Sweet cherry Irtyshskaya

This variety was developed by S.G. Sukhotskaya and N.I. Barsukova (Omsk State Agrarian University) through selection from seedlings of wild cherry. It was included in the State Register in 1990 for the West Siberian region.

The bush is low-growing, 120-130 cm tall, with a crown diameter of 200 cm. The crown shape is spreading and drooping, dense. Fruit set is concentrated on last year's growth and partially on flower clusters. Bark on main branches is flaking, gray. Shoots are medium thickness, straight, gray with a reddish tint, bare, with numerous white, medium-sized lenticels. Leaves are medium-sized, inversely egg-shaped, short-pointed, shiny, hairless, with serrated edges. Petioles are short, with early-falling small bracts, and 2-4 small, round glands. Flowers are rose-like, white, medium-sized. On average, 3.8 flowers per bud.

Fruits are small, average weight 1.4 g; maximum 1.8 g, dark red, round-oval. Base of the fruit has a slight depression, shallow and narrow pit. Pedicel is short, medium thickness, attachment to the branch and stone is fairly strong. Stone is small, 10% of fruit weight, oval with a pointed apex. Flesh is yellowish-red, juicy, juice red, sweet-tart flavor. Dry matter content in fruits averages 12.6%, sugar content — 6.0%, organic acids — 1.6%, vitamin C — 39.3 mg%. Sensory evaluation of fresh fruit is 3.5 points, compote 4.3 points.

Fruit set begins in the 3rd year after planting in the orchard. Fruits ripen from July 9 to July 29 depending on the year. The variety is partially self-fertile. Best pollinator — Vuzovskaya. Recommended planting scheme — 4 x 1-1.5 m. Yield reaches 3.3 t/ha in the 3rd year after planting. Average yield of young plants (up to 6-8 years old) — 10 t/ha; 10-14-year-old plants — 4.8 t/ha;

Advantages of the variety: high winter hardiness, withstands frost down to -40°C without significant damage; intensive vegetative growth in the first years after planting; high fruiting capacity, yield, and fruit technological properties; good rooting ability of green cuttings (average 64%).

Disadvantages of the variety: small fruits; low sensory quality rating of fresh fruit; relatively strong attachment of stone to pedicel.