Sour Cherry (Prunus cerasus) TAMARIS

Sour Cherry (Prunus cerasus) 'Tamaris'

A highly self-fertile and productive Russian variety with less vigorous growth and high resistance.

'Tamaris' (Тамарис) is a modern Russian sour cherry variety characterized by a combination of several valuable traits. It has less vigorous growth, making it ideal for smaller gardens, and at the same time, it is highly self-fertile, high-yielding, and highly resistant to diseases. The fruits are large, dark red, with a good flavour and versatile use. Thanks to its late ripening, it extends the cherry season.

Main advantages of the variety:

• High frost and disease resistance.
• High yield and early entry into bearing.
• High degree of self-fertility.
• Less vigorous growth, suitable for smaller gardens.
• Large fruits with good flavour and high processing quality.

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 ‘Shirpotreb chernaya’ sour cherry.
• Registration: Included in the State Register of the Russian Federation in 1994.

Variety Characteristics

Tree

• Growth: Less vigorous.
• Crown: Broadly globular, upright, sparse.
• Fruiting habit: Bears fruit on bouquet spurs.
• Pollination: It is highly self-fertile.

Fruit

• Size and weight: Large, with a weight of 4.8 – 5.0 g.
• Shape and colour: Oblate, dark red.
• Flesh and juice: The flesh is dark red, medium firm, tender, and very juicy. The juice is purple.
• Flavour: Sweet-tart, with a high sugar content.
• Stone: Large, round, easily separable from the flesh.
• Use: Versatile.

Resistance and Requirements

• Frost resistance: High.
• Disease resistance: High resistance to shot hole disease.
• Drought resistance: Medium.

Cultivation Recommendations

• The tree is prone to overcropping, so regular pruning is important to maintain fruit quality and tree vitality.
• Although it is highly self-fertile, the yield can be increased by the presence of pollinators such as ‘Zhukovskaya’ or ‘Turgenevka’.

Harvest and Storage

• Harvest time: Late (last decade of July to early August).
• Yield: High.
• Entry into bearing: Early, 2nd to 4th year after planting.
• Transportability: Medium.