruits from one tree.
- The cream has a sweet and sour taste, weighing about 30 grams, and ripens in August.
- Trees are 3 - 4 meters high.
- The first harvest can be tasted 3-4 years after planting.
- Chuk's frost resistance is average.
- Good disease resistance.
Advantages: tasty, large fruits, good and regular yield.
Flaws: low winter hardiness, average drought resistance, self-sterility.
Other varieties of cherry plum or Chinese plum will help ensure cross-pollination.
Lama
Lama - a medium-late, frost-resistant variety of cherry plum.
- High yield, from each mature tree you can collect 40 - 50 kg.
- The cream is large, weighs on average 30 - 40 grams, tastes sweet and sour, ripens in mid-August.
- The trees are low, about two meters high.
- The early fruiting rate is high, seedlings begin to bear fruit 2–3 years after planting.
- Winter hardiness is high, recommended for cultivation in the middle zone, Northwestern region and Siberia.
- Good resistance to major diseases and pests.
There are a lot of advantages: excellent winter hardiness, early fruiting, drought resistance, large and tasty fruits, excellent yield, seeds are easily separated from the pulp, ornamental trees with reddish leaves.
Flaws: In windy or rainy weather, ripened cream easily falls off, cross-pollination is necessary.
The best pollinators are considered varieties such as Asaloda, Mara, Vitba.
General
General - a large-fruited cherry plum variety of medium ripening period.
- Productivity does not exceed 20 - 25 kg. from one tree.
- But the cream is very large and tasty, the average weight is 45 - 50 g. and even more. Ripening begins in mid-August.
- The trees are tall, up to 6 meters.
- The fruitfulness is high; seedlings begin to bear fruit already in 2–3 years.
- Frost resistance is not good enough; this variety is unlikely to be suitable for the middle zone, and even more so for the northern regions.
- Resistant to diseases.
Advantages: The main feature of this variety is its very large fruits, consistently good yield, and early fruiting.
Flaws: insufficient winter hardiness.
Columnar
Columnar - large-fruited cherry plum of medium ripening period.
- Productivity is consistently high.
- Large cream weighing 40 g. and more, ripen in August.
- The trees are columnar, about 3 meters high and with a crown diameter of no more than 1.5 meters.
- Seedlings begin to produce crops 3–4 years after planting.
- Frost-resistant variety, can be grown in the middle zone and Moscow region.
- Resistance to pests and diseases is also high.
Advantages: compact trees take up little space, regular and abundant fruiting, large cream, high winter hardiness.
Flaws: self-sterility, which means it is necessary to plant pollinator varieties.
Tsarskaya
Tsarskaya - yellow cherry plum variety of medium ripening period.
- The yield is average, 20 - 25 kg. from every tree.
- Medium-sized cream weighing 20 - 25 grams, ripens in early August.
- The trees are not very tall, 2.5 - 3 meters.
- Seedlings begin to bear fruit already in the second year after planting.
- Winter hardiness is average.
- Resistance to common diseases is good.
Advantages: early fruiting, transportability and keeping quality of fruits, ease of cultivation.
Flaws: insufficient frost resistance, forms a lot of shoots, self-sterility.
Review of late ripening cherry plum varieties
Cherry plum is considered to be late, ripening in September.
Mara
Mara - yellow cherry plum of late ripening.