Sour Cherry (Prunus cerasus) BULATNIKOVSKAYA

Sour Cherry (Prunus cerasus) 'Bulatnikovskaya'

A self-fertile and high-yielding Russian sour cherry variety.

'Bulatnikovskaya' (Булатниковская) is a reliable Russian sour cherry variety, valued primarily for its self-fertility and high, regular yield. The tree has medium-vigorous growth, reaching a height of about 3 meters, making it suitable even for smaller gardens. The fruits are medium-sized, dark red, with a standard sweet-tart flavour and an easily separable stone, which makes them a versatile product for both fresh consumption and processing.

Main advantages of the variety:

• Self-fertility: Ensures a harvest even without another variety.
• High yield: Provides a reliable harvest of 10–12 kg per tree.
• Resistance to shot hole disease.
• The stone separates easily from the flesh.
• Early entry into bearing (3rd to 4th year).

Origin and Registration

• Country of origin: Russia
• Breeders: Kh. K. Enikeev, S. N. Satarova, A. I. Evstratov, A. M. Mikheev
• Institution: All-Russian Horticultural Institute for Breeding and Agrotechnology (VSTISP)
• Origin: Seedling of the ‘Shirpotreb chernogo’ variety
• Registration: Included in the State Register of the Russian Federation in 2001.

Variety Characteristics

Tree

• Growth: Medium-tall, grows to a height of 2.5 – 3.0 m.
• Crown: Globular, slightly upright, medium density.
• Pollination: It is self-fertile.

Fruit

• Size and weight: Medium-sized, with an average weight of 3.2 g.
• Shape and colour: Round-oblate, dark red.
• Flesh and juice: The flesh is red, medium firm. The juice is pink.
• Flavour: Sweet-tart (rating 3.9/5).
• Stone: Small (0.26 g), easily separable from the flesh.
• Use: Versatile.

Resistance and Requirements

• Frost resistance: The tree is resistant to winter frosts, but shoots and flower buds are moderately sensitive. Flowers are moderately sensitive to spring frosts.
• Disease resistance: Resistant to shot hole disease, moderately resistant to moniliosis (brown rot).
• Drought resistance: Medium.

Cultivation Recommendations

• Thanks to its self-fertility, it is also suitable for growing as a solitary tree.
• Planting in locations protected from late spring frosts is recommended to prevent damage to the flowers.

Harvest and Storage

• Harvest time: Mid-early.
• Harvest characteristics: Ripening is gradual and uneven.
• Yield: High, 10–12 kg per tree.