Description and distinctive features of plum Anna Shpet
Plum Anna Shpet blooms in the mid-late period
The variety was bred by the German breeder L. Speth. It was entered into the State Register in 1947 for the North Caucasus and Lower Volga regions.
The tree is vigorous and durable – it can bear fruit for up to 30 years. The height of an adult plum is 4.5–5 m . The crown is wide-pyramidal and dense. The stem is smooth and straight. The shoots are straight, light brown with a brown tint, without pubescence. The leaf blade has the shape of an elongated oval with a pointed tip. The color is light green, the size is smaller than average. The edge is crenate with medium serration. The leaf is thin, loose, flat. The surface is matte, with slight pubescence along the veins below. Petioles are short, stipules are absent.
The flowers are white. The petals are medium-sized, oval with a wavy edge, closed. A bell-shaped cup. The inflorescence consists of two flowers.
The fruits are ovoid, large, with a bluish coating
The fruits are large, average weight is 45 g. The shape is oval, isosceles. The ventral suture is weakly expressed. The skin is dense, thin, dark purple in color, with a strong waxy coating. There is no pubescence. The pulp is light yellow, juicy, fibrous, and slightly oxidizes in air. The taste is sweet, with a slight sourness, the aroma is rich.
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety - table
| Advantages | Flaws |
| Stable harvests. | Cracking of fruits due to excess moisture. |
| Large fruits with juicy and sweet pulp. | Average winter hardiness of wood and flower buds. |
| Good winter hardiness and ability to regenerate. | High crown and loose wood. |
| High resistance to moniliosis and red spot. |
Features of planting plums
Plum is very demanding on the nutritional composition of the soil and does not like cold. Therefore, it is necessary to plant trees in open ground in a previously prepared area after the frosts have stopped.
Dates and place of landing
Anna Shpet is suitable for planting plum seedlings in both autumn and spring. In autumn, planting material is planted in September, in spring - in April.
Plum develops well in southern areas with free access to sunlight; it does not like shade, cold winds, or drafts. Therefore, planting trees along the walls of buildings is undesirable.
Plum seedlings take root well in almost any soil. The main thing is that the area is fertile and loose. The soil must be neutral acidity. The tree does not tolerate stagnant water, so plums are not planted in lowlands or in areas where the groundwater level is higher than 1.5 m.
Selection of seedlings
Plum seedlings must have a central branch and at least 3 lateral skeletal branches
It is best to purchase seedlings in garden stores or fruit nurseries.
What to pay attention to:
- Condition of the rootstock and scion. The rootstock should be without any damage, with a well-developed root, and the scion should be well matured.
- The bark of the trunk and branches must be smooth, without wrinkles or mechanical damage.
For better rooting, it is recommended to purchase a two-year-old zoned tree.
Site preparation
It is advisable to prepare the site or planting hole in the fall. When planting in spring, you should fertilize the selected location 3 weeks before planting the seedling.
During autumn digging, 100 g of potassium magnesia and fresh manure are added to the site at the rate of 8 kg per 1 m². To reduce acidity, 400 g of dolomite flour or fluff lime are evenly scattered.
When digging a hole in the spring, a soil mixture is prepared. For one hole you need:
- 9 kg of rotted compost;
- 150 g of potassium magnesia;
- 300 g wood ash;
- 1 bucket of sand.
Important! The rooting and development of seedlings depends on the nutritional composition of the soil.
Step by step process
In order for the root collar to be at ground level, after planting the soil it should be located 5–7 cm above the surface
Plums should be planted in dry, windless weather. The roots of the seedling are first dipped into a clay mash.
- Dig a hole 0.6 m deep and 0.8 m in diameter.
- Egg shells or pieces of limestone are placed at the bottom of the pit. Fill the hole 2/3 full with soil mixture: humus - 10 kg, superphosphate - 500 g, clean soil - 6 kg.
- A wooden peg is driven into the center of the hole.
- The seedling is lowered into the hole so that the root collar is 5–7 cm above the soil level.
- Carefully cover the tree with soil, lightly trampling it with your foot.
- Tie the plant to a wooden peg.
- Make a hole around the seedling, and then pour about 25 liters of water into it.
- When the water is completely absorbed, the hole is mulched with sawdust or dry soil.
If several seedlings are planted on a site or a plum is planted next to other fruit trees, you need to maintain the following distance:
- between rows - 3 m;
- between trees - 2 m.
How to plant a plum - video
Pollinators
Anna Shpet plum is a partially self-fertile variety. To improve the ovary and increase the yield, the tree must be additionally pollinated or planted next to such varieties as Hungarian domestica, Ekaterina, Izyum-Erik, Renklod Altana.
Pollinators for plum Anna Shpet in the photo
Renclod Altana plum is characterized by high taste qualities of the fruit
Plum Izyum-Erik - a common local Crimean variety
Catherine's fruits ripen in early - mid-August
Hungarian domestic is distinguished by its annual high yield
Pollinator varieties
Official data states that the Anna Shpet variety is partially self-fertile . But numerous reviews on various sites report that the tree does not bear fruit well without pollinators nearby.
We recommend reading about the features of Vengerka plums.
For these reasons, it is advisable to plant the following varieties near it:
- Victoria;
- Hungarian domestic;
- Renklod Altana;
- Catherine;
- Early;
- Raisin-Eric;
- Washington;
- Kirke;
- Renklod green.
A suitable pollinator can grow in a neighboring plot, and it is not necessary to plant it in your own
Plant care
Compliance with agricultural technology is the basis for productivity and good tree development. Plum is an unpretentious crop, but it needs to be provided with minimal care by taking all necessary measures in a timely manner. Only in this case will the tree grow productive and bear fruit for a long period.
Watering
Anna Shpet plum is very demanding on soil moisture. It can react poorly to both a lack of moisture and its excess. For normal tree development, it is necessary to carry out 3 main waterings per season:
- during shoot growth;
- during the formation and filling of fruits;
- after harvesting.
The average watering rate is 30–50 liters per tree. The amount of water depends on the age of the plant. When watering, the soil should be moistened by 25 cm.
After harvesting the fruits, the soil is moistened to a depth of 0.8–1 m.
Tree pruning
The first pruning is carried out immediately after planting the seedling. The main conductor is not shortened, the remaining branches are cut by 1/3. In the first 4 years, a plum crown is formed (usually sparsely tiered).
Pruning can be done throughout the year. Depending on the season, the necessary type of pruning is carried out:
- Spring - end of March. At this time, the crown is thinned out and regulatory pruning is carried out. Remove excess shoots and branches growing vertically, and shorten last year's growth.
- Summer - July. In summer, plums are pruned to form a crown. At this time, branches damaged by frost and their density are clearly visible. During summer pruning, dry branches affected by pests and diseases are removed and excess growth is cut out.
- Autumn - September. This is the most favorable period for anti-aging pruning. Damaged and broken branches are cut out from the tree and the top is shortened.
For any type of pruning, the cuts must be treated with garden varnish, and the cut branches must be taken out of the garden and burned.
Pruning and shaping the crown of a young plum - video
Top dressing
If the plum is planted in prepared soil enriched with nutrients, the tree does not need additional fertilizer for the first 2 years.
Fertilizer application schedule - table
| Season | Type of feeding | Period | Fertilizers and proportions |
| Spring | Root | Before flowering (April) | Solution: 6 tbsp. l. urea, 6 tbsp. l. potassium sulfate, 30 liters of water per tree. |
| During flowering period (May) | Mineral urea solution: 20 g per 10 liters of water. Water at the rate of 5 liters per tree. | ||
| After flowering | Mullein solution. For irrigation, mullein is diluted with water in a ratio of 1:3. Add 50 g of superphosphate per bucket. Water at the rate of 1.5–2 liters of mullein without water per 1 m² of tree trunk circle. | ||
| Summer | Foliar | June 1–5 | 3% urea solution (10 g urea and 2 g lime per 10 liters of water). When spraying a tree, the solution should not drip from the leaves. |
| Autumn | Root | September 20–30 | 2 tbsp. l. potassium chloride or sulphide, 3 tbsp. l. superphosphate per 10 liters of water. Water at the rate of 30 liters per tree. |
| Soil liming is carried out with solutions of lime, chalk, and ash. Raw materials are selected according to the type of soil. The tree is watered once every 5 years or as needed. | |||
| Before digging, 15 kg of fresh manure or compost, 150 g of superphosphate, and 50 g of ammonium nitrate are evenly scattered under the tree. |
Preparing a tree for winter
For a favorable wintering, plum trees require certain preparation:
- To avoid frostbite, young trees are completely wrapped in paper or synthetic garden cover. In adult plants, only the trunk is wrapped.
- At the end of autumn, it is necessary to whitewash the trunks and bases of skeletal branches with lime or water-based paint.
- To protect against rodents, tree trunks are wrapped with nylon mesh. Young seedlings are completely covered. Also, special rodent traps are additionally installed on the site.
- You can increase the frost resistance of a tree using moisture-recharging irrigation. It is held at the end of autumn - before the onset of frost.
It is necessary to whiten both mature trees and young ones.
Crown formation
Plum "Anna Shpet" (the description of this variety was given above in detail) is a tree, among other things, that requires periodic pruning. It is advisable to remove unnecessary branches from plants of this variety at least three times per season. This is done for the first time in the spring, shortening last year’s growth and cutting off excess shoots that thicken the crown too much. The second pruning is carried out in the summer - in July. This time, all branches that did not survive the winter well are removed. In summer they are clearly visible due to the weak foliage. Also at this time, you need to remove all branches affected by pests from the tree and, of course, remove the shoots. In the fall, light rejuvenating pruning of the plum tree is done. At the same time, the top is shortened and all damaged and broken branches are removed.
Diseases and pests
With proper agricultural technology, it is practically not damaged by insect pests and diseases.
Plum pests and measures to combat them - table
| Pest | Description and nature of the lesion | Processing period | Control measures | Prevention |
| Plum moth | The butterfly is gray-brown in color, up to 2 cm long. The caterpillar is pink, with a brown head, up to 1.5 cm long. Butterflies lay eggs on fruits. As the caterpillar develops, it bites into the flesh and damages the core of the seed. Signs of damage: wormy plums, droplets of gum visible on the fruits. | Before flowering | Drugs Tagore, Avant according to the instructions. | Urea solution 3% - 1 time in April. |
| During the growing season | Kinmiks according to instructions. | |||
| Plum sawfly | A black insect up to 5 mm long. The larvae are green-white, with a brown head, up to 9 mm long. Females lay eggs in buds and flowers. While developing, the larva feeds on the pulp of the ovary. Signs of damage: wormy fruits fall off, plums are filled with pest excrement with a pungent odor. | Before flowering | Preparations Karbofos, Rogor according to instructions. |
|
| After flowering | Preparations Cyanox, Gardona according to the instructions. | |||
| Red fruit mite | Small insects measuring about 0.6 mm. The larvae are laid on the bark under the bud scales. The larvae feed on plant sap. Signs of damage: a reddish coating and thin cobwebs appear on the leaves. The leaves dry out and fall off. | Before the buds open | The drug Nitrafen. |
|
| After flowering | Preparations Teodion, Metaphos according to instructions. |
Harmful insects in the photo
The plum sawfly is most harmful in areas with sufficient moisture and in irrigated gardens.
When penetrating the fruit, the caterpillar of the plum moth weaves a web around a small area and bites into the skin underneath.
Settling on the leaves, red fruit mites suck the juices out of them
The plum variety Anna Shpet is resistant to moniliosis and red spot, but can be affected by other diseases.
Plum diseases and methods of their treatment - table
| Disease | Nature of the lesion | Processing period | Means for fighting | Prevention |
| Gray rot (moniliosis) | Shoots, leaves, flowers and fruits are gradually covered with a gray fluffy coating. The plums become soft, and gray pads with fungal spores appear on the surface. | Before the buds open |
|
|
| After flowering | Bordeaux mixture 1%. | |||
| Anthracnose | It is manifested by the presence of gray spots with a purple border on the leaves along the edges and along the veins, on the shoots. The leaves curl and fall off. | At the beginning of bud break | Urea solution 5%. |
|
| Before the flowers bloom | Bordeaux mixture 1%. | |||
| After flowering | Copper oxychloride. | |||
| Red spot | Yellow or light red spots appear on the bottom and top of the leaf. As the disease progresses, the spots increase in size and acquire a rich hue. In mid-summer the leaves dry out and fall off. | Before the buds open | Nitrafen 2% - wood and soil treatment. | Regular collection and burning of fallen leaves. |
| After flowering | Bordeaux mixture 1%. |
Plum diseases in the photo
Gray mold is widespread throughout central Russia
Red spot most often affects trees in the southern regions
Trees are especially susceptible to anthracnose in rainy, humid weather.
Harvest and storage
Anna Shpet plum begins to bear fruit 4–5 years after planting. The variety is high-yielding. The average productivity of one tree is 70–80 kg; from an adult plum at the age of 13–15 years, you can collect 100–110 kg of fruit. If agricultural practices are followed, the yield is stable.
Fruit ripening is later. The first ripe plums appear at the end of September. The crop is harvested by hand in several stages.
The plum variety Anna Shpet pleases gardeners with high annual yields
Plums retain their original freshness for 10 days when stored in the refrigerator and tolerate transportation well. For long-term storage, the fruits are canned. Frozen and dried plums lose their taste.
How to properly prepare a tree for winter
"Anna Shpet" is a plum belonging to the group of relatively winter-hardy ones. However, it is still necessary to prepare trees of this variety for winter. At the very end of autumn, it is advisable to whiten the trunk and branches of plums with lime or paint them with water-based emulsion. Young trees should also be completely wrapped in paper. In adults, only the stem is wrapped around the plum.
Of course, before snow falls, trees should also be protected from mice. To do this, their trunks are wrapped with nylon mesh. Young plums can be completely covered with this material.
As you can see, “Anna Shpet” is a plum variety, reviews of which are generally very good. The main advantages of this variety, therefore, include the good taste of the fruit and high yield. As for care, it is no more difficult than for many other varieties of this crop. The main thing is to water and fertilize the plants on time, and also to ensure that their branches, leaves and fruits are not affected by insect pests.
