Content
The Manchurian beauty plum ripens in early autumn, which is just right for the main regions of its distribution - the Urals, Siberia and the Far East. The low-yielding tree produces tasty, universal-purpose fruits, which is the reason for the popularity of the variety that has not subsided over the course of a century.
History of variety selection
Manchurian plum seedlings were selected by M.F. Ivanov, who lived in Manchuria at the beginning of the twentieth century. A. A. Taratukhin sent the trees to the Far East in the late 20s. Breeder N.N. Tikhonov distributed a promising variety.
It is believed that three types of plums took part in the formation of the Manchurian Beauty variety: Chinese, Ussuri and Simona.
Description of the plum variety Manchurian Beauty
The fast-growing Manchurian tree is sometimes classified as a shrub because it lacks a central conductor.
- The height is small, from 1.6 to 1.8–2 m.
- The rounded crown is dense, with brown-gray branches and curved brown shoots.
- On the bark of the Manchurian beauty plum, in addition to peeling, light lenticels are characteristic.
- Another feature of Manchurian plum wood is intensive bud formation, which leads to increased branching.
- Concave, pointed leaves in the shape of an ellipse, medium size, 11 x 4 cm, dark green in color, with a slight sheen.
- The leaf blade, held on an anthocyanin-colored petiole, has carved edges and a central vein that bends slightly downwards.
- Small flowers of the Manchurian beauty plum are formed on bouquet branches. The bud contains up to 3 flowers with white petals that bloom before the leaves.
- Manchurian fruits weigh 15–20 g, sometimes up to 30 g. They are round in shape, with a flattened base, a narrow deep funnel and a slightly pronounced ventral suture.
Plums are firmly attached to short and thick stalks, but only until the full ripening phase. The skin is not very dense, thin, dark burgundy with a bluish tinge. The pointed oblong bone is small and not completely separated from the pulp. The Manchurian beauty plum emits a weak but attractive aroma, the sweet and sour pulp is dense and juicy. The color of the cut fruit is yellow-green.
The invigorating taste of plums is explained by their biochemical composition:
- up to 9 mg of ascorbic acid per 100 g;
- 0.41% tannins;
- from 8 to 15% sugar;
- 17–24% dry matter.
Since the late 40s, the Manchurian Beauty plum variety is also not uncommon in Siberia and the gardens of the Far East.There were attempts to spread the persistent species of Ussuri plum to the European part of the country, but the trees did not feel comfortable and are now quite rare here.
Characteristics of the variety
The largest-fruited among the Ussuri plums, the Manchurian beauty, has its own characteristics.
Drought resistance, frost resistance
An ancient variety, bred on the basis of the most cold-resistant type of plum - Ussuriyskaya, tolerates frosts down to -35...-40 °C. It is not for nothing that many varieties of plums for the Far Eastern and Siberian regions have been created on its basis. The tree can withstand dry periods, but with watering the harvest is better.
Pollinators of plum Manchurian beauty
Many types of Ussuri plums do not bear fruit without pollinators. Over the years of cultivation, the best trees for pollination of the Manchurian tree have been determined:
- Ural golden;
- Ural red;
- Ussuriyskaya;
- Manchurian prunes.
It is advisable to have 2-3 different species in the garden for better cross-pollination and a bountiful harvest.
Manchurian plum blooms early, when there are no leaves on the tree. The date depends on the growing region, but plums are often purchased as a highly decorative spring garden element. The fruits of the Manchurian beauty ripen in late summer - early autumn.
Productivity and fruiting
The variety is early fruiting. Plums are tried three years after planting a one-year-old tree. Productivity is stable in the presence of pollinators. A young plum produces 8–10 kg, an adult plum produces up to 20–24 kg.
Area of application of berries
The fruits of the Manchurian plum are delicious for consumption as a dessert, as well as in preparations.Compotes, preserves, and jams are made from the berries. The fruits are frozen, so almost all valuable substances are preserved.
Resistance to diseases and pests
Plum is little susceptible to characteristic lesions of the species:
- The Manchurian plum is resistant to a common disease in the Far East - rubella;
- does not succumb to the scourge of plum trees - clasterosporia;
- The beauty is little susceptible to infection with fungi that cause coccomycosis.
But the Manchurian plum is affected by moniliosis. It is necessary to carry out prevention against diseases and pests and adhere to the basic requirements of agricultural technology for garden care in autumn and spring.
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
Plum has undeniable advantages, thanks to which it has been in demand for a whole century:
- early fruiting;
- stable yield;
- delicious fruits;
- low susceptibility to a number of fungal diseases;
- frost resistance;
- drought resistance.
According to the characteristics of the variety, the Manchurian beauty plum is a valuable breeding material that transmits special characteristics to seedlings.
At the same time, Manchurian plum has its disadvantages:
- self-sterility;
- the need for regular pruning due to the rapid growth of the crown.
Planting and caring for the Manchurian beauty plum
The beauty is unpretentious in favorable climatic conditions; you just need to choose the right time and place of planting with loamy or soddy-podzolic soil, close to neutral in acidity.
Recommended timing
Spring is the best time to move plum trees in harsh climates. Autumn planting threatens the freezing of seedlings that have not taken root in a short period.
Choosing a suitable location
Growing Manchurian beauty plum will be successful if the tree is located in a bright, sunny place. The hole is dug on a hill or southern slope, but not in a lowland where cold air stagnates. The seedling is not placed next to a building where there is a lot of snow, because the branches of the Beauty are brittle.
What crops can and cannot be planted nearby?
Plum safely tolerates proximity to apple trees and garden shrubs at a distance of at least 3 m.
- A tall pear tree, especially from the south, reduces the amount of sunlight.
- Also, low plum trees should not be planted near decorative deciduous and coniferous trees.
Selection and preparation of planting material
Purchase one-year-old seedlings with fresh, elastic branches and swollen buds. The roots should be fibrous and moist. A few hours before planting, the seedlings are placed in a clay solution.
Landing algorithm
The pit is prepared in advance by laying drainage, adding the necessary substrate and fertilizer.
- A mound is made from the soil in the hole, and a peg is hammered in to support the seedling.
- Place the tree on the mound, straightening the roots.
- The root collar protrudes 4–6 cm above the ground.
- They fill the hole, compact the soil, and make a circular furrow for irrigation.
- Pour 1–1.5 buckets of water and place mulch on the tree trunk circle.
Aftercare for plums
- Manchurian beauty plum seedlings are provided with loosening and watering to the depth of the roots.
- Next spring, a tiered crown begins to form, which is created over the course of 2–3 years.
- Old or damaged shoots are also pruned.
- Feed with NPK complex and organic matter in spring, summer and before winter, mulching the tree trunk circle.
- For the winter, seedlings are protected from rodents with mesh, agrofibre or paper.
Diseases and pests, methods of control and prevention
Diseases | Symptoms | Treatment | Prevention |
Moniliosis | The tops are dry, as if burnt, rotten fruits | Treatment with copper-containing preparations | Removing diseased parts, following agricultural practices |
Gommoz | Gum growths near cracks
| Cleaning a wound with garden varnish | Trimming with a clean and sharp tool |
Pests | Signs | Fighting methods | Prevention |
Plum moth | Caterpillars spoil young shoots and fruits | Insecticides | Autumn cleaning |
Plum sawfly | Fruits with larvae | Insecticides | Autumn garden cleaning |
Conclusion
The Manchurian beauty plum will not only give you delicious fruits, but will also delight you with its spectacular flowering. Gardeners in Siberia and the Urals value Beauty for its endurance and resistance to diseases. Easy care, low-lying fruits, decorativeness and stable fruiting are the features of this unpretentious variety.
