Sweet cherry Ukrainka

Local Volga variety of folk selection. Probably originated from Vladimir cherry, which it resembles greatly. Common in amateur gardens of Samara and Ulyanovsk regions.

Tree or shrub of medium height, 3.5–4 m tall. Round, spreading crown with weakly drooping branches. Bark on trunk and main branches smooth, dark brown with grayish coating. Shoots straight, medium thickness, internodes 3–3.5 cm, yellow-green, covered with numerous small lenticels. Leaves large or medium-sized, elongated-oval or inversely egg-shaped, pointed apex, medium thickness, green on upper side and light green on underside, smooth, slightly wrinkled. Leaf blade folded like a boat. Leaf margin double-toothed. Petiole thick, pink-purple, 1.5–2 cm long. Stipules thin, light pink, falling off. Stipules small, usually 2, light yellow or dark gray. Inflorescence — umbel (5–6 flowers). Flowers medium-sized, white. Fruit set occurs on one-year growths and flower clusters.

Fruits medium-sized, one-seeded, average weight 2.7–3.0 g, flat-round shape, flat-round apex. Base of fruit with depression, medium depth and width. Ventral suture poorly expressed. Pedicel medium length. Fruit color dark red, nearly black. Skin thin, firm. Flesh dark pink, medium-firm, dessert flavor. Juice dark red. Taste sweet-sour, very good — 4.5 points. Pit separates easily, medium-sized, round, smooth, weighing 0.26 g. Appearance rating of fruits — 4.2 points.

Technological qualities of fruits are high — suitable for making wine, extracts, jams, confectionery. Fruits stay well on the tree and drop only upon overripeness or strong winds. Transportability satisfactory. Fruits contain 16.6% dry matter, 13.4% sugars, 1.83% acids. Universal use.

Flowering begins May 9–12, ends May 20–22. Fruit maturation medium-early (harvesting starts July 5–10). Self-sterile. Best pollinators: Vladimirskaya, Amorel Rose, Rastunyia. Grafted trees bear fruit in 2–3 years, rootstock trees in 4–5 years.

Winter hardiness of the variety is satisfactory, higher than that of Vladimirskaya and Rastunyia. Trees of this variety survived harsh winters of 1941–1942, 1955–1956, and 1978–1979, with average freeze damage levels of 3.5, 1.2, and 3.0 points respectively. Drought resistance is medium. Subject to gummosis primarily on low-lying areas, due to freezing damage.

The variety is mainly propagated by grafting onto seedling and rootstock understocks of Rastunyia, Karmalievskaya, Vladimirskaya, as well as by root suckers and green cuttings. Grows best on loamy-marl, medium-loam, and sandy-alkaline chernozems. Less favorable on heavy black soils on dense red clay. Young trees require formative pruning. Regular pruning during full fruiting is necessary to promote good annual shoot growth.

Advantages of the variety: relatively good annual yield, high fruit flavor and technological qualities, relatively early ripening.

Disadvantages of the variety: low winter hardiness of flower buds in northern regions and Zavolzhie.