Sweet cherry Gurtievka

This variety was obtained by crossing Zhukovskaya x Orlovskaya Early. Originator — All-Russian Research Institute of Fruit Crop Selection. Authors: A.F. Kolesnikova, G.B. Zhданova. Introduced into the State Register in 2001 for the Central Chernozem region.

Medium-growing tree, about 3 m tall, fast-growing. Crown is inversely pyramidal, broad and sparse. Leaf is egg-shaped, dark green. Apex is pointed, base is broadly lanceolate, serrated with saw-toothed edges. Leaf blade surface is matte and flat. Stipules 3-4, located at leaf base and petiole. Petiole 36 mm long, 2.9 mm thick, green with anthocyanin coloring. Bud 5.0 mm, conical shape, strongly deviated from the shoot. Number of flowers in inflorescence 4. Corolla diameter 22 mm, open. Petals white, loosely arranged. Stigma position is lower relative to stamens. Stigma length 6.5 mm. Stamens length 7.4 mm. Calyx shape is cup-like, strong serration of sepals.

Fruits weigh 3.6-4.0 g, round-convex, height 11 mm, width 10.5 mm, thickness 10 mm. Fruit cavity is medium, apex rounded. Fruits are dark red. Flesh is red, medium density, juice red. Pedicel length 45 mm, thickness 0.5 mm. Stone is round, weight 0.17 g, which is 4.3% of fruit weight, dark yellow. Apex and base are rounded. Stone separates easily from flesh.

Fruits have attractive appearance, rated 4 points; flesh juicy, tart-sweet, good taste. Sensory evaluation of fresh fruits 3.8-4.0 points. Fruit detachment from pedicel is medium. Fruits are resistant to cracking. Variety is for table use. Fruits contain 13.5% dry matter, 6.8% sugars, 1.19% acids.

Flowering occurs early (May 10-17). Fruit ripening is early, in the third decade of June, simultaneous. Enters fruiting at 4 years. Bears fruit on flowered shoots and previous year's growth. Partially self-fertile. Average yield 73.3 centners per hectare. Wood frost resistance is good, bud cold resistance is medium. Drought-resistant. Resistant to coccomyces, medium resistance to moniliosis.

Suitable for commercial, amateur cultivation, and breeding purposes (yield, good fruit quality, ripening time).

Advantages: resistance to coccomyces, early ripening, good taste.

Disadvantages: insufficient winter hardiness of flower buds in severe years.