Donetsk Coal

Variety from Donetsk Experimental Station, obtained by crossing Drogana Yellow with the variety Valeriy Chkalov, conducted in Melitopol. Author L.I. Taranenko. Introduced into the State Register since 1995 for the North Caucasus region.

Tree vigorous, with round, moderately dense crown. Leaves large, oval-egg-shaped, with intense green coloration. Leaf margins are serrated.

Fruits are round, slightly flattened, weighing 8-9 g, dark red. This variety has a peculiarity: fruits turn dark red even at 6-7 g, and should not be harvested yet, as they are underripe. Peduncle is medium length and thickness, with dry detachment. Stone is round, medium-sized, easily separates from the flesh. Flesh is rose-red, very firm, cartilaginous. Fruits are firm-fleshed with dry detachment, even in underripe fruits. Taste rating — 4 points. Dry matter content — up to 19-24%, sugars — 12-15%, acids — 0.5-0.9%, ascorbic acid — 8-18 mg/100g. Excellent canning qualities, with especially pleasant aroma, juice does not turn brown.

Ripens in mid-late season. Tree is early-bearing, starts fruiting at 4-5 years of age. Yield — 167 centners/ha. By 10 years of age and older, may produce 80-100 kg or more. Wood and flower bud frost resistance is slightly lower than Drogana Yellow, but significantly higher than Valeriy Chkalov. Pollinators: Donchanka, Drogana Yellow, Yaroslavna, Donetsk Red Beauty, Valeriy Chkalov, Aelita, Valeriy, Annushka, Early Pink. High resistance to coccomycosis. Slightly affected by diseases.

Advantages of the variety: relatively high frost and drought resistance, good fruiting habit, excellent canning qualities.

Disadvantages: crown needs periodic thinning and removal of upward-growing shoots.