Sour Cherry (Prunus cerasus) TURGENEVKA

Sour Cherry (Prunus cerasus) 'Turgenevka'

A frost-hardy and highly productive Russian variety with universal use.

'Turgenevka' is a popular and time-tested Russian sour cherry variety, prized for its high frost hardiness (down to -38 °C), high and regular productivity, and fruits of universal use. The tree has medium vigor. The fruits are large, broadly heart-shaped, and dark red in color. The flesh is firm, juicy, and has a pleasant, dessert-quality sweet-tart taste. The stone is small and separates well from the flesh. It is a partially self-fertile variety that, however, requires a pollinator for full productivity and attention to disease protection.

Main advantages of the variety:

• High wood frost hardiness: Withstands frosts down to -38 °C.
• High and regular productivity.
• Large fruits of good quality: Firm flesh, dessert taste, and a small, easily separable stone.
• Good transportability: Also suitable for market sales.
• Universal use of the fruits.

Origin and Registration

• Country of origin: Russia
• Institution: VNIISPK
• Origin: A seedling from open pollination of the ‘Zhukovskaya’ variety
• Year of registration: 1979

Variety Characteristics

Tree

Growth is medium-strong, reaching a height of up to 3 meters. The crown is inverted-pyramidal, spreading, and of medium density. It comes into bearing in the 5th year after planting. It is partially self-fertile but requires a pollinator for high yields (‘Kharitonovskaya’, ‘Zhukovskaya’).

Fruit

• Size and weight: Large, with an average weight of 4.5–5 grams.
• Shape: Broadly heart-shaped.
• Color: Dark red.
• Flesh: Dark red, firm, juicy.
• Taste: Sweet-tart, dessert quality.
• Stone: Small, oval, separates well from the flesh.

Resistance and Requirements

• Frost hardiness: The wood has high frost hardiness; the flower buds have medium hardiness.
• Disease resistance: Lower, susceptible to shot hole disease and moniliosis.
• Drought resistance: Lower.

Growing Recommendations

• Use: Universal – for fresh consumption, for processing (compotes, jams, juices, drying), and for freezing.

Harvest and Storage

• Harvest time: Mid-early, from early to mid-July. The fruits do not drop after ripening.
• Transportability: Good.