Sour Cherry (Prunus cerasus) DESERTNAYA MOROZOVOI

Sour Cherry (Prunus cerasus) 'Desertnaya Morozovoi'

A very early Russian variety with an excellent sweet dessert flavour.

'Desertnaya Morozovoi' (Десертная Морозовой) is an exceptional Russian sour cherry variety whose name ("Dessert") accurately describes its character. It is sought after for its very early ripening and excellent, sweet dessert flavour with low acidity. The fruits are large, attractive, and intended primarily for fresh consumption. Thanks to its high frost resistance and early entry into bearing, it is a reliable choice for gardeners who prefer sweet sour cherries.

Main advantages of the variety:

• Excellent dessert flavour: Very sweet fruits with low acidity (rating 4.6/5).
• Very early ripening: One of the earliest varieties, ripening in June.
• Large, attractive fruits (up to 5.0 g).
• High frost resistance.
• Early entry into bearing and regular yield.

Origin and Registration

• Country of origin: Russia
• Breeder: T. V. Morozova
• Institution: All-Russian Research Institute of Horticulture I. V. Michurin (VNIIS)
• Origin: Obtained from a chemically treated seed of the 'Vladimirskaya' sour cherry.
• Registration: Included in the State Register of the Russian Federation in 1997.

Variety Characteristics

Tree

• Growth: Medium-vigorous.
• Crown: Broadly globular, spreading.
• Fruiting habit: Bears fruit mainly on one-year-old wood.
• Pollination: It is partially self-fertile.

Fruit

• Size and weight: Large, with an average weight of 4.6 – 5.0 g.
• Shape and colour: Round, red to dark red.
• Flesh: Red, soft, tender, and juicy.
• Flavour: Dessert-like, very sweet (rating 4.6/5).
• Stone: Medium-sized, round.
• Use: Dessert, for fresh consumption.

Resistance and Requirements

• Frost resistance: High.
• Disease resistance: Increased resistance to shot hole disease, but only medium under poor conditions.
• Drought resistance: Medium.

Cultivation Recommendations

• Requires regular pruning to thin the crown and prevent branches from becoming bare.
• To ensure maximum yield, it is advisable to plant pollinators such as ‘Griot Ostgeimsky’ or ‘Vladimirskaya’ nearby.

Harvest and Storage

• Harvest time: Very early (second decade of June).
• Yield: Good.
• Entry into bearing: In the 3rd to 4th year after planting.
• Transportability: Good.