Olenka

The Olenka cherry variety was developed at the Rossoshan Zonal Experimental Station for Fruit Growing by A.Ya. Voronchihina through crossing the varieties Leningradskaya Chornaya and Valery Chkalov. It is a vigorous or very vigorous tree with a broadly oval or round canopy of medium density and good foliage. The variety prefers fertile light and medium loamy soils with a neutral reaction, requires sufficient moisture, but does not tolerate waterlogging. Winter hardiness of the tree in the south of the Central Black Earth region is quite good, although it is inferior to some other varieties, while resistance to cockle and moniliosis is high. Olenka cherry fruits are large, with an average weight of about 7.3 grams, having a blunt-heart or heart shape with slight compression on the sides. The skin is dark red, almost black when fully ripe, the flesh is dark red with lighter veins, medium density and moderately juicy. The fruit juice is dark red, the taste is sweet with slight acidity and a pleasant noble aftertaste, which ensures a high tasting score in the range of 4.7-4.9 points. However, in individual years, fruits may be less sugary, which reduces the score to 4.0-4.2 points. The variety belongs to early-maturing varieties — in the south of the Central Black Earth region, fruits ripen in the beginning of the second decade of June. Flowering occurs in the average period, while the variety is self-sterile, which requires the presence of pollinators. Trees begin to bear fruit in the 4-5th year after planting, precocity is average. The average yield for the first seven years is about 27.3 kg per tree, and in the most productive years it reaches 44 kg. Olenka cherry is distinguished by high marketability and is used primarily for fresh consumption.