June Early, also known as 'Wonder Cherry', is a high-yielding hybrid of cherry and plum, developed by breeders L.V. Taranko and A.V. Sychev at the Donetsk Experimental Station for Horticulture. This variety was obtained by crossing 'Griot Ostegaymsky' and 'Valeriy Chkalov'. The trees are medium-sized with attractive broad-oval crowns and thick, strong gray-brown branches. Flower buds form on one-year-old growth, ensuring remarkable early fruiting: the first fruits appear as early as the 2nd-3rd year, and abundant fruiting occurs by the 4th year.
The fruits of June Early have a dark-red color and a flat-round shape, with an average weight of about 9-10 grams. The skin is shiny and of medium density, the flesh is juicy, sweet, without acidity, with a distinct cherry-plum aroma. The pit is small and easily separates from the flesh, making the variety convenient for consumption. The juice is red or dark-red. The tasting evaluation of flavor quality reaches 4.7 out of 5, confirming the high dessert qualities of the variety.
June Early ripens in the last decade of June, making it one of the earliest cherry varieties. The fruits are versatile in use: they are consumed fresh and are also used for making compotes, jams, and other types of preserves. The variety is suitable for both home gardens and commercial purposes. The fruits have moderate transportability, facilitating their sale and storage.
