Cherry Octave

Domestic breeders have always been very interested in recreating completely new and unique varieties of cherries, especially after many of them were irretrievably lost due to the epidemic of coccomycosis and moniliosis. Previously, the Oktava cherry occupied almost 27% of the total plantings, being in second place after the apple tree. One of the Oktava cherry varieties, which was donated by domestic breeders, was the Oktava cherry, which has a very large number of positive characteristics and qualities.

Nowadays, the Oktava cherry variety is grown both on small household plots and on a larger industrial scale. In this article, we will dwell in more detail on what characteristic features and properties this cherry variety possesses, as well as on what the gardener himself needs to do in order to achieve the maximum yield from planting.

Cherry Oktava: variety description and characteristics

Photo of cherry varieties Oktava

Cherry Oktava was bred in Bryansk, on the basis of the Bryansk state agricultural experimental station. The authors of the variety were such well-known breeders as A.I. Astakhov and M.N. Kanshin. In 1982, the variety was sent to state trials, and in 1986 it was already added to the list of the state register.

Originally, the Oktava cherry variety was intended for cultivation in the Central region, but very soon it gained popularity in some other territories and in other areas. Gardeners tried to plant and care in accordance with all requirements, so that the variety demonstrates all the possibilities to actively develop, demonstrate the most striking features and characteristics and, of course, yield.

The wood of the tree is very resistant to freezing and sudden changes in temperature. Immunity to coccomycosis and moniliosis is estimated at an average level and, with all this, it is worth taking extra care of the trees in order to get the most favorable outcome.

Among advantages cherry varieties Oktava:

• not a very large tree, which is convenient to care for;
• marketable fruits that have not only a beautiful, but also a very attractive appearance;
• taste characteristics that are rated at a fairly high level;
• transportability of fruits (cherries perfectly tolerate long-distance transportation, which in no way affect their external characteristics and taste when consumed).

It is also worth saying that the Oktava cherry variety has an average ripening level, much in this case will depend rather on the area in which the tree grows, what climatic conditions have developed.

The harvest of Oktava cherries is plentiful, versatile, the fruits are also suitable for processing, they can be combined to taste with other berries and fruits, creating incredible flavor ensembles. Domestic varieties are generally considered one of the most successful and really interesting both from the point of view of yield and from the point of view of further use of the fruits.

What is the Oktava cherry, its external characteristics and features

Wood in itself, it is medium in height, reaches a height of 3.5 meters, although there is an opinion that these are mostly rather small plantings, the height of which is usually 2.5 meters in the most favorable conditions. With all this, the variety is called one of the most advantageous and very convenient, because small plantings are always easier to care for than if they are tall plants.

Crown medium thickening, quite compact, although over time it can be a little drooping just due to the fact that a large number of fruits with their weight affect the branches and shoots.

Inflorescences formed from three or four flowers, mixed fruiting. This means that flower buds can also form on annual growths, and they can also be found on two-year-old shoots, older three-year shoots.

Bloom in itself later, but, again, much will depend rather on the climatic zone and region in which this plant grows. If this is the southern part of Russia, then fruiting may occur several weeks earlier, but if this is the North, then the variety will begin to bear fruit on time or a little later. In addition, the microclimate and care by the grower is exactly what can, to some extent, become a decisive factor in the health and well-being of the planting.

Fruit the Oktava cherry varieties are medium-sized, have a rounded shape, very juicy and sweet, but we will deal with their description a little later. Let's just say that the fruits have a universal purpose, which means that in general they can be used and eaten fresh, or you can cook a large number of preparations and dishes from them.

Taste fruit can also be safely stored if each fruit is frozen for later use. But this largely depends on how the gardener himself deems it necessary to handle the harvested crop. Tasters assess the taste characteristics of the fruit at a solid four points out of five, saying that the acid leaves the berries only upon reaching consumer maturity, that is, almost complete ripening of the fruit.

But overall, the Oktava cherry variety is quite convenient and preferable, so it really deserves attention. Considering that the fruits can ripen for a very long time, and their taste does not always reach perfection, it is possible, in principle, to use cherries for technical processing, for the preparation of compotes and juices, wine, combining berries with other fruits and fruits.

Should be of interest and rather attractive appearance of landings.

Crown in its shape it can be round, and it can be pyramidal. It all depends on how old the planting is, and also on whether the gardener himself will form it in accordance with his capabilities, skills and abilities. It is also worth saying that formative pruning has a wonderful effect on the plant, it recovers very quickly and looks quite decorative at the same time.

Stamp covered bark, painted in a dark gray shade. At first, while the tree is still young, the stem is a little rough, but with age, cracks can be seen on the bark, which at the same time do not at all indicate that planting a disease is a natural manifestation. The stem can generally be a little florid, like the branches, shoots that branch off from the cherry planting.

Young trees can form cracking on the trunk. Thanks to it, you can notice the formation of new shiny pieces of the cover, which are painted in silver or brownish shades. The gray bark that has aged can be carefully removed, but must not be damaged.

The stem is florid, sometimes some shoots can grow right deep into the crown, so the gardener should be very careful about caring activities, cut off plants, shoots, shorten them so that some disease-causing manifestations, bacteria and microorganisms do not begin to develop due to the thickening of the crown.

Generally shoots, which the tree gives - straight, can be elongated, with pronounced internodes. Initially, they turn greenish or brown, but later, over time, the color changes to reddish.A large number of pronounced glands appear on the shoots, which also indicate the active development of planting, and that the gardener should carefully look after them.

Glands give the planting additional nutrition, they must be strong and strong, so that the tree, if something happens, can safely fight bacteria and pests, infectious and fungal diseases. But we will talk about such a struggle a little later.

Vegetative buds reach six millimeters in size, have an elongated shape, more like an egg. The tip of the buds is pointed, the vitality of the entire planting will depend on their healthy appearance, vitality and quantity. The planting also has the so-called generative buds. They are slightly smaller in size than the main ones - about four millimeters, and generally have the same shape and color.

Leaves cherries are round, quite standard in shape and size, as the leaves of other varieties and varieties of cherry plantings. The top of the leaves is slightly pointed, the consistency is leathery, dense, the leaves generally look quite attractive and decorative, especially when they all bloom at once in the spring.

Gardeners note the attractiveness and beauty of the plant, indicate that they really look very cool and interesting. The length of the leaves can be up to ten centimeters, and the width ranges from four to six centimeters. These are the dimensional indicators of larger and older plantings, of course, when the seedling is still very young, its size is not so abundant and large.

The outer side of the leaves is smooth and shiny, colored in a rich and deep green hue. There is a slight concavity, which is mainly located in the central vein. But the inner side of the leaves is not so bright - it is rather pale, has a pinkish center at the vein.

On the sides, you can feel the pubescence of the leaves, hairiness is a feature of the planting of the cherry variety, and in general, the appearance of the leaves does not change in any global way from this.

Petioles leaf - their size is up to twenty millimeters. Their color is dusty, dirty pink, the thickness is medium, but at the same time the leaves are firmly held on the petioles, they do not crumble (unless the planting gets sick or is in an unsatisfactory condition due to the fact that it lacks nutrition and care from the gardener).

Stipules the variety is absent, the glands may be in small quantities, or not at all, it all depends rather on the climatic and natural conditions in which this cherry variety grows.

Flowers can be located singly, and can form in inflorescences of two or three beautiful flowers. The flowers are quite large and abundant on their own, they can reach 4.5 centimeters in diameter. They stand out against the background of many other varieties and plantings, especially during flowering.

At first they are painted in a white shade, but then it gradually changes to a delicate, pink, incredibly attractive. It is worth noting that, in principle, gardeners value cherries very much precisely due to the fact that they not only give a bountiful harvest, but can also look incredibly decorative and attractive precisely because of an excellent looking tree, especially during flowering.

Petals can be corrugated, with uneven edges, and can be spoon-shaped. The pistil is located or next to, on the same level with the stamen, or it can be slightly lowered. The stamens reach a centimeter in length, but the length of the pistil is about one and a half centimeters.

They stand out perfectly against the background of the flower, they also look a little contrasting and, at the same time, quite festive. The most important thing is that they take an active part in the pollination of the tree and, accordingly, can be quite bright representatives of a self-fertile culture, but this should be discussed a little later.

Cherry Octave - what are the fruits

Cherry Octave: photo of the variety

Cherries of the Oktava variety on the tree are formed quite large - what corresponds to the cherry variety. They have a flat-round shape, the skin is painted in a deep maroon shade.

Average, weight one cherry Octave can be about six grams, the pulp is homogeneous in its own structure, average if you evaluate the density, but many say that the fruits are quite firm and dense.

Pulp also turns dark red, the juice is rich in color, and just as tasty in terms of taste.

Peduncle shortened, but rather thick, strong, it can be easily plucked when the fruits reach their consumer maturity, but in other situations, in principle, the fruits do not crumble, and this is a huge plus.

Bone is of medium size, it is separated from the pulp by half, but in general, gardeners do not face special difficulties in processing the crop, and this is a huge plus.

Berries have a pleasant sweet and sour taste, not cloying.

Universal purpose means that cherries can be eaten immediately after they have been harvested from the site, or, in principle, they can be consumed when they are processed. In addition, you can make preserves and jams, drinks - juices, wine, compotes.

Taste cherries of the Oktava variety go well with the taste of other fruits and fruits, which is also a noticeable plus. Gardeners appreciate the variety very much due to the fact that it is completely unpretentious and not capricious. We will talk about agricultural technology and planting, about leaving later in this article.

Key characteristics of the variety

The variety has several bright and key characteristics, which you should definitely pay attention to just in order to be able to decide for yourself - whether the gardener wants to see this planting on his own plot, or he would like to take other varieties and seedlings that will profitable to him.

Cherry Ottawa is characterized as mid-season variety, the fruits ripen in July, but if you plant a tree in the southern region, then there is a high probability that the fruits will reach their consumer maturity at the end of June, which means that gardeners will get ripe and tasty berries much earlier.

Many indicators also depend directly on how the planting was grafted. If it was a grafting on an antipoke, then the fruiting of cherries begins in the fourth or fifth year after the seedling is planted in open ground. Also, this vaccine will be characterized by its early maturity at a very high level. Of course, here the choice of vaccination and when exactly he would like to get his own harvest will depend on the gardeners themselves.

Cherry Octave also gives abundant and very regular harvest, it is very high quality and quite tasty. Almost sixteen kilograms of harvest can be harvested from one tree in adulthood, and gardeners note that sometimes this is not the highest indicator, that the yield can be even higher.

But here it all depends on the conditions under which the cherry variety grows, whether the gardener himself was able to give the planting everything that she needed so much, and how far the agricultural technology was followed in accordance with all the rules and regulations.

It is important to know the very subtle aspects and nuances of plant care, and if you take these points into account, it will be possible to get a harvest even where the initially climatic conditions are not too favorable. Next, we will just dwell in more detail on the description of the plant and on how to take care of the plantings in the future.

The fruits are of a high level of quality, since each cherry is very firm, bright, sweet, without any unpleasant or tart flavors.

Gardeners appreciate the Oktava cherry very highly also due to the fact that, in general, these plantings are of high quality and versatile. The fruits are excellent fresh, they are great in taste with other berries or fruits. They can be used to prepare food and drinks, juices and wines, compotes, sauces, preserves and jams.

It is also worth saying that the fruits contain a large amount of useful substances - acids, vitamins, trace elements, peptides. All of them have a beneficial effect on the general condition of the human body, can help fight diseases, increasing immunity and stress resistance.

Cherry Oktava can be grown in private household plots, and can be cultivated on a large industrial scale. With all this, the fruits are perfectly stored for a long time, they can be transported over long distances.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of the Oktava cherry variety

I would like to highlight several advantages and disadvantages of the variety, since they can have a serious impact on the opinion of the gardener himself, as well as on his choice directly in favor of this variety.

Among merits Cherry varieties Octava can be distinguished as follows:

• frost resistance of cherry planting - a seedling and an adult tree can safely tolerate a drop in temperature to -25 degrees, and show absolutely no negative reactions to such changes in the climate;
• berries have a universal purpose - they can be used immediately after being removed fresh, or you can prepare dishes, desserts, preserves and jams from them, compotes, drinks, juices, wines;
• cherry Oktava is resistant to the most common diseases and is practically not attacked by pests, insects and rodents;
• the variety can be propagated in different ways - rootstocks, seeds, vegetative methods. The result will be equally positive, so you should think about this when choosing certain landings;
• cherry Oktava has high commercial qualities and excellent characteristics. Cherries are great for selling, they look great and they have a very high taste;
• the yield is high, even if the gardener cannot give the variety enough attention and support, there is still a high probability of getting a regular and excellent harvest with high taste and storage characteristics (keeping quality, transportation).

Otherwise, there are minuses, but they can only appear if the gardener initially did not take into account all the features and subtleties in planting and care. We will talk about this further, in the next part of our article.

Planting and caring for the Oktava cherry variety

Cherry Octave: photo of the variety

Cherry Oktava is considered one of the most convenient varieties, as it is completely unpretentious. At the same time, there are still some features and subtleties that are taken into account by gardeners and gardeners. If the gardener uses some intensive technologies, then there are some characteristic features that are still worth considering. Only through the creation of a favorable microclimate for planting can a decent and significant result be achieved.

Landing

1. Site preparation

The pits for planting the Oktava cherry seedling in depth should be up to half a meter, and their diameter varies from half a meter to sixty centimeters.

Again, one should focus on the size of the seedling itself, on the size of the root system - the roots should be comfortable in the hole, not cramped, there should be free space.

If this is not a single, but a group planting, then there should be a distance between the seedlings, which is about three meters. In general, it should be borne in mind that plantings need enough space in order to grow normally and actively develop.

In addition, when the trees grow taller, they will not shade each other, which means that each cherry will get sunlight and space for growth and development.

When a gardener prepares a hole, the soil that he pulls out of it must be mixed with humus in a 1: 1 ratio. You can also add potassium chloride, superphosphate, ash there to normalize the general condition of the soil and make it more saturated and nutritious for cherry growth.

If suddenly the site has a heavy and clayey soil, then river sand should be added to it before planting cherries. Thanks to him, the soil will become looser, and this will have a beneficial effect on future planting.

Cherry Octave needs the root system to be constantly saturated with moisture and oxygen, because only thanks to this the roots will not start to rot, and pathogenic bacteria will not develop on them.

2. Preparation of seedlings

Before planting, seedlings are carefully examined for damage or disease.

If suddenly the root system or its parts were affected, then they must be carefully removed.

The cut sites must be treated with activated carbon so that bacteria no longer penetrate there.

Next, the seedling is sent into the open ground, it is planted in a hole, a peg is installed next to it. The peg is necessary in order to support the planting, as well as so that the seedling does not break or be damaged by a gust of winds.

The root collar should protrude about three to four centimeters above the ground surface.

3. The complete algorithm for planting Oktava cherries is as follows:

• the gardener selects healthy and full-fledged seedlings, examines them from all sides. Before planting, the seedlings are placed in a growth stimulator - root for several hours;
• the seedling is placed in a pre-prepared hole, which is filled with fertile soil. A peg is driven into the center, which will become the future support for planting. Around the peg, the mixture is poured in the form of a mound, the seedling itself is installed on the mound. Experienced gardeners recommend planting not alone, but together - one person will support the seedling from above, and the second will gently spread the roots;
• then soil is poured onto the roots, this should be done carefully, constantly shaking the seedling. This must be done so that air pockets do not form around the roots, which will lead to the formation of cavities and the development of pathogenic bacteria;
• the seedling is tied to a peg, do it carefully. This can be done from the north side of the peg strictly vertically - the seedling should not deviate anywhere, otherwise this will lead to the fact that the tree will grow unevenly and unevenly.

4. Actions after planting the Oktava cherry

Then the gardener monitors how the seedling takes root, how it adapts and takes root in new conditions. It is extremely important to maintain the vital activity of the planting, to mulch the near-trunk circle. Mulch serves several functions - it protects the planting from attack from bacteria, and also prevents moisture from evaporating from the soil too quickly. In addition, thanks to the mulch, the required amount of heat is retained in the soil, which is also very important for the general condition of the planting.

After the planting of the seedling has been completed, an earthen roller should be made around the entire circumference. It should be located about 25 centimeters from the main trunk, and thanks to this, the roller will indicate the space for full watering of the plant.

It is recommended to water the seedlings with settled water at room temperature. In general, the root system of a plant is considered very delicate and vulnerable, and therefore it is still recommended to be very careful about both the watering process and the feeding.

Agrotechnical measures for Oktava cherry varieties

Cherry Octave: photo of the variety

Cherries of the Octava variety do not tolerate transplants, so initially the gardener should make sure that the planting site is as comfortable and well-lit as possible.

For watering One cherry seedling, the gardener will need about two or three buckets of water, but you should definitely take into account the temperature indicators and regimes, because otherwise the planting will feel less comfortable, and in general, the growth and development of this cherry seedling may noticeably slow down. Because of this, the periods of fruiting will shift.

When the tree matures, the agricultural technique can be slightly changed. For example, it is worth increasing the number of waterings - at least three times per season. You should also focus on climatic and weather conditions, on the amount of precipitation and the duration of dry periods.

Only taking into account all the external features, as well as taking into account the state of planting, it will be possible to create the most favorable irrigation schedule, which will meet all the landing requirements:

• The first watering should be scheduled at the time when flowering ends.
• The second time the cherries are watered after the fruits have gradually filled in, and when they begin to ripen gradually. At this time, they really need watering so that they can become juicy and large - what corresponds to varietal indicators and characteristics.
• The third watering should be carried out at the very beginning of October, after the leaves have fallen off, and the planting will need to be prepared for the winter period.

It should be remembered loosening soil after irrigation during the entire growing season. Also, the trunk circle should be not only loose (to allow oxygen and moisture to pass through), but also cleaned of weeds and other excess vegetation.

This may not have the best effect on the state of the plantings, on their characteristics and properties, and therefore it is still worthwhile to pay as much attention as possible to some issues and points that are related to the hygiene and aesthetics of the sites.

Let's talk a little about dressing. In the first couple of years, planting will not need any fertilizers and top dressing at all, for the reason that they will be saturated with all the necessary substances and components from the saturated and ennobled soil.

But after two or three years, it is still necessary to start making additional fertilizing and substances so that the planting can feel much more comfortable. Usually fertilizers are applied in the autumn, before the gardener prescribes a deep digging of the personal plot. So, for one cherry tree, we need to apply potash fertilizers, phosphorus fertilizers (all these dressings are applied mainly in dry form).

In the early spring period, it is necessary to make the soil saturated with nitrogen-containing components. This will require about fifty grams of dressings, which will be ideal for saturating the planting and creating the most favorable conditions for it.

You should not be zealous with feeding, as you can overfeed the planting quite strongly and harm it. And in general, experienced gardeners say that it is better not to feed the planting than to create conditions of satiety for it, in which the cherry will experience discomfort.

When the Oktava cherry reaches the age of two years, then you should begin to exercise shaping crowns.

For this, the twigs are pruned. They carefully examine the planting, shorten the growths so that the plant looks not only neat, but also healthy. If the Oktava cherry becomes very old, then gardeners are advised to carry out anti-aging pruning. Thanks to her, the tree can be given a second life.

It should be borne in mind that, in principle, trees tolerate these procedures quite calmly and normally recover after pruning and shaping.

Frost protection Is another important condition that must be maintained by gardeners. The fact is that the winter period can be very harsh, both for adult plants and for young seedlings.

Therefore, it is necessary to protect plantings using materials such as glass wool and roofing material, reeds, spruce forests, thick paper.

If the trunk has been damaged by rodents, pests or mechanically by the gardener himself, then the place of damage is carefully cleaned with a knife, smeared with garden pitch to prevent further penetration of infection into the bark. From above, it is better to tie up the trunk with dense material that will allow a small amount of air to pass through.

In general, if you create such conditions for planting, you can reduce the risk of injury, freezing or other negative manifestations from the planting side. The main thing is to be able to recognize in time some negative manifestations on the part of the variety, its some signals that it is worth being more attentive to agrotechnical moments, and then the gardener will achieve an excellent and significant result.

Let's talk a little about what they are pests, and how they can be dangerous to the cherry tree.

Generally, the cherry variety Oktava pretty stable, and with all this, it is quite rarely affected by such common diseases as moniliosis or coccomycosis, which can lead to the inevitable death of the plant.

Rodents can attack the landing, but not very often. The thing is that the bark of the tree is bitter, and with its taste, it does not attract rodents or other pests at all. This is another plus of planting, as it can regenerate itself.

Flaw planting is that the tree turns out to be very tall, it is quite problematic to care for it, and it is not easy to harvest the resulting crop. Sometimes the fruits can crumble, but in rare cases - usually gardeners manage to collect most of the crop, preserving it and using it for universal purposes.

Conclusion

In general, if the gardener maintains all these conditions, then there is a high probability of getting a very decent and tasty harvest. The most important thing is to simply take into account the needs of the variety, its characteristics and properties.

You should not independently carry out any work to support the plant, you should also not interfere with its vital activity when there is no need for it. Only thanks to timely care in accordance with all the rules will you get a healthy, beautiful, decorative and productive cherry tree that will have a long life in a variety of climatic and temperature conditions.

If the gardener has decided to plant a cherry variety in a warm climate, then he can resort to autumn planting, sometimes you can also use spring plantings. Basically, the variety perfectly adapts to any conditions, it demonstrates remarkable growth and development rates.

The most important thing is to simply monitor the well-being of the variety, take into account the nuances and subtleties, due to which the planting may, to one degree or another, show not the best features.

Otherwise, Oktava cherry is an excellent variety, huge advantages over some other winter-hardy late varieties, which are bred by both domestic and foreign breeders.

You should always take care of planting, no matter how sturdy and strong the variety is. Only this will further determine the well-being of the plant, the level of its fruiting and the quality of the berries.

It is worth feeding on time, maintaining the cherry's immunity, cutting it off. If the tree has aged, then its youth can be prolonged with the help of anti-aging pruning. The most important thing is that the planting itself recovers after such procedures, which means that, in principle, you can leave the tree alone for a while and not really look after it, saving your own time and physical resources.