Content
Sylvia Columnar Cherry is one of the most popular compact fruit trees. Columnar trees gained their popularity primarily in industry, and then spread to households. Their clear advantage is their small size, which allows a dense planting (at a distance of 1 meter).
Breeding history
Sylvia originates in Canada in 1988. They created it, like many other columnar cherry varieties, scientists K. Lapins, D. Jefferson and D. Lane. Obtained by crossing the varieties Lambert Compact and Van. Initially, this variety spread to Canada, and then to the United States. The fruit conveyor for the collection and sale of these fruits lasts as long as 6 months - from May to October.
Description of the variety
Trees of this variety are characterized by:
- straight trunk no more than 3 meters long;
- almost no side shoots;
- decorative oval shape;
- no need for annual pruning.
Sylvia cherry fruits can be described as follows:
- large size;
- dark red;
- high taste;
- the pulp is dense and juicy;
- the peel is strong, not prone to cracking;
- retain their appearance and taste for a long time if stored correctly (in the refrigerator - about 3 weeks).
Cherry Sylvia can be grown without any problems in the southern and central regions of Russia, Ukraine and in the southern part of Belarus. For more northern regions, respect and warming of trees will be required.
Characteristics
This variety is unpretentious in cultivation, but still has its own characteristics that you definitely need to know before planting.
Among the main characteristics of the Sylvia columnar cherry are:
- drought and frost resistance;
- pollination, flowering and maturation;
- yield;
- resistance to diseases and pests.
Drought and frost resistant
This variety has average resistance to such weather conditions.
Pollination, flowering and ripening
Cherry Sylvia and Cordia, as well as Helena and Sam, are inter-pollinated, so experts advise to plant them side by side. Blooming later, but the color can withstand frosts down to -2. Fruit ripening occurs in the first half of June (12-18 days).
Yield
Fruiting of cherries lasts a week - one and a half. The first harvest can be obtained already in the second - third year of the plant's life. For the first and second year, experts recommend removing all the ovaries for the seedling to take root in a new place, but in the second year, many are already harvesting fruits. The yield in the third year, with proper care, is about 15 kg per tree. Older trees can yield 50 kg per plant. Due to their high fruiting, the life span of such trees is about 15 years.
Disease and pest resistance
The Sylvia variety has shown high resistance to various diseases, including fungal ones. For better resistance to pests and for protection from the sun, it is recommended to whitewash the tree trunk.
Advantages and disadvantages
Among the advantages are:
- compact size;
- decorativeness;
- large and tasty berries;
- resistance to frost, drought and atmospheric moisture;
- early maturation;
- growing and caring for Sylvia cherries does not require much effort.
Among the disadvantages of this variety are:
- does not tolerate winds, especially northern ones;
- does not like excess moisture in the soil, which interferes with the flow of oxygen;
- despite its dislike for excess water, it does not tolerate severe drying out;
- the need for abundant sunlight;
- does not love weeds and a lot of vegetation.
Reviews of the Little Sylvia columnar cherry say that it has retained almost all the properties of its older sister, but has become even smaller in height and diameter - up to 2 meters and 0.5 meters, respectively. Moreover, the fruits ripen later.
Conclusion
Columnar cherries initially became popular with industrialists, but today they are increasingly appearing on personal plots. Here she also became a popular and beloved plant. The cultivation of such cherries does not require much effort and gives excellent results. From reviews of Sylvia cherries, you can be convinced of the quality of these fruits and the advantages of this variety for gardeners and gardeners.
