Family Multi-Cherry Tree (Prunus avium) JURGITA + VALERIY CHKALOV

Family Multi-Cherry Tree (2 in 1): Jurgita + Valeriy Chkalov

An attractive combination of two large-fruited, dark cherry varieties, securing a progressive harvest from early June to mid-July.

1. Cherry 'Jurgita' (Medium-early dark sweet cherry)

A resilient Lithuanian variety with excellent sweet flavor, good transportability, and very low soil requirements.

In the first half of July, the Lithuanian variety 'Jurgita' ripens. It was bred at the Lithuanian Institute of Horticulture by breeder A. Lukoševičius (a cross of 'Hedelfinger' x 'Dniprovka'). It is highly valued for its heavy, annual yields, robust health, and fruit that remains in great condition up to 10 days after harvest.

Key advantages of the variety:

• Easy to cultivate: Very low demands regarding soil and location, adapting well to various environments.
• Good shelf life: Possesses great transportability, with fruits keeping their freshness for 7 – 10 days post-harvest.
• Consistent bearing: Enters fruiting in the 4th to 5th year after planting and bears heavily each year.

Fruit and Harvest

• Appearance: Large (6 – 6.5 g), broad heart-shaped fruits of a dark red to almost black color, slightly flattened on both sides.
• Flesh and flavor: Dark red, semi-firm (medium firm) and moderately juicy flesh. The taste is sweet with a delicate, pleasant aroma.
• Harvest period: First half of July (ripens uniformly, allowing for clean dry picking without juice leakage).

2. Cherry 'Valeriy Chkalov' (Early dark sweet cherry)

A premium early dessert sweet cherry bearing large, deep dark-red fruits with exceptionally high yields.

At the very beginning of June, the popular variety 'Valeriy Chkalov' opens the cherry season. It is a joint project of Russian and Ukrainian breeders (S. V. Zhukov, M. T. Oratovsky), registered in 1974 as a seedling of open-pollinated 'Kavkazskaya Rozovaya'.

Key advantages of the variety:

• Extremely early ripening: Delivers some of the first June cherries of outstanding dessert quality.
• Large fruits: Average fruit weight ranges from a substantial 6 to 8 g.
• Exceptional yields: In full bearing, it yields an average of 62 kg per tree (with maximums up to 174 kg recorded).

Fruit and Harvest

• Appearance and flavor: Broad heart-shaped, dark red to almost black-red fruits. The dark red, juicy flesh with pink veins is semi-firm and features a delicious sweet, dessert-quality flavor (sugar content 10.7 °Brix).
• Harvest period: First decade of June.
• Grower's note: While the tree has good wood hardiness, flower buds can be susceptible to severe winter frosts below -23 °C. It is prone to cherry leaf spot and monilia, requiring standard preventative care.