History of the variety's creation
The President plum variety was created by breeders from Hertfordshire (England). When breeding the variety, experts tried to ensure that this plum had high productivity and high growth vigor. And their efforts were crowned with success - the new variety was significantly different from other plums existing at that time in its yield, the harvested crop perfectly tolerated long-distance transportation, and the seedlings quickly grew.
Photo of plum President
But the popularity of the President began to increase only from the beginning of the last century, when gardeners not only in England, but also in other European countries paid attention to this highly productive plum variety.
The President plum is still grown on an industrial scale, but mainly in Western Europe, as well as in private farms.
History of variety selection
The domestic plum "President" is a late-ripening fruit tree.
It was developed in the 19th century in Great Britain (Hertfordshire). Since 1901, the popularity of the variety began to increase rapidly. Gardeners paid attention to its intensive growth, large number of fruits and the possibility of transportation over long distances. These properties have taken the variety far beyond the borders of its “homeland”.
Plum President: description of the variety, main characteristics
Plum President is a late-ripening variety,
in this case, flowering occurs in the second ten days of May, and the fruits ripen from the second ten days of September to early October. Moreover, the intensity of ripening depends on the climatic conditions of the growing region - the warmer the weather, the faster the ripening occurs.
The height of the President plum fruit tree can reach 3.0 m
. The growth rate of the crop is high. The crown shape is round, often oval. The color of the trunk bark is gray with a greenish tint, the side shoots are gray with a brownish tint.
The branches grow at an acute angle to the central trunk, but when the tree begins to bear fruit, the shoots begin to grow to the sides. The leaves are large, without pubescence, dark emerald color, smooth with a characteristic shine. The petioles are quite strong, their length is average.
Plum variety PRESIDENT - video
The flowers are medium in size, with white petals, similar in shape to rose flowers, collected in inflorescences, each of which has no more than 3 buds.
The size of ripe fruits is medium, their shape is round, with a small depression at the base. The weight of the President plum fruit is on average 50 g, but there are also larger fruits - up to 70 g.
The skin is thin, with a smooth surface, covered with a waxy coating, and is easily separated from the pulp.
Ripening plums have a green color; when ripe, they acquire a bright blue color, sometimes bright purple. The pulp is elastic, juicy, and has a green color with a yellowish tint. The stalks are small in size, making the fruits easy to tear off from the branches. The seeds are medium in size, oval in shape, pointed on both sides, easily separated from the ripe pulp.
The taste of ripe fruits of the President plum is sweet with a characteristic sourness. 100 g of product contains 6.12 g of vitamin C, and sugars - 8.5%. The juice of this plum has no color.
On a note!
The tasting assessment of the appearance of ripe fruits is 4 points, and their taste qualities of the President plum are rated at 4.5 points.
Due to their strong skin, ripe plums tolerate long-distance transportation well and can be stored for quite a long time in appropriate conditions.
Interesting article:
Plums for the Moscow region - 25 of the best varieties.
The collected fruits are often eaten fresh, since President plums are very sweet and pleasant to the taste. However, they can also be preserved, since the skin does not burst during heat treatment. The collected fruits of the President variety make delicious compotes, aromatic preserves and jams. The taste of President plums does not deteriorate even when frozen, so they are often placed in the freezer for the winter.
These trees tolerate hot and dry summers well, without reducing their productivity.
Frost resistance of the President plum is quite high; this fruit tree can easily tolerate winters with cold temperatures down to -25-30 degrees
Celsius.
Landing Features
If you decide to have this miracle tree on your site, then prepare a large space for it, since the branches will spread out and they need enough space for full development.
It can be planted in spring, at the end of March or beginning of April, and also in autumn, from late September to mid-October. But still, the spring period is more preferable. At this time, the young seedling will not be attacked by the first frosts and will begin to actively grow and develop. As practice has shown, trees planted in autumn begin to bear fruit a year later, only on the sixth year.
When planting, the air temperature is important; it should be no lower than +12 degrees
Also pay special attention to the soil, it should be soft and loose, so that the shovel can fit freely
Pollinator trees
Although the President plum is considered a self-fertile variety, the presence of nearby pollinating trees dramatically increases its productivity.
The best pollinating varieties for the President plum are:
- Bluefree;
- Red early ripening;
- Stanley;
- Kuibyshev damson;
- Renklod Altana;
- Peaceful.
It is better to plant a couple of trees of different varieties next to the President plum, in this case the yield of all trees will be high.
Characteristics of the variety
The characteristics of the variety determine how the plantings should be cared for. Particularly important is information about the tree’s resistance to diseases and weather conditions, pollination, ripening time, yield, transportability and acceptable methods of use.
Find out also about the features of the Angelina plum variety.
Resistance to diseases and pests
The President plum is practically not affected by the main forms of fungal diseases and scab.
Other diseases include:
- moniliosis;
- plum moth;
- gum therapy;
- aphid.
The variety does not have full resistance to diseases and pests. The condition of the tree must be constantly monitored.
Drought resistance and winter hardiness
Plum President tolerates heat well. A dry summer will not harm the tree's yield. The variety is also considered winter-hardy. Plants tolerate frosts well down to –25…–30°C.
Did you know? In Chinese culture, the plum symbolizes winter. For the Japanese, this fruit is a symbol of spring.
Pollination
To get a harvest, a gardener needs to think about pollination.
The best pollinators for the President are:
- Bluefree;
- Red early ripening;
- Stanley;
- Kuibyshev damson plum;
- Renclod Altana;
- Peaceful.
Flowering and ripening times
The President plum blooms in the second half of May. The harvest usually ripens between September 10 and October. The speed of ripening depends on weather conditions. The warmer the summer, the faster the fruits ripen.
Productivity
The amount of harvest depends on the age of the plum. The first fruits are collected from five-year-old plants. Young trees from 5 to 10 years old produce 16–18 kg of harvest. Starting from the age of ten, the yield increases to 19–40 kg. The gardeners' record is 70 kg of fruit from one tree.
Also read the main rules for growing Etude plums.
Transportability
Ripe fruits are distinguished by their strength and shelf life. For this reason, they tolerate transportation well. The presentation does not deteriorate during transportation.
Application
Due to its excellent taste, the crop is often used fresh. However, the fruits can be processed thermally. For long-term storage, plums are frozen. The President variety tolerates freezing well.
At the same time, it practically does not lose its taste. High temperature processing is also acceptable. Compotes, preserves, preserves, and marmalade are prepared from plums of this variety. Winemakers use the fruits to make wine. Plum wine from this variety has a particularly pleasant taste.
Productivity of the variety
The productivity of the President plum directly depends on its age. This tree is not early ripening, so the first fruiting of the President plum begins 5 seasons after planting the seedlings in a permanent place.
From trees aged 5 to 10 years, no more than 18-20 kg of ripe fruits are collected. Subsequently, the amount of harvested crop increases to 30-40 kg. But some gardeners noted that with good care, they harvested 70 kg of harvest from one President plum.
Plum President (September 2018) - video
Features of cultivation
The peculiarity of growing President plum compared to many other varieties is that you can pay a little less attention to watering. Of course, with sufficient soil moisture, the harvest will be larger, but temporary drying out will not lead to a fatal outcome. It is especially important to keep the soil in the tree trunk moist during flowering and a little later, at the beginning of fruit growth. But in the second half of summer there is no need to give a lot of water, so as not to cause continued growth of shoots instead of preparing them for winter, as well as cracking of the fruits.
Feeding the tree begins in the third year after planting. Every year, in early spring, a fast-acting nitrogen fertilizer is scattered around the tree. It is better to take urea, but you can also use ammonium nitrate, about 20 g/m2. Before flowering begins, compost or humus is buried shallowly, as well as superphosphate and any potash fertilizer. In this case, organic matter (5–6 kg/m2) can be applied not annually, but mineral fertilizers (50 g of superphosphate and 20–30 g of potassium salt per 1 m2) – every year.
Starting from the second year and until the beginning of normal fruiting, the President plum is formed. Any plum pruning in the middle zone is carried out in early spring, before the sap flows, with the obligatory covering of the wounds with garden varnish. In the first 2-3 years, they try to give the tree the desired shape: as a rule, the President plum creates 2 tiers of skeletal branches of 3-4 branches, directed evenly in different directions. The conductor is not touched for a long time, and only after 3–5 years, if they do not want to allow the tree to grow further upward, it is cut out. During formative pruning, skeletal branches are shortened by 15–20 cm.
Pruning plums is a very delicate procedure: stone fruits, unlike apple trees, do not forgive mistakes and get sick from improper pruning
After fruiting begins, the President plum is pruned lightly. They perform sanitary pruning (cutting out diseased and damaged branches), and, if necessary, if the thickening of the crown is excessive, lightening pruning.
Old plums, which have almost no new growth of shoots, are either replaced with new ones, or rejuvenated by greatly shortening the main branches, but it makes no sense to keep a tree on the site for more than 20 years.
Before the onset of winter, the trunks and bases of skeletal branches must be whitened, protecting them from early spring frost damage. If you add foul-smelling substances to the whitewash, you can protect the trees from hares in this way. But it’s better to tie young plums with pine spruce branches or nylon tights, and the hares don’t touch old trees. Protection from frost as such is usually not required for the President plum.
Video: plum pruning President
Diseases and pests
The President plum has a high immunity to fungal diseases and scab, so the tree is practically not affected by these diseases.
However, the resistance of this variety to other diseases is low, and the President plum may be affected by the following diseases and pests:
- moniliosis;
- plum moth;
- gum flow;
- aphids.
Fungicides!
Drug Skor Fungicide Topaz Drug Switch
Therefore, it is recommended to periodically inspect the crown of this plum. If the first symptoms of a disease or the presence of pests are detected, it is necessary to begin the fight immediately.
Against diseases, it is necessary to spray with solutions of appropriate fungicides. You can fight aphids using traditional methods - soap solution or garlic infusion. If the number of pests is large enough, then it is necessary to treat the President plum with insecticidal preparations.
High-yielding plum variety President, planting tips and care rules
Plum is one of the healthiest fruits for the human body. It contains a sufficient amount of substances that play an important role in the life of the body.
Plum fruits have a low calorie content of 29-30 kcal. Plums are high in potassium and calcium, dietary fiber, organic acids, carbohydrates and proteins. Plum fruits help lower blood pressure and strengthen blood vessels. This property does not disappear after heat treatment of the fruit.
The plum variety "President" was selected in 1901 in England. In this article we will talk about growing this variety, pruning and prevention from diseases and pests.
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
The main advantages of the President plum variety include:
- fairly high yield;
- excellent taste of ripe fruits;
- the harvested crop tolerates transportation well at any distance without losing its appearance and taste;
- good keeping quality of fruits;
- this fruit tree calmly tolerates hot weather, as well as periods of drought;
- frost resistance of the President plum is quite high;
- the variety is highly resistant to fungal diseases and scab;
- the harvested crop is of universal use.
But the variety also has its drawbacks, the main one of which is low resistance to moniliosis and gum disease, as well as to attacks by aphids and plum moths. This fruit tree also requires regular crown formation.
History of breeding and description of the variety
This plum variety was bred at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. English breeders. It became widespread only in 1901, becoming popular among farmers in Western Europe. Domestic farmers also often choose the President plum for planting.
The variety has a late ripening period - you can collect the first fruits either in mid-September or as early as October (ripening dates vary depending on the climatic conditions in your region). It is also worth noting that the tree enters the fruiting period at the 5th or 6th year of life, so you will not receive the first harvests soon.
In general, the trees produce a stable harvest every year, although it is important to collect it on time so that the fruits do not fall off. However, you shouldn’t pick the fruits ahead of time either - this greatly worsens their taste characteristics.
Collected plums are not stored for long - the maximum shelf life is about 20 days.
It is possible to note abundant annual harvests: as a rule, up to 20 kg of harvest can be collected from one tree in 6–8 years, and up to 40 kg in 9–12 years. With good care and optimal weather conditions, you can harvest up to 70 kg from one tree.
This variety is also noted to have good frost resistance and drought resistance, which makes it possible to grow trees even in regions with a not very favorable environment.
The breeders made sure that the tree has good immunity to most diseases - it is resistant to scab, moniliosis and gum disease. Rarely affected by most common pests (although plum aphids may be affected).
And of course, it is worth noting that the variety is self-fertile, so you do not need to plant other trees nearby to get a harvest. However, if you want to increase yields, you should choose a suitable variety for pollination. The varieties Amres, German, Katinka, Renklod and Soprenitsa are perfect for this.
Planting plum seedlings President
This plum variety develops normally on any type of soil, but this fruit tree feels best on loamy soils.
Important!
President plum does not tolerate excessive soil moisture, so it should not be grown in lowlands, swampy areas, or when groundwater is close to the surface of the earth. Their optimal location is at least 2 meters.
How to plant a young plum tree. Planting a plum seedling - video
The area for planting the President plum should be well lit by sunlight and located far enough from buildings and tall fruit trees that may shade the plant. This fruit tree is not afraid of gusts of wind, but does not tolerate strong drafts.
Purchased Presidential seedlings can be planted in spring or autumn.
The time for planting the President plum is in the spring - at the end of March-April, when the frosts have passed. In autumn, this plum is planted from early September to mid-October. It should be taken into account that at least 25-30 days must pass from the moment the tree is planted to the start of a sharp cold snap.
The main requirement is that the air temperature during landing must be above +12 degrees Celsius.
Photo of plum planting scheme
Advice!
Experienced gardeners say that the President plum takes root and grows better if it is planted in a permanent place in the spring.
It is better to purchase plum seedlings from well-established nurseries or specialized stores. Otherwise, there is a risk of encountering unscrupulous sellers who may offer either the wrong variety or a not entirely healthy seedling.
Before purchasing, you should carefully examine the root system and shoots of the tree. It is better not to buy plants with broken, dry or damaged roots and shoots.
Before planting Presidential seedlings with an open root system, they should be placed in a container with water for a day so that the roots are saturated with moisture. Immediately before planting, the roots of the seedling are dipped into a clay mash.
When planting President plum seedlings in the fall, the planting hole is prepared at least 12-14 days in advance
. And when planting in the spring, the hole is prepared in the fall.
Stages of planting plum seedlings President:
- The area is leveled, all plant debris and weeds are removed, and a hole is dug. Its dimensions should be as follows: diameter - 0.8 m, depth - 0.5 m.
- If you plan to plant a large number of seedlings at the same time, then the distance between the holes should be at least 2-2.5 m, and the row spacing should be up to 4.5 m.
- The top layer of soil selected from the pits is mixed with 2 buckets of compost and 0.5 kg of superphosphate. This nutrient soil mixture is returned to the pit.
- A 1 m long peg is driven into the hole near the center. The seedling is placed in the center of the hole, the roots are straightened across the diameter. When planting, the root collar should be buried 2-2.5 cm into the soil.
- The hole is dug in and the seedling is tied to a support.
- 3-4 buckets of water should be added to each tree.
- Then the tree trunk circles are mulched with a layer of sawdust or straw. The thickness of this layer is 15 cm.
It must be remembered that plum trees do not tolerate the presence of any fruit trees nearby, except apple trees. But any fruit bushes “get along” well with this plum variety. It is best to plant raspberries, gooseberries or black currants nearby.
Optimal growing conditions
The President variety does not have any special requirements for soil, however, on some types of soil the tree will bear fruit better. If possible, plant plums in loam.
Important! A too wet swampy substrate is not suitable for planting.
Groundwater must be at a depth of at least 2 m. It is better to choose a well-lit area for planting. This can be an open garden, not shaded by buildings or other tall trees. The site should be open to the wind, but closed from sharp drafts.
Further care for plum President
The development of the tree, and subsequently its fruiting, will depend on how gardeners care for the planted plum tree. Therefore, you should not forget about watering, loosening the tree trunks, applying fertilizers, timely pruning of the crown, as well as preparing these fruit trees for the winter.
Irrigation regime
Although the President plum is highly resistant to periods of drought, it is better to water regularly in order to obtain high yields as a result. It is best to arrange drip irrigation in each tree trunk circle. But you can also introduce moisture along the edges of the tree trunk circles into specially dug circular furrows.
During the period of active growth of green mass, the plum is watered once every 12-14 days.
. It is recommended to add at least 4 buckets of water to each fruit tree. By August, the volume of watering is reduced to 2.5-3 buckets of water.
Feeding plum trees
Until this plum tree begins to bear fruit (in the first 5 years after planting the seedlings), it is enough to fertilize it only once a year - in the spring. For each square of the tree trunk circle, add 1 tbsp. l. urea and 1.5 tbsp. ammonium nitrate.
From the moment fruiting begins, this fruit tree requires more nutrients, so fertilizers for the President plum are applied not only in spring, but also in autumn.
Spring feeding should contain:
- a bucket of compost or rotted mullein;
- 1.5 tbsp. l. urea;
- 1 tbsp. l. potassium chloride;
- 2 tbsp. l. superphosphate.
At the beginning of autumn, when the fruits begin to actively ripen, the plums are fertilized again. You need to add 4 tbsp to each square of soil. l. superphosphate and 2 tbsp. l. potassium salt.
Pruning plum President
This plum variety annually produces a large number of young shoots, which over time greatly thicken the crown. At the same time, a large amount of nutrients is spent on the growth of shoots and foliage, as a result, productivity suffers.
Formative pruning of the President plum is carried out in the first three seasons of the tree’s life.
. In this case, all shoots are shortened by 20 cm. The formed crown should have two tiers, each of which should have no more than 3 branches.
Pruning fruit trees. Plum variety "President" - video
Starting from the age of 3, rejuvenating pruning of plum trees is carried out to prevent thickening of the crown. Usually the main trunk is shortened by a third, and the side branches by 2/3 of the length. In the southern regions, such pruning is carried out in early spring, before the buds open. In colder regions, rejuvenating pruning of the President plum is postponed until the fall.
Sanitary pruning of plum trees is carried out as needed throughout the summer season. In this case, all broken, damaged and dried shoots are removed.
Characteristics of the "President"
"President" has characteristics that distinguish it from other tree varieties. Therefore, pay attention to the characteristics so that problems do not occur during harvesting.
The gardener provided an overview of the “President” plum variety in his video below:
Productivity
“President” is distinguished by a fairly early fruiting period - 5-6 years from the moment of planting. From this age and up to approximately 10 years, the harvest can be 17 kg of fruit, and after that, up to 40 kg of fruit can be collected from one tree, which is quite a lot. If you pay maximum attention to the health and condition of the tree, the harvest can increase to 70 kg.
Winter hardiness and drought resistance
“President” is considered extremely resistant to both cold winters and very hot summers. For example, in the severe winter of 1968-1969, trees froze by one point, and in the winter of 1978-1979. – by 3.3 points, that is, the average degree of freezing is 2 points, which is quite a bit.
Pollination
Pollination of fruit trees is the key to a good harvest, but before you plant different types next to each other, you should find out which varieties will have a beneficial effect and whether you can get the maximum yield.
“President” is a highly self-fertile tree, however, it can also be combined with certain varieties, which include:
- Stanley;
- Ternosliv Kuibyshevskaya;
- Joyo;
- Peaceful;
- Rival;
- Red early ripening;
- Renklod Altana;
- Amers;
- Katinka;
- Vision;
- Kabardian early;
- Temple Renklod;
- Rusch Gestetter;
- Rival.
Ripening time
In mid-May, flowers already appear on the trees, but the fruits ripen quite late - in hot summers the timing falls in the second ten days of September. With cool summers, the fruits may ripen by the end of September or even by the beginning of October.
Transportability and shelf life
Dense fruits with durable skin can easily withstand transportation. During transportation, neither their quality nor appearance suffers, even if the fruits are still unripe, which is why many people use this variety for sale - the marketable appearance of the fruit is not lost. If you harvest the crop in early September, it can be easily transported over the longest distances.
Not fully ripened plums can be stored in basements or warehouses for 14 days. If the fruits were picked ripe, their shelf life in the refrigerator is 5-7 days.
Resistance to diseases and pests
This variety does not have immunity from diseases, so the tree requires additional processing and care. Has average resistance to the following diseases:
- Moniliosis is a fungal disease. The spores overwinter on tree bark or are carried by the wind. The plum becomes infected with moniliosis during the flowering period - the leaves become brown, fall off, and the fruits soften and become covered with white rot, after which they begin to mummify. To prevent this, treat the tree with a 3% solution of Horus before the tree blooms or 15-20 days after. As a preventive measure, do regular pruning, collect and burn infected fruits in a timely manner, and clean the trunk of dead bark and whitewash.
- deposition - sticky, viscous streaks and cracks appear on the plum trunk, and the bark becomes thin. In this case, use fertilizers that will strengthen the tree's stability. Apply according to fertilization schedule. And as a preventive measure, treat the sections after pruning with garden varnish or oil red.
- Plum dwarfism is a fungal disease that a plum becomes infected with during grafting of a seedling. The essence of the disease is slower growth, fragility and thinning of leaves, and possible premature death of the plum. The disease cannot be treated - the plum must be uprooted and burned. Carefully examine the planting material and purchase it only from experienced gardeners in nurseries so as not to encounter this disease.
Parasites harmful to trees:
- The plum shoot moth is a butterfly that lays eggs at the base of the buds and pupates in early June-July. The ovaries on the tree wither, the leaves become gnawed and shriveled, the buds and tops of the shoots are shrouded in cobwebs. Treatment with Chlorophos helps against plum moths; carry out the procedure at the end of April - May, when the buds begin to bloom. Loosening row spacing and tree trunk areas in early summer helps as a preventative measure.
- Plum pollinated aphid slows down the growth of seedlings and prevents the formation of new buds. The ovaries begin to dry out and wither, the fruits do not fill and remain small and wrinkled. Mineral oil preparations help fight (0.2-0.3 l per 1 sq. m.). Apply treatment in early spring, before sap flow begins. As a preventive measure, remove root growth, dead bark on the trunk and skeletal branches, and whiten the trees every year.
- Plum codling moth - damages the petioles of the fruit and gnaws through the fruits. Because of this, the plums do not fill, but ripen ahead of time, rot and fall off. You can fight the codling moth using pine concentrate (2-4 tablespoons per 10 liters of water). Treatment occurs during the growing season, if necessary. As a preventative measure, loosen the soil in the tree trunk area, clean the trunk and skeletal branches of old bark, trim damaged shoots and burn the carrion.
What other diseases can occur in plums can be read in this article.
Plum President: reviews from those who grow the fruit tree
Nina, 48 years old, Moscow region: You should not rush to pick the fruits, since after picking they do not ripen at home. I would especially like to note the good transportability and keeping quality of the harvested crop. If it is possible to constantly irrigate the tree trunks, then it is possible to grow the President variety on an industrial scale.
Olga, 54 years old, Leningrad region: I really love plums, so I planted several varieties of this fruit crop in my garden. Several years ago I also planted the President variety. Last year I harvested the first harvest from this tree. There were few fruits, but they turned out to be sweet and juicy. I'm waiting for the next harvest - I plan to make compotes and jam from them.
Alexandra, 55 years old, Moscow region: The President planted a couple of plum seedlings at his place. I bought two just in case, in case one freezes. But both took root and never froze over the winter. The first harvest was harvested 4 seasons after planting. There weren't very many plums, so we ate everything fresh. The next year, 10 kilograms were collected from each tree - enough for both food and dessert preparations. The fruits are very tasty and can be stored fresh for a long time. I recommend this plum variety to all gardeners.
With proper planting and proper further care of the plum, the President will not get sick, will actively grow and will bear fruit regularly and abundantly.
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If the summer is dry, or the weather is cold in September, the taste of the fruit deteriorates: the flesh is hard and sour. The taste of the fruit is excellent when weather conditions are favorable and the plums ripen on the tree.
In the gardens of the Moscow region, the fruits have time to ripen if the weather is warm in summer, usually by the end of September. In winter, plums do not freeze, and the fruit tastes excellent. There are years when the plum does not have time to ripen.
Cultivation
In order for the plant to form correctly, it requires sufficient space. Dates for planting seedlings: March - in the spring, October - in the autumn. Landing dates guidelines:
- soil structure – loose and crumbly;
- air heating temperature is from 12 degrees Celsius.
Planting in regions with cold climates should be done in the spring to avoid freezing of the seedling in winter. Planting in spring is also important due to the speed of rooting of the plant and the acceleration of the processes of crop formation.
President plum, planted on loamy soil, produces twice as much yield and is more resistant to infectious diseases. You will need to properly care for the tree trunk and provide the soil with moisture and oxygen.
Acidic soil must be limed before planting. The procedure is carried out at the end of October, before the autumn digging of the garden. To lime the soil, you need to:
- spread lime around the entire perimeter of the garden in a proportion of 400 g per 1 sq. m;
- dig up the ground to a depth of 15 cm.
The procedure increases soil permeability, which promotes the activation of beneficial microorganisms and enriches the soil with minerals. To reduce the acidic environment of the soil, wood ash is used at the rate of 2 kg per 1 sq. m.
Recommendations for planting
The choice of landing site must meet the following criteria:
- openness of the area;
- sufficient lighting;
- flat terrain;
- planting is carried out in an area with a groundwater level of at least 2 m, otherwise rotting of the rhizome cannot be avoided.
Planting in the right place will contribute to the proper development and avoidance of fungal infections. Thanks to sufficient lighting, the crown will dry quickly even after heavy rain.
To plant a plum, dig a hole 70 cm deep and 60 cm wide, maintaining a distance of 3 m between trees and 4 m between rows. The seedling is placed in the hole, distributing the rhizome along the bottom. Cover the shoot with soil, making sure that there are no voids; to do this, shake the seedling a little when pouring soil. The root neck is dug in a few cm. The planted tree is watered with a huge amount of water, and the trunk circle is mulched with sawdust.
Care requirements
The President plum variety tolerates drought well, so it does not require excessive watering. Irrigation is required during the rapid development and flowering stage. It is enough to irrigate the tree twice a month, in the amount of 3-4 buckets per tree. Water can be introduced through small ditches 15 cm deep, dug in the tree trunk circle.
The plum tree of this variety tolerates frost well and takes root in temperate climatic zones, which makes it possible not to cover young trees with burlap during the winter. Preparation for the winter period includes whitewashing the lower part of the trunk and skeletal branches, which will prevent a number of problems:
- Destruction of pests and their offspring that overwinter on the plant.
- Protection against fungus.
- Protection from rodents.
Preparation of whitewash: add 3 kg of lime, 1 kg of clay and 300 g of copper sulfate to 10 liters of water. For mature trees, glue is added to the mixture in an amount of 1 kg, and for young trees, lime can be replaced with chalk.
Rodent control is important:
- Rubbing the lower part of the trunk with a mixture of lard and tar soap will help repel mice - the smell will repel rodents;
- Installing a small fence in the form of a mesh will help prevent hares from eating the bark;
- Scattering sawdust soaked in kerosene will help in the fight against mice;
- the trunk is wrapped with roofing felt or other durable material;
- in winter, when a large amount of snow falls, it is trampled down near the trunk.
Peculiarities
As a fairly old and reliable variety, “President” has its own characteristics, thanks to which people love it so much.
Climate and cultivation regions
“President” feels great in various parts of the country - from the very South to the Far East. It can be found in Siberia and the Urals. In other CIS countries, this plum is similarly popular - especially in Ukraine and Moldova.
Area of application of berries
First of all, plums can be consumed fresh, however, a huge advantage of “President” is that it can be used for all types of processing:
- compotes;
- jam;
- fruit purees and soups;
- jelly;
- marmalade;
- plum juice
Plums can also be pickled and dried. The dietary properties of plums are also highly valued - the product is low-calorie and is part of anti-obesity diets. And canned plums are recommended in the presence of cardiovascular diseases and gastrointestinal disorders.
Landing
Landing rules:
- first prepare the area, which should be fertile, dry and well lit;
- Next, holes are made ahead of time, 80 cm wide and 50 cm deep, into which a mixture of the fertile top layer and fertilizer is filled halfway;
- then, a seedling is placed on a hill made from this mixture, the roots straightened, covered with the remaining soil, compacted, and watered abundantly;
- The distance around the tree is covered with mulch - humus or peat.
It is recommended to plant trees in spring or autumn.
Prevention and treatment of diseases
To prevent diseases, diseased fruits, foliage, and branches must be destroyed. In the fight against some pests, mechanical shaking, collection and destruction of insects is sufficient (for example, plum sawfly).
Only chemical agents (bitoxibacillin, lepidocide, etc.) will help against aphids and codling moths. For preventive purposes, the plant can be treated with a boric acid solution in spring and autumn.
Read here about healthy varieties of black cherries.
In this article you can learn how to grow grapes.
It should be remembered that plums are useful only in moderation. Excessive consumption of fruits is harmful to people who have:
The harm in this case lies in the excessive removal of fluid from the diseased body. Also, these fruits are prohibited for infants, since their consumption by children is accompanied by intestinal disorders.
They eat not only fresh fruits, but also in the form of jam and marmalade, wine, juice or compote, marmalade, sauces, marshmallows and other confectionery products.
From this video you can learn more about the principles of pruning:
Reviews from gardeners
The President variety is in demand and loved. It is happily bred to this day in many countries, both by amateur gardeners and farms.
Nikolay, 49 years old
“I grow President plum for sale. The taste and appearance are presentable. Yields are high. The variety is in great demand on the market - it’s flying off the shelves at lightning speed, and the price is quite high.”
Olga, 55 years old
“I am a gardener with many years of experience. I grow several varieties of plums, but the President is my favorite - I really like the taste and aroma of its fruits, which make amazing-tasting jam and a very aromatic compote, and my granddaughters love to eat them this way.
On my site there are several other varieties that pollinate the President well, and he has never let us down. It produces a harvest every year, and the quantity of fruit is pleasing. I’ve never seen any illnesses.”