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The Prune plum was bred by crossing related crops: cherry plum and wild thorn. There is also another opinion that the Adyghe Prune hybrid was obtained from unknown parents. Many novice gardeners by this name mean other varieties of plums with dark fruits, which is fundamentally wrong. The main purpose of the fruits of this crop is to obtain dried fruit.
History of variety selection
There is no exact information about the origin of the Prune variety. Most often, this name refers to damson. It was this that was obtained by crossing cherry plum with wild thorn. Sometimes you come across information that Prunes were bred in 1937 at the Maikop station. The result was a hybrid, but its parents are unknown. The variety was given the name Adyghe prune and included in the State Register in 1988. It is this culture that will be discussed further.
In everyday life, prunes are usually called dried plums that have been smoked. To obtain a popular product, the Stanley plum variety is most often used. The culture was developed by an American breeder in 26 of the last century. Stanley has been listed in the State Register since 1983.
Prunes are also made from the Hungarian plum, since its fruits lend themselves well to drying and are highly saturated with sugar. There are several varieties of Hungarian. The most common varieties are:
- Italian Hungarian widespread in the southern regions. The heat-loving mid-season variety can freeze out in cold areas. The plum is self-fertile and does not require pollinators. The tree grows up to 5 m in height. The crown diameter is about 6 m. The plum does not tolerate drought, bears fruit 4 years after planting. Productivity reaches 50 kg per tree. Fruit weight is about 35 g.
- Homemade Hungarian bears fruit weighing 20 g. Plum variety Prunes are late, heat-loving, and begin to bear fruit at the age of 7. The tree grows up to 6.5 m high. Productivity is about 150 kg.
- Hungarian Wangenheim It is considered a frost-resistant crop. The plum variety Prunes is early, resistant to diseases, and thrives in poor soils. The yield of an adult tree reaches 60 kg, but the inflorescences require cross-pollination. Fruiting begins at the 6th year. The weight of the fruit reaches 30 g.
- Hungarian Korneevskaya It is frost and drought resistant. The variety is self-fertile. Pollinators are not needed. In terms of ripening period, the plum is mid-season. Fruiting begins after 6 years. At this time, the yield reaches 30 kg. Fruit weight is about 35 g.
The Renklod Karbysheva plum variety is well suited for the production of prunes. The tree is self-fertile and tolerates frost well. Fruit weight is about 40 g.The stone is easily separated from the pulp.
The mid-season variety Blue Bird is also used in the production of prunes. Fruiting of the seedling occurs in the third year from the moment of planting. The variety is self-fertile and resistant to frosty winters. The weight of the fruit is about 45 g. The stone is easily separated from the pulp.
You can dry prunes from the Izyum-erik plum variety. The culture is thermophilic, southern. The homeland of the mid-late variety is Crimea. Pollinators are required for fruiting. The yield of an adult tree reaches 115 kg. Fruit weight is about 10 g.
The plum Ural prune, which is also called Prune of the Urals, was bred from the cherry plum variety P-31. Another parent of the hybrid is the Ussuri plum. As a result, when crossing all varieties, the Ussuri plum produced a late prune, characterized by good frost resistance. The fruits grow of medium size, weighing no more than 16 g. The tree grows up to 2 m high. The variety is not self-fertile. The best pollinators are Ussuri plums and Ural red plums.
The video compares prunes with regular plum varieties:
Description of the plum variety Prunes
Now we will look at what the Prune plum looks like, which is widespread in households. The trees grow tall with a spreading crown. The average height of a plum is about 4 m. The length of the fruit branches does not exceed 50 cm. The plum produces large flower buds. The foliage grows slightly wrinkled. The leaf plate is strong and thick.
The fruits of the Prune variety are large, weighing from 40 to 45 g. The skin of the plum is dark blue, and when fully ripe it acquires a black tint. The fruit has a depression near the stalk and a vertical stripe running through the entire fruit. The shape of the plum is round or slightly elongated in the form of an oval.Despite the rough skin, the prune pulp is juicy and riddled with fiber. The bones separate well.
The Prune variety is suitable for growing in the middle zone. Numerous reviews from summer residents about prune plums in the Leningrad region indicate that the crop tolerates winters well. Due to the fact that the crop is self-fertile, a large harvest is guaranteed even in the absence of pollinators growing nearby.
Characteristics of the variety
The Prune variety should not be confused with ordinary blue plums. To get to know the culture better, let's take a look at its characteristics.
Drought resistance, frost resistance
Prunes are considered a frost-resistant variety. Plum easily tolerates drought, but loves watering. In winter, fruit branches rarely freeze.
Plum pollinators Prunes
In terms of ripening time, Prunes are classified as mid-late varieties. Flowering begins in the spring along with the appearance of foliage. The plum is considered self-fertile, not requiring nearby pollinators to grow.
Productivity and fruiting
The variety is considered high-yielding. There may be rare interruptions in fruiting. A lot of fruit is set. The tree can shed excess plums.
Area of application of berries
The main area of application of Prune fruits is the production of dried fruits. About 22% of the finished product is obtained from fresh plums. Prunes are usually smoked. Fresh plums are used for preservation, they are used to make compote, jam, and make tinctures.
Resistance to diseases and pests
Plum is resistant to all fungal diseases. Pests such as aphids, sawflies, and scale insects can settle on the tree. Preventive spraying helps prevent crop destruction.
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
Prunes have the following positive qualities:
- a self-fertile variety can be grown alone without necessarily planting a pollinator;
- abundant fruiting, high yield;
- plum adapts to the climatic conditions of the region and is not too demanding on the soil;
- the variety resists fungal diseases well;
- excellent winter hardiness allows you to grow plums in the middle zone, Leningrad region, Moscow region;
- The culture is drought resistant.
The only negative qualities that can be identified are the rough skin of the fruit and interruptions in fruiting.
Landing Features
You can grow prunes according to the same rules as ordinary plums. Let us consider in detail the nuances of agricultural technology.
Recommended timing
It is better to plant plum seedlings in early spring. In the southern regions, planting time falls in March. Gardeners in the middle zone and the Moscow region plant plums no later than the second ten days of April. It is advisable to prepare the hole in the fall or no earlier than two weeks before planting.
Choosing a suitable location
Plum Prunes like to grow in hot areas. The tree can be planted in any place where there are no drafts or waterlogged soil. The culture takes root well along buildings or fences.
Despite its drought tolerance, plums love moderately moist soil. If there is such an area in the yard, then you can safely plant a tree here.
Like any plum, Prune loves loose, light soil. When planting in clay or black soil, sand is added for looseness.High acidity of the soil also has a bad effect on the tree. The indicator is reduced by introducing lime into the soil. If there are high layers of groundwater on the site, the drain will not grow. Alternatively, you can try planting the seedling on a hill.
What crops can and cannot be planted nearby?
Plum loves solitude, but does not refuse proximity to other fruit trees. You cannot plant any type of currant, walnut, coniferous trees, or birch nearby. The pear is considered a bad neighbor. Plum is friendly with all other fruit trees, but the distance necessary for the development of roots and crowns must be maintained.
Selection and preparation of planting material
Prune seedlings can be taken from friends by digging up young shoots. However, planting material from the nursery is considered the best. The seedling can be sold with an open or closed root system. The last option is better in terms of survival rate. The main requirement for good seedlings is the presence of a developed large root, side branches, and living buds. The bark should be smooth without cracks or damage.
Landing algorithm
For spring planting of plums, the hole is usually prepared in the fall. After plowing the land, the roots of weeds are removed from the site. A hole is dug up to 70 cm wide and deep. If the soil is heavy, the depth of the hole is increased by 15 cm. The added space is covered with a drainage layer of stone or gravel.
Fertile soil is mixed with manure or compost in a ratio of 1:2. The hole is filled with the prepared mixture and covered with insulation for the winter. In the spring, before planting Prunes, part of the soil is removed from the hole to accommodate the root of the seedling.
For a seedling with an open root system, a support stake is driven into the center of the hole. If the plum was purchased with closed roots, growing in a container, it is carefully removed and, together with a lump of earth, lowered into the hole. Such a seedling does not need a support stake. Backfilling is carried out with fertile soil previously removed from the pit. The seedling is watered, the tree trunk circle is mulched with peat.
Aftercare for plums
Immediately after planting, water the plum until the tree takes root well. Initially, pruning is done to help shape the crown. Subsequently, old and dry branches are removed. Prunes send out a lot of young shoots. It must be cut at least four times per season.
An adult tree is watered up to 6 times per season. Moisture is definitely needed after flowering, during ovary, at the end of harvesting, and in late autumn before wintering.
The video talks about spring feeding of plums:
The seedling initially has enough nutrients added during planting. In the second year, Prunes are fed with urea in early spring and June. From the third year of life, the first feeding is applied in early May. The plum is watered with a urea solution, dissolving 30 g of the drug in 10 liters of water. At the beginning of June, make a second feeding with a solution of 3 tbsp. l. nitrophoska and 8 liters of water. The last feeding of Prunes occurs at the beginning of August. The solution is prepared from 2 tbsp. l. potassium and superphosphate per 10 liters of water.
Diseases and pests, methods of control and prevention
The plum variety is resistant to fungal infections, but if it occurs, the tree is sprayed with 1% Bordeaux mixture. Severe damage can only be eliminated with the systemic fungicide Hom. In case of manifestations of moniliosis, the plum is sprayed with the drug Skor.
It is important to carry out preventive treatment with pest control drugs. Aphids, scale insects, sawflies, and weevils can destroy the crop and the tree itself. In autumn, fallen fruits and leaves must be removed from the ground. Many pests overwinter in organic matter. In the spring they will move again to a healthy tree.
Conclusion
Plum Prunes in cultivation are no different from ordinary plums. By planting one tree in the yard, the family will be provided with fresh fruits and delicious dried fruits.
