Sweet cherry Bolotovskaya

Obtained by sowing seeds of steppe cherry. Originator — Sverdlovsk Selection Station for Horticulture. Authors: A.I. Bolotov, N.I. Gvozdikova, M.G. Isakova. Introduced into the State Register since 1989 for the Ural region.

Bush height 1.6–1.8 m, with a broadly rounded, spreading crown of medium density and medium leafiness. Bud 3.1 mm, oval in shape, set apart from the shoot. Leaf elongated-oval, green, lacking anthocyanin coloration. Apex acute and pointed, base wedge-shaped, double-toothed margin. Leaf blade surface glossy, flat, margins slightly wavy. Stipules 1–2 on the leaf base. Petiole: length 8 mm, thickness 1 mm, green, purplish at the upper part. Number of flowers in inflorescence 4. Corolla diameter 20 mm, dish-shaped. Petals white, freely arranged. Stigma level with or below the stamens. Stigma length 10 mm, stamen length 8 mm. Calyx shape cup-like, medium toothed calyx lobes.

Fruits weighing 3–4 g, broadly rounded, height 14.6 mm, width 15.5 mm, thickness 14.5 mm. Pit with medium depth, apex rounded. Fruits dark red. Flesh red, medium density, juice red. Pedicel length 40 mm, thickness 10 mm. Fruits attractive in appearance, rated 4 points, flesh juicy, sweet-tart, quite satisfactory flavor. Fresh fruit tasting score 3.8 points. Fruit detachment from pedicel dry. Fruits resistant to cracking. Cultivar for technical use, used for compote, jam, juice production. Compote tasting score 4.3 points. Fruits contain: soluble solids 13.8 %, sugars 7.2 %, acids 1.8 %, vitamin C 12.9 mg/100g, vitamin P 334.8 mg/100g.

Pit oval, mass 0.17 g, constituting 5.7 % of fruit mass, brown. Apex medium, base narrow. Pit separates easily from flesh.

Flowering period medium-late (May 25 — July 2). Fruit ripening medium-late, first decade of August, uneven. Begins fruiting on the 3rd year. Longevity of rootstock plants is great — over 30 years with timely rejuvenating pruning. Fruits on bouquet branches and one-year growth. Highly self-fertile. Winter-hardy. Drought-resistant. Susceptible to coccomyces and moniliosis. Occasionally damaged by cherry sawfly and cherry aphid.

Annual, abundant fruiting. Cultivar has high productivity rating for yield in Sverdlovsk and Chelyabinsk region collective farms. Suitable for commercial and amateur cultivation. Suitable for intensive orchards.

Advantages: winter-hardiness, high self-fertility, regular abundant fruiting, low height.

Disadvantages: satisfactory fruit flavor, susceptible to coccomyces and moniliosis.