Content
Cherry plum Zlato Skifov is one of the few varieties grown in regions with cold climates. Plum fruits are bright yellow in color and have a pleasant aroma and rich taste. Planting and caring for the plant does not cause any particular difficulties even for novice gardeners.
History of selection
The cherry plum variety Zlato Skifov is a hybrid obtained as a result of pollination of the Kuban Comet plum. This is the merit of domestic breeders working on the basis of the Agricultural Academy named after. K. A. Timiryazev at the end of the 20th – beginning of the 21st century.
Description of culture
The hybrid cherry plum Zlato Skifov can reach 200-250 cm in height. The spreading crown of the tree has a rounded shape. The leaves, like most plum varieties, are oblong in shape, the edge of the leaf blade is jagged, and its end is pointed.
As you can see in the photo of the Zlato Skifov cherry plum, the shoots of the tree are quite thick, yellowish in places. The flowers of this plum are white and numerous. The fruits are large, bright yellow, oval in shape. There is a slight waxy coating on the plum skin.
The weight of each fruit reaches about 30-35 g. The pronounced fruity aroma and sweet and sour taste make it possible to use the Zlato Skifov cherry plum variety in the food industry.
The main regions recommended for growing yellow plums are Ivanovo, Ryazan, Bryansk, Vladimir and other regions of central Russia.
Characteristics
The characteristics of cherry plum Zlato Skifov show that this is one of the best varieties bred by Russian breeders.
Drought resistance, winter hardiness
Cherry plum is considered a heat-loving crop that tolerates dry periods of the year quite favorably. But only some varieties, including the plum Zlato Skifov, can boast of winter hardiness. This hybrid is suitable for cultivation even in areas with cold climates.
Pollination, flowering period and ripening time
Due to the sterility of plums, other varieties must be planted in the neighborhood. The main pollinators of cherry plum Zlato Skifov:
- Pavlovskaya yellow;
- Gift to St. Petersburg;
- Ruby.
The plum blossoms in late April - early May, and begins to bear fruit in June.
Productivity, fruiting
Cherry plum Zlata Skifov has an average yield: about 20 kg of plums from each mature tree. At the same time, the crop begins to bear fruit 4-5 years after planting.
Area of application of fruits
The fruits of this plum variety are very juicy and soft, have a bright sweet taste with sourness and an attractive aroma. All these characteristics make it possible to use cherry plum for preparing a variety of dishes at home.
Resistance to diseases and pests
Plum is quite vulnerable to pathogens and diseases. But regular preventative spraying will reduce the risk of tree infection.
Advantages and disadvantages
The main advantages of the cherry plum variety Zlato Skifov include:
- earlier fruit ripening;
- harvesting already 3-4 years after planting;
- regular fruiting;
- possibility of growing in areas with cold climates;
- universal taste of plum fruit.
The disadvantages are:
- self-sterility;
- relatively low plum yield;
- vulnerability to many diseases of stone fruit crops;
- poor keeping quality.
All of the above disadvantages of this variety are compensated by the numerous advantages of the Zlato Skifov plum.
Landing Features
Growing Zlato Skifov cherry plum does not require any special skills or abilities. It is important to wisely choose a seedling, planting site and place other varieties nearby to pollinate the crop.
Recommended timing
Despite the fact that the variety is winter-hardy, you need to choose the time for planting so that the seedling is not damaged by severe frosts and winds. The optimal time for excavation work is the beginning of April. In the south, plums are planted after leaf fall.
Choosing a suitable location
Cherry plum is a heat-loving and light-loving crop, so it is better to plant the tree in the southern part of the site on neutral loamy soils.
What crops can and cannot be planted next to cherry plum
Yellow cherry plum Zlato Skifov grows well next to other stone fruits, such as cherries, apricots, sloe or plums. And the best neighbors are pollinating varieties.
It is not advisable to place plums next to nightshade crops, large trees and berry bushes.
Selection and preparation of planting material
The optimal age of seedlings is 1-2 years; they take root easily. Reviews about the cultivation of cherry plum Zlato Skifov in the middle zone confirm this. Before purchasing, it is important to inspect the seedling for damage to the root system, broken shoots and cracks in the bark.
Pre-planting preparation consists of soaking the root for at least 3 hours.
Landing algorithm
The main stages of planting the Zlato Skifov plum:
- First you need to dig a hole about 60 cm deep and about 65-70 cm in diameter, then prepare the soil with a mixture of humus, peat or sand.
- Place the seedling in the center of the hole so that the root collar rises about 5 cm above its edge.
- After this, all fertile soil is filled up and compacted tightly. If the seedling is fragile, you can drive a peg nearby and tie the tree to it.
- A roll of soil is formed around the trunk of the seedling and 25-30 liters of water are spilled.
- After all the moisture has been absorbed, the soil around the plum needs to be mulched with peat or straw.
Subsequent care of the crop
Due to the plant's resistance to drought, it does not need regular watering during regular rainfall. But with a long absence of rain, especially in southern and arid regions, about 3-4 waterings per season are required. On average, one tree uses 30-35 liters of water at a time. When watering, never use cold water.
You also need to regularly weed and loosen the soil around the tree. As for feeding, if organic or mineral fertilizers were added to the hole before planting, then the tree does not need them until the first fruiting. Next you should proceed according to the following scheme:
- April - application of ammonium nitrate and potassium salts at the rate of 25 g and 35 g per square meter, respectively;
- May - urea solution at the rate of 80 g per 25 liters of water;
- June - mullein solution with the addition of superphosphate in a ratio of 1:3.
If the soil in the area with the plum tree is acidic, it is recommended to add chalk or lime every five years.
In addition, planting and caring for the Zlato Skifov cherry plum includes regular pruning of the tree. The procedure is carried out at the very beginning of spring before the buds swell, or in late autumn after the leaves fall.
To prepare a tree for winter, it is enough to whitewash the trunk with lime to protect it from pests.
Harvesting, processing and storage
Fruiting begins 4-5 years after planting the seedling. Plum harvesting usually occurs in July. This variety does not have a high shelf life, so the maximum shelf life of cherry plum in a ventilated box at low temperatures is about 2-2.5 weeks.
Diseases and pests, methods of control and prevention
The plum variety is characterized by average resistance to disease, and gardeners’ reviews of the Zlato Skifov cherry plum are proof of this.
Table “Main diseases of the Zlato Skifov variety”
Disease | Methods of treatment and methods of prevention |
Hole spot | Before the buds open, it is necessary to treat the tree with nitrafen. After the leaves bloom, treatment is carried out with a Brod mixture. |
Sooty fungus | It is important to monitor the watering schedule and prevent the soil from becoming waterlogged. The destruction of the disease is carried out by treating the tree with copper sulfate with the addition of laundry soap. |
milky shine | For prevention, it is recommended to prune and destroy the affected shoots, and also never prune the tree during frost. The cut surface should always be treated with oil paint with the addition of copper sulfate. |
Table “Main pests of cherry plum Zlato Skifov”
Pest | Methods of control and prevention |
Plum moth | After flowering, the crop must be treated with Akarin and sprayed with Alfacin during the growing season. |
Brown fruit mite | It is important to promptly remove dying bark, and if a pest appears, treat the tree before flowering with Apollo, and during the growing season with Zircon. |
Acacia false scale | One of the best ways to combat this pest is ladybugs. You can also spray the tree with Fufan or Confidor (before flowering) and Kinmiks (during the growing season). |
Conclusion
Cherry plum Zlato Skifov is one of the few winter-hardy varieties that are widely used in the central regions of Russia. And the taste and aroma of its fruits allow the crop to be used in the food industry.
