Sweet cherry Flame

Obtained by crossing varieties Zagrebskaya x Standard Urals. Originator — Sverdlovsk Selection Station for Horticulture. Introduced into the State Register in 1989 for the West Siberian region. Authors: N.I. Gvozdikova, M.G. Isakova.

Bush up to 1.6–2 m tall with a broad, spreading, medium-dense, medium-leafy crown. Bud 3.8 mm, oval, deviated relative to the shoot. Leaf inversely egg-shaped, green. Apex obtusely pointed, base wedge-shaped, double-toothed. Leaf surface glossy with silver sheen, leaf blade flat, occasionally slightly cupped. Stipules 2–3 at leaf base, sometimes absent. Petiole 10 mm long, 1.5 mm thick, light green. Number of flowers in inflorescence 4–5. Corolla 22 mm in diameter, saucer-shaped. Petals white, loosely arranged. Stigma positioned higher relative to stamens. Calyx cup-shaped, medium-toothed. Pistil 10 mm long, stamens 5 mm long. Bears fruit on one-year-old growth and flower branches.

Fruits weighing 3–4 g, maximum weight 6 g, height 17 mm, width 19 mm, thickness 17 mm, round. Fruit apex rounded, slightly depressed, average funnel shape. Fruits bright red. Flesh medium density, red, juice light red. Pedicel length 25 mm, thickness 1.5 mm. Fruits attractive in appearance, rated 4 points, flesh juicy, sweet-tart, acceptable flavor. Sensory evaluation of fresh fruit 3.5 points. When detached from the pedicel, the flesh of the fruit is slightly damaged. Technical variety, used for processing into compotes, jams, juice, etc. Fruits contain 13.6% soluble solids, 8.4% sugars, 2% acids, 13.7 mg/100g vitamin C, 343.9 mg/100g vitamin P. Stone round, 0.17 g, 4.8% of fruit mass, brown. Apex rounded, base broad, detachment from flesh medium.

Flowering medium-early, prolonged (May 20 – June 5). Fruit ripening medium (July 25 – August 5), uneven ripening. Enters fruiting at 4 years. Longevity of rootstock plants is high — over 30 years with timely rejuvenating pruning. Self-fertile. Cold-hardy. Drought-tolerant. Variety sensitive to coccomycosis. Resistant to pests.

Annual, good fruiting. Has low percentage of fruit cracking. High productivity rating in Sverdlovsk and Chelyabinsk regions. Recommended for commercial and hobby cultivation. Used as a selection resource for dwarfism, yield, large fruit size, cold hardiness. Suitable for intensive orchards.

Advantages: cold hardiness, good annual yield, large fruit size, prolonged flowering.

Disadvantages: acceptable fruit flavor, susceptible to coccomycosis.