Briefly about the varieties of plums
Since the earliest times, the inhabitants of the Balkans and the Romans have cultivated plums, due to which 2 main groups of domestic varieties arose - Hungarian and Renklody.
It was from the Hungarian that the famous Yugoslavian prunes were once made. This wonderful variety helped to create a huge number of species that are now growing in the numerous gardens of Ukraine and the Russian Black Earth Region.
Magnificent renklods, which are appreciated for their excellent taste just fresh, are distinguished by very sweet, rounded fruits with a light skin. The peculiarity of this variety is that its yield is good, but not quite regular.
And then there is the magnificent Mirabelle - a plum of a peculiar shape and color. More details about it below.
In general, plums represent more than three hundred varieties. Many believe that the fruits of this plant are exclusively purple or yellow berries, but this is a mistake. There are a lot of colors.
Here are just some of the varieties of plum: Prickly, Black (or Canadian), Cistena, Vishneopodnaya, Red-leaved cherry plum, Stepnaya and many others.
general information
As you know, plum generally appeared as a result of crossing cherry plum and blackthorn in the regions of the Caucasus, and then it began to be considered as a separate garden plant.
In general, plum is a fairly common fruit crop, found almost everywhere in personal plots and in gardens. Currently, thanks to the breeding of a huge variety (hundreds) of varieties of this fruit tree, it is possible to grow and get an excellent harvest in a variety of climatic conditions.
This article will present the varieties of plums popular in Russia, and the unique variety Mirabelle (plum) will be described in more detail.
Necessary conditions for growing
To achieve good results in growing crops, it is recommended to choose the right site and soil composition.
Soil and groundwater
The development of the root system is disturbed due to the close localization of groundwater. It is desirable that they are at a depth of at least 2 meters. Column-shaped sinks are recommended to be placed in elevated areas, as moisture and cold air accumulate in the lowlands.
Before planting, the site should be dug up - this is done to a depth of at least 40-50 centimeters. In this case, humus should be introduced into the soil. Then it is recommended to level the surface with a rake. Columnar plums need light and nutritious soil.
Illumination of the site
The culture should be planted in an open and bright area. There should be a lot of sun on it. Shaded areas will not work in this case. In such conditions, the plant will not be able to produce a full harvest.
Climatic conditions
Columnar plum is grown in different regions. In this case, it is worth considering its variety and varying the planting time. In the suburbs or the central part of Russia, it is worth planting culture in the spring. In the south, planting work is permitted in the fall. It should be borne in mind that the plant should be protected from cold wind and draft.
Favorable and unwanted neighbors
Plums should not be planted next to an apple tree, a cherry tree, or a walnut. The neighborhood of cherries is considered especially dangerous.The spacing between these plants should be at least 5-6 meters. At the same time, it is quite permissible to separate the planting of columnar plums in rows of gooseberries or black currants.
See also
Description and technology of growing cherry plum variety Lama
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Names of varieties of plums
There are so many different names for plums. Here are some of them: Morning, President, Generalskaya, Nenka, Alyonushka, Mashenka, Honey White, Romain (red plum), Chemalskaya large, Egg, Spike-shaped blue suite, Egg, Red ball, Eurasia, black Tulskaya (or Bryansk late), Ripe red, Blue gift, Oda, Kuban legend, Renklode, Vikana, Memory of Timiryazev, Valor, Hungarian, Mirabel, Ternosliv, Burbank, Damascena, Canadian Plum, Kabardinka, Angelina and others.
They all have their own unique history of origin, which is a separate topic.
And the name of the fruit Mirabel comes from the French "world", which literally means "round sight sight".
About columnar plums: varieties, features
Before we describe the Mirabelle plum variety, let's clarify a little information about the varieties of columnar varieties of various fruit trees.
At first there were apples and pears, then varieties of columnar plums appeared. And this selection direction turned out to be quite effective and successful, because the trees turned out to be quite fertile, but also not picky about the conditions and not particularly demanding to care for. There are not so many columnar varieties. Three especially popular. Let's give a brief description of them:
Imperial is of medium height, with juicy fruits weighing up to 60 grams. It is characterized by a rather delicate taste, high yield and good frost resistance. However, it requires abundant watering.
Blue Sweet - up to 2 meters high, with large purple fruits (up to 70 grams). It has an average ripening period and good frost resistance. The crown diameter reaches 0.9 meters.
There is also a yellow columnar plum (Mirabelle variety). Its fruits are the basis for the manufacture of the famous symbol of Lorraine - the magnificent French Mirabelle pie. Also, from the fruits of this plum, amazing jam and well-known plum brandy are obtained.
Imperial
The size and elegant appearance of the fruits of this magnificent variety will amaze even knowledgeable gardeners. Unknowingly, large, weighing about 60 g, purple-pink drupes of "Imperial" can be confused with nectarines. Beautiful, rounded, with a small depression at the stalk, the plum is covered with a rather dense, but by no means rough skin, under which a deliciously juicy, tender and aromatic, golden-yellow pulp is hidden.
Fruit taste is harmonious - moderately sweet, with a well-expressed refreshing sourness. Plums harvested at the stage of technical maturity (which, as a rule, falls on mid-August), easily withstand long-term transportation and are excellently stored for a half-month.
Imperial
The Imperial trees themselves are medium-sized, not exceeding two meters in adulthood, with a very compact crown and a rather weak root system. Plum stems, despite their small thickness, are very strong, but in especially fruitful years, the trees are so thickly hung with heavy fruits that they have to be tied to supports.
Judging by the gardeners' reviews, the only drawback of this plum for the Moscow region is its increased susceptibility to low temperatures, due to which the first years of the tree's life must be carefully insulated for the winter. Another distinguishing characteristic of Imperial is its ability to self-pollinate, which is actually a rarity for this type of plum.
Plum Mirabelle: description
The varieties of this group are presented below. In the meantime, general information in general about them.
Mirabelle is an excellent variety that occupies an intermediate place between cherry plum and plum. This is the fruit of the mirabelle tree. Plum belongs to the Rosaceae family.
In other words, Mirabelle is one of the common subspecies of the plum, distinguished by its thermophilicity, and therefore it is most suitable for cultivation in the southern regions.
Distinctive features of this subspecies are rather early ripening, which contributes to excellent yields already several years after planting.
The ripe fruit of a spherical or ovoid shape has the Mirabelle plum. Their diameter is about 3 centimeters, and the color is yellow-orange with the presence of small red blotches on them. It should be noted that the Mirabelle plum has a wonderful sweet and spicy taste and rather long storage.
Description of the fruit:
- thick, sugary, mostly firm flesh;
- easily detachable bone;
- dense, strong skin.
As noted above, it is perfectly used in blanks and in the preparation of various culinary and confectionery products. The fruits are tasty and fresh.
Subspecies: Mirabelle Nancy and September.
Feeding rules
If you decide to start columnar plums on the site, planting and caring for them will not be too different from similar procedures for conventional plums. You need to feed the trees three times a year. The first time this is done after the buds have fully opened. Each subsequent time, fertilizers are applied in two weeks. For feeding, 50 grams of urea (two matchboxes) are dissolved in a 10-liter bucket of water. Two liters are poured under each tree.
Most Popular Mirabelli
Mirabelle (plum) in its group is represented by two of the most common typical representatives: Mirabelle yellow, Mirabelle Nansi (or double).
Today there are many varieties and varieties of the Mirabelle plum. Among them, the most common (except for the two above) are:
• Small;
• Large;
• September;
• Bona.
And among the collection plantations in scientific institutions there is a new wonderful variety - Mirabel Krasnopakharskaya.
The new plum was bred at the experimental Pavlovsk station of the All-Union Research Institute of Plant Industry (N.I. Vavilova), located in the Leningrad Region. And in the new variety of yellow plum, the rounded fruits have a juicy, pleasant-tasting pulp.
Growing places
Mirabelle is a plum originally developed in Asia Minor. Now its cultivation is widespread in the southern territories of Europe, North Africa, France, Germany and Ukraine in the Odessa region.
But still, the largest part of Mirabelle grows on the numerous plantations of Lorraine (yield about 15,000 tons annually).
In Russia, real Mirabels are mostly cultivated in the Stavropol and Krasnodar regions, on the plum plantations of the North Caucasus and in the Rostov region.
Mirabelle in the garden
Many gardeners plant Mirabelle, unpretentious in care, but perfectly fruitful. And how beautiful it looks with golden fruits against the backdrop of lush greenery!
It begins to bloom, like all columnar ones, already in the 1st year after planting the tree. Fruiting begins next year and continues for almost 18 years. Then the yield of the plant suddenly drops and the plum tree needs to be replaced. True, it can continue to remain in the garden, but already as a simple ornamental plant.
Why not plant a tree like this in your garden? Ripe from their own garden, Mirabeli fruits have an incomparable aroma. Flowering occurs from late April to May, and the fruits ripen from August to September.
From one tree the yield can be up to 15 kg.To achieve this, the tree should be planted in a sunny location with sufficient soil and water permeability. Its height can reach up to 5 meters, and the same width along the crown. Therefore, before planting, you should choose a good place and plan everything well.
The above-described plum has a surprisingly beautiful name, which is a favorite of many fruits and has a pleasant sweet taste that is liked by children and adults.
Planting and leaving
To get a strong plant and reap a good harvest, it is very important to plant it properly and provide proper care.
Site selection and site preparation
Light soil is suitable for the plant. It shouldn't be swampy. Sandy loam soil is considered the best option. The tree grows well in southern sunny areas.
It is recommended to start caring for the crop in advance.
Fertilizers are applied to the seedling recess. This is allowed before boarding. However, it is best to use top dressing a few months in advance.
Cooking a seedling
It is recommended to buy a seedling in specialized nurseries that cultivate crops. This will help to acquire a culture that has been adapted to climatic conditions, and to receive professional advice on the specifics of planting and care.
Experts advise buying annual plant seedlings, since older crops will not take root well. It is recommended to inspect the plant carefully before purchasing.
Particular attention should be paid to the roots. It is important that they are well branched. Do not buy trees with damaged, broken, or dried roots. The top of the tree should also be healthy. It is important that there are no symptoms of diseases or harmful insects on the branches.
Step-by-step planting instructions
Planting the culture should be carried out after the soil has been fully warmed up. To do this, it is recommended to do the following:
- Prepare holes in the selected area. Their depth and width should be about 40 centimeters. It is worth maintaining an interval of at least 50 centimeters between seedlings. It is recommended to maintain a distance of 1 meter between the rows.
- Then you should prepare a fertile soil. To do this, it is worth taking 4 kilograms of humus and garden soil. Mineral preparations or other fertilizers should not be added. This will lead to the death of the tree.
- A drainage layer should be placed at the bottom of the recess. It is recommended to do this when the groundwater table is high. For this, small stones or crushed bricks are used.
- On top it is worth pouring a small amount of fertile soil and installing a seedling. The root collar should protrude 3-4 centimeters above the ground.
- Thoroughly spread the roots of the plant and cover the hole with soil. Gently compact the soil with your hands.
- Water the plant with root growth stimulants. For this purpose, it is worth using Kornevin. This will speed up the process of rooting the culture.
Watering
The plant needs moderately moist soil. Therefore, it responds well to watering. During the season, the procedure is carried out several times. This should be done in the spring, summer and fall.
For a columnar plum, 1 abundant watering per month is enough. In dry weather, the number of procedures should be increased.
Mulching
Loosening and mulching of the trunk circle should be performed as necessary. This process improves oxygen access to the roots and normalizes the structure of the soil, making it lighter and looser. To avoid moisture evaporation, sprinkle the ground with peat.
During the processing of the trunk circle, it is worth getting rid of weeds. This will help prevent bacterial infections.
Top dressing
This plant requires the systematic application of fertilizers. For a columnar plum, use urea.To prepare a solution for 10 liters of water, it is worth taking 50 grams of fertilizer. Top dressing should be done 3 times, taking a break of 2 weeks. The first fertilizers are applied during active growing season.
How to trim
Columnar plums do not need pruning and crown formation, since they are almost completely devoid of lateral shoots. Therefore, in spring or autumn, it is enough to prune diseased, affected or dry branches. It is also worth cutting off the top of the tree for severe frostbite.
Preparing for winter
Young plants are afraid of frost, so they should definitely be prepared for winter. It is recommended to insulate the trunk circle with straw or fallen leaves. In this case, the trunk should be wrapped in spruce branches. This will help prevent rodent damage.
Diseases: Treatment and Prevention
The plant is considered resistant to various diseases. However, sometimes the culture suffers from the following disorders:
- gommosis;
- clasterosporium disease;
- coccomycosis.
See also
Description and characteristics of the Kabardinka plum variety, planting and care
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To avoid such problems, the plant should be provided with proper care. If signs of disease appear, the affected tree fragments should be removed. The plant itself is treated with copper sulfate. Bordeaux fluid is also suitable.
