Description of the Candy plum variety, cultivation and care, pollinators and reproduction

Compact and unpretentious plum Candy never skimps on harvests.
Among the huge assortment of varieties, it leads in the sweetness of its fruits. This variety is in high demand, which is due to its positive characteristics and numerous advantages, so it can often be found in gardens.

Regions of growth

The candy plum was bred for cultivation in the Central region .
But since the plum is not afraid of low temperatures, it is not afraid of harsh winters and dry summers, it can be planted not only in areas with a warm climate, but also in temperate latitudes, in the Urals, in the Moscow region.

When erecting a plum tree in the northern regions, it is important to take care of additional shelter for the plant for the winter.

Rules for watering and fertilizing

Planting plums is accompanied by abundant watering. The initiation of flower buds and the formation of fruits also require quite a large amount of water. Typically, fruit trees are watered 3-5 times per season, but during dry periods the soil is moistened more often.

But the plant is very reserved about fertilizers. For the first 2-3 years, the plum is content with the supply of food, which is placed in the planting hole. Starting from the 3-4th year, high-quality organic matter (3-5 buckets of humus), 300 g of superphosphate and 200 g of potassium salt are added to the trunk circles for digging.

The tree is fed with nitrogen fertilizers in the spring during the first tillage of the soil in the garden, and with phosphorus-potassium fertilizers before flowering.

An important aspect of care is cleaning the tree trunk circle from weeds and loosening the soil to increase aeration. Mulching will help retain moisture in the soil and will significantly reduce the gardener’s labor costs: you will have to water and weed less often.

Periodic removal of emerging root shoots and sanitary and formative pruning of the tree crown will help maintain productive fruiting of the Candy plum.

These are the features of caring for a fruit tree with a children's name: Candy plum. Reviews from gardeners who grow this plum are unanimous: an excellent variety with sweet, thin-skinned fruits, unpretentious and decorative, is a good option in terms of early harvesting and the aesthetics of the garden composition.

Biological certificate

The Candy plum has its own biological characteristics and remarkable characteristics that distinguish it from other representatives of these fruit trees.

Characteristics of wood

A medium-sized plum of the Candy variety does not exceed 3 meters in height. An attractive fruit tree boasts :

• fibrous, well-developed root system;
• wide, spreading oval-shaped crown;
• erect shoots covered with brown bark with a grayish coating;
• foliage is emerald green, with a pubescent surface and jagged edges;
• small white flowers.

The Candy plum variety can be formed as a standard or bush plant. Due to this, the fruit crop is often found not only on the plots of progressive gardeners, but also in the projects of landscape designers.

Fruits and their taste

The fruits of the Candy plum attract the attention of gardeners. They have :

• elongated shape;
• thin skin, colored dark red-violet with a waxy coating;
• dense, juicy pulp of honey yellow color, with greenery;
• sweet, candy taste with a honey-marmalade aftertaste;
• clear and watery juice;
• a small flat bone of an elongated shape, easily separated from the pulp;
• average value 30-35 g.

Tasting score – 5 points out of 5 possible.

A distinctive feature of the fruits of this variety is that they contain a lot of sugars (17%) and few acids (3%) compared to other varieties . The fruits also contain tannin, nitrogen, and pectin substances, and the presence of citric, malic, oxalic and salicylic acids makes the plum a unique product.

Frost resistance

Candy plum shows good frost resistance; the fruit tree can withstand temperatures down to -20°C. This allows you to grow a fruit tree in central Russia. In colder regions, it is necessary to insulate the plant for the winter.

Organization of competent care

Equally important is compliance with the requirements for caring for fruit crops.

Regularity of watering

Frequent watering is not required - it is enough to moisten the plant 5 times throughout the entire season. But during the drought period they increase the intensity. Excessive moisture can cause rotting of the root system.

How often and what to feed

Required:

• from the third year of life, add 5 buckets of humus, 300 grams of superphosphate and 200 grams of potassium salt;
• fertilize with phosphorus before flower formation;
• During the growing season, feed with nitrogen preparations.

The first two years do not apply fertilizer.

Tree trunk care

Overgrowth must be removed to prevent exposure to pests. Remove damaged branches from the tree trunk circle.

Pruning and crown formation

The tree grows strongly, its size reaches 4-5 meters in width. If you carry out regular pruning in autumn and spring, you can even out the shape.

Preparing the tree for winter

Although the plum tree is a frost-resistant plant, it is necessary to protect the trunk for the winter. Dry branches are also removed and pruned.

Pollinators

Candy plum is a self-sterile variety. Pollinators must be planted next to it. But due to the early flowering of this type of crop, there is a problem with choosing a suitable plant.

plums can cope with this task

• Collective farm farmhouse;
• Zarechnaya early.

Another zoned variety that blooms early can also be used as a pollinator.

The flowering of the Candy plum depends on weather conditions. The first buds generally open in early May.

Reproduction methods

There are several ways to grow a sugar plum tree.

Vaccination

Seedlings of the grafted variety are used as a scion, and a garden rootstock on which the seedlings will be grafted is used as a rhizome. The procedure is carried out in the last days of May. The key to manipulation is to press two seedlings of the same size tightly together. The grafting area is wrapped in polyethylene and removed only after 4 weeks.

Root suckers

With this method of propagation, a strong growing shoot is used, which is placed as far as possible from the parent shoot. Cuttings (15 centimeters long) are planted in another place.

Ripening period and yield indicators

Candy plum is a fast-bearing variety; the harvest is formed 4 years after planting the seedling. Ripe fruits can be harvested from mid-July , and in the southern regions even earlier.

From one tree you can remove up to 25 kg of tasty and healthy fruits. In terms of the quantity of harvested plums, the Konfetnaya plum variety ranks one of the first places.

Fruit collection and storage

It is important to harvest the crop in a timely manner without delay, as the fruits begin to fall off quite quickly.
When picking, you need to carefully place the fruits in prepared containers. Afterwards you need to check the harvest for spoiled fruits. Whole plums are suitable for consumption for 7 days , provided they are stored in the refrigerator

The harvest is not suitable for transportation and long-term preservation; the fruit must be eaten fresh immediately or used for making compotes, jams and other homemade preparations. Refined alcoholic drinks (cordials, liqueurs) are also made from plums.

Description and history of variety selection

Plum Candy is one of the new products that have earned rapid popularity. The creators sought to obtain fruits that were unique in taste and appearance.

The goals also included:

• frost resistance;
• early fruiting;
• rapid ripening;
• strong immunity.

Work on creating a plum variety was carried out in the Tambov region. In the Michurinsky Gardens, a lot of varietal forms were developed not only of plums, but also of most unique varieties of other crops.

The creator of the Candy House was a breeder, Doctor of Agricultural Sciences - G. A. Kursakov. We chose strong types of culture as a basis: Montfort and Skoroplodnaya. Candy combines the positive characteristics of both parents.

The variety is recommended for planting in the Central regions of Russia, but gets along well in the regions:

• Bryansk and Ryazan;
• Ivanovo and Tula;
• Moscow and Smolensk;
• Kaluga and Vladimir.

External data and description of the Candy variety:

Need to know! By pruning, the Candy plum can be transformed from a spreading tree into a plant with a bushy or standard form. The technique is used to quickly collect berries and compactly place the crop in the garden.

Candy plum is suitable for growing in regions with any climate. But for planting in places with cold winters, it is recommended to graft onto a zoned variety.

Landing rules

Before giving preference to the Candy plum variety, you need to familiarize yourself with the rules and subtleties of planting.

Recommended timing

In order for a young tree to successfully overwinter the winter and enter the active growing season in the spring, experienced gardeners recommend planting seedlings in the spring. Favorable time is March, the first ten days of April. It is important to have time for the start of sap flow .

When deciding to plant a plum in the fall, it is better to carry out planting work in September. In this case, it is important to take care of the safety of the young tree in winter, otherwise the fragile plant will simply die.

Site requirement

When choosing a site for planting, you need to take into account the basic requirements of the fruit crop :

• well-lit from all sides and warm area without drafts and gusty winds;
• fertile, neutral, moisture-permeable soil;
• placement of groundwater no closer than 1.5-2 m from the surface.

The best soil is light clay and loamy substrate. To eliminate acidity, lime, dolomite flour and ash should be added to the soil.

When drawing up a garden plot plan, it is important to take into account the undesirable proximity of fruit crops. It is not recommended to plant plums next to pears, cherries, sweet cherries and walnuts . The best neighbors are currants, gooseberries, raspberries, spring flowers, and herbs that prefer to grow in the shade.

Selection and preparation of seedlings

The rapid growth and fertility of a fruit tree is directly affected by the quality of planting material. Therefore, when choosing seedlings for planting, you must consider the following criteria :

• 
  optimal age – no more than 1-2 years;

• the absence of rotten and moldy places, broken shoots, as well as signs of disease, traces of lichens, growths on the root system and trunk;
• elastic and dry root;
• green wood under the bark.

Before planting, you need to immerse the roots of the plant in water for several hours, after adding a root formation stimulator to it, this will increase the survival rate of the seedling.

Planting technology

Algorithm for planting a Candy plum seedling:

1. Dig a hole: 70 cm wide, 70 cm long and 50 cm deep.
2. Mix the top fertile layer of soil in equal parts with peat and humus, add 200 g of superphosphate and 50 g of potassium sulfate.
3. Fill the hole one third with the resulting soil mixture.
4. Drive a wooden peg to securely support the tree.
5. Place the seedling in the hole, carefully straightening the roots, and sprinkle with soil. In this case, the root collar should remain 3-5 cm above ground level.
6. Compact and water, using at least 2 buckets of water per tree.
7. Mulch the tree trunk area of ​​the plant with peat or humus.
8. Tie the seedling to a stake.

When planting several plums, it is important to maintain a distance between them of at least 3 meters.

Subtleties of cultivation

The planting process is quite easy if you prepare the site in advance. Use the recommendations of agricultural technicians for cultivation.

Plum Candy is not picky. But basic care and planting skills are needed.

Dates and location selection

Preparatory work for planting begins at least six months in advance. Dates: spring, autumn. Based on this, we select a comfortable area:

• well lit;
• without winds and drafts;
• close to pollinators;
• without vegetables, berry bushes.

The selected place is cleared of weeds and plant debris. If necessary, apply organic or complex fertilizers.

Preparation of the site and planting material

Plums are planted in loose soil. Acidity: neutral. The planting pit is prepared 12-14 days before the actual planting. Dimensions:

• depth – 50 cm;
• width – 70;
• to the neighboring tree - at least 3-4 meters.

Be sure to check the presence and location of groundwater. Their ideal location: no closer than 2.5 meters to the surface.

A zoned seedling is taken that is at least 1.5-2 years old. They check the bark and root system to prevent the development of diseases and other troubles during growth.

Planting process

The work day should be dry and windless. The bottom layer (10-15 cm) consists of a soil mixture (superphosphate, urea, humus). Place the seedling in the center of the hole.

Gently straighten the root system. Pour in half a bucket of water, the second part after planting. Cover with the remaining soil and compact it.

Lay a layer of mulch on top. Peat, humus or rotted manure are suitable.

Care instructions

The rapid establishment and rooting of a young tree directly depends on care activities, which it is important to try to plan early and include in the gardener’s calendar.

Watering schedule

Watering should be carried out as needed , increasing the frequency of wetting in dry times.
It is especially necessary to ensure the supply of moisture at the time of flowering and fruit formation. Only warm and settled water should be used for irrigation. 4-6 buckets of water should be poured under the young tree. An adult plum will require up to 10 buckets of water .

To improve air exchange in the soil, after watering it is necessary to weed the top layer of soil and be sure to remove all weeds.

Top dressing

The rapid entry of the Candy plum variety into fruiting and high productivity deplete the fruit tree. Therefore, it is necessary to replenish the supply of nutrients in a timely manner by regularly applying fertilizers.

Feeding schedule:

1. In the spring, fertilize with a solution based on nitrogen compounds (30 g of nitrate per 6 liters of water) at the rate of 30 liters per 1 plant.
2. In the fall, feeding with superphosphate (20 g per 5 liters of water). One plum will require up to 20 liters of nutrient solution.

It is recommended to additionally add potassium and phosphorus before flowering.

Trimming

Pruning is needed to increase frost resistance, form the crown, and give the tree an attractive appearance. Plums can grow a lot of extra branches, thickening the crown and reducing yield. Regular pruning helps to correct the situation, which should be carried out in spring and summer, removing broken, dry branches, and infected areas of the plant.

It is better to plan formative pruning in the 3rd year of the plum tree’s life, having chosen the pattern and shape of the tree in advance. It is recommended to give the crown a pyramidal shape.

Preparing for winter

In the fall, it is recommended to prepare the Candy plum for wintering. To do this you need :

1. 
   Dig up the soil in the tree trunk area.

2. Apply fertilizer and sprinkle with mulch.
3. In regions with cold winters, trunks should be covered with agrofibre, burlap, spruce or pine branches.
4. To protect against rodents, the trunk must be wrapped in roofing material.
5. As soon as the snow falls, you need to throw it closer to the tree for additional insulation.

Polyethylene and materials that do not allow moisture and air to pass through should not be used as a covering material.

How to care for crops in the garden

Caring for Candy Plum does not cause any difficulties. The main thing is to water the plant on time and treat it against diseases.

Frequency and rules of watering and fertilizing

Moisten the soil in the root zone to a depth of 40-50 centimeters. Use only warm water. Depending on the weather, the frequency of watering is 3-5 times per season, with 4-6 buckets of water per young plant, and 10 buckets per adult plant. Particular attention should be paid to plants in the flowering and fruit ripening stages.

Spring feeding is carried out with urea or ammonium nitrate. Potassium salts (60 grams) and superphosphate (60 grams) are added during flowering and fruit set. The soil should be enriched with compost every 4 years.

Pruning plum

The crown of the Confettia plum tree is mainly pyramidal in shape. Dry, frozen and broken branches should be removed in autumn and spring.

Preventive treatments against insects and diseases

A solution of nitrophen is effective against moniliosis, and 3% Bordeaux mixture is effective against clusterosporiasis. Karbofos helps prevent the appearance of aphids, and chlorophos is effective against fruit moths.

Transfer

Only plants under 4-5 years old should be dug up. First, 5 buckets of water are poured under the plum tree, then it is carefully dug up at a distance of 70 centimeters from the tree and removed. Planting in a hole in a new place is carried out according to the standard scheme.

Preparing for winter

Young plants should be protected with matting, agrotextiles or patchwork twine to ensure they survive frost. Mature trees do not require such care; the soil should be mulched with humus and the trunk should be wrapped in tarpaulin paper to protect it from rodents.

Diseases and pests

The Candy plum variety can resist many diseases and pests, but prevention will not be superfluous.

Of the harmful insects, the danger to the fruit tree is :

• plum aphid;
• caterpillars;
• codling moths.

Treating the plant with insecticides (Chlorophos, Karbofos) will help in the fight against parasites. It is necessary to dilute the products strictly according to the instructions.

Also, trees of this variety can be affected by moniliosis and clusterosporiasis. Spraying trees with Bordeaux mixture or fungicides will help get rid of infections.

To prevent the Candy plum variety from becoming infected with diseases and pest attacks, it is necessary to carry out preventive measures :

1. Keep the tree trunk area loose, free from weeds and plant debris.
2. Observe soil moisture conditions.
3. Trim the crown regularly.
4. Provide the fruit tree with all the necessary nutrients.
5. Carry out preventive spraying with folk remedies or chemicals.

If possible, it is better to get rid of diseases and pests using folk remedies, since chemicals can negatively affect not only the taste, but also the benefits of fruits.

Harvest and storage

Plums of this variety ripen at the end of July. Ripening takes place in several stages - this must be taken into account when harvesting. The fruits must be collected immediately after ripening, otherwise they will fall off.

The fruits do not tolerate transportation well, can be stored only for a while, and therefore are practically not used for economic purposes. Thus, the Candy plum variety is not at all difficult to grow; it does not require special skills - just minimal attention is enough, and you will get a large harvest of sweet fruits.

Advantages and disadvantages

Advantages due to which the Candy plum variety is popular among gardeners :

• 
  stable and high productivity indicators;

• excellent taste of fruits;
• earlier ripening of the crop;
• compactness of the tree, allowing crops to be grown in small areas;
• resistance to frost and adverse climatic conditions;
• resistance to diseases and pests;
• decorativeness of the plant, the ability to decorate the landscape.

Among the disadvantages:

• tendency to shed ripe fruits;
• low transportability of the crop and insufficient keeping quality of the fruit;
• the need to plant pollinators.

Before planting the Candy plum variety on your plot, you need to study all the pros and cons of the crop so that the work done does not go in vain and brings a lot of fruit in the future.

Gardeners' opinions

Gardeners call the Candy plum one of the best super-early varieties. It opens the fruit season with its fruits, which are distinguished by their excellent taste and attractive appearance.

In addition, the trees grow intensively, actively gain green mass, and quickly begin to bear fruit. also note the variety’s fairly high frost resistance ; even in harsh winters, the trees can withstand all the vagaries of the weather.

The main dissatisfaction of summer residents is the tendency of the Candy plum to drop fruit. If the crop is not harvested in a timely manner, it will end up on the ground. Many gardeners are also dissatisfied with the fact that the plum tree is sterile and it is difficult for it to find pollinators, since the plant blooms early. And one plum in the garden, even with proper care, will not please you with its fruits.

How gardeners respond to the Candy plum variety can be found here.

Characteristics of plum Candy

Quite high yield rates and an excellent taste rating do not fully reveal the capabilities of the variety.

Before planting, they will learn more detailed characteristics of the crop: the need for pollinators, resistance to drought and low temperatures, diseases and pests.

Pollinators of the Candy plum

To obtain abundant harvests, the gardener needs to choose not only a good, comfortable place to plant plums, but also neighbors who will become pollinators.

The candy plant is self-sterile, and the correct proximity will ensure the formation of ovaries.

Two varieties of plums are suitable as helpers for pollination: Renklod collective farm and Zarechnaya rannyaya. You can take other varieties of plums with early flowering, which must be zoned.

Flowering period: early May, but dates may vary. Much depends on the region of growth.

Drought resistance, frost resistance

Candy plums are susceptible to freezing if the air temperature in winter drops below -20 degrees.

The recovery is not going very well. Therefore, damaged branches are cut off. To prevent damage to the tree, you should take a closer look at the shelter for the winter.

The variety is also not very adapted to high temperatures. Hence, it is important to remember about watering during dry periods.

Productivity of the variety

The ripening stage of the Candy plum passes quickly, and all the fruits can be removed at the same time.

Provided that the agrotechnical complex for caring for the variety is carried out correctly, an adult tree bears up to 25 kg of fruit.

Have you grown Candy plum?

Not really

Area of ​​application of berries

Since plum berries do not have even a hint of sourness, they can be eaten fresh.

The only thing worth knowing is that the fruits cannot be stored for long periods of time. Therefore, it is worth sending the harvested crop for preservation: jams, preserves, juices, compotes.

Many garden lovers offer to make tinctures, liqueurs, plums, and dried fruits. The exception for storage is freezing.

In this case, the Candy Plum loses its taste and presentable appearance.

Resistance to diseases and pests

The Candy plum variety has a low degree of protection from insects and fungal diseases. Preventive spraying is mandatory in early spring and autumn.

There is a risk of contamination of the variety:

• codling moth;
• aphids;
• klyasterosporiosis;
• moniliosis.

Average prices

Plums, thanks to their sweetness, juiciness, unsurpassed aroma, low calorie content, high content of nutrients, not only diversify the diet, but also support health, have a positive effect on energy levels, positive attitude and work potential. Therefore, the demand for this product always remains at a high level. The price for the fruits of the early Konfetnaya plum is 100-120 rubles per 1 kg .

Garden centers and nurseries offer professional gardeners and amateurs to replenish their garden with Candy plum seedlings. The price of one plant ranges from 500 to 700 rubles, depending on the age and size of the planting material.

Features of growing plum Honey yellow

When cultivating the described plum, gardeners do not have any special problems due to its high degree of tolerance to adverse environmental factors. There are very few varietal features of agricultural technology.

Landing

In the middle zone, it is better to plant a plum in the spring, since a seedling planted in the fall may not have time to take root and freeze out. The growing conditions and planting process are standard for this crop and have no special features.

The only thing you need to pay special attention to when planting tall Honey yellow is compliance with the recommended tree placement pattern (4x5–6 m)

Tall Honey Yellow plum trees should be placed in accordance with the recommended planting scheme

How to trim the crown

The simplest and most logical solution would be a sparsely tiered crown formation, which is standard for tall plum trees. In this case, the height of the trunk is left at 40 cm and over the course of 4–5 years, 2–3 tiers are formed, consisting of 6–8 skeletal branches, then the central conductor is removed. This forming is not difficult to perform, but it will not significantly limit the height of the tree.

For tall plum trees, a sparsely tiered crown formation is often used.

When cupped, the height of the tree can be maintained within 3–3.5 m, and maximum illumination and crown ventilation will be achieved. After forming one tier of 3-4 branches directed in different directions, the conductor is immediately cut out. Forming a crown in the form of a bowl will also not be difficult - the main thing is to subsequently prevent it from thickening.

By using a cup-shaped form, it will be possible to limit the height of the Honey Yellow plum tree

You also need to regularly carry out the following standard types of pruning:

• sanitary;
• regulating (thinning);
• supporting (shortening shoots to increase fruiting).

Video: how to reduce the crown of a plum tree

Watering, fertilizing, protection from damage

Honey yellow is drought tolerant, but this does not mean that it does not need watering at all. Plum is a moisture-loving crop; the advantage of drought-resistant varieties is that they can be watered less often. Two to four waterings per season will be sufficient, depending on the amount of precipitation.

Fertilizing is carried out according to the usual scheme for plums. It should be taken into account that Honey Yellow, like all large-fruited varieties, needs a sufficient amount of potassium during the period of fruit filling and ripening. In addition to root feeding, it is advisable to spray with potassium humate 2-3 times.

For large-fruited plum varieties, additional foliar feeding with potassium humate is required during the period of fruit filling and ripening.

The variety has good disease resistance, so timely prevention will prevent possible damage. Resistance to pests is not mentioned in the sources, but it is common knowledge that preventive measures to protect plants from them have always been the most effective. When harmful insects have already appeared and done their job, fighting them is ineffective.

Fruit

The enormous advantage of the candy plum is its early fruiting: the harvest ripens by the end of July. This ultra-early dessert variety is famous for the extremely sweet taste of its thin-skinned fruits, their yellow-honey pulp and magnificent appearance.

Large burgundy-red drupes are covered with a pronounced bluish coating, giving them a certain attractiveness. Reaching 30-35 g in weight, the fruits with a delicate sweet taste are an excellent delicacy, and not only that. Saturation with valuable amino acids, sugars and vitamins improves the functioning of various body systems - cardiac, vascular, gastrointestinal tract, etc.

The fruits are medium in size, reaching 30 grams when ripe. The shape is round, the abdominal suture is slightly pronounced. The main color is red, other shades may be present. The pulp is juicy, yellow, delicate in structure, and has no fibers. The shell is thin, the medium-sized bone is difficult to separate.

Taste characteristics are rated 5 points - sweet, honey fruits have practically no traditional plum sourness. Fruits are used in fresh and processed forms.

Diseases and harmful insects: treatment, preventive measures

• Gum treatment. Signs: wounds appear on the bark, and resin drips from them. Infected branches dry out and die. How to fight: clean and disinfect damage to wood using copper oxychloride. Preventive measures: do not mechanically damage the trunk and branches; clean the trunk of dead bark, mold and lichens; remove fallen leaves; Regularly care for the tree.
• Rust. Signs: convex spots of red color appear on the leaves, increasing in size in the future. How to fight: remove infected leaves; Spray the tree with Bordeaux mixture.
• Codling moth. Caterpillars eat up plums and leave tunnels. How to fight: eliminate infected plums. Treat fruits with Karbofos. Preventive measures: loosen the tree trunk and soil under the tree, remove fallen leaves and fruits, treat plants with Nitrophen for preventive purposes.
• Plum aphid. The pest lives on the inside of leaves. As a result, the leaves curl and dry out. How to fight: treat the tree with Benzophosphate.