Cherry plum 'General'
Latin name: prunus cerasifera 'general'
Main genus: Cherry plum
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Expand all properties
Description of the plant:
Cherry plum 'General' is a seedling from free pollination of the 'Obilnaya' variety. Obtained at the Donetsk Experimental Horticulture Station. Authors: L.I. Taranenko, V.V. Pavlyuk, V.V. Yarushnikov. New promising variety.
Recommended for testing in the southern gardening zone.
Dimensions and growth form:
Cherry plum 'General' is represented by tall trees. The crown is broadly pyramidal.
Flowers and fruits:
The fruits are very large, 40-50 g, round-oval in shape. The skin is dark red.
The pulp is bright yellow. The skin is pink and dense. The taste is very good, sweet and sour, with moderate acidity and a pleasant aroma.
Precocity, ripening time, yield:
The early fruitfulness of Cherry plum 'General' is assessed as average. The variety is universal. Mid-late ripening. Productivity is high.
Winter hardiness:
Increased winter hardiness. Drought resistance is good.
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
- The advantages of plum are:
- high frost resistance;
- drought resistance;
- early onset of fruiting;
- maintaining stability of fruiting for 20 years;
- high and stable yield;
- good taste;
- high commercial properties of fruits.
There are no disadvantages noted in the variety, with the exception of abundant growth that needs to be destroyed. Rather, we can list its features. Thus, compact trees are not intended for industrial cultivation of plums - their yield is not too large for this. But this property is an advantage for a private garden. It is convenient for you to harvest and it is convenient to process such a volume of fruits.
Characteristic
Cherry plum variety General is a medium-ripening fruit crop of the plum genus. The variety was bred by Ukrainian breeders L.I. Taranenko, V.V. Pavlyuk, V.V. Yarushnikov. The description of the variety was included in the State Register in 2009. The fruit was obtained from the seeds of the Obilnaya cherry plum by free pollination.
The variety has high drought resistance. Frost resistance is average, which makes it possible to grow cherry plum in central Ukraine. Productivity up to 20 kg per tree.
Tree
The trees are tall (up to 4-5 m), with a narrow pyramidal crown. With age, the crown becomes rounded. Density level: medium. Life expectancy: 40-45 years. The stem is even, of medium thickness, gray-brown in color with a few large lentils. The branches extend from the trunk at an angle of 45-55°. The root system is well developed. The leaves are oblong, lanceolate.
Cherry plum blooms in mid-May. The flowers are solitary, pale pink, 35-40 mm in diameter. They bloom together with the leaves or earlier.
Fruit
The tree bears fruit for 4-5 years. The fruits are harvested in mid-August. From one mature tree, up to 35 kg of fruits are collected, which are not crowded on the tree. Overripe fruits do not fall off. The ripening period of cherry plum is extended, which complicates harvesting - it is carried out in several stages.
The fruits are dark red in color and have a pleasant aroma. Fully ripened fruits have a deep red-blue-black color. The peculiarity of the fruits is their single arrangement. The fruits are round, large, weighing up to 60 g, with juicy, dense, bright yellow pulp. The taste is sweet and sour. Tasting score 4.0-4.2 points out of 5.
Cherry plums are eaten fresh, compotes, juices, jams, jelly, and desserts are prepared. Dried fruits are made from the fruit, preserved for the winter with sugar, and jam is made.
The fruits are dietary, low-fat. Contains a complex of vitamins: PP, A, B1, B2, C, E. Minerals: calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, phosphorus, iron.
Due to the high content of pectin and fiber, the fruit removes radionuclides. It is used for treatment and prevention:
Cherry plum is recommended for children to improve growth, pregnant women, nursing mothers, and the elderly. Useful for chronic diseases of the liver and biliary tract. A mixture of cherry plum juice and camphor helps with poorly healing wounds and colds.
You need to add fertilizer to the hole with the seedling: this will give the tree strength, especially before the cold weather
Cherry plum should be consumed limitedly by people with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract: gastritis, increased acidity of gastric juice, stomach ulcers. The fruit should be consumed with caution by patients with diabetes.
Perfumery uses oil from the seeds of the fruit.
Description of the variety with photo
Tree of medium height. The crown is moderately spreading and dense. The root system is powerful. The plant is self-sterile. A pollinator is required for fruiting. It is recommended to plant Ural red nearby; the plum of this variety is considered the most suitable in terms of flowering time.
Generalskaya blooms and bears fruit every year. Flowering begins in the last ten days of May and ends in mid-June. This variety can be classified as fast-growing. The first fruits can be harvested in the third year after planting. Harvest ripening is later, beginning, mid-September. Shedding is low. The fruits hold tightly. Fruiting on last year's growths and spurs.
The fruits are quite large, round, with an average weight of about 40 g. The color is beautiful, bright, orange. A distinctive feature of the sides is bright pink, sometimes cherry. The yellow pulp has a dense structure, juicy, and excellent sweet and sour taste. The seeds in the fruits are small and separate well. The skin is durable and edible. The fruits are stored well and do not lose their taste and presentation for a month.
Recommended to be grown for universal use. The fruits contain vitamins and microelements necessary for dietary nutrition. With all types of processing, the beneficial properties are preserved. The harvests are decent. A compact five-year-old tree produces up to 30 kg of plums. It tolerates winter frosts well. Flowering is later, so the flowers are not afraid of frost. The plant has average resistance to diseases and pest damage.
We can briefly list the main characteristics of the variety:
- Fruitful.
- Large-fruited.
- Frost-resistant.
- Late ripening.
- Requires a pollinator.
- Universal.
- The taste is good.
- Not demanding of care.
Planting and care
In the southern regions, cherry plum is planted in the fall (October), in cold regions - in the spring (before the buds open). The seedling chosen is local, annual. Bare-root trees are planted immediately after purchase. If you have a container for the root system, planting can be postponed.
Place
The location is chosen on the south side, open, sunny, protected from cold winds and drafts. The soil is fertile, loamy, with groundwater no higher than 1 m.
Soil preparation
2 weeks before autumn planting, dig a hole up to 60 cm deep and 90-100 cm wide. Fill 2/3 of it with a mixture of soil, humus, and nitrophoska.
If the soil is acidic, add dolomite flour, chalk, and lime. Alkaline soil is diluted with gypsum; clayey - peat, sand; sandy - turf soil. When planting in spring, a hole with soil is prepared in the fall.
This cherry plum variety is susceptible to brown spot. Prevention with Bordeaux mixture.
Before planting, the soil is moistened along the entire depth of the roots with the additive. The procedure is necessary for strong rooting of the plant. A mound of soil is formed in the hole, on which the seedling is placed. The root collar is located above the ground. Maintain a distance of 2-2.5 m between plants.
After planting, the plant is watered in the tree trunk circle, the soil is mulched with an organic layer 8-10 cm high.
Carry out regular shallow loosening. The tree trunk circle is weeded to remove weeds.
The standard is hilled up for the winter. The fallen snow is thrown into the tree trunk circle for better frost resistance of the root system.
Watering
After planting, the tree is watered with 1 bucket of water every 3-4 days. Young trees are irrigated 4-5 times per season. During the dry season, water with 2 buckets of water every week. At the end of October, the plant is watered for wintering. Mature trees are watered 3 times per season after flowering, shoot growth has stopped, and fruits have turned dark red.
Trimming
Pruning is necessary for cherry plums before planting and annually. Remove dry leaves from branches, damaged or fattening shoots. Generative buds on annual shoots are not pruned, because they are winter-hardy. The crown is thinned out and a neat shape is formed.
Plum aphids also attack cherry plums; Sumition helps against them.
Fertilizers
Cherry plum is fertilized with an organic mixture in the fall in the amount of 10 kg/m2 once every 2-3 g. Mineral fertilizers with nitrogen (20 g/m2) are applied every year in the spring before flowering begins. Potassium sulfate (15-20 g/m2), superphosphate (40-45 g/m2) are used in summer.
History of breeding of the General plum
Breeders from Siberia and the Far East worked on developing the variety. They had to make a lot of effort to develop a plum tree that is adapted to the frequent frosts of these parts of the country. Scientists from the Primorye Research Institute worked on developing the variety in the 50s of the 20th century. The attempts were not successful for a long time. However, it was possible to create a tree of medium size, with good fruit-bearing properties.
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Pests and diseases
The variety is resistant to hole spot, but is not immune to brown spot. The disease affects the leaves, on which dark yellow spots form. The foliage dries up and falls off. To combat, the affected leaves are plucked and destroyed. The tree is sprayed with 1% Bordeaux mixture.
Brown spot (Coccomycosis)
Coccomycosis turns the leaves red-brown, forming a white-pink coating underneath. The fungus causes premature leaf fall. The tree is freed from lesions and treated with “Hom” 40 g/10 l.
With moniliosis, shoots and young branches turn brown and look burned. The fruits are covered with rot and gray growths from fungal spores. Damaged parts of the tree are cut off and destroyed. When the buds open, the plant is sprayed with 3% Bordeaux mixture. Before and after flowering - 1%.
The pest can be avoided by treating wood with Fufanon
Pocketing
Plum pockets are a disease in which the fruit is unable to form a seed. They grow chaotically and become covered with a powdery fungal coating. Affected fruits are collected. Treatment with 1% Bordeaux mixture helps. The procedure is carried out 2 times: during and after flowering.
Pests
Description of the main pests and measures to get rid of them:
- Fruit mite. Browning of leaves, early leaf fall, slow development of flower buds. To fight, the trunks are cleared of old bark. The tree is treated with the Fufanon insecticide before the buds swell, during their development, and during the formation of buds.
- Slimy sawfly. The insect sucks the juice from the leaves, leaving veins. The eaten green parts of the plant are destroyed. During the period when the larvae appear, trees are sprayed with Novaktion and Fufanon.
- Plum aphid. It affects young shoots, weakens leaves, which turn yellow and fall off. During flowering, treat the inside of the flowers and leaves with the Sumition insecticide.
The nuances of seasonal plum care
The plum variety in question is not too demanding to care for.
Seasonal plant care includes a set of activities:
- watering;
- feeding;
- pruning;
- preparation for winter.
Regularity of watering
The first watering is carried out in May-June - 40–50 liters per tree. If there is sufficient precipitation during this period, then additional moisture will not be required.
Subsequently, 4–5 waterings are carried out throughout the summer, depending on weather conditions:
- during the formation of the ovary;
- 3 weeks after the first watering;
- 3 weeks after the 2nd watering at the time of formation of the seed in the fruit;
- during the fruiting period.
The last watering is carried out a week after the fruits are removed. During fruiting, the rate of water application is 4–5 buckets for young plants and 7–8 buckets for adult specimens. Watering can be carried out at the root from a bucket or watering can or using an automatic irrigation system.
Important! Plums are moisture-loving crops. With a lack of moisture in the soil, the formation of small berries with low quality indicators is observed.
Fertilizer application
Plants are fed 3 times throughout the season:
- at the stage of kidney swelling - urea (70 g/10 l of water) or 10 l of liquid mullein, diluted in a 1:1 ratio with water;
- at the stage of ovary formation - wood ash at the rate of 800 g/1 m² of the trunk circle by embedding into the soil or in combination with water for irrigation;
- a week after harvesting - 400 g of superphosphate dissolved in water for irrigation.
Pruning rules
The first plum pruning is carried out in the spring a year after planting. In the first year of life, trees do not yet branch, so at this stage you can determine the height of an adult plant by simply cutting off the main trunk at a height convenient for the farmer. It is optimal to leave the height to 1.5 m. This will facilitate the work of harvesting and further caring for the plant.
In the second year, the plant already has side shoots. Of these, you should select the 3 most developed ones and shorten them to 25–30 cm. The cut should pass along the lower bud so that the branches grow to the sides and not upwards.
Sanitary pruning begins from the third year of the tree’s life.
In the third year they are engaged in the formation of the second tier. Shoots growing in the upper part of the crown are shortened to a length of 30 cm, and lateral annual growths are shortened to a length of 15 cm.
Subsequently, throughout the entire season, starting in March, sanitary pruning is carried out, which involves the removal of branches that thicken the crown, as well as those that are mechanically damaged or killed by frost.
To carry out pruning manipulations, you can use pruning shears. Before carrying out the procedure, the instrument should be well sharpened and disinfected in alcohol. At the end of the procedure, all sections must be treated with garden varnish.
Wintering plum
The Angelina plum tolerates frosty winters well. The main thing is to prepare it correctly. The first stage of preparation begins with watering after harvesting with a one-time application of fertilizing. After a few days, the soil is compacted and mulched with peat (3 cm), then a layer of compost (4 cm) is laid.
To a height of 0.5 m from the soil level, the trunk is whitened with lime. As soon as snow falls, make a mound of it around the trunk to a height of 30 cm.
Until the age of 3 years, the trunks of young plants are wrapped in burlap or agrofibre for the winter.
Important! If a young plum has produced a shoot that is competitive with the main one, it should be cut out
Characteristics of the variety
The description of the variety was given in the state register in 2009. Characteristics of culture:
- Reproduction is possible by cuttings, grafting or budding.
- The tree is tall. It has a pyramidal shape. In an adult tree it becomes rounded.
- The crown density is average.
- The branches are spreading, located at an angle.
- The root ball is located close to the surface.
- Flowering occurs in mid-May. Lonely flowers.
Fruiting
The first fruits appear 4-5 years after planting. Depending on the age of the tree, you can collect up to 20 kg of juicy fruits. The arrangement of fruits is solitary. Overripe fruits do not fall off, but remain on the branches.
The fruits ripen gradually and not all at once. This creates certain difficulties in harvesting: the crop is harvested in several stages.
Description of fruit
The fruits are large, elastic, dark burgundy in color and round in shape. Inside there is dense, juicy yellow flesh. The taste is pleasant, sweet, with pronounced sourness. The weight of each fruit reaches 60 g.
Benefits of cherry plum fruits:
- rich in vitamins: PP, A, B1, B2, C and E,
- contain minerals such as calcium, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus and iron,
- fruit fiber contains pectin, which can remove radionuclides,
- recommended for the supportive treatment of oral diseases, vitamin deficiency and constipation,
- useful for young children and pregnant women,
- used in the treatment of liver diseases.
You should be careful and limit your consumption of fruits if you have stomach problems, hyperacidity or ulcers. Strictly monitor your blood sugar if you have diabetes if you decide to eat cherry plum.
Advantages and disadvantages
The “General” variety has its undeniable advantages and disadvantages.
pros:
- the tree is strong with a developed root system, long-lived 40-46 years;
- frost resistance is small, but there is;
- drought-resistant crop;
- not demanding on soils, but fertilization is preferable;
- after planting it bears fruit for 3-4 years;
- abundant and annual harvests;
- the fruits are large, tasty, healthy;
- ripe fruits do not fall off and remain on the branch;
- the bone is separated;
- strong immunity, the variety is resistant to diseases and pests;
- cherry plum can be consumed fresh, or canned - in the form of jams, preserves, compotes, or juices, etc.
The shelf life of fresh berries is 1-3 months. The variety is easily transported. "General" is recommended for amateur gardeners or small commercial gardens.
Minuses:
- lack of self-fertility of cherry plum;
- average yields are 20-30 kg;
Also, to prevent the tree from growing too large, you should prune it annually and follow other care rules.
Reviews from gardeners
Gardeners and experts give an overall good assessment of the taste characteristics of the “General” fruits, 4.5-4.6 points, and express the following opinions:
low frost resistance;- on young trees you can harvest fruits up to 85-90 g;
- with increasing load on the branches, and the absence of pruning, the weight of each fruit significantly decreases - up to 35 g;
- at the ripening stage, the stone is separated from the pulp better than in the mature state;
- “General” takes root well and quickly begins to bear fruit.
If preventive measures are taken, the fruit tree does not get sick. Most gardeners recommend this variety for cultivation.
Reviews can be found here.
Growing
In regions with a warm climate, cherry plum can be planted in early October. In places with a more severe climate, planting is carried out in the spring, until the buds swell.
The seedling tree must be one year old and grown in your area. If the root system of the seedling is open, planting is carried out immediately after purchase. If the root system is placed in a container, it can be planted later.
The best place for a seedling will be a warm and sunny place, not blown by winds. Loam is best suited for planting, where groundwater does not rise above 1 m.
The pit must be prepared approximately 10–15 days before planting. 0.5 m deep and about 1 m wide:
- add a nutrient mixture consisting of humus and nitrophosphate into it;
- acidic soil is diluted with chalk, dolomite flour and lime;
- add gypsum to alkaline soil;
- add peat and sand to clay soil.
For planting in early spring, the planting hole is prepared in the fall.
Landing technique
Wet the planting soil well and generously to the entire depth of the roots. This measure will serve to firmly root the cherry plum seedling:
- the seedling is placed in a hole with planting soil;
- make sure that the root collar is not covered with soil;
- the distance between seedlings is maintained at about 2 m;
- We mulch the soil and water it.
As the tree takes root and grows, shallow loosening of the soil and weeding are carried out.
Frequency of watering and pruning
Traditionally, watering is carried out once every 2 weeks with three buckets of water. Young trees are watered up to 5 times per season, and adults - 3 times. In dry summers, water weekly - 2 buckets of water.
The end of October is the time for shedding the soil before wintering.
The pruning procedure is carried out before planting and every subsequent year:
- It is necessary to remove dried branches and foliage, fattening and damaged shoots. We do not trim generative buds on annuals. They will survive the winter well.
- When pruning, thin out the crown and give it a rounded shape.
Fertilizer
Fertilizing with organic matter is required every 2-3 years.
Before flowering begins, mineral fertilizers with nitrogen are applied. In summer, potassium sulfate and superphosphate are added.
Scheme of cherry plum crown formation
Average prices for fruits and seedlings
In Russia, seedlings of the “General” variety can be found in specialized nurseries or at seasonal fairs. Manufacturers offer planting material with a closed/open root system, of different ages 1,2,3 years. Depending on this, the price may vary. The cost is also affected by the distance of the settlement from the central region and the climatic zone.
Prices for seedlings (age 1 year):
- in Moscow and the central zone - 220-280 rubles;
- regions of the Urals - 300-370 rubles;
- southern zones – 200-250 rubles.
Older trees are more expensive:
- 2 years – 580-800 rubles;
- 3 years – 900-1150 rubles;
- 4 years – 1,800-2,500 rubles.
Young trees 5 years old cost from 4,500 rubles. and more.
Ripe fruits in Russia can be purchased for 90-300 rubles. per kg. The price will vary depending on the remoteness of the locality. If cherry plum costs 90 rubles in the region where it is grown. per kg, then due to transportation to distant cities, the price of the fruit will increase. Also, purchasing cherry plum wholesale from the manufacturer, or at retail price, is noticeable - the former will be much cheaper.
Diseases
Cherry plum is characterized by the presence of immunity to hole spot and its complete absence to brown disease. The disease affects the leaves of the plant. They need to be cut off and destroyed. Spray the tree itself with Bordeaux mixture (concentration 1%).
- Brown spot. Coccomycosis or brown spot is manifested by a change in leaf color to red with a brown tint, and the fungus develops under the leaf. Infected leaves fall off en masse. The fungus can be destroyed by treatment with the drug "Hom".
- Moniliosis. The disease damages young shoots of the tree. They become brown and have a burnt appearance. The fruits are covered with gray rot. Trim branches affected by the disease. Treatment with Fufanon will protect the tree from disease.
- Pocket-like. The affected cherry plum fruit does not form a seed. Destroy fruits with a powdery coating, and treat the tree with 1% Bordeaux mixture.
Features of planting a hero tree
The process of preparing for planting begins long before the actual planting of the seedling and includes the following stages:
- selection and preparation of the optimal garden plot;
- procurement of high-quality planting material;
- its pre-planting treatment;
- planting a seedling.
Recommended timing
The planting pit begins to be prepared in the fall if the planting of seedlings is scheduled for spring, and vice versa if autumn planting is planned. Most gardeners tend to believe that the most optimal time is to plant seedlings in April before the buds open. If you purchase plum seedlings in the fall, they can be preserved until spring by placing them in a trench and covering them with spruce branches. However, it is permissible to plant plums in the autumn, then agrotechnical procedures are carried out until mid-October.
Did you know? If you plant Bogatyrskaya and another plum variety in close proximity on one garden plot, the total yield will almost double.
Choosing a suitable location
At the planning stage of planting a plum orchard, you should pay attention to the following areas:
- with groundwater occurring at a depth of 1.5 m or more. A closer presence of moisture can lead to its stagnation in the soil, complicating aeration and air access to the roots of the plant;
- slopes, flat areas, as well as small hills that are well lit by the sun;
- hidden from the wind or located close to fences, which can partially act as protection from drafts and strong air currents.
Important! If a tree is planted in the shade, it will produce a small harvest, and its leaves will change color and become lighter due to lack of sunlight
Selection and preparation of planting material
Suitable seedlings for planting must be:
- annual or biennial;
- seedling growth is 1–1.4 m and the standard size is 40–60 cm;
- have a developed rhizome, the size of which should reach 25–30 cm;
- have 3 or more main processes 15–30 cm long;
- the bark should be flexible, without rot and dry shoots.
It is recommended to purchase planting material from trusted suppliers who care about the quality of seedlings and follow the rules for their procurement and processing. After purchasing seedlings, their rhizomes are wrapped in a wet cloth to prevent them from drying out, and if the purchase of planting material was made long before planting, then it is recommended to bury the rhizomes.
Soaking the roots of seedlings in a clay mash Before planting, the seedling must be treated. To do this, it is immersed by a third in a weak solution of potassium permanganate, after which the roots are treated with a mixture of clay and manure, taken in a 2:1 ratio. After lubricating the roots, they are left to dry for several hours, then the seedling is ready for planting.
Direct drop off
Preparation of the planting pit begins in advance:
- To begin with, mark the diameter, the value of which should be 80–100 cm.
- Next, you need to remove the top layer of soil 20 cm thick.
- Dig a hole 50–60 cm deep.
- Mix the excavated soil with superphosphate, potassium salt, humus and compost. If the soil is clayey, river sand is added to it, and if it is sandy, powdered clay is added.
- An earthen cushion with fertilizers is placed in the planting hole in the form of a hill.
- Cover the hole with waterproof film.
1 – a mixture of earth and pus; 2 – earth from the top layer; 3 – small pegs; 4 – irrigation hole; 5 – landing stake; 6 – tree trunk; 7 – shaft of the hole; 8 – landing board Planting takes place using the following technology:
- Preparation of the planting pit, which is described in detail above.
- Installing a support peg about 150–170 cm high, which will support the growing tree in the early years. It is dug in at a distance of 15–20 cm from the center of the hole.
- A seedling is placed on a prepared earthen hill inside the hole, carefully straightening the roots. After which the rhizome of the tree is sprinkled with soil so that the root collar is 3–5 cm above ground level.
- The earth must be compacted and, stepping back about 30 cm from the trunk, dig a shallow, about 10 cm hole in a circle. 40–50 liters of water are poured into this depression for irrigation immediately after planting.
- The tree trunk circle is covered with nutrients and mulched; organic peat and humus can be used.
- The tree is fixed to the peg using soft twine.
Pests
A description of the main pests and methods of controlling them will help you keep your garden healthy.
- Fruit mite. Leaves affected by the mite turn brown and fall off. It is necessary to peel off the old bark and process it until smooth. During the swelling of the buds, flowering and formation of buds, the tree must be treated with Fufanon.
- The mucous sawfly is capable of sucking out all the juice and leaving only leaf veins. Destroy diseased parts of the tree. When the first larvae appear, treatment with Fufanon is required.
- Plum aphids can infect all shoots and leaves. When flowering, it is necessary to treat the flowers and leaves with the insecticide “Sumition”.
Fruit mite is dangerous for cherry plum
Harvest and storage
The harvest will ripen on the tree. Plums cannot ripen when picked. Ripe fruits are easily separated from the branch. Collect them in a container and store in the refrigerator or cool place for 2-3 weeks. The fruits cannot be stored longer. They soften and begin to rot.
We advise you to read why plums rot on trees and what needs to be done.
When choosing a variety to grow, pay attention to the General plum. She has quite a lot of positive qualities. And most importantly, she is completely unpretentious in care. Therefore, grow plums using preventive measures in time, and you will be assured of an excellent harvest.
Cherry plum variety Zlato (gold) of the Scythians
This is a yellowish variety, so loved by all small children. A characteristic feature is excellent resistance to any diseases, and the variety can also survive cold winters.
The variety provides low but regular yields, bears fruit early, and is famous among gardeners for this. Already at the beginning of summer you may have cherry plum. Scythian gold is a small tree with a sparse but spreading crown. The variety bears large fruits, the weight of which can exceed 35 grams.
The variety is considered unique, since it can be grown in almost all regions. The main thing is that you must select Scythian Gold seedlings that will one hundred percent take root in the area around your garden. The fruits of this variety will surprise you with their unusual taste.
Cherry plum variety Tsarskaya
This species is specific because it bears sweet fruits. And many, as we know, prefer small sour ones. But, despite this, this tree grows among many summer residents.
The fruit tree bears fruit already in the 2nd year of life. The variety can withstand different temperature changes. The main advantages include high productivity and early fruiting. However, this species also has a drawback... We are talking about the small size of the fruits, their weight does not exceed 20 grams! But it's not a problem. After all, they are tasty and sweet. The royal cherry plum is named so for a reason - plant it in your garden, and you will be completely convinced of this.
How to plant plum
Columnar plum
Purchasing plum seedlings is a fairly simple task; General plums are sold by a large number of nurseries.
Note to the gardener. Before making a purchase, young trees must be carefully inspected so that they are free of defects (dry branches, rot on the roots, traces of lichen, traces of a cut branch).
It is recommended to plant in the spring, since in Siberia and the Far East in the fall there is a high probability of frost, which can destroy young trees.
As for the ideal place for the plum, it must meet the following requirements:
- have protection from cold wind;
- sufficient sunlight;
- lack of shade from neighboring trees;
- the place should not be flooded;
- hilly area.
Almost any soil composition is suitable for plums, the main thing is that there is drainage. The pit is prepared in advance. When digging, it is worth considering that the root system must fully develop, and therefore the hole must have sufficient width and depth.
General's plum seedling
The landing itself is not difficult:
- in the central part of the hole you need to install a support (a strong stick or stake) that will support the seedling in unfavorable weather conditions;
- a mixture of humus and soil is poured next to the support;
- the seedling is carefully placed on the fertile layer, the roots are straightened;
- the earth around is sprinkled gradually, compacting each layer so that there are no large voids left;
- The tree must be watered;
- If necessary, organic fertilizer is added.
Over the coming months, the young plum will strengthen and by autumn it will be strong enough to survive the frosty winter.