Sour Cherry (Prunus cerasus) ROVESNITSA

Sour Cherry (Prunus cerasus) 'Rovesnitsa'

A partially self-fertile Russian variety with good yield and high resistance to shot hole disease.

'Rovesnitsa' (Ровесница) is a Russian sour cherry variety, valued for its high degree of self-fertility, which ensures a good harvest even without a pollinator. The fruits have a very good sweet-tart flavour (rating 4.6/5) and are suitable for versatile use. Its greatest advantage is its high resistance to shot hole disease. Its main weakness is its moderate frost resistance, which requires the selection of a sheltered location.

Main advantages of the variety:

• Partial self-fertility (does not require a pollinator).
• Good yield and very good fruit flavour (rating 4.6/5).
• High resistance to shot hole disease.
• Good drought resistance.
• The stone separates easily from the flesh.

Origin and Registration

• Country of origin: Russia
• Breeders: A. F. Kolesnikova, G. B. Zhdanova
• Institution: All-Russian Research Institute of Fruit Crop Breeding (VNIISPK)
• Crossing: ‘№11’ × ‘Shirpotreb chernaya’
• Registration: Included in the State Register of the Russian Federation in 1986.

Variety Characteristics

Tree

• Growth: Medium-vigorous, grows to a height of 3 m.
• Crown: Inversely pyramidal, upright, medium density.
• Fruiting habit: Bears fruit on bouquet spurs and on last year's shoots.
• Pollination: It is partially self-fertile.

Fruit

• Size and weight: Medium-sized, with a weight of 3.0 – 3.6 g.
• Shape and colour: Round, dark red to almost black.
• Flesh: Red, firm.
• Flavour: Very good, sweet-tart (rating 4.6/5).
• Stone: Small (0.2 g), easily separable from the flesh.
• Use: Versatile.

Resistance and Requirements

• Frost resistance: Moderate (tree and flower buds).
• Disease resistance: High resistance to shot hole disease, medium susceptibility to moniliosis.
• Drought resistance: Resistant.

Cultivation Recommendations

• Due to its moderate frost resistance, selecting a sheltered location is important.
• In more humid conditions, prevention against moniliosis is advisable.

Harvest and Storage

• Harvest time: Mid-early (July 12–15).
• Harvest characteristics: Ripening is simultaneous.
• Yield: Medium to higher.
• Entry into bearing: 4th year after planting.