Family Multi-Cherry Tree (Prunus avium) ALEKSANDRS + BRJANSKAS 3-36

Family Multi-Cherry Tree (2 in 1): Aleksandrs + Brjanskas 3-36

A highly reliable, winter-hardy combination of two distinct varieties – a vibrant yellow Latvian heart cherry and an exceptionally rare, dark Russian sweet cherry.

1. Cherry 'Aleksandrs' (Medium-early yellow sweet cherry)

A yellow Latvian treasure with a compact crown, balanced sweet flavor, good winter hardiness, and natural protection against birds.

In the first to second decade of July, the Latvian variety 'Aleksandrs' reaches maturity. Bred in Dobele by Dr. Silvija Ruisa, it is a cross between the time-tested German variety 'Drogans Gelbe Knorpelkirsche' and the local yellow sweet cherry 'Vidzeme'. Registered and protected since 2002, it is a fantastic, highly adaptable choice for home orchards.

Key advantages of the variety:

• Naturally bird-proof: The bright, pure yellow skin of the fruit is naturally ignored by birds and starlings, preserving your entire crop.
• Compact habit: Forms a compact, densely branched crown (reaching only 3.5 – 4 m on Mahaleb rootstock), making harvesting and pruning exceptionally easy.
• Balanced flavor: Firm, creamy, and juicy flesh with a sweet, sometimes mildly sweet-tart flavor (sugar content of 14 – 15 °Brix).
• Winter hardiness: Good frost resistance, protecting both the wood and flower buds.

Fruit and Harvest

• Appearance: Medium-sized fruits (5 – 5.5 g) of an oblate-spherical shape. The medium-sized stone separates easily from the flesh.
• Harvest period: Late June to early July (depending on spring weather).
• Drawback: During heavy summer rains, the ripe fruits can be susceptible to cracking. As a self-sterile variety, it benefits perfectly from the cross-pollination provided by its partner on the tree.

2. Cherry 'Brjanskas 3-36' (Early dark sweet cherry)

An exceptionally rare, highly resistant Russian variety yielding firm, sweet, almost black fruits with outstanding productivity.

At the beginning of July (the first decade), the rare Russian variety 'Brjanskas 3-36' (Брянская 3-36) ripens. Bred by A. N. Venyaminov and M. V. Kanshin at the Agricultural Institute in Voronezh (a cross of 'Leningradskaya Chernaya' x 'Pobeda'), it is a highly sought-after collector's variety. It has served as a parent variety for many modern cherry successes, including 'Tyutchevka'.

Key advantages of the variety:

• Superb dessert flavor: The cherries are fleshy, highly juicy, crunchy (bigarreau), and distinctly sweet.
• High resilience: Good to high winter hardiness affecting both the tree wood and flower buds. Shows good resistance to leaf diseases.
• Consistent heavy cropping: Enters bearing early in its life and crops heavily and reliably every year.
• Manageable tree: Grows moderately to vigorously with an upright pyramidal habit that is very easy to shape.

Fruit and Harvest

• Appearance and flesh: Large fruits (4.5 – 5.5 g) of an oblong heart-shaped profile. The skin, crunchy flesh, and juice are deep dark red to almost black.
• Harvest period: Early July.
• Grower's note: The bark on the trunk can be slightly susceptible to cracking during extreme spring temperature fluctuations, but the wounds heal quickly and cleanly. Reports regarding fruit cracking in the rain are conflicting; maintaining stable moisture is beneficial.