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Today, different varieties of cherries are known, bred by breeders, so it is difficult to make a choice from a great variety. So, cherry Mayak is suitable for all characteristics - it is quite fruitful, resistant to climate change and disease.
History of creation
According to legend, the birthplace of the Mayak cherry is the city of Kerasund (the coast of Asia), it was taken to Europe by the commander Lucullus as a banner of victory. In fact, for the first time Ivan Michurin decided to adapt the cherry variety to the northern climatic conditions. First, a cherry-sweet cherry hybrid called Krasa Severa was bred, then several more winter-hardy varieties with controversial taste and yield characteristics.
The creation of a more successful variety was a real event. In 1974, at the Sverdlovsk agrotechnical station, breeders in the course of cross-pollination with other Michurin seedlings created the Mayak, and today it is recognized as one of the universal, frost-resistant, suitable for cultivation in central Russia.
Characteristics of Mayak cherry, variety description
Cherry Mayak is a versatile variety that can be used fresh, canned, frozen. Differs in excellent appearance and taste of berries with an amazing dessert taste. Main characteristics:
Cherry Lighthouse
- tree crown shape - oval;
- bushes - spreading, low, up to 2 m in height;
- buds - small, pointed, almost not adjacent to young shoots;
- the shape of the leaves is oval, elongated, with small denticles at the edges;
- foliage color - saturated;
- flowers - white, of 3 loosely located inflorescences;
- cup shape - goblet;
- berries - large (weight 4-6 g);
- the color of the pulp is bright red;
- cherry taste - juicy, sweet;
- the seeds of the berries are light brown, easily separated from the pulp.
The lighthouse cherry blossom period is the month of July. The fruiting period begins 3-4 years from the moment the seedlings are planted.
With proper care, the lifespan of a cherry tree can be 25-30 years.
Cherry Mayak has some similarities with other varieties. Its main features:
- large and sweet fruits, similar to cherries;
- partial self-fertility, which means a return of 20% of the expected yield in the absence of pollinators nearby;
- uncommon ripening of fruits, therefore, cherry picking is carried out from July to August;
- fruits do not fall off the bushes, as a result of which there is no need to pick berries from the ground;
- low resistance to major cherry diseases.
Growing features
Cherry Lighthouse is a rather unpretentious fruit tree. The survival rate and growth of seedlings will be ideal if a number of conditions are met:
- Landing site. Cherries love warmth and adequate lighting, so they need to be planted in places not shaded by other trees. The first time you need to cover from gusts of wind in order to avoid harm to immature seedlings.
- The soil. The best option for Mayak cherry is fertile, light, drained loamy (sandy loam) soil with a neutral reaction. This cherry variety is not a fan of excess moisture, so it is better not to plant in places where water accumulates.The distance between plantings should be at least 2.5-3 m. Taking into account the partial self-pollination, seedlings should be placed next to other varieties of cherry or fruit trees.
- Landing time. The preferred time for planting cherries is the first days of April, so that the seedlings have time to adapt and take root before the onset of frost. Siberian gardeners are advised to plant them in early spring before bud break, so that the bushes have time to get stronger and take root during the growing season and survive the winter safely. It is better to start preparatory procedures in the fall, saturating the earth with wood ash (500mg per 1 sq. 2), and after 2-3 weeks dig up the soil and feed it with fertilizers.
Care
Cherry lighthouse tree
In order for young seedlings to quickly grow stronger and begin to grow, it is necessary to ensure timely watering, top dressing, pruning of dry and rotten branches, and treatment with pesticides.
Watering
It is not recommended to produce it too often, because the Mayak variety is well adapted to drought. In the dry season, it is enough to water up to 20 liters of water under each tree 1-2 times a month. The main thing is not to overdo it in order to avoid infection of seedlings with root rot. In the autumn, it is better to refuse watering altogether.
It is imperative to provide oxygen access to the roots, for which, before watering, loosen the soil and mulch, covering the crowns of the sections around the circumference with old sawdust, leaves, husks, straw, compost.
Top dressing
The best compost for cherries is humus and ash. Young trees can be fed with nitrogen fertilizers with the introduction of the first top dressing in early spring, the second in the form of a potassium-phosphorus mixture - in the fall as the plantings grow. It is important to loosen the soil around the circumference of the seedlings before adding fertilizer. Once every 4 years, organic matter (straw, eggshells, onion skins, banana or potato peel) can be used. Once every 5 years, it is worth feeding the soil with lime.
Cherry Lighthouse has large berries
Pruning
Cherry Lighthouse tends to grow rapidly in width, but growth slows down significantly. This leads to uneven, slow ripening of the fruit with a deterioration in taste. The situation can be avoided if the branches are cut off in time in the spring as the buds swell, leaving no more than 10 on one bush for normal growth.
Planting seedlings, step by step instructions
To plant cherry seedlings for the first time, you must:
- soak cherry roots in water for 1.5-2 hours;
- dig holes 50 × 50 at a distance of 2.5-3 m from each other, throwing the top fertile layer aside;
- pour potassium sulfate, wood ash and humus into the holes, with rather acidic soil - lime, dolomite flour;
- fill the wells with water;
- lightly dig in the seedlings so that almost the entire root collar remains on the surface;
- sprinkle with earth, drive in strong pegs for a garter;
- make an earthen roller around the circumference of the seedlings;
- pour 2-2.5 liters of water under each bush;
- cover the trunk circle with humus.
Cherry Mayak is characterized by gradual ripening, so the harvesting period lasts from mid-July to the end of August. Many gardeners have appreciated the taste qualities of berries, they contain many trace elements, vitamins, glucose and only a small percentage of ellagic acid.
Advantages and disadvantages
Coccomycosis is the main enemy of cherries
The main advantage of the variety is its high yield. From 1 bush, you can collect up to 15 kg of berries, and in warm summer - up to 25 kg. Other pluses of the Mayak variety:
- fruits are not prone to shedding, cracking;
- winter hardiness with frost tolerance up to -35 degrees;
- undersized trees;
- drought resistance;
- good survival rate with any plants - neighbors;
- easy separation of seeds from pulp, which is important for the preparation of cherry jam, jam, juice, jelly, compote.
Disadvantages:
- instability to the onslaught of strong winds, hurricanes;
- poor ripening of fruits with a lack of heat and sun;
- rapid decay of berries with late harvest;
- inability to grow in excessively moist soil, since the roots quickly begin to rot, and the bark of trees cracks;
- crackling of berries when kept under the rays of the scorching sun for a long time, lack of timely watering;
- instability before the onslaught of pests (aphids, slimy sawfly).
The main enemy of the Mayak cherry is coccomycosis, which quickly affects fruits and foliage. That is why, at the first appearance of the fungus, it is important to immediately begin the fight by treating the tree crowns with fungicides in order to avoid the further spread of diseases.
As a preventive measure, trees can be sprayed with nitrogen products. The main thing is to prevent the appearance of spots on the berries - signs of dispersal of fungal spores. For treatments, you can use copper sulfate (1%), Bordeaux liquid.
The lighthouse is the record holder for fruiting. In general, it is a good variety with large and juicy berries. If you learn to grow it correctly, observing agrotechnical standards, then it is quite possible to get good yields.
