Sweet cherry Tilda

Introduced at the Dubovskoy support station of the NV NIIHS by R.V. Korenev and L.K. Zhukova through planting seeds of the Zhukovskaya variety from open pollination. Undergoing state variety trials since 1995.

Trees are small; at 10 years old, grafted onto Rutus seedlings, they reach 1.7 m in height and 2.7 m in crown diameter. The crown is broadly rounded and sparse. Main branches are rough, curved, grayish-cherry-colored, branching off the trunk at nearly right angles. Shoots are medium-sized, smooth, gray-brown, without pubescence. Buds are large, round-conical, brown, without pubescence. Positioned at a 45° angle relative to the shoot. Fruit set primarily occurs on flower clusters. Leaves are medium-sized, elongated-ovate, green. Leaf margins are wavy. Serration is toothed. Leaf blade is concave, curved downward, with a rounded base. Leaf apex gradually transitions into a point. Leaf petiole is medium in length and thickness. Flowers are white, medium-sized, bell-shaped, with 4-5 flowers in the fruit bud, occasionally 3.

Fruit ripens at medium-early maturity, ripening at the end of June. Fruits are medium-sized (3.5–4 g), round, dark red. The fruit apex has a small depression. The fruit stalk socket is wide and of medium depth. The fruit stalk is medium in length and thickness. Flesh is red, tart-sweet, very good taste. Juice is well-colored. Stone is medium-sized, round. Variety is of universal use. Suitable for fresh consumption, compotes, and jams. Fruits contain 12.60% dry matter, 7.19% sugars, 0.74% acids, 13.17 mg/100g ascorbic acid.

Cold hardiness is high. No damage to aboveground parts was observed, except for flower buds. No disease damage was observed. Self-fertile variety. Average yield over six years for 8–13-year-old trees on 5 x 2 m spacing was 67.8 centners per hectare.

Advantages of the variety: small, cold-hardy, productive trees, good fruit quality.