The Sweet series is a professional breeding program specifically designed for intensive orchards and commercial production.

Tree Characteristics and Fruiting Type

The tree is vigorous, with a pyramidal, upright canopy habit.
It is characterized by strong vegetative growth and good adaptation to intensive growing systems.

Fruit-bearing structures are formed:

• at the base of one-year shoots;
• on vertically oriented shoots.

This fruiting habit ensures stable yields and an excellent response to training and pruning.

Flowering and Pollination

The variety flowers in the mid-to-late period.
It is self-fertile, with an S-allele profile S3–S4’.

In addition to self-fertility, Sweet Stephany is an effective pollinator for other mid-to-late flowering varieties, which significantly increases its value in commercial orchards.

Yield

Yield is exceptionally high, stable from year to year, with a high proportion of marketable fruit.

Fruit Characteristics

Fruits are large to very large:

• Diameter: 32–34 mm
• Weight: 12.5–16 g and more

The fruit shape is heart-shaped, with a glossy surface and an intense dark red “mahogany-type” color.

The flesh is firm and maintains excellent market quality after harvest.

In 2021, a Sweet Stephany fruit weighing 24.6 g was officially recorded in the Guinness World Records, confirming the outstanding large-fruit potential of the variety.

Ripening Time

The variety ripens:

• between Lapins and Regina (Skeena season);
• approximately +27 days after Burlat.

Under the climatic conditions of the Cherkasy region, the harvest period is:
June 28 – July 5.

Fruits can remain on the tree for up to 10 days after reaching harvest maturity without loss of technological or market qualities.

Resistance and Agronomic Features

The fruits are sensitive to cracking under rainy conditions, therefore the variety requires:

• stable drip irrigation;
• the use of anti-stress and protective products (including Vaporgard, GI-3).

With properly managed orchard technology, this trait is not a limiting factor.

Commercial Importance

All varieties of the Sweet series have undergone long-term evaluation under the climatic conditions of the Cherkasy region.

Based on overall technological performance, the following varieties were selected for practical cultivation:

• Sweet Ariana
• Sweet Saretta
• Sweet Stephany

The project leader of the Sweet series, Stefano Tartarini, ensured the commercial presence of these varieties on European markets from late May to the second decade of July, confirming their strong industrial value.

Ripening Schedule of Sweet Series Varieties

(Cherkasy region)

• Sweet Dave — May 28
• Sweet Ariana — June 3
• Sweet Marisa — June 6
• Sweet Lorens — June 8
• Sweet Gabriel — June 15
• Sweet Valina — June 20
• Sweet Saretta — June 25
• Sweet Stephany — June 28 – July 5

Sweet Stephany is currently being studied under the conditions of central Ukraine, in the Cherkasy region.

Henriette is a modern commercial sweet cherry variety of German origin.
Breeder: Professor Hilmer Schwarzel (Germany)
Licensor: Star Fruits (France)

The variety was obtained by crossing Kordia × Regina and successfully combines:

• the excellent flavor and high resistance to fruit cracking of Regina
• the attractive fruit appearance and exceptionally long stem of Kordia

Ripening Time and Seasonal Positioning

Henriette ripens between Kordia and Regina, but later than Areko.

Approximate ripening dates under the conditions of the Cherkasy region:

• Kordia — June 22–26
• Areko — June 28 – July 1
• Henriette — June 28 – July 3
• Regina — June 29 – July 5

The variety occupies a key position in the mid-late season segment, ensuring a stable supply of premium-quality fruit.

Tree Characteristics and Growth Vigor

The tree is below medium vigor, spreading, with a natural tendency toward reduced vegetative growth.
It forms a well-lit canopy and consistently initiates generative buds.

Due to its moderate vigor, Henriette is well adapted to intensive orchard systems, provided that suitable rootstocks and training systems are used.

Recommended Rootstocks

Henriette performs best on the following rootstocks:

• Weirut-158
• MaxMa Delbard 14
• PHL series
• Piku series
• VSL-2

Suitability for Greenhouse Production

Henriette is one of the best sweet cherry varieties in the world for greenhouse cultivation, performing at the level of or even surpassing SMS-280.

The combination of late flowering, fruiting on one-year shoots, an extremely long stem, and high resistance to cracking makes Henriette a benchmark mid-late variety for protected cultivation.

Flowering, Genetics and Pollination System

Flowering is very late, significantly reducing the risk of damage from spring frosts.

Genetics (S-locus)

• S-genotype: S1 – S6
• The variety is self-sterile.

Recommended Pollinizers

• Karina — S3 – S4
• Ferrovia — S3 – S12
• Final 12.1 — S3 – S4’
• Ziraat 0900 — S3 – S12
• Kir Rosso — S3 – S4’

Incompatible Pollinizers (shared S1 or S6 alleles)

Star Dust, Kordia, Irena, Areko, Regina — not suitable as pollinizers for Henriette.

Fruit Characteristics and Market Quality

Fruits are large to very large:

• Diameter: 30–32 mm
• Weight: 13–15 g
• Shape: heart-shaped
• Color: dark red with a glossy finish

Fruit Stem — a Key Technological Advantage

The fruit stem is exceptionally long (5.0–5.5 cm), thick and strong, providing:

• fast and safe harvesting
• improved ventilation of the fruiting zone
• reduced incidence of gray mold
• extended shelf life due to greater moisture and nutrient reserves in the stem
• preservation of premium quality during transport

Fruiting — a Unique Feature

Henriette bears fruit on one-year shoots, a rare and highly valuable trait in global sweet cherry breeding.

Other varieties with this characteristic include:

• Sweet Heart
• Henriette
• Final 12.1

This trait ensures:

• high regenerative capacity of trees
• a high proportion of premium-grade fruit

Yield and Technological Advantages

In terms of overall technological performance, Henriette surpasses Kordia.

Its advantages include:

• higher resistance to spring frosts
• significantly better resistance to fruit cracking
• a higher share of premium-quality fruit
• stable and regular cropping
• very large fruit size
• ease of harvesting and longer marketing period

Intended Use

Henriette is recommended for:

• intensive and super-intensive orchards
• greenhouse production
• the late premium market segment
• a full alternative or replacement for Kordia

Key Advantages of Henriette

• Kordia × Regina cross
• fruit size 30–32 mm (13–15 g)
• exceptionally long stem 5.0–5.5 cm
• late flowering — high frost resistance
• fruiting on one-year shoots
• high technological efficiency
• one of the best varieties for greenhouse cultivation
• a full replacement for Kordia

The variety was created for the premium early market segment, combining large fruits, stable quality, and high commercial appeal during a period of minimal competition.

Ripening and positioning in the season

Nimba fruits ripen during the period:

May 26 – June 2

This variety occupies a unique place between the ultra-early SMS-280 variety and the early and mid-early varieties — Kossara, Early Star, Sweet Ariana, Red Pacific, Folfer, Frisco — and organically complements the cherry sales conveyor belt during the period of premium prices and virtually no competition on the market.

Tree characteristics and growth potential

The tree is tall, with a semi-spreading crown.

It is characterized by active growth, good foliage, and high adaptability to training.

The variety is suitable for:

• intensive and semi-intensive orchards

• vertical leader training

• stable commercial cultivation

Flowering and pollination system

Early flowering.

Genetics (S-locus)

S-genotype: S2 – S3

The variety is self-infertile and requires the presence of compatible pollinator varieties.

Best pollinator varieties

• Red Pacific — S4’ – S9

• Folfer — S6 – S9

• Early Star — S4’ – S9

• Frisco — S1 – S4

This combination ensures reliable cross-pollination and stable fruit set.

Characteristics of fruits and commercial qualities

The fruits are large and consistent in size.

• Diameter: about 30 mm

• Shape: heart-shaped, elongated

• Color: dark red with a pronounced metallic sheen

• Fruit stalk: medium length, strong, holds the fruit well

Flesh, taste, and firmness

The flesh is dense, cartilaginous, and juicy.

The taste is sweet, dessert-like.

• Sugar content: 16° Brix

• Hardness: 70 Durofel units

The fruits tolerate transportation well and retain their marketable appearance during sale.

Resistance to cracking and weather factors

Field resistance to fruit cracking during rainy periods is about 70%, which is high for the early segment.

This minimizes the risk of crop losses and preserves the premium quality of the fruit during the sales period.

Yield and production stability

The Nimba variety produces stable yields and ensures a consistent commercial harvest in industrial plantations.

Purpose of the variety

Nimba cherries are recommended for:

• industrial cultivation

• intensive early-season orchards

• forming a continuous variety conveyor

• sale in fresh form at a premium price

The main advantages of the Nimba variety

• Early ripening (May 26 – June 2)

• Large fruits 30 mm with a metallic sheen

• Brix 16°, Durofel 70

• Field resistance to cracking ~70%

• Premium selling price

• Minimal competition on the market