Content
Kabardinka plum is one of the most popular varieties grown in warm regions of the country. It is valued for its good yields of fruits with excellent sweet taste. In addition, it is considered one of the proven self-fertile plum varieties that produce large purple fruits.
History of variety selection
The Kabardinskaya early plum variety was obtained at the North Caucasus Research Institute of Horticulture in the city of Nalchik by accidental pollination of the Anna Shpet plum. Kabardinka has been included in the State Register since 1959 and is recommended for cultivation in the North Caucasus region.
Description of the Kabardinskaya early plum variety
The Kabardinka variety is similar in type to domestic plum. The tree is characterized by rapid growth and reaches a height of 6 m. The crown is compressed, pyramidal in shape, its diameter is no more than 3 m with densely located branches. The leaf blades are oval-shaped with pointed, elongated.
The fruits grow large, weighing 40-50 g per fruit. The main color of the skin is purple, there is a barely noticeable waxy coating and almost indistinguishable white specks. The shape of the plum is round, the seam is weakly expressed. Under the dark, dense skin hides bright orange flesh, which quickly turns brown when cut. The pulp is characterized by juiciness, medium density and an unusually sweet taste with a pleasant sourness. The tasting rating of Kabardinka is 4.5-4.9 points out of 5; other early ripening varieties of plums cannot boast of such a taste of fruit.
Kabardian early is grown in warm regions of the country, which include the Stavropol Territory, Adygea, Kabardino-Balkaria, Krasnodar Territory and others.
Characteristics of the variety
The characteristics of the Kabardinskaya rannyaya plum variety are presented below as an assessment of the most important varietal indicators.
Drought resistance, frost resistance
Drought resistance of Kabardinka can be assessed as low. During periods of drought, the fruits become very small and lose their taste. The frost resistance of the variety also leaves much to be desired. Early Kabardian is suitable for cultivation in the southern regions of the country. Tolerates mild frosts down to -100C. Stronger frosts have a detrimental effect on the fruiting of this plum.
Plum pollinators
Early Kabardian plum does not need a pollinator; it is completely self-fertile. It begins to bloom at the end of April. The mobility of flowering characteristic of this variety does not guarantee that every flower will bear fruit. Kabardinka is a plum with an early fruiting period; its fruits are harvested already in July.
Productivity and fruiting
The yield of the variety may seem quite high (from 50 to 120 kg of plums from one tree), but in comparison with the dimensions of the plant itself, this figure is considered average. In addition, plum yield directly depends on the degree of care and climatic conditions. Fruiting begins early - already in the 4-5th year of the plant’s life.
Area of application of berries
One of the advantages of the Kabardinskaya early variety is the versatility of using the harvested crop. Plums are suitable not only for fresh consumption, but also for canning, drying and freezing. Fresh fruits are not stored for long, so when the harvest is high, they are sent for processing and all kinds of compotes, jams, juices, etc. are prepared.
Resistance to diseases and pests
Kabardinka plum has good resistance to various common stone fruit diseases, for example, moniliosis (gray fruit rot), red spot. An average incidence of the plum moth, one of the most harmful pests of the crop, was also noted.
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
The undeniable advantages of the Kabardinskaya early plum variety are:
- self-pollinating;
- high taste characteristics of berries;
- versatility of fruit use;
- precociousness;
- easy separation of the stone from the fruit pulp;
- high transportability of plums.
Obvious disadvantages of the variety:
- loss of taste under unfavorable weather conditions during the ripening period;
- low winter hardiness;
- rapid fall of ripened plums;
- the need for annual crown formation.
After weighing all the pros and cons of the characteristics of the Kabardinka plum variety, you can decide whether it is worth planting it on your site or not.
Landing Features
Planting and growing Kabardian early has its own specific characteristics, without which it is impossible to achieve good yield of the variety.
Recommended timing
Kabardinka seedlings are planted in spring and autumn. Early planting is carried out at the end of March - beginning of April, when the buds on the plants are still closed and the earth has warmed up sufficiently. The time for autumn planting occurs at the end of September - mid-October.
Choosing a suitable location
The ideal place for growing Kabardinka plums is a windless area that is well lit from all sides. The soil should be well-drained and loose - any stagnation of moisture will lead to diseases of the tree.
What crops can and cannot be planted nearby?
Early Kabardian plum should be located away from pear, poplar, birch, and other stone fruit crops. Pome fruit trees also do not make good neighbors, with the exception of apple trees. Fruit bushes are considered neutral neighbors: raspberries, gooseberries, black currants.
Selection and preparation of planting material
Plum seedlings, the age of which does not exceed 2 years, take root quickly and successfully. Such trees have a height of no more than 1.5 m and a corresponding size of the root system. The plant should not have any mechanical damage, stains, cobwebs or other traces of pest activity.
Landing algorithm
The planting sequence for Kabardinka is not much different from the planting technology for other varieties of domestic plums.
- 2 weeks before planting, you need to dig a planting hole measuring 70x60 cm, the top layer of discarded soil is mixed with humus, ash, peat and a mixture of phosphorus-potassium fertilizers.
- The plum seedling is placed in a hole so that the root collar is 7 cm above ground level, and the roots are straightened.
- The soil near the roots of Kabardian early is carefully compacted and covered with the nutrient mixture until the end.
- Make a small hole around the plum, then water it generously and mulch with peat.
Aftercare for plums
Early Kabardian is one of the most capricious plum varieties, but in the first year of planting, caring for it comes down to standard measures.
- Trimming. When planting a seedling in the spring, its top is shortened to stimulate growth. In the future, shaping the crown of Kabardinka will be an obligatory part of its care, since when the crown is thickened, the yield suffers.
- Watering. After planting, it is important to monitor the soil moisture in the tree trunk circle: it should not dry out or crack, but it should not become waterlogged either. In subsequent years, Kabardinskaya early is watered abundantly throughout the season, until the plums ripen. When drought occurs, they will lose their size and taste.
- Feeding. In the first two years, Kabardinka does not need to be fed, since all the elements were placed in the hole when planting.
- Preparation for winter and protection from rodents. Annual plum seedlings of this variety can be covered with hay, branches, spruce branches and tied at the top with a rope. To protect the root system from frost, the tree trunk circle is mulched. The Kabardinka trunk can be protected from frost by wrapping it in several layers of paper.
There are two ways to protect a tree from voracious rodents: either wrap the trunk with breathable materials (nylon, mesh, burlap, etc.), or treat it with a repellent solution with a strong unpleasant odor.
Careful care of Kabardinka early after planting will help it quickly adapt and endure its first winter on the site.
Diseases and pests, methods of control and prevention
Diseases and pests of early Kabardian plum are summarized in tables.
Table 1 - Possible diseases of plum
Name of the disease | Ways to fight | Preventive measures |
Witch's broom | Cutting down to healthy tissue and burning barren thickening branches. After this, the cut area on the tree is disinfected and painted over. | Before planting the plant, it needs to be warmed up at a temperature of +460C. Young plums are immersed in water heated to the specified temperature for 15 minutes. |
Sooty fungus | The black sooty coating is thoroughly washed off, after which the tree is treated with a solution of any fungicide. | Compliance with the tree planting scheme, timely thinning of the crown. When grown in humid climates, preventive treatments with fungicides are required. |
milky shine | The disease is incurable; there are no drugs or traditional methods to eliminate it. Infected plums are dug up. | Purchasing planting material only from reliable sources, timely treatment of damage to the tree, planting plum trees away from poplars. |
Table 2 – Pests of the Kabardinka variety
Pest name | Ways to fight | Prevention |
Red fruit mite | Spraying with Fufanon, Fitoverm, Danadim before flowering (when larvae appear) or treatment with Apollo, Neoron, Sunmite for severely damaged plums. | Timely application of phosphorus-potassium fertilizers, preventive treatment with insecticides in spring and autumn. |
Plum papilion | Traditional methods include wormwood, pine infusions or gasoline solutions. Chemical treatment is carried out with Chlorophos, Karbofos or Fufanon. | Digging the trunk circle in the fall, collecting and destroying carrion. Timely collection of affected fruits from the tree will help prevent the spread of the pest. |
Conclusion
The Kabardinka plum is a capricious representative of the crop, but in order to obtain a high yield of very sweet and large fruits, many gardeners who have summer cottages in the southern regions of the country grow this particular variety.
A friend brought me 6 pcs of plum shoots. She said you won’t regret planting them.. these seedlings grew into tall trees and they all bear fruit at once for the 5th year.. how large the plums are, tasty and very fruitful.. I looked at the Kabardian plant, I think it’s they were given to me as a gift.. but I still don’t understand why the shoots multiply.. the plums are very large and very fragrant.. in the garden the aroma comes from these plums..