Main characteristics and history of the Lama cherry plum variety

Young cherry plum seedlings of the Lama variety will give the garden high decorative value with their creative, luxurious crown and early fruiting (in 2-3 years).
Throughout the warm months, Lama will decorate the garden or home area with its unusual, abundant, dense foliage in a red-burgundy hue.

The high taste qualities of the numerous, large and spectacular fruits are delightful; ripening occurs as early as mid-August. Let us consider in detail in the article: the history and description of the variety, its yield, planting and care rules, as well as possible diseases, specific pros and cons, reviews, and average prices in our country.

The history of the red leaf fruit

Already in the middle of the last century, breeders began to purposefully improve varieties of cherry plum, since this is a southern fruit plant that grows in the Caucasus, Asia, and southeast Europe. It was necessary to endow the plant with resistance to the difficult climate of Russia :

• cold winters;
• sudden temperature fluctuations;
• possible drought;
• numerous diseases.

The variety should, under these conditions, produce abundant yields of high-quality fruits.

The most winter-hardy plum was chosen for the base. Scientists connected seedlings 9-250 Pr. cerasifera var. Pissardii and a mix of pollen from the best hybrids from the already crossed P. ussuriensis and P. salicina with P. Cerasifera. The result is a new excellent hybrid variety Lama - a variety of large-fruited cherry plum. Previously created varieties, Hollywood and Rosa are also excellent - with large fruits and excellent taste.

Work on breeding Lama was completed in 2000 by scientist V.A. Matveev. (in Belarus RUP Institute of Fruit Growing).

The variety is officially recommended for cultivation in Russia in areas with an unstable and harsh climate.

History of breeding cherry plum Lama

The culture was bred by a scientist-breeder from Belarus V. Avksentievich in 2003. This is a semi-dwarf variety obtained by crossing cherry plum and Ussuri plum. The scientist managed to achieve an almost ideal variety. The tree is extremely resistant to weather conditions, easily takes root in a new area, and rarely gets sick. The hybrid subspecies is famous for its rich taste and is popular in all countries of the former USSR. Abroad, the variety is called Russian plum. Its marvelous color and ease of care make the cherry plum a real “star” of gardening. It is grown by experienced agronomists and novice summer residents.

Description of the variety and photo

In the description of the Lama variety, or in other words Russian plum, the following special characteristics and nuances can be highlighted.

In the photo there is a cherry plum Lama:

Tree

A tree of this variety instantly stands out from the general green mass of the garden. Small sizes from 1.5 m to 2 m in height allow you to easily collect fruits in the future (convenient). The bark of the trunk has a specific red-brown tone in young plants, and darker, rougher in mature ones.

The crown is flat-rounded, has deep burgundy shades, it can change into purple and blue, it’s very decorative! The shoots are spreading, prone to thickening, the branches are flexible, strong, and tolerate pruning well.

Leaves

Large leaves up to 18 cm in length have an elongated, lanceolate shape with sharp serrated edges. The outer surface of the sheet has a smooth texture with a gloss. Reticulate veins are visible, and on the inside they are most obvious. The foliage with petioles is colored anthocyanin (red-violet).

Young leaves are distinguished by a creamy caramel tone with shine. Mature leaves already acquire a chocolate-burgundy color (the upper part is green, the lower part is red), which effectively distinguishes the crop from other plants. In autumn the foliage turns yellow.

Flowers

Flowering begins already in the young tree in the 2nd year - in the form of small flowers 3-3.5 cm in diameter, pale pink in color. They are collected in bouquets of 3-6 pieces. and densely cover the middle and lower parts of the annual shoot.

Fruit

Large, spherical fruits ripen by mid-August and can weigh 40-45 grams. A ripe fruit with red skin and a noble waxy coating (easily washed off with water).

It can already be consumed, and then as it ripens, the berry turns purple-black and falls off. Lama stands out from other varieties with its original sweet and sour taste with notes of almond, spicy aftertaste and a light, refined aroma.

The fibrous pulp is juicy, dense, and rich in:

• iron and potassium;
• vitamins A, B, C, PP;
• pectin;
• sugar up to 10%;
• acid - citric and malic.

The unique large seed (drupe in the middle of the fruit) contains up to 40% oils, their composition is close to almond oil.

Frost resistance

The variety is most suitable for growing in cold climates - the tree is frost-resistant at low temperatures down to -350C . Spring frosts down to -60C are also not scary for Lama. Southern genes make it easy to survive drought with heat up to +400C.

External description of the tree and fruits

The main feature of semi-dwarf cherry plum is its survival in all weather conditions. The trees grow up to 1.3 to 2 meters in height, which makes it easy to carry out agricultural work and collect fruits. The bark is reddish-brown, darkening as it ages.

The crown is flat, rounded, and tends to thicken. It is easy to shape. The leaves grow up to 18 centimeters long, lanceolate in shape, slightly tapering at the base, green-burgundy in color. The flowers are miniature, up to 35 millimeters in diameter, white-pinkish, collected in bouquets of 4 pieces.

Fruits include up to 10% sugar, malic and citric acids, pectins, vitamin elements of groups A, B, PP, C, potassium and iron.

Productivity

Young trees produce abundant harvests from the 2-3rd year of life . This can be from 40-45 kg to 300-350 kg per tree. The fruits are tasty, strong, and healthy and can be collected from the second ten days of August until the end of September, taking into account the climate zone of the garden.

Storage

Lama fruits are prone to shedding after full ripening; therefore, the berries should be collected slightly unripe (during technical ripeness) for long-term storage. It is recommended to store cherry plum in a cool and dark place, at a temperature of 3-5 0C and a humidity of 85-95%. The fruits are perfectly stored for a long time and are suitable for transportation.

It is better to place the harvest in boxes with shavings or paper. All fruits must be dry, without mechanical damage or painful signs or rot. The total weight should not “press” on the lower layers of the fruit. Storage duration can be up to 3-4 months.

Productivity, collection and storage

In mid-August the fruits begin to ripen. When their color reaches a red hue, you can begin harvesting.

Important: during storage, the fruits ripen and their color becomes darker.

As a rule, plums are picked after a few days; they do not wait until they turn completely purple or burgundy. This is due to the fact that the fruits do not hold very tightly on the trees and any weather conditions (strong wind, rain) can blow them off the ground, which will ruin the appearance and internal components.

Some gardeners specially plant clover under the cherry plum tree so that when it falls, the crop is not so damaged, and the plant saturates it with vitamins and microelements.

Already in the second year after planting, trees can produce about 30 kg of harvest, and after 10-15 years, gardeners harvest about 300 kg. The fruits store well for several months if you place them in a wooden box and put them in a room with a low temperature (for example, a basement).

Some people prefer to eat them fresh, as they contain many vitamins and nutrients for the body. Many people make preserves, jam, confiture, juices, sauces and even wine from cherry plums.

Landing nuances

Recommendations for planting seedlings are as follows::

1. 
   In southern climates, it is advisable to plant Lama in the fall in October, and in areas with a cool climate - in the spring.

2. Prepare the soil - it should be neutral acidity, loose with sufficient nutrients. Although the variety is not picky about soil, this guarantees better and faster development and resistance to pests and diseases.
3. The presence of groundwater should not be higher than 1.5 m to the ground surface.
4. The planting area should be sheltered from strong gusts of wind - the ovary may crumble.
5. 10-14 days before planting, dig a hole 50-65 cm deep and up to 90-100 cm wide. This (dug) soil is mixed with humus and superphosphate fertilizer. ½ of this “mix” is poured into the pit.
6. Choose healthy, strong seedlings (1-2 years old) with a developed root system and elastic branches. You need to buy planting material in nurseries or specialized stores.
7. On a dry, warm day (+ 10-150C), when the earth has warmed up, Lama seedlings are planted in sunny places in the garden plot in holes prepared with fertilizing. Before planting, dip the root of the seedling well into the earthen mixture. Then the root is evenly distributed over the hole.
8. The distance between seedlings and other plants should be within 1.5-1.6 m. When creating a cherry plum garden, the distance between trees is increased to 2.0-2.10 m.
9. The root collar should be buried several centimeters into the soil.
10. For stability, the trunk is connected to the peg with a rope, the shoots are cut by 1/3.
11. Sufficient watering is carried out with 2-3 buckets per plant.

The last thing to do is mulch with dried soil or grass in a layer of 8-15 cm.

Crown and leaves

“Lama” trees are miniature and compact, more like decorative plantings. Their height on average reaches 1.5-2 meters. The crown is formed neat, flat-rounded; over time it can thicken, since the trees are prone to rapid growth of shoots. Young trees have a reddish-burgundy bark, but over time it becomes coarser, darker, and rough.

The leaves of cherry plum are large, 17-19 cm in length. They are lanceolate in shape, slightly tapering at the base. The edges have a characteristic serrated serration. The leaf blade is smooth, with a slight glossy sheen; veins are clearly visible on it (especially on the back side).

The color of the leaves is very interesting. Young leaves appear in caramel shades, gradually darkening and gaining burgundy tones. On the grown leaf, green color may predominate on top, and the bottom will be chocolate-reddish.

Basic care

The rules for caring for Lama cherry plum are not complicated. Water and prune as needed, fertilize for better harvests, and prevent disease, as well as timely harvesting.

Fertilizers

In the spring, it is advisable to apply nitrogen fertilizer in the first 3-4 years . This stimulates growth and increases survival rate. Ammonium nitrate in granules is usually scattered near the root system (under the tree) at a distance of 50-60 cm from the trunk.

For an adult tree, fertilizer containing phosphorus, nitrogen and potassium is applied around the perimeter of the trunk circle in the spring (annually). Before the buds open (1 month after applying fertilizer to the roots), you can spray the trees (and young trees) with a solution of urea, this will protect against diseases, pests, and provide foliar feeding to the branches and foliage.

Watering

Llama is resistant to dry periods, but young trees need regular, infrequent watering - once every 10-14 days, 3-4 buckets per tree.

Experts recommend abundant watering of Lame , 2-3 buckets per tree - a couple of weeks after flowering (when the fruits form), then after harvesting in mid-late September.

Trimming

Regular pruning of the Lama variety guarantees better harvests and healthy immunity. In the first years, the young tree is pruned in order to form a crown. It is recommended to leave no more than 9-12 skeletal branches.

Pruning is carried out carefully in early spring before the buds open , using sharp garden pruning shears. It is better to treat cuts with a diameter of 1 cm or more with garden varnish - this accelerates the healing of wounds and protects them from pests.

Starting from the second year after planting, and then annually, shoots (annual ones) are shortened to 1-1.5 m in the spring. Fruits are born in these zones. To prevent thickening from interfering with the formation of the crop, excess, internal branches are cut off, the rest are cut to the required length - this allows sunlight to penetrate deep into the crown.

Pruning cherry plum in summer:

Wintering

In late autumn, in areas of stable frost, it is advisable to cover the cherry plum with spruce branches, burlap or other materials. If there is a threat of rodents eating the lower part of the trunk, it is also protected with tarpaulin and barbed wire. The abundance of snow cover has a positive effect on protecting the tree in winter.

The presence of whitewash (during the year) on cherry plum trunks reliably protects against eating the bark by hares or other rodents. It is carried out in October, if necessary, and after the snow melts - in March.

History of selection

Red-leaved cherry plum is one of the varieties of the subspecies of large-fruited cherry plum.
In the southern regions, especially on the Caucasian coast, Pissard plum is often grown. It looks amazingly beautiful with its pink flowers that darken towards the end of the process in the spring, cherry-red fruits in the summer and very bright red leaves in the fall. The botanist Pissard once brought it from Iran to Europe, where it took root in areas with a warm climate.

The first specially created varieties of this variety were “Rosa” and “Hollywood”, which pleased us with tasty and fairly large fruits.

Columnar trees of the Cistena variety look very beautiful. The ovoid leaves with a jagged edge, 6–8 cm long, are red-violet above and dark purple below, densely covering a two-meter tree, looking impressive against the backdrop of the traditionally green foliage of other trees or the dark greenery of fir trees and pines.

The leaves of tall seven-meter trees of the “Rannyaya” variety, red-brown above, intensely red below, densely cover the rounded crown, remaining a bright spot of color in the garden throughout the summer. It’s hard to believe that such beauty is grown for its delicious fruits, also done in red colors.

In the middle of the last century, breeders began to purposefully work on creating cherry plum varieties capable of bearing fruit in the difficult climatic conditions of the center of Russia.

A more winter-hardy plum was taken as the basis.

Experts set themselves a number of tasks - they tried to create varieties that could grow and actively bear fruit in areas with cold winters, resist known types of biological aggression, and meet high requirements for fruit quality. A very good result of their work can be called the “Lama” variety, which is successfully cultivated not only in the middle zone, but even in the difficult conditions of the Khabarovsk Territory and the Far East.

Video “Description”

From the video you will learn a lot of new varieties of red cherry plum.

Cherry plum "Lama" is a semi-dwarf tree growing from 1.3 m to 2 m. Young seedlings have smooth reddish-brown bark, which becomes dark and rough as it matures. The flat-round crown thickens quickly, but is easy to form and tolerates pruning well.

The leaves are up to 18 cm long, with a serrate edge, the upper side is shiny, greenish-burgundy, and the lower side changes color during the growing season from dark red to bright chocolate. The flowers are white and pink, 3.5 cm in diameter, collected in small inflorescences of 3–5 pieces.

The fruits begin to ripen by mid-August, they are quite large, weighing up to 42 g, they can be picked already red, but as they ripen they become darker, almost black, falling from the branches.

The fruits have a pleasant sweet and sour taste with a delicate almond aroma and contain pectin, sugars, acids, many vitamins and minerals that strengthen the health of the body. The seeds contain a lot of oil, which is compared to almond oil.

The miniature tree tolerates frosts of -35, and the flowers are not afraid of frosts down to -6 degrees. It easily tolerates drought; southern genes help it withstand heat up to 40 degrees.

One tree can produce from 40 to 300 kg of fairly large, tasty fruits, and fruiting begins in the second or third year.

To obtain fruits, trees of other varieties are needed that will participate in cross-pollination; the varieties “Mara”, “Vitba”, “Asaloda” do this well. In order for the harvest to be annual and high, one must not forget about regular pruning.

Landing

It is best to purchase seedlings from local nurseries to ensure they grow well in your climatic conditions. It is better to choose one- or two-year-old plants with an open root system, so you can carefully examine them and select specimens with smooth, healthy roots and aerial parts.

If the root system is closed, then you need to evaluate an even stem without unevenness or damage; it’s good if young roots have sprouted through the holes in the packaging.

It is best to select seedlings in the fall; in the southern regions they are planted in mid-October, but northern residents should bury the seedlings in a semi-horizontal position and wait until spring, when the air temperature reaches 12 degrees and the ground warms up to the required depth.

Cherry plum with red leaves can grow anywhere; it is used to surviving in the middle of the mountains, on rocky slopes, even in swampy lowlands, as long as the soil is not too acidic. But to get a rich harvest, it is better to place it on light hills or slopes, protected from the cold wind, so that the sun is not blocked from it by tall trees or buildings.

It is better to choose a soil that is fertile, well-permeable to water and air, and groundwater should lie no closer than 1.5 - 2 m to the surface of the earth. If it is too acidic, then you should add lime or dolomite flour in advance.

Two weeks before planting, you need to dig a hole up to 60 cm deep and about 1 meter wide, mix the excavated soil with superphosphate and humus, and fill half of the hole with this mixture. Several trees are planted at a distance of one and a half meters from each other.

If they are planting a cherry plum garden, then the rows are spaced two meters apart.

The root collar is left a couple of centimeters below ground level. The stem is tied to a peg, the tree is watered abundantly using several buckets of water, then the entire surface above the hole is mulched with grass or dry soil.

All shoots are shortened by a third.

Tree care

Caring for an adult tree does not involve constant hassle; it does not require constant attention. The cherry plum needs to be watered, fed, pruned, covered for the winter, protected from pests and diseases, and the fruits picked in time so that you don’t have to pick them from the ground later.

Mature trees can easily tolerate periods of drought, but it is advisable to water young trees every two weeks before fruiting begins (especially in the middle of a hot summer).

Watering should be plentiful so that all the roots are thoroughly saturated with moisture; 3–4 buckets will have to be poured into the prepared hole around the trunk.

Before the buds bloom in the spring, experienced gardeners recommend spraying the tree with a urea solution; this is both foliar feeding and a preventive measure that protects the plant from enemies and diseases. It is often advised to carry out such fertilizing a few weeks after planting, but urea can burn young leaves; it is better to do this fertilizing on unopened buds.

It is mandatory to apply nitrogen fertilizers in the spring for the first two to three years in order to speed up the establishment and stimulate plant growth. It is recommended to scatter ammonium nitrate granules over the root system, about half a meter around the trunk.

Read more: When to pick grape leaves, subtleties of the foliage removal procedure

For an adult tree, it is enough to apply complex mineral fertilizers, including nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus, into a specially prepared groove along the perimeter of the tree trunk every year in the spring.

Regular pruning serves the same purpose - abundant fruiting and overall health of the tree. The first few years of pruning are aimed at forming the crown - for good growth of this compact low tree, 9 - 11 skeletal branches are enough.

Every year, starting from the second year of life, it is necessary to shorten the annual shoots, which grow by 1 - 1.5 meters per season, and it is on their middle part that fruits appear. Cherry plum is prone to thickening, so every year you have to cut out excess shoots and shorten existing ones so that the sun gets inside the crown. Pruning is done with sharp tools in early spring before the buds begin to open.

All cuts whose diameter approaches 1 cm must be treated with garden varnish to prevent infection and help the tree heal the wound.

If very severe frosts are expected, then cover with spruce branches, lutrasil or other material. If there are a large number of rodents nearby, the trunk and skeletal branches should be wrapped in burlap or something else.

Rodents usually do not touch whitened trunks, so whitewashing is also a good protection against mice and hares.

Diseases and pests

Cherry plum in general, and the Lama variety especially, thanks to the efforts of breeders, shows amazing resistance to pests and diseases. But there are such unfavorable circumstances, the combination of which provokes various diseases.

Thus, a long period of humidity combined with coolness or, on the contrary, prolonged heat can weaken the plant and strengthen pathogenic microorganisms. Then the cherry plum is threatened by fungal diseases: perforated spot, monilial burn or verticillium.

This happens very rarely, but special drugs will come to the rescue.

Diseases and pests

The Lama variety is highly resistant to diseases and pests - it has excellent immunity. However, the vagaries of the weather, such as prolonged rains and cold, or drought and prolonged heat, negatively affect the health of the plant - this will cause pathogenic microorganisms. Possible diseases :

• Fungus verticillium (wilt) - threatens yield, infection through roots, treatment with chemicals (Previkur, Vitaros, Maxim), or at an early stage, folk remedies (infusions of tobacco leaves, chamomile).
• Hole spot is a fungal infection that occurs when warm and abundant moisture is exterminated by fungicides (Fthalan, Captan).
• Monilial burn - develops in the form of fruit rot, later the fungus attacks the trunk, which cracks, use chemistry (Fitolavin), or folk recipes (mustard solution).

If found, the problem should be corrected.

Characteristics

In descriptions of the red-leaved cherry plum Lama, gardeners point to its hardiness.

Drought resistance, winter hardiness

The cherry plum variety is drought-resistant and can withstand 40-degree heat. Water the plum only in conditions of prolonged heat. The plant survives frosty winters well, down to -36 °C, but sudden changes with thaws and the return of cold can be detrimental to it. Due to its species characteristics, plums have a short dormant period, up to 45 days, so late winter temperature surges can damage the buds. Flowers can withstand temperatures as low as -7 °C.

Pollination, flowering period and ripening time

With an even winter, the flowering of the Lama cherry plum begins later than other hybrids, in mid-May, so it is not afraid of spring frosts. The variety is self-sterile; for a full harvest, the crop needs other related plants, preferably East Asian plums and wild cherry plums. European species and thorns are not suitable for hybrids. The following varieties are considered the best pollinators for Lama cherry plum:

• Mara;
• Asaloda;
• Vitba.

Plums are planted according to a 5 x 3 m pattern. The fruits of the mid-late variety ripen after August 12-16.

Advice! Hybrid plum is a good early honey plant.

Productivity, fruiting

Russian plum is extremely productive, the branches are literally strewn with bright burgundy fruits. Already in the 3rd year, cherry plum can produce up to 40 kg of fruit. The harvest of an adult plum reaches 300 kg. The Lama variety begins to bear fruit early, sometimes even in the first year of planting.

Area of ​​application of fruits

Dessert cherry plum has a pleasant taste and healthy composition, so it is best to eat it fresh. At the same time, plums are universal and suitable for a variety of homemade preparations.

Resistance to diseases and pests

The Lama plum variety resists many fungal diseases, subject to proper annual pruning and crown formation. Routine garden maintenance will prevent pests.

Advantages and disadvantages

Gardeners grow the variety thanks to the bright advantages of the Lama cherry plum:

• endurance to atmospheric factors;
• precociousness;
• productivity;
• good consumer qualities;
• transportability;
• disease resistance;
• decorativeness.

The disadvantages of the variety include:

• the need to plant pollinators;
• mandatory annual pruning;
• crumbling of ripened plums.

Advantages and disadvantages

This wonderful variety has a lot of advantages and some disadvantages.

pros:

• the most decorative appearance throughout the entire spring/autumn season - at the same time decorates the landscape;
• The compact but branched tree is easy to care for and convenient to collect ripe fruits;
• excellent frost resistance (down to -350C), and even blossoming flowers with ovaries can withstand frost in the spring at 6-7 0C;
• resistance to heat and dry periods up to +40 0C;
• unpretentiousness to soils;
• early dates for fruiting - 2-3 years after planting;
• very abundant harvests - up to 300-350 kg. from one mature tree;
• the fruits are large, tasty and healthy - they contain vitamins, minerals, sugars, etc.;
• the pit is easily separated, also contains useful substances and oils - used in industrial processing;
• healthy immunity protects against diseases and pests, guarantees good harvests;
• the fruits can be eaten fresh or used in canning - in the form of jams and juices, preserves or compotes, marshmallows and marmalade, sauces.

Long shelf life of berries up to 4 months. Excellent resistance to long distance transportation.

Minuses:

• tendency to thicken the crown - annual pruning is required;
• fruit-bearing pollinators are required in the immediate environment;
• with abundant fruiting, it is necessary to harvest the crop in a timely manner, otherwise the branches may break, the fruits may fall off, as a way out - supports for fixing thin, overloaded shoots.

It is necessary to follow the rules of planting and caring for the crop, and carry out disease prevention, then the wonderful Lama variety will give large yields of fruits.

Characteristics of the variety

Cherry plum in Siberia, varieties, cultivation

Red cherry plum belongs to low varieties. It rarely grows above 2 meters; its standard height is 1.3-1.5 meters. The crown of the plant is compact and needs to be shaped, since the cherry plum variety with red leaves also has decorative properties. A tree with a semicircular crown looks most impressive. It should be borne in mind that over time, the plum bark begins to darken and becomes rough. However, while the shoots are still young, the bark is very smooth and pleasant to the touch.

Note! The crown also needs to be formed due to such a property of the Alma cherry plum as high shoot formation. In one season, Russian plum branches can grow up to 150 centimeters. Under such conditions, the lack of action to form the crown can lead not only to a deterioration in the aesthetic appearance, but also to a decrease in the number of fruits.

The leaves of the plant resemble a lancet in shape and taper closer to the base. Their standard length is 15-18 centimeters. The leaf shape is finely serrated, and the color consists of two colors: the leaves are green on top and reddish below (closer to burgundy). The color of the underside of the leaf is uneven, gradually changing color to brown with a warm chocolate tint.

During the flowering period, red-leaved cherry plum also looks very beautiful. The inflorescences are small bouquets (several flowers, no more than 3-3.5 centimeters wide, are attached together on a bouquet branch). Petals are white and pink.

Cherry plum blossom

A description of the Lama cherry plum variety would be incomplete without a story about its fruits. They are quite large, have a round-oval shape, and weight varies from 15 to 40 grams. The fruit is quite fleshy, its pulp is very juicy, with a refined aroma of fruit and almonds. The color of the fruit is purple, dark, under the thick skin, which allows the fruit to be stored for a long time undamaged and easily transported, grayish dots can sometimes be found. The stone of the Russian plum is small and easily separated from the fleshy and fibrous dark red pulp.

The Lama cherry plum tasters gave a fairly high rating of 4.4 points. This is due to the richness of the taste - it combines sweetness with sourness, which is most pronounced near the seed. The fruit is very healthy. It contains acids necessary for humans (malic and citric), and easily digestible sugar.

An important characteristic and advantage of this variety of cherry plum is frost resistance, which allows it to be grown not only in the southern regions of Russia, but also in Siberia and the Far East.

This variety is suitable for cultivation in Siberia and the Far East

The described crop inherited drought resistance from cherry plum (able to withstand heat of 40 degrees without losing the volume and quality of the crop) and frost resistance of the Ussuri plum. However, frequent temperature changes can be detrimental to the plant, when a thaw occurs during the day and severe frost returns at night.

Important! This type of plum has a short dormant period (no more than 45 days), which explains the early ripening of its fruits, but the downside of this advantage is its susceptibility to temperature fluctuations during late winter, when the plant is already beginning to wake up. In this case, the flowers do not fall off, which means that the ovary and fruit can form, even at a temperature of -7 degrees Celsius.

If winter passes early, without any significant temperature fluctuations, then the flowering of red-leaved cherry plum will begin a little later than most other plants, so it also has resistance to spring frosts. It should be noted that in order to form fruits, related plants must be planted next to the described crop, since the Alma cherry plum variety cannot reproduce itself on its own. The optimal pollinator is, of course, the Ussuri plum or cherry plum, but the following varieties can also be used as such: Mara, Comet, Vitba.

In the description of red-leaved cherry plum, its productivity should be noted. Fruiting usually begins in the third year after planting the tree. The harvest volume can reach 40 kg. Later, with proper care and following all recommendations, the harvest can be 300 kg from one tree.

Cherry plum Lama is famous for its good yield

Reviews about the variety

On numerous forums, gardeners express the following opinions about the variety :

• 
  after planting, the young tree began to bear fruit 2 years later - delicious burgundy-colored berries, juicy and aromatic, yielded 25 kg;

• I planted an alley from Lama in the garden - and for 7 years I have had a stable and large harvest, we eat it fresh and can it;
• the variety survived the winter well with frosts (about -400C) and heavy snow cover, and produces a good harvest of tasty fruits;
• I respect this variety for its long shelf life;
• It was a rainy, long spring; a disease appeared on Lama - they took timely measures, cured it, and in the fall they “received” an excellent harvest of 250 kg.

Gardeners also report that Lama actually does well with light frost. You can read more details here and here.

Reviews

Many gardeners have managed to try this variety of cherry plum and enjoy all the delights. In their reviews, summer residents note the incredible taste of the fruit, which has sweet and sour notes with an almond tint.

People call this variety “Russian plum”. Among the advantages, the level of its survival rate in cold regions is separately highlighted. People living in the north are content with the amazing fruits and happily plant cherry plum orchards.

A separate advantage is that after a couple of years you can harvest the fruits. You don’t need to wait a long 5 or 10 years to try a real “Russian plum”. It’s also great that this plant “wakes up” quite late and its flowering does not coincide with the frost period.

Gardeners consider this variety to be a decoration for their garden. Beautiful shades, small size of the tree - all this gives great aesthetic pleasure to the diligent summer resident.

average cost

Seedlings with an open or closed root system in Russia can be purchased in numerous nurseries.

The price varies depending on the size of the seedling (height), its age (1-2-3 years), and the distance from the center of the country:

• Moscow and region - from 600 rubles. up to 2,300 rub. for a seedling;
• Kostroma, Yaroslavl - from 950-2,150 rubles. for 1 piece;
• regions of Siberia - from 1,000-3,500 rubles. and more expensive per seedling;
• Khabarovsk Territory – from 1,500 rubles. and above for 1 piece.

Seedlings from 5 years old cost 5,000 – 7,000 rubles. for 1 piece

The cost of fruits of the Lama variety constantly changes depending on the yield, time of year (cheaper in autumn, more expensive in winter, etc.) and the distance of transportation of the fruit.

If cherry plum is grown by a local producer, then its price will be lower than that imported from the south - from 180 to 250 rubles. and more expensive.

Features of the variety

The distance between plantings of fruit and berry crops is measured by the average size of the crowns of closely spaced trees. The above varieties require a distance of at least 4 meters from each other. But there is a variety of cherry plum called Kolonovidnaya, which is quite compact. It consists of one trunk and 3 - 4 branches, moreover, the crown of the cherry plum grows compressed, without interfering with neighboring crops.

Columnar cherry plum will not take up much space on your site, even if two or three trees are planted.

In 1954, breeders began work to develop a frost-resistant variety for the northern regions, which would not be inferior to its southern relatives. As a result, the Lama plum appeared, which satisfied all their requirements. This hybrid was based on varieties resistant to low temperatures, which is why this crop is also commonly called Russian plum.

The Lama plum tree can withstand temperatures down to -40 °C. If ovaries and inflorescences have begun to form on the plant, they will be able to withstand temperatures of -10 °C without losing their ability to form fruit.

The description indicates that the Russian plum Lama is precocious. The plant begins to bear fruit 3 years after planting. Ripe products can be transported over long distances, since the fruits are resistant to mechanical and physical stress.

Read more: Grape yield per bush per hectare

The disadvantage of the variety is that it is not able to independently produce pollen for pollination. In order to achieve stable and high yields, the Lama cherry plum requires pollinators - Mara and Vitba. These varieties have similar characteristics and growing season.

The maximum height of the plant is 2 m. This ensures ease of care for the crop and greatly facilitates the harvesting process. The crown of the tree is dense, oval in shape. The growing season lasts only 90 days from the moment the first ovaries appear, i.e. harvesting occurs at the beginning of July.

The leaves of the Lama plum variety are characterized by a lanceolate shape and a rich green tint. The surface is smooth due to the fact that it is covered with a dense layer of wax coating. The leaves taper slightly at the base for practicality. Sheet plates of this shape are less likely to break. The inner surface of the leaf is burgundy. The inflorescences are large, pink in color. Each inflorescence contains 5 flowers.

Features of the fruit

The description of the Lama variety of cherry plum indicates that the fruits are characterized by the following parameters:

• average weight - 25 g;
• the peel is dense, dark red in color, with small black dots visible on it;
• the pulp is red in color and contains fibers in its structure;
• the taste is pleasant, sweet, the aroma has slight notes of nutmeg;
• The seed is medium-sized and easily separated from the pulp.

Popular varieties of Cherry plums and their descriptions

Cherry plum is a very ancient culture, and therefore, during its existence, it has been enriched with a large number of different varieties, which differ in the color of the fruit, their ripening time, taste, size and other qualities. Today the most popular are the following hybrid forms of Cherry plum.

Variety "Tent"

Cherry plum variety “Shater”

Cherry plum of this variety ripens on a small tree with a wide, rounded crown growing downwards. Fruit ripening occurs in the fourth year of tree growth. Despite the small size of the tree, its fruits are quite large: their weight is approximately 40 grams. The pulp of the fruit has a sweet and sour taste and is yellow in color. The fruits can be eaten both fresh and various preparations can be prepared from them: jam, marmalade, compotes, Tkemali sauce and other delicacies. From one tree you can harvest up to 35 kg.

The variety is frost-resistant, tolerates not only winter cold, but also spring frosts, but does not tolerate drought well and needs regular watering.

Variety "Found"

Cherry plum variety “Found”

The variety is early ripening and large-fruited. The tree begins to bear fruit in the third year of growth. The yield of one tree is up to 40 kg. The fruits are purple and the flesh is yellow. The taste is pleasant, sweet and sour. The total weight of the fruit is 35 grams. The advantage of this variety is that the crop tolerates temperature changes well. But its resistance to lack of moisture is average. Pollination occurs thanks to other varieties of Cherry plum, which bloom together with the “Naidena” variety.

Variety "Huck"

Cherry plum variety Gek

It is a mid-season variety. The tree is not tall, its crown is round, rather dense, slightly lowered. Fruit weight – 35 grams. The color is yellow, the flesh is dark yellow, the taste is sweet and sour. The bone is very difficult to separate from the pulp. Winter hardiness is high. Pollination is cross-pollination due to other varieties of Cherry Cherry or Plum, blooming simultaneously with the Cherry Cherry variety “Gek”. The advantage of this variety is its resistance to diseases and pests.

Variety "Monomakh"

Cherry plum variety Monomakh

Unlike previous varieties, the fruits of this variety are average, but very tasty, juicy, with a stone that can be easily separated from the pulp. The weight of one fruit with a thin purple skin is approximately 25-30 grams. The name of the variety is associated with the unusual shape of the fruits, reminiscent of Monomakh's cap. The variety is early ripening, bears fruit annually, and yields are high.

Variety "Vladimir Comet"

Cherry plum variety “Vladimir Comet”

This variety was obtained by breeders relatively recently, but is already appreciated by modern gardeners. The tree is of medium height, with a rounded but not dense crown. The fruits have a round-oval shape with a sharp end. They are quite large, burgundy in color with a thin waxy coating. The pulp of the fruit is dark orange. The taste of the fruit is sweet and sour. Fruiting begins in mid-July. The variety is frost-resistant, self-fertility is high.

Variety "Mara"

Cherry plum variety “Mara”

The height of the tree is 2-3 meters with a spherical crown, which requires regular shaping pruning. The variety is highly resistant to frost, diseases and pests. Fruit ripening time is July. In this case, the fruits do not fall off, but can remain on the branch until August. The fruits have a yellowish-orange hue, and the skin is slightly lighter than the pulp. The taste of the fruits is very sweet, suitable for making jam and marmalade.

Variety "Zlato Skifov"

Cherry plum variety “Zlato Skifov”

This variety appeared in 2005 and is an early ripening variety. The height of the tree is more than 3 meters. The crown is in the form of a wide cone. The fruits are large, with bright yellow skin. The pulp of the fruit is juicy and sweet. The tree bears fruit every year, the yield is average. The culture tolerates changes in air temperature well. Disadvantage: requires additional pollination.

Variety "Skoroplodnaya"

Cherry plum variety “Skoroplodnaya”

The variety was bred by Chinese breeders. The tree is small and begins to bear fruit in the 2-3rd year of life. The fruits have a reddish tint and are medium in size. The pulp of the fruit is very tender, juicy, tasty, the stone is easily separated, which makes them suitable for fresh consumption. The variety is frost-resistant and requires cross-pollination with other cherry plum varieties.

Variety "Abundant"

Cherry plum variety “Obilnaya”

This hybrid form was bred in the late 60s of the twentieth century. The fruits have a thin skin of a dark purple hue. The weight of one fruit is approximately 30 grams. To taste – juicy, aromatic. Productivity is high.

Rules of care

Proper care is necessary to increase crop productivity.

Watering mode

It is recommended to water the plant every 3 days after planting. After the first year of life, irrigation is reduced to once a week.

Top dressing

The plant must be fed according to the following scheme:

• humus in spring;
• before flowering, potassium and phosphorus fertilizers;
• in summer complex superphosphate;
• in autumn humus or peat.

If the seedling is planted on poor soil, an additional solution of chicken manure is used.

Preparing for winter

Cherry plum tolerates low temperatures well, so in the first year it is enough to cover the seedling with burlap. In subsequent years, a layer of spruce branches and humus is used to protect the roots.

Trimming

The tree is small in size, so pruning is necessary to form the crown and increase productivity.

Formative

This type of pruning involves shaping the crown of the tree. The procedure is carried out annually, since young shoots grow very quickly on the crop and their shape is lost.

Regulatory

It is used during the period of fruit formation. Shoots that do not bear fruit are shortened. This action improves the flow of light and accelerates ripening.

Supportive

The branches that grow during the season are shortened. During fruiting, the bark may crack and branches break under the weight of the fruit. Shortening the branches reduces this problem.

Sanitary

Held in spring and autumn. All damaged branches must be removed. You should also reduce the density of the crown and remove internal shoots.

See also

How to prune plum trees correctly, timing and features

Read

Important. After pruning, the cut area must be treated with garden varnish. This will prevent further contamination of the crop.

Tree trunk care

It is necessary to remove all weeds near the roots that can be a carrier of diseases. The soil must be loosened regularly. The trunk near the roots is whitened using lime.

For plants under 2 years old, it is necessary to use chalk, which does not destroy the young bark.