Content
Plum Alyonushka is a bright representative of the varieties of Chinese plums, which differ significantly from the usual varieties of this crop. Proper planting and care of Alyonushka will allow you to admire unusually beautiful flowering every year and collect numerous harvests of juicy, round fruits.
History of variety selection
The Chinese plum variety Alyonushka was obtained by crossing the Chinese plum and the Red Ball. It is an achievement of the breeders of the All-Russia Research Institute for Breeding Fruit Crops in the city of Orel. This plum has been listed in the State Register since 2001 and is suitable for cultivation in the Central Black Earth region.
Description of the plum variety Alyonushka
The fruits of Alyonushka have a round shape and large size characteristic of Chinese plums. The weight of one specimen can reach 70 g, but fruits weighing about 35 g predominantly grow. The main color of the fruit is red with the presence of a waxy coating.The pulp of the Alyonushka plum is yellow-orange, very juicy and tender, with a sweet and sour taste. The tasting rating of the variety is 4.6 points out of 5. The transportability of the fruit is high, the shelf life is average.
One of the advantages of Chinese plums is their height, which does not exceed 2.5 m. Alyonushka is no exception, so it is convenient to harvest from it. The crown of the tree is of medium density, pyramidal in shape. Red-brown shoots are straight, pubescent. The leaves are matte and oblong, unlike the usual varieties - rounded.
Recommended growing regions: Voronezh and Kursk regions and other areas belonging to the Central Black Earth belt.
Characteristics of the variety
A detailed description of the characteristics of the Alyonushka plum is given below as an assessment of the most important varietal characteristics.
Frost resistance of plum Alyonushka
The winter hardiness of the tree is average, estimated at 4 points. The cold resistance of the buds is increased, so this plum variety can be grown in regions with unpredictable climatic conditions, for example, in the Urals.
Pollinators of plum Alyonushka
The Alyonushka plum is a partially self-fertile tree, so even without the presence of any pollinator nearby, it can be harvested. For maximum yield and high quality fruits, it is necessary to organize its pollination. Recommended pollinator is Skoroplodnaya plum. To obtain numerous harvests from Alyonushka, it is recommended to pollinate it with any varieties of Cherry plum.
Alyonushka blooms at the beginning of May, the fruits ripen in mid or late August.
Productivity and fruiting
The maximum yield of the Alyonushka variety is about 2 kg per bush, and the average is 0.9 kg.This indicator is not considered high, but the variety bears fruit every year. Fruiting occurs early; the first fruits can be collected already in the third year after planting the seedling.
Area of application of berries
Alyonushka fruits are consumed fresh and used for processing. The variety is suitable for winter canning; jam, jam, compotes and other desserts are made from it.
Resistance to diseases and pests
The Alyonushka variety is characterized by increased resistance to the most common stone fruit diseases - moniliosis and perforated spot (klyasterosporiosis).
Among pests, the greatest damage to young shoots and leaves of the Alyonushka plum tree is caused by aphids.
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
Among the advantages of the Alyonushka plum variety are:
- dry separation of fruits from the stalk;
- high product and taste qualities;
- decorative flowering;
- versatility of fruit use.
The disadvantages of the variety are:
- tendency to infestation by aphids;
- disintegration of the bark at the base during heavy rains and melting snow.
Planting and caring for plum Alyonushka
Alyonushka plum is a Chinese variety, so it may seem capricious when grown. But knowing all the features of planting and caring for it, you can harvest high yields of delicious plums every year.
Recommended timing
Despite the fact that spring is preferable for planting domestic plums, Chinese varieties are planted in autumn. Its roots can withstand low temperatures in the soil; before frost, the seedling manages to take root, and with the arrival of spring it begins to grow actively. Planting is carried out 1.5 months before the cold weather.
Choosing a suitable location
For the overseas beauty Alyonushka, they choose an open place, well lit by the sun from all sides.The main requirement when choosing a landing site for this plum is the absence of lowlands in which water can accumulate, so it is placed on a hill. This planting will help to avoid rotting and rotting of the root collar of the seedling during rainfalls and melting snow.
What crops can and cannot be planted nearby?
Near Alyonushka you can plant some berry bushes, for example, black currants and gooseberries. Cherries and sweet cherries will be extremely undesirable neighbors. These also include pear, walnut, hazel, birch and poplar.
Near the low-growing Chinese plum, you cannot grow tall trees that will create shade.
Selection and preparation of planting material
When choosing an Alyonushka plum seedling, you need to pay attention to the following criteria:
- it should be free of traces of pests and diseases (stains, cobwebs, damage and growths on the bark);
- the age of the seedling should not exceed two years, otherwise the probability of its survival after planting is low;
- if possible, you need to assess the condition of the root system; the more roots, the better.
Landing algorithm
Alyonushka is planted using standard technology.
- 2 weeks before planting, prepare a 40x50 cm planting hole and install a peg.
- The seedling is placed in it, carefully straightening the roots. If the plum root system is closed, then it is replanted along with a lump of earth.
- The remaining space in the pit is filled with nutritious soil, gradually compacting it so that underground voids do not form.
- After planting, water, after which the tree trunk circle is mulched.
Aftercare for plums
In the first years of life, Alyonushka can be pruned only if the branches are damaged by frost or disease. The formation of the crown is carried out when the tree reaches five years of age.
Young plum trees in some Russian regions require careful preparation for winter, namely insulating the trunk with spruce branches or any other means. To protect against rodents, the trunk is wrapped in mesh.
Unlike ordinary plum varieties, Alyonushka requires careful and regular feeding in the first two years of its life, and responds equally well to the application of mineral and organic fertilizers.
The organization of watering is standard; on dry days it should be plentiful.
Diseases and pests, methods of control and prevention
Diseases and pests of the Alyonushka plum are given in the tables.
Table 1 - Possible diseases of plum
| Name of the disease | Ways to fight | Preventive measures |
| Coccomycosis | Spraying with copper-containing preparations (copper sulfate, Bordeaux mixture). | Collecting autumn leaves around the tree and burning them. Timely weeding of the trunk circle from weed. |
| Gum treatment | Treat the trunk with a solution of copper sulfate (1% concentration), putty the wounds with garden pitch. Shoots severely affected by the disease must be removed. | Whitewashing, winter insulation, preservation of old bark, protection from sunburn. |
| Smallpox (sharqa) | Burning all diseased plums. | Timely treatment of trees against pests that spread smallpox. |
Table 2 - Pests of plum Alyonushka
Pest name | Ways to fight | Prevention |
Aphid | Folk: solution of ash with soap, infusion of marigolds. Chemical: treatment with 15% karbofos. The product is applied to the lower surfaces of the leaf plates. | Timely weeding of the tree trunk circle, destruction of anthills on the site. |
Plum moth | Preparations: Fitoverm, Iskra Bio, Fufanon, Karbofos. Traditional methods: infusion of pine needles, solution of ash and soap, baits and traps, herbal infusions. | Cleaning of dead bark, preventive spring and autumn treatment with karbofos, collection and destruction of debris from the tree trunk. |
Black, yellow sawfly | Preparations: Entobacterin, Lepitotsid. Folk remedies: treatment with infusions of wormwood or pine needles. | Autumn digging of the trunk circle, preventive spring and autumn treatment against pests. |
Conclusion
Alyonushka plum is a relatively new variety that has already gained popularity among Russian gardeners. The size and taste of its fruits, good yield and early fruiting largely influence the choice of plum for a summer cottage.
Reviews
Below are reviews of the Chinese plum Alyonushka left by experienced gardeners.
