Regina is a German variety of late cherry known since the middle of the last century. It is still grown in Europe on an industrial scale. Russian gardeners and farmers are also interested in this variety, but attempts to grow it are not always successful.
Description of cherries Regina
There is no Regina cherry variety popular in Europe in the State Register of Russia, but this does not stop enthusiasts who undertake to grow it (not always successfully) in their areas. The variety was bred by German breeders in 1957 by crossing late Rube and Schneider cherries. Thanks to many advantages, it began to be used for industrial cultivation, and for 25 years Regina's seedlings were banned for export outside the country. Since 1981, this cherry has been massively grown already throughout Western Europe.
Cherry Regina matures in the second half of July
Regina's tree grows up to 3-4 m in height, has a pronounced central conductor with skeletal branches extending almost at right angles. Crohn rounded pyramidal of medium density. Regina blooms late - in the second half of May, which protects the flowers from return frosts. The frost resistance of the tree is increased - the wood withstands frosts down to -25 ° C. The variety has high immunity to all fungal and viral diseases, as well as pests. Roots going to great depths will always find water, so Regina’s droughts are not terrible. Only in extreme heat does it need watering.
It comes into bearing in the 3-4th year after planting. Productivity is regular and high. On average, every tree from the age of 6 brings 40 kg of berries. Cherry Regina ripens in the second half of July. Fruits hang on branches for a long time. However, they do not crumble and never crack. Separation from the stalk is dry.
The berries are large (weighing an average of 9-10 g), slightly elongated, heart-shaped. The color of the smooth and shiny skin is dark red. The elastic and gristly flesh also has a red color, and its taste is sweet, with a slight acidity, rich. Tasting taste assessment - 4.8-5 points. According to its characteristics, the variety belongs to the bigarro group. Berries are stored up to 3 weeks without loss of quality, have high transportability. The purpose is universal.
Varieties of cherries are divided into two groups - bigarro and gini. The former have a dense cartilaginous flesh, which ensures their good transportability and high quality of canned products. As a rule, these are varieties with medium and late ripening. Varieties of gini group are often early, have a thin skin and juicy flesh. They are used fresh, since they do not keep their form in canned food.
The main types of pollinators
The main problem of Regina is her self-infertility and moodiness for pollinators. Many gardeners were faced with a situation where Regina cherries had not been fruiting for many years, although there were other cherries nearby, blooming with her at the same time. To date, a list of suitable varieties of cherries for pollination has been established, however, none of them are registered in the State Register:
- Summit;
- Sam;
- Sylvia;
- Cordia;
- Karina
- Gedefinger;
- Bianca
- Schneiger late.
Cherry pollinators can also be:
- Nephris
- Coral;
- Lottery.
Moreover, experts advise to have not one, but two different varieties for pollination of Regina. Only in this case is guaranteed 100% pollination and a high yield.
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
Grade advantages:
- Unpretentiousness in leaving.
- Early maturity.
- Increased frost resistance.
- Drought tolerance.
- Immunity to diseases and pests.
- Regular and high yield.
- Marketable condition.
- Transportability and long shelf life.
The variety has practically no drawbacks.
Video: Regina cherry review
Planting cherries
With Regina's planting, even a gardener with little experience should not have any difficulties. Step by step description:
- First of all, it is necessary to determine the place of planting of the seedling. It must meet the following requirements:
- Good light. A small partial shade is possible, but undesirable.
- Groundwater should be at least 2.5 m.
- A small slope of the site in the south or south-west direction is desirable - it will ensure the drainage of melt and rainwater and, as a result, the absence of swampiness.
- The soil should be loose and well permeable - light sandy loam and loam will be the best option.
- The presence of natural protection against cold northerly winds in the form of a fence, thick trees, the walls of the building, etc., is welcome.
- Then, planting dates are chosen - in regions with a cold climate, early spring is considered the best time, when the buds are ready to wake up. In the southern regions, it is better to plan a landing in late autumn. Plants should already go into a state of rest and discard foliage, but there should still be about a month before the onset of frost. Seedlings with a closed root system can be planted at any time - from March to October.
Plants with a closed root system can be planted at any time from March to October
- In the fall, seedlings are purchased, and in the case of spring planting, they are laid for storage in the basement or dug in the garden.
- 2-3 weeks before the planned planting time, a landing pit is prepared (if it is planned to plant cherries in the spring, it is advisable to prepare the pit in the fall). The size of the pit is made equal to 0.8 m in depth and diameter, and its entire volume is filled with nutrient soil (it is prepared by mixing chernozem, peat, humus and river sand in equal amounts).
- On the day of planting, the roots of the seedlings should be soaked in water (it is advisable to add drugs that stimulate root formation into the water, for example, Heteroauxin, Zircon, Kornevin, etc.) for 2-4 hours.
- In the middle of the pit, a hole is prepared in size sufficient to accommodate the roots of the seedling. A small conical-shaped mound is formed in the hole.
- A seedling is lowered into the pit, placing its root neck on the top of the cone, after which the roots are evenly covered with soil, ramming it layer by layer. At the same time, it is necessary to ensure that the root neck is ultimately at ground level - this is conveniently done using a bar or rail.
It is convenient to control the position of the root neck of the seedling using a bar or strap
- After that, an earthen roller is raked along the diameter of the landing pit, forming a near-stem circle.
- Abundantly water the seedling 3-4 buckets of water.
For watering a seedling you need 3-4 buckets of water
- After 2-3 days, the soil is loosened and mulched with humus, peat, hay, rotted sawdust, etc.
- The first forming pruning is carried out - for this, the central conductor is shortened to a height of 0.8-1.2 m, and if there are branches, then they are cut by 40-50%.
If not one tree is planted, but a group, then plants in a row are placed at a distance of 2.5-3 m, and row spacings are made equal to 4 m.
Features of cultivation and subtleties of care
Regina is unpretentious in leaving and she does not need any specific procedures. The usual set is quite enough:
- Watering (quite rare - enough 3-4 per season, but plentiful).
- Top dressing (according to the usual culture rules).
- Scraps (the crown is formed according to a sparse-tier scheme, the rest of the scraps are standard).
Diseases and Pests: Prevention and Control
Since the variety is highly immune, to prevent possible problems, it is quite enough to take ordinary preventive measures without the use of chemical plant protection products:
- Collection and removal from the site of fallen leaves.
- Digging of the soil of near-stem circles in late autumn.
- Lime whitewash of trunks and skeletal branches.
Lime whitewashing of trunks and skeletal branches is an obligatory point of preventive measures
- Sanitary pruning.
- Installation of hunting belts.
It is possible (but not necessary) for prophylactic use of biological treatments for diseases (for example, Fitosporin-M) and pests (Fitoverm, Iskra-Bio), guided by the attached instructions. Chemicals are resorted to only in cases of infection with a disease or during an attack by a pest.
Gardeners reviews
For several years of growing Regina I can "show" to her only poor pollination. Therefore, those who plan to receive high-grade crops should pay particular attention to this issue.
Michurinets, Cherkasy region
//forum.vinograd.info/showthread.php?t=11072
I would not say that Regina is an ultra-late variety. This year was a test small crop. Of the features - very sweet. The size of the berries is medium.
Che_Honte, Melitopol
//forum.vinograd.info/showthread.php?t=11072
I found more interesting information about Regina and Cordia. In the mentioned source it is written that for varieties with possible ovary problems (for example, Regina and Cordia), a second pollinator is recommended. Those. they recommend two different pollinator varieties for Cordia and Regina as particularly moody.
Bavarian, Bavaria
//forum.vinograd.info/showthread.php?t=11072
That is, Regina and Cordia are especially capricious ladies. They don’t want to pollinate themselves, they need a gentleman pollinator, and preferably two. The Michurinist was right, Regina and Cordia pollination was really worth paying attention to.
Iron, Balta
//forum.vinograd.info/showthread.php?t=11072&page=2
Regina is a late cherry variety underestimated in Russia. It has high commercial qualities of fruits and is interesting for industrial cultivation. It is good to have it in the garden - ripe berries can be enjoyed for a long time. But you have to take care of the availability of suitable pollinators - their seedlings are usually available in the assortment of nurseries that grow Regina.
