Sweet Cherry (Prunus avium) LENINGRADSKAJA ČORNAJA

Sweet Cherry (Prunus avium) 'Leningradskaya Chornaya'

A Russian variety with extra-sweet fruits and extreme resilience.

'Leningradskaya Chornaya' is a legendary and very popular Russian variety, prized for its almost unparalleled resilience and reliability. Its greatest advantage is its high frost hardiness (down to -35 °C), which allows it to produce a reliable crop even in the harshest conditions. The fruits are medium-sized, dark, and have a soft, juicy, and very sweet, almost candy-sweet flavor with a subtle spicy note. The variety is highly productive, resistant to diseases and drought, making it an ideal "low-maintenance" cherry for any garden.

Main advantages of the variety:

• High frost hardiness: Withstands extreme winter frosts (down to -35 °C) as well as spring frosts.
• Very sweet, dessert flavor: The fruits are almost candy-sweet, with minimal acidity.
• High resistance to diseases and drought: Low-maintenance in terms of cultivation and protection.
• High and regular productivity: Delivers an abundant harvest every year, starting from the 3rd year after planting.
• Long harvest season: The fruits ripen progressively from mid-July until September.

Origin and Registration

• Country of origin: Russia, Saint Petersburg
• Note: Although the variety is extremely popular, it has never been officially registered.

Variety Characteristics

Tree

Growth is medium-strong (up to 3–4 m), forming a compact, spherical crown. It is cross-pollinated and needs another cherry variety nearby to ensure a good harvest (e.g., ‘Iput’, ‘Revna’, ‘Bryanskaya Rozovaya’).

Fruit

• Size: Medium (3–4 g).
• Skin: Dark wine-red, almost black when fully ripe.
• Flesh: Dark red, soft, and juicy.
• Taste: Very sweet to candy-sweet, with almost no acidity.
• Stone: Semi-clingstone, separates from the flesh with some difficulty.

Resistance and Requirements

• Frost hardiness: The variety is highly frost-hardy.
• Diseases: It has high resistance to common fungal diseases.
• Drought: It has good drought resistance.

Growing Recommendations

• Use: A versatile variety for fresh consumption, processing, and decoration.
• Suitability: Thanks to its extreme resilience, it is an ideal choice for higher and colder regions.

Harvest and Storage

• Harvest time: Long harvest period—ripens progressively from mid-July to September.
• Harvest characteristics: Ripe fruits do not drop from the tree.
• Storability: Good; can be stored in a cool place for 2–3 weeks.