For several decades now, breeders have been working on one of the most difficult tasks - creating varieties of fruit gifts that, despite their heat-loving nature, could give residents of the northern regions their tenderness and wonderful taste of midday fruits.
In this matter, many people who specialize in plums focus their attention on a large number of types of Chinese and Ussuri selection, and all this is due to a wide variety of beneficial properties.
One of these species that is recommended for cultivation in areas with harsh climatic conditions is the “Yellow Khopty” plum variety.
Description of plum "Yellow Khopty"
The specified fruit crop has the following specific external and structural characteristics:
Tree .
It is a vigorous plant (less commonly, moderate in growth). Its height is usually 2.5 m or more. At the same time, the tree trunk itself is relatively not very high.The bark on the plum trunk is smooth to the touch, mostly gray in color.
- Crown, branches .
In an adult, a mostly sparse (sometimes medium-density) apex is formed in the form of a slightly flat circle. The crown is formed by largely spreading branches. The smooth bark of the skeletal branches is gray in color. - Escapes .
Straightened (sometimes somewhat curved) shoots have a fairly thick cross-section. The color of the shoots is light brown, with some gloss on the surface. A large number of small lentils are formed on the shoots. Vegetative type buds are very small in size, while fruit buds are medium in size. - Leaves .
Sizes - from medium to large. The length of a regular leaf is 11 cm, width - 6 cm. The maximum expansion is observed closer to the top. The leaves grow ovoid. The main color is green, with a slight shine. There are barely noticeable wrinkles on the surface of the sheet. - Inflorescences .
Medium-sized white flowers bloom in the form of cups. The egg-shaped petals are 9 mm long and 7 mm wide. There is a slight waviness on the edges of the petals. Usually 2-3 flowers are collected in one bud. - Fruit. Yellow or light yellow fruits with a whitish waxy coating are characterized by medium size, weighing between 16-20 g.
The shape is generally round, with slight flattening. A seam is clearly visible on the abdomen of the fetus. Under the thin skin the pulp is yellow-green, quite loose, rich in juice.Inside there is a relatively large bone that is easily separated from the pulp.
Plum Honey yellow (white)
An early-ripening, high-yielding variety of domestic plum; fruit ripening occurs in the second half of July - early August.
Crossandra flower Propagation by cuttings and seeds Care at home Photos of species
The tree tolerates harsh winters well, is rarely damaged during spring return frosts, is resistant to drought and major diseases, and is undemanding in care.
A tree about 5 m high, branched, with a wide, round, spreading crown.
The variety is self-sterile and requires nearby pollinating trees (the best options are the varieties Vengerka Donetskaya, Vengerka early, Renklod Karbysheva).
The fruits are round, weighing 35-50 g. The skin is yellow with a slight white waxy coating. The pulp is sweet, aromatic, juicy, with a honey flavor, greenish-yellow or bright yellow in color. The bone is difficult to separate from the pulp.
The fruits are quite dense and transport well. Used fresh, suitable for processing.
History of selection
The plum variety “Yellow Khopty” was bred in 1930 by Russian breeder N. Tikhonov. The research was carried out in the city of Ussuriysk, in the garden of the amateur gardener Khopta.
Tikhonov did a lot for the practical cultivation of new fruit in the Asian half of Russia. In subsequent years, this plum became one of the main varieties in horticultural farms in Siberia, the Urals and the Far East.
Already in 1974, “Yellow Khopty” was included in the state varietal register and officially zoned for the West Siberian and Ural regions.
From the very beginning of its existence, this plum variety began to be actively used by many breeding scientists to create new high-quality varieties.
In particular, for the Altai region, with the participation of “Yellow Khopta”, “Zarya Altai” and several other promising species were bred, and in Krasnoyarsk – the “Divnaya” plum.
From “Yellow Khopta” to new varieties, its good adaptability to local climatic conditions and good yield are passed on. At the same time, its offspring can receive from the “parent” a clearly defined bitterness of its skin.
Tatarian plum yellow
A medium-early, medium-yielding variety of domestic plum; fruit ripening occurs in mid-August.
The tree tolerates heat and drought well, has average frost resistance, and resistance to major diseases and pests is quite low.
The tree is about 3-4 m high, with a wide-oval spreading crown of medium density.
The variety is self-sterile and requires the presence of nearby pollinating trees (the best options are the varieties Sineglazka, Tenkovskaya sinaya, Renklod Tenkovsky).
The fruits are broadly oval, weighing about 20-25 g. The skin is yellow, of medium thickness, easily removed. The pulp is aromatic, yellow, fine-fiber, medium density and juicy, with a pronounced sweet and sour taste. The bone is well separated from the pulp.
Transportability of fruits is average. Used fresh, suitable for processing.
Do you have yellow plums in your garden? What varieties can you recommend to novice summer residents for their taste and unpretentiousness?
Characteristics of the variety
This plum is a self-sterile fruit crop. Such plants, as a rule, have virtually no ability to self-fertilize due to pollination with their own pollen.
For this reason, when planting a tree of the “Yellow Khopty” variety , the gardener needs to place nearby trees of other plum varieties, the flowering of which occurs at the same time as the described plum blossoms.
This variety is propagated by grafting. Currently, some varieties of Ussuri and Canadian selections are considered “Yellow Khopta”
Normal fruiting of this plum begins 3-4 years after planting an annual seedling. Subsequently, if all necessary agrotechnical conditions are met, the tree annually produces quite decent yields. In particular, on average, from one plant per season you can get up to 10-12 kg of fresh plums (or approximately 40-60 centners per hectare).
At the same time, the fruits, which usually ripen in August - early September, turn out to be very pleasant to the taste, in which sweetness with a slight attractive sourness predominates. At the same time, the weak point of the overall flavor bouquet is the skin, which gives off some bitterness.
Here you need to be especially careful, since this deficiency can also be transmitted to the processed products of “Yellow Khopta” .
The fruits contain the following chemical elements:
- sugar – 13.6%;
- titratable acids – 1.7%;
- dry matter – 21.8%;
- tannins – 0.74%;
- ascorbic acid – 12 mg/100 g;
- P-active substances – 150 mg/100 g.
It should also be noted that this variety has good winter hardiness . This applies to a greater extent to wood. But fruit buds may not withstand severe frosts, which must be taken into account when growing plums.
Ripe plum fruits are best eaten fresh. Due to the delicate skin and loose pulp, plums of this variety do not tolerate long-distance transportation.
Plum Morning
A mid-early, self-fertile, productive variety of domestic plum; fruit ripening occurs in the first half of August.
The tree does not tolerate harsh winters very well, but it rarely gets damaged during spring return frosts; its resistance to major diseases and pests is average.
Tree about 3 m high, with a spherical crown of medium density.
The fruits are round-oval, weighing 20-40 g. The skin is yellowish-green with a pink blush and a white waxy coating. The pulp is yellow, with a spicy aroma, fine-fibered, medium juicy, sweet and sour. The bone is well separated from the pulp.
The fruits are quite dense and transport well. Used fresh, suitable for processing.
Features of planting and care
An annual tree is planted in a well-lit, windless, slightly elevated place, where groundwater does not come close (no closer than 1.5-2 m) and where fertile soils predominate (acidic soils are contraindicated in plums).
For planting, dig a hole 50 cm deep and 80 cm in diameter. Before planting, the hole must be allowed to settle for 1.5-2 weeks.
After filling the root system with a soil mixture to which organic and mineral fertilizers should be added, the root collar of the seedling should rise 5-6 cm above the ground surface. The tree trunk circle is watered with 3-4 buckets of settled water and covered with mulch from humus or peat.
Caring for the “Yellow Khopty” plum is practically no different from the technology for caring for any other plum plant. It includes regularly loosening the soil near the tree, controlling weeds, and watering.
Find out more about other varieties of Chinese plum: Orlovskaya Dreama, Ksenia, Skoroplodnaya, Alyonushka.
Moreover, in the dry season, per 1 sq. m of tree crown projection, 1 bucket of water is used. Young trees require (especially during dry periods) more frequent irrigation than mature plants.
Much attention must be paid to proper fertilization of plums. To obtain good and regular harvests, it is recommended to apply fertilizing in the form of 3 kg of manure (compost) per 1 sq. m. in the fall. m of tree trunk area.
For optimal fruiting, the tree requires regular pruning. And from severe frosts, young animals in the first 3-4 years of life are advised to be covered with burlap, which is wrapped in 2 layers around the trunk.
Plum Skoroplodnaya yellow
An early-ripening, high-yielding variety of Chinese plum, the fruits ripen in early to mid-August.
The tree is very drought-resistant, resistance to major diseases and pests is above average. Damage to shoots by winter frosts is weak, while damage to branches is moderate. Damage to flower buds by winter frosts and spring frosts is slight.
The tree is about 3-4 m high, with a spreading crown of medium density.
The variety is self-sterile and requires nearby pollinating trees (the best choice is the Red Ball variety or other varieties of Chinese plum).
The fruits are round, weighing about 20-30 g. The skin is thick and dense, yellow with a bright red “tan” on the sunny side of the fruit. The pulp is very juicy and aromatic, yellow, fine-fiber, medium density. The stone is large, semi-lagging.
Transportability of fruits is average. Used fresh, suitable for processing.
Diseases and pests
The “Yellow Khopty” variety demonstrates fairly good resistance to hawthorn attacks, as well as to clasterosporium blight. At the same time, great damage to the plant can be caused by an insect - Maslovsky's seed beetle .
The voracious larvae of this hymenoptera almost completely eat the grains. As a result, the plums dry out, turn black and fall off.
To effectively combat this pest, summer spraying (in mid-June) with a 0.2% solution of lepidocide or chlorophos is used. It is better to collect already affected fruits from the tree in advance.
The tasty and aromatic fruits of this Chinese plum can be a real decoration for a feast and an excellent option for its dessert part. However, all this will become possible only after applying knowledge, experience and constant work to this plant.
Advantages and disadvantages of yellow plum
The varieties listed above have an important advantage - high yield. But many have other advantages and disadvantages. Thus, the Altai jubilee yellow plum was bred from Chinese varieties. Like many Far Eastern species, it is not suitable for the climatic conditions of Central Russia. But the variety has its advantages. In addition to very tasty fruits, it is also resistant to diseases, in particular to hole spot.
The Amber plum described above has the same advantage. It is very resistant to classic stone fruit diseases, but has another drawback. If plums are fully ripe, they will not be stored for long due to the skin on the fruit being too thin. Therefore, it is recommended to harvest the crop in a slightly unripe state.
The Honey Yellow Plum is close in many characteristics to the variety described above. However, the fruits have a higher shelf life, so they can be easily transported. The only drawback of the variety is its tallness. This means that such a tree requires more attention. In the spring, pruning must be done, otherwise in a few years there will be no fruit on the low-growing branches.
Thus, before choosing a variety for planting, you need to carefully read the descriptions, compare different options based on basic indicators, and also study the rules of care. This will help you understand what you can expect from a particular variety of yellow plum.
