French Black

Western European variety of unknown origin. Approved for cultivation in the North Caucasus region in 1959. Most widely grown variety in Krasnodar Krai, late maturing.

Tree is vigorous, with a wide, spreading, dense, well-leafed, slightly drooping, strongly branching crown. One-year shoots are light brown with grayish coating, without anthocyanin coloring. Vegetative buds are conical, medium-sized; generative buds are oval, positioned at a 45° angle relative to the shoot. Leaves are above average size (1.61 x 7.8), oval or elongated-oval, dark green, medium thickness, elastic, apex sharply pointed, base broadly wedge-shaped, margin finely doubly toothed, upper surface smooth, lower surface pubescent primarily along veins. Leaf blade slightly uplifted at margins. Petiole is medium-sized (4.0–5.5 cm) and thickness, intensely colored, has two medium-sized rounded glands, positioned mostly oppositely on the petiole. Flowers are medium-sized, arranged in clusters of 2–4 flowers, petals white, slightly touching. Main flowering and fruiting are concentrated on flowered branches of various ages and partially on lower parts of last year’s shoots.

Fruits are large (average weight 6.5 g, maximum 7.5 g, size 2.4 x 2.2 x 2.3, elongated-oval, shallow, deep cavity, apex rounded, slightly depressed. Fruits are dark red, nearly black at full ripeness. Flesh is firm, dark red with lighter veins, juicy, good flavor (taste rating 4.5 points). Juice is dark red. Pit is medium-sized (90.4 g), elongated-oval, beige, apex slightly pointed, base rounded, separates easily from flesh. Pedicel is medium-length and thickness.

Fruits are attractive, glossy, ripen simultaneously, detach almost dryly from the fruit, resistant to cracking. Contain 13.3% dry matter, 18.5% sugars, 0.8% acids, 7.7 mg/100g ascorbic acid. Fruit use is universal, excellent dessert qualities, produce high-quality products during technical processing and freezing.

Enters fruiting late, at 6–7 years, trees are long-lived, providing commercial fruiting up to 25 years. Essentially self-sterile. Flowering and fruit ripening occur late (end of June). Exhibits high productivity, average yield of the variety 8.5–10.5 t/ha, maximum reaching 18–19 t/ha.

Shows relatively high winter hardiness of wood and generative buds under extreme winter conditions; not resistant to early frosts, buds are not frost-resistant. Flowering period has medium frost resistance, but flowers rarely experience frost damage. Drought resistance is high. The variety is practically resistant to major fungal diseases (coccomycosis, moniliosis, shot hole disease), moderately resistant to cherry fly.

Advantages: relatively high winter hardiness and yield, large fruit size, excellent dessert and technological qualities of fruit.

Disadvantages: not resistant to early winter frosts, vigorous growth.