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The taste of plums is one of the most important indicators when choosing a variety to grow on your site. Candy plum has not only outstanding taste, but also good yield and winter hardiness.
History of variety selection
The Konfetnaya plum variety was bred at the VNIIGiSPR named after I.V. Michurin, located in the Tambov region. The institution is engaged in genetic research and selection of fruit crops. The author of the Candy variety was Doctor of Agricultural Sciences Gennady Aleksandrovich Kursakov.
Description of the Candy plum variety
Candy plum is a medium-sized tree with a spreading crown. By shaping, you can get a bush-like or standard-shaped plant. The height of the plum is 2.5–3 m.
Description of the Candy plum fruit:
- medium sizes;
- weight – 30–35 g;
- round shape;
- thin skin;
- rich color with purple and red hues;
- juicy green-yellow pulp;
- the juice has no color;
- small elongated bone, partially separated from the pulp;
- middle stalk.
According to reviews from summer residents about the Konfetnaya plum, the taste of its fruit deserves special attention - marmalade and very sweet. Taste rating – 5 points.
The Candy variety is suitable for planting in most regions of Russia with warm and temperate climates. When grown in harsh conditions, it is recommended to graft the Candy plum onto a winter-hardy zoned variety.
Characteristics of the variety
Before planting, the main characteristics of the Candy plum variety are taken into account: resistance to drought, frost, the need to plant pollinators, yield, resistance to diseases and pests.
Drought resistance, frost resistance
The Candy Plum has moderate drought tolerance. The tree is watered according to the standard scheme for the crop.
Winter hardiness of the variety is down to -20 °C. In regions with cold winters, the tree is provided with additional shelter.
Pollinators of the Candy plum
Candy plum is self-sterile. To form ovaries, planting pollinators is necessary.
The best pollinating varieties for the Candy plum:
- Zarechnaya early;
- Collective farm farmhouse.
As a pollinator, you can choose another zoned variety that blooms early.
Plum blossoms depend on the weather in the regions. Usually the first buds bloom in early May. Flowers are susceptible to spring frosts. The first fruits ripen at the end of July.
Productivity and fruiting
The productivity of the Candy variety is estimated at an average level. When following the recommendations for planting and caring for the Candy plum, 20–25 kg of fruit are removed from each tree. The berries ripen at the same time, making harvesting easier.
Ripe plums begin to crumble, so it is not recommended to delay harvesting. The collected fruits have low transportability and keeping quality.
Area of application of berries
Due to the sweet taste of the Candy plum, it is preferable to eat fresh. Dried fruits, jams, compotes and other homemade products are also obtained from plums.
Resistance to diseases and pests
The resistance of the Candy variety to diseases and pests is average. To protect the plantings, preventive treatments are required.
Advantages and disadvantages of Candy plum
Advantages of the Candy variety:
- stable high yield;
- good taste of fruits;
- resistance to winter frosts and unfavorable climatic conditions;
- resistance to diseases and pests.
Disadvantages of Candy Plum:
- ripe fruits begin to crumble;
- low keeping quality and transportability of the crop;
- the need to plant a pollinator.
Landing Features
To plant the Candy plum, choose autumn or spring. The place for growing the crop is chosen taking into account its illumination and soil quality.
Recommended timing
In the southern regions, the crop is planted in the fall, after the leaves have fallen. Such seedlings have time to take root before the beginning of winter.
In cold climates, planting is postponed to spring. Work is carried out until the buds open.
Choosing a suitable location
Candy plum prefers illuminated areas located on the south or west side of the garden. The permissible level of groundwater is more than 1.5 m. The site must be protected from the wind.
Any soil is suitable for the tree, except acidic. If the soil is clayey, lay a drainage layer.
What crops can and cannot be planted nearby?
- Candy plum goes well with berry bushes: currants, gooseberries and raspberries.
- It is removed from other fruit trees by at least 4–5 m.
- You should also remove plums from poplar, birch, hazel and hazel.
- You can plant shade-loving herbs or spring flowers under the tree.
- Tulips and daffodils will have time to bloom before the leaves of the plum blossom.
Selection and preparation of planting material
Candy plum seedlings are purchased from nurseries. High-quality planting material has no traces of rotting, mold, or broken shoots. One- or two-year-old seedlings are selected for planting.
If the roots of the plant are overdried, they are immersed in clean water for several hours.
Landing algorithm
Stages of planting Candy plum:
- At the selected location, dig a hole 70 cm deep and 60 cm in diameter.
- If the soil is clayey, a layer of expanded clay or crushed stone 10 cm thick is poured onto the bottom.
- Fertile soil is mixed in equal quantities with peat and humus, 200 g of superphosphate and 50 g of potassium sulfate are added.
- A third of the soil is poured into the planting hole. In 3–4 weeks, the soil will shrink, then you can proceed to planting.
- The seedling is placed in a hole, the straightened roots are covered with soil. The root collar is left to rise 3–4 cm above the ground.
- The remaining part of the earth is poured into the hole in a mound.
- The soil is compacted and moistened abundantly.
- The ground around the trunk is mulched with peat.
If plum planting is done in the spring, places for trees are prepared in the fall. If several varieties of plum are planted, then leave 3 m between them.
Aftercare for plums
When growing Candy plums, it is important to provide the crop with care. The tree needs watering, fertilizing and pruning.
- When watering, the soil should remain moist to a depth of 40–50 cm. Warm, settled water is poured under the tree. Plantings are watered 3–5 times per season, taking into account weather conditions. It is especially important to ensure the supply of moisture during flowering and fruit formation.Important! 4–6 buckets of water are poured under young trees. An adult plum requires up to 10 buckets of water.
- For spring feeding, choose nitrogen fertilizers (urea, ammonium nitrate). During flowering and fruit formation, add 60 g of potassium salt and superphosphate. The substances are embedded in the soil or dissolved in 10 liters of water for irrigation.
- Every 4 years, the soil under the plum tree is dug up and fertilized with compost.
- To form the crown and obtain a high yield, the Candy plum tree is pruned. The crown is formed in a pyramidal shape. In spring or autumn, dry, frozen and broken branches are removed.
- To prepare a young plum for winter, it is covered with agrofibre, burlap or spruce branches. Polyethylene and other materials that do not allow moisture and air to pass through easily are not used.
- An adult Candy plum overwinters well. The tree trunk is hilled up, the soil is mulched with humus. In winters with little snow, an additional snowdrift is placed over the plum tree. To prevent the trunk from being damaged by rodents, it is wrapped in roofing material.
Diseases and pests, methods of control and prevention
Main diseases:
Name of the disease | Symptoms | Treatment | Prevention |
Clusterosporiasis | Brown spots with a border on the leaves, deformation of the fruit. | Spraying a tree with Bordeaux mixture. | 1. Regular pruning of the crown. 2. Elimination of fallen leaves. 3. Spraying with fungicides. |
Moniliosis | Fruits, leaves and shoots soften and turn brown. | Removing affected parts of the tree. Treatment with Nitrofen solution. |
Pests of crops:
Pest | Signs | Ways to fight | Prevention |
Plum aphid | It lives on the underside of leaves that curl up and dry out. | Treating wood with Karbofos. | 1. Digging up the soil. 2. Burning fallen leaves. 3. Removal of root shoots. 4. Prevention with insecticides. |
codling moth | Codling moth caterpillars feed on fruits and make passages in the pulp. | Collecting fallen fruits, disinfecting the bark, spraying the tree with Chlorophos solution. |
Conclusion
Candy plum is a proven variety for universal use. Valued for its unusual sweet taste, compact size and resistance to external factors. To obtain a good harvest, the tree is provided with regular care.
Reviews from gardeners about the Candy plum
