Sweet cherry Fairy Tale

This variety was developed at the Far Eastern Experimental Station of VNIIR in 1986 from crossing the varieties 'Summer' x pollen mixture (seedling 'Pink' + 'Red'). Authors: V.P. Tsarenko, N.A. Tsarenko. Introduced into the State Register in 1999.

Bush 1.3 m tall, oval in shape, medium density. Multi-year branches straight, gray, peeling, with numerous light-colored stipules. One-year shoots brown, hairy. Buds small, acute, form in groups of three, terminal generative, middle vegetative, hairy, deviated from the shoot. Leaf blade elongated-oval (4.9 x 2.5 cm), dark green, with pointed apex and acute base. Leaf blade margin double-toothed, surface wrinkled, hairy on the abaxial side with short hairs, on the adaxial side woolly. Petiole 0.7 cm long, medium thickness, green, hairy, with two acute-linear, hairy stipules. Flower (1-2) dish-shaped, medium size 2.6 cm in diameter of the corolla, five-petaled, petals pink, touching. Stamens 25, single pistil, hairy, ovary hairy. Stigma positioned above the anthers. Calyx cylindrical with strong anthocyanin, hairy externally, five sepals, finely toothed, hairy. Flowering and fruiting type continuous along the branch: on one-year and multi-year wood (bouquet branches, fruiting twigs).

Fruit large, average weight 3.3 g, maximum 3.5 g, size 1.6 x 1.3 x 1.4 cm. Fruit shape elongated-oval, rounded apex and base with deep pit, ventral suture in the form of a stripe. Fruit color dark burgundy, skin hairy with short, barely noticeable hairs. Flesh red, firm, juicy, cartilaginous. Juice color red. Pedicel length 0.5 cm, medium thickness, hairy. Semi-dry fruit detachment. Stone 0.17 g, constitutes 5.2% of fruit weight, does not detach from flesh.

Fresh fruits contain dry matter — 12.8%, sugars — 7.4%, acids — 0.9%, ascorbic acid — 24.0 mg/100g. Fruit appearance attractive. Flesh juicy, firm, cartilaginous. Flavor sour-sweet, harmonious. Sensory evaluation 3.8 points. Semi-dry fruit detachment. Transportability weak. Not suitable for mechanized harvesting. Horticultural use universal: fresh consumption and processing into juice, jam, jelly, paste, marmalade, compote, wine, etc.

Flowering period May 20-26. Ripening period July 17-24. Fruits ripen simultaneously. Grafted seedlings bear fruit in the 2nd year, rootstock in 3-4 years. Plant longevity 17 years. Variety self-sterile.

High yield — 10.0 kg per bush. Bush, one-year and multi-year branches resistant to winter and spring frosts. Variety drought-tolerant, does not tolerate waterlogging. Resistant to coccomycosis, relatively resistant to clasterosporiosis. Under waterlogging, flowers and fruits are affected by moniliosis.

High production value: winter hardiness, early fruiting, high yield, large fruit size, semi-dry fruit detachment, longevity. Easily propagated by green cuttings. Suitable for intensive orchards near processing facilities; for nursery and hobby gardening.

Advantages: large fruit size, good fruit taste, high yield, semi-dry fruit detachment, high winter hardiness.

Disadvantages: fruit shrinkage under heavy yield, susceptibility to moniliosis.