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Prunus cerasus Cherry - Meteor Uses: |
Pie cherry. Montmorency x (unknown Russian variety of the Vladimir group), introduced in December 1952. Bred by William Alderman at Fruit Breeding Farm, Excelsior, Minnesota and introduced by the University of Minnesota. The original name was Minnesota 66 (MN 66). The female parent is the commonly planted Montmorency sour cherry. Seedling of Cerise Hâtive or Cerise Commune. Montmorency Valley, France, before 1600. Introduced to the U.S. about 1830. The most famous of all pie cherries. Not widely grown in Europe or Russia but long the standard of excellence in the U.S. Firm-fleshed bright red fruit makes a clear light pink juice. The male parent is from the Vladimir group of sour cherries. Vladimir is a generic name for a group of varieties grown in Russia in the province of Vladimir, east of Moscow. Professor J. L. Budd of the Iowa Agricultural College in Ames imported a number of these Vladimir cherries in 1883 from Orel in Central Russia and grew them at the Experiment Station grounds in Iowa, giving to each a seedling number as a distinguishing characteristic. One, Orel No. 25, was selected as being superior in many respects to the others and was finally named Vladimir. This variety, typical of these Russian cherries, has been considerably propagated and is generally distributed throughout the US. The trees are similar to the English Morello, but are more dwarf and not so productive, and ripen unevenly. Vladimir has the reputation of being one of the hardiest of all cherries. The trees are compact with slender, willowy-like branches and fruit matures very late. Fruit dark colored with highly colored juice. It is said to come true from seed and do better on its own roots.
Meteor has large, oblong, bright red fruit. Juicy, dense,clear bright yellow flesh and clear juice. Mildly acid flavor. Very good eating right off the tree. Also good for pies, canning and freezing. Easy to pit. Excellent dried. Natural genetic dwarf grows only 8-10 feet tall. Large leaves help shield fruit from sunscald. Requires less pruning that average. Resistant to leaf spot. Spur type. Considered superior to Montmorency.
