Juliet

Cherry

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Carmine Jewel' and 'Saint Valentine'

Summary: The leaves of 'Juliet' are longer and wider with longer petioles than those of both reference varieties. The flower diameter of 'Juliet' is larger than both reference varieties. The fruit of 'Juliet' is large whereas it is medium sized on 'Saint Valentine' and small on 'Carmine Jewel'. The fruit shape of 'Juliet' is reniform whereas it is circular on 'Carmine Jewel'. The skin colour of 'Juliet' is dark red to brown red whereas it is medium red on 'Saint Valentine' and blackish on 'Carmine Jewel'. The fruit flesh of 'Juliet' is dark red whereas it is medium red in 'Saint Valentine' and black in 'Carmine Jewel'. Fruit sweetness of 'Juliet' is high whereas it is medium in 'Carmine Jewel'. 'Juliet' begins flowering mid-season whereas 'Saint Valentine' begins flowering early. The fruit of 'Juliet' begins to ripen early whereas it ripens very early on 'Carmine Jewel'.

Description:

TREE: weak to medium vigour, semi-upright growth habit, medium branching, buds distributed along entire branch, mid-season flowering, early fruit maturity
YOUNG SHOOT: normal length of internode

LEAF: medium green on upper surface, medium glossiness, weak anthocyanin on upper side of petiole, nectaries present

FLOWER: irregular arrangement
PETAL: free arrangement of petals, broad obovate shape

FRUIT: large, reniform shape in ventral view, flat to depressed at pistil end
FRUIT STALK: medium thickness, anthocyanin colouration present, abscission layer present between stalk and fruit
FRUIT SKIN: dark red to brown red
FRUIT FLESH: dark red, medium firmness, low to medium acidity, high sweetness, medium juiciness
FRUIT JUICE: dark red

STONE: small to medium size, broad elliptic shape in ventral view, large ratio of weight of fruit flesh to weight of stone

Origin & Breeding History: 'Juliet' arose from the cross of 'Kerr's Easy Pick' and 'Cacanski Rubin', made in 1992 as part of the Fruit Breeding and Research Program of the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. 'Kerr's Easy Pick' was an unreleased selection derived from Prunus fruticosa x Prunus cerasus hybrids that were interbred several generations over 40 years. Progeny was collected from the original cross, was stratified and container grown, then field planted on their own rootstock in the spring of 1994. Advanced selection status took place in 1999. Selection criteria included productivity, winter hardiness, extent of suckering, ease of fruit removal and fruit quality characteristics.

Tests & Trials: The tests and trials for 'Juliet' were planted in 2004 at the University of Saskatchewan, Horticulture Fields, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Forty bushes were planted in rows, spaced 1.5 metres apart in the row with a row spacing alternating between 3 and 4 metres. The data for measured charateristics was collected during the 2009 growing season.

Comparison tables for 'Juliet' with reference varieties 'Carmine Jewel' and 'Saint Valentine'

Leaf blade length (cm)

Leaf blade width (cm)

Petiole length (cm)

Flower diameter (cm)

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Cherry: 'Juliet' (left) with reference varieties 'Carmine Jewel' (centre) and 'Saint Valentine' (right)

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Cherry: 'Juliet' (right) with reference varieties 'Carmine Jewel' (centre) and 'Saint Valentine' (left)