Sweet Cherry (Prunus avium) RADITSA

Sweet Cherry (Prunus avium) 'Raditsa'

An early Russian variety with large, sweet fruits and good disease resistance.

'Raditsa' (Радица) is an early Russian sweet cherry variety, valued for its large, sweet fruits, early ripening, and good resistance to fungal diseases such as shot hole disease and moniliosis. These qualities make it a reliable choice for gardeners looking for early, high-quality cherries with resistance to cracking.

Main advantages of the variety:

• Good disease resistance (shot hole, moniliosis).
• Early ripening and sweet fruit flavour (rating 4.5/5).
• High yield.
• Fruits are resistant to cracking.
• The stone separates easily from the flesh.

Origin and Registration

• Country of origin: Russia
• Breeder: M. V. Kanshina
• Institution: All-Russian Research Institute of Lupin (VNIIL)
• Crossing: ‘Leningradskaya chernaya’ × ‘Kommunarka’
• Registration: Included in the State Register of the Russian Federation in 2001.

Variety Characteristics

Tree

• Growth: Medium-vigorous, fast-growing, reaches a height of 4 m.
• Crown: Broadly globular, medium density.
• Fruiting habit: Bears fruit mainly on bouquet spurs (60%).
• Pollination: It is cross-pollinated.

Fruit

• Size and weight: Large, with an average weight of 4.6 g (maximum 5.7 g).
• Shape and colour: Oval, dark red to almost black.
• Flesh: Dark red, medium firm.
• Flavour: Sweet (rating 4.5/5).
• Stone: Small (0.24 g), easily separable from the flesh.
• Use: Versatile.

Resistance and Requirements

• Frost resistance: Moderate to good. Flower buds are sensitive to severe winter and spring frosts.
• Disease resistance: Good resistance to shot hole disease and moniliosis.
• Cracking resistance: Fruits do not crack.
• Drought resistance: Low, requires watering.

Cultivation Recommendations

• To ensure a harvest, it is essential to plant a suitable pollinator nearby, for example, the 'Revna' or 'Iput' varieties.
• It requires regular watering during dry periods.
• Due to the sensitivity of the flower buds to frost, it is advisable to choose a sheltered location.

Harvest and Storage

• Harvest time: Early (second decade of June).
• Harvest characteristics: Ripening is simultaneous.
• Yield: High.
• Entry into bearing: 4th to 5th year after planting.