Cristobalina cherry, is a Spanish cherry tree variety, with Castellón origin. The variety also is known by the name Pigeon Heart, Heart of Pigeon or April 14. The crossing that led to the birth of this variety, probably a random pollination seed, is unknown. The first references to this variety are from year 1964. It is registered in the Spanish variety register, it is not under patent and can be freely multiplied.
Curiosities: It is probably currently the variety with the lowest cold needs, it only needs 300 hours below 7ºC.
It is usually referred to as Stella(released in 1968) as the first variety known as fertile, however, Cristobalina could be earlier than this (There are references from 1964).
The information disseminated by the Magrama on this variety is partially incorrect, they have uploaded the information on the record of the variety Cristalina (later than Cristobalina, but very superior in quality and size of the fruit).
Because of its low cold hours needs and its extra-early maturation, it is being used in some genetic improvement programs in the US Probably, in a few years, some of the new cherry tree varieties comes from A crossroads with Cristobalina.
Characteristics of the Cristobalina Cherry
Flowering: The Cristobalina cherry, is self-fertile, it is not necessary to cross pollen for curdling. It is extra-early flowering (Second week of March). It belongs to Group VI (S3S6) of incompatibility.
Maturation: Cristobalina cherry variety is extra-early maturation, 15 days before Burlat.
Productivity: Cristobalina, is a variety with good productivity.
Vigor and bearing of the tree: Cristobalina cherry tree has medium vigor and has semi-erect.
Cold hours: A study developed by IMIDA estimates average cold needs of 314 hours below 7ºC or 510 Units Cold according to Richardson (Utah).
Pigeon Heart cherry, morphological characteristics
Size: Pigeon heart cherries have a very small size. Gauges of 20-24 mm (4-4.5 grams) can be achieved. This is the weak point of this variety, which is why it is not commercially attractive.
Shape: Cristobalina cherry has cordiform shape.
Skin color: The Cristobalina cherry, reaches maturity, when it has a dark red color. When advancing its state of maturity it presents garnet color, near blackish.
Pulp color: Cristobalina has the color pulp Red.
Taste: The cherry Cristobalina produces cherries with a good taste, the cherry has little juice, but a sweet and pleasant taste.
Firmness: Dove Heart cherry has firmness medium.
Cracking resistance: Cristobalina’s resistance to cracking is Good.
Cracking zone: Peduncular.
Peduncle length: The Pigeon Heart cherry, has the peduncle of length variable.
Do not release the peduncle.
Positive aspects: Cristobalina is an extra-early cherry and can be grown at”low altitude”thanks to its lower cold needs.
Negative aspects: Insufficient caliber.
Recommended reading
We believe that the following cherry tree publications may interest you:
20 Cherry tree pests and diseases
Warning
A significant part of the information, has been disclosed by Spanish research organizations. The behavior of cherry tree varieties may be different depending on the growing place.
the information on Cristobalina is actually from cherry Nimba.
Hi Jano,
Thanks so much for your comment, mistake fixed.
A greating
Antonio