Content
- 1 History of variety selection
- 2 Description of plum Volga beauty
- 3 Characteristics of the variety
- 3.1 Drought resistance, frost resistance
- 3.2 Pollinators of plum Volga beauty
- 3.3 Productivity and fruiting
- 3.4 Area of application of berries
- 3.5 Resistance to diseases and pests
- 3.6 Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
- 3.7 Landing Features
- 3.8 Recommended timing
- 3.9 Choosing a suitable location
- 3.10 What crops can or cannot be planted nearby?
- 3.11 Selection and preparation of planting material
- 3.12 Landing algorithm
- 4 Aftercare for plums
- 5 Conclusion
- 6 Reviews
The Volga beauty plum is a common early-ripening variety, fragrant and juicy, and is in great demand among experienced gardeners. Almost no garden in Central Russia can do without this strong and prolific tree.
History of variety selection
Thanks to the honored breeder of the Samara region E.P. Finaev, the Volga beauty plum appeared at the Kuibyshev Agricultural Experiment Station in the early 30s and was included in the State Register of the Russian Federation in 1965. His passion for his work helped revive about 20 varieties of plums. Finaev tried many combinations, and the decisive step was the crossing of the Red Skorospelka and Renclaude Beauvais varieties.
Description of plum Volga beauty
The spherical fruits of the Volzhskaya plum are large in size, slightly elongated at the edges, purple in color with a red tint. There is a groove in the middle that visually divides the fruit in half.
The skin of the Beauty plum fruit is dense, with a bluish coating, and is easily separated from the pulp. The stalks are hard and thick. The seed is almond-shaped, woody in color, and medium in size.
The height of the Volga beauty plum tree reaches 6–7 meters. The trunk is straight and even, ash-gray in color. The bark is characterized by dryness and smoothness. The rounded crown is located at the top of the trunk with thick and straight shoots. The leaves are light green in color, with the usual medium pubescence for a plum. The Volzhskaya variety blooms profusely, the inflorescences consist of 2–3 flowers.
The Middle Volga, Lower Volga and Central regions of Russia are considered favorable for planting the Krasavitsa plum. The climate and soil composition of these areas contribute to the high yield of the variety.
Characteristics of the variety
The characteristics of the Volga Beauty plum variety have many advantages. It has attractive qualities: drought resistance, frost resistance, immunity to diseases and pests.
Drought resistance, frost resistance
Volzhskaya plum is a lover of sunlight, which confirms its drought resistance.
At the same time, it is able to withstand low temperatures thanks to its thick bark: its frost resistance is rated as average. When the temperature drops, flower buds tend to freeze, which causes them to fall off.
Pollinators of plum Volga beauty
Plum Beauty can self-pollinate. But this does not exclude the possibility of pollination by other varieties, which increases fertility.This process is facilitated by planting the Volga beauty next to pollinating varieties.
Pollinator varieties | Mirnaya, Zhiguli, Kuibyshevskaya damson, Skorospelka red |
Flowering period | The Volga beauty blooms in the second ten days of May. |
Ripening time | The plum variety Beauty is considered early ripening: the fruit ripening period is from August 10 to September 5. |
Productivity and fruiting
Volzhskaya plum is distinguished by good yield, as evidenced by the harvest volume of up to 25 kg. With age, the Volga beauty can produce even more fruit. From trees 5–8 years old, from eight to ten kilograms of fruit are collected, and after 9 years the variety produces from twelve to twenty-five kilograms. Good fruit density is typical during the season.
Area of application of berries
Homemade plum Volga beauty is a juicy dessert variety. Depending on the ripeness, the taste of the fruit varies from sweet and sour to sickly sweet. Delicious compotes, jelly, jams, preserves, and sauces are prepared from the Volga plum. Perfect for filling pies; charlotte is very tasty. You can also note the winemaking qualities of plums.
Resistance to diseases and pests
The plum variety Beauty, in addition to drought and frost resistance, has a number of important qualities - first of all, it is resistance to many diseases and insect pests.
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
Reviews from experts about the Volzhskaya Beauty plum confirm a lot of advantages and note minor shortcomings.
Advantages | Flaws |
Drought resistance, frost resistance. | Flower buds are susceptible to frost. |
The Volga beauty plum is self-fertile. It is possible to plant with other varieties of plums, which increases the quality of the yield. | Quite tall and wide trees occupy a large area in the garden. |
The harvest volume increases every year. | Cracking of the skin of the fetus due to high humidity. |
Immunity to many diseases and pests. | Short shelf life of plums. |
Excellent product characteristics: large size, beautiful color, tasty pulp. |
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Landing Features
No matter how numerous the advantages of the Volzhskaya plum may be, they manifest themselves only after proper planting and with proper care of the fruit tree.
Recommended timing
Gardeners carefully prepare for planting and caring for the Volga beauty plum. Characteristic seasons for favorable cultivation of the Volga beauty plum from seedlings are autumn and spring. In autumn, the earth has not yet cooled down and is ready to accept a new tree. Spring is certainly the most successful period, especially May: the soil is warm and there is a warm period ahead for the seedling to adapt.
- Autumn planting – last two weeks of September.
- Spring planting – from mid-April to mid-May.
Choosing a suitable location
Choosing the right place for a seedling is the key to a successful harvest. It is useful to plant Volzhskaya plum on flat areas or on low slopes. The variety loves warmth - it is advisable to place it in places where the sun shines abundantly, but the possibility of strong winds is excluded.
What crops can or cannot be planted nearby?
- As a result of the research, it was revealed that the Beauty plum does not take root well next to neighbors such as pear, apple, black currant and raspberry.
- Planting maple and black elderberry nearby to help control aphids is most welcome.
- Other pollinating plums will be excellent neighbors for the Volga beauty.
Selection and preparation of planting material
Specialty stores, nurseries, and markets offer a wide range of seedlings, but it is better to purchase Volzhskaya plum at trusted retail outlets, where the risk of mixing plant varieties is minimal.
- The best choice of planting material is 2-year-old seedlings with root lengths of 10 cm or more.
- Pay close attention to the roots: they should be slightly moistened, there should be no dried branches, and the bark should not be damaged.
Landing algorithm
According to experts, there is a certain planting algorithm for the Volga beauty plum.
- Choose a fertile place in the garden, front garden, vegetable garden, be sure to clear it of weed, garbage and dig up.
- Two weeks before planting, dig a hole 50 cm deep and 60 cm in diameter.
- Mix organic fertilizers with the excavated soil.
- A wooden support should be used to secure the tree.
- Drive in the support, pour out the mixed soil and plant the seedling.
- The root collar should be positioned so that it rises several centimeters above the ground.
- Be sure to compact the soil around the plum so that there is no empty space.
- Tie up and water the plum.
Aftercare for plums
After the Beauty plum variety is planted, a period of preventive care begins. Its main stages: pruning, preparation for winter, watering, fertilizing, protection from rodents.
Trimming
- The first step is to prune the plum tree.In the case where there is no crown, a part of the one-year-old seedling is removed from the ground level by 65 cm. If there is a crown, then the main shoot is pruned: its elevation above the other branches is 20 cm.
- In a two-year-old tree, the side shoots are shortened by 1/3.
- In subsequent years, the plum tree is regularly trimmed at the end of March and October.
Preparing for winter
The Volzhskaya beauty plum is, of course, a winter-hardy variety, but nevertheless, you should take into account the mandatory tips for preserving it in cold weather.
- After the last leaf fall, the surface of the earth around it should be cleared and dug to a depth of 15–20 cm.
- Young trees that do not bear fruit should be covered with burlap or thick paper. The use of film is excluded. This procedure replaces the process of whitewashing more mature trees.
- On mature trees, it is recommended to remove dead, dry areas covered with various growths. Then you need to carefully whiten the trunk and branches of the plum twice. This will protect you from pests.
- In case of accidental damage to healthy tissue, carefully treat with varnish.
Watering
An important aspect of care is watering; it contributes to the growth and normal development of the Volga Beauty plum.
- During the growing season, water up to 5 times, loosening the soil to a depth of 10 cm, and in the autumn, dig up to 20 cm in depth.
- During the flowering period, fruit formation and after harvesting, the volume of irrigation water is 60–80 liters.
- In the last ten days of September and the first of October, the volume of irrigation water increases to 150–250 liters.
Top dressing
The Volga beauty plum has large fruits.In order for them to reach their natural size and be saturated with taste and aroma, nutritional feeding is required in combination with sunlight and soil moisture.
- The main organic fertilizers include compost and rotted manure; a few buckets of one or the other will be enough.
- Volzhskaya plum is not a fan of acidified soil, so one of the following preparations is used: chalk, fluff lime, dolomite flour, wood ash. Dolomite flour has the most effective mineral composition. It is enriched with potassium and magnesium. The norm for use is one or two glasses of any type of organic matter, depending on the size of the tree. Apply once every three years.
- Lime and mineral fertilizing should be carried out at different times.
Rodent protection
In winter, rodents tend to eat tree trunks and roots. For protection purposes, the Beauty plum should be wrapped in paper, straw, roofing felt, spruce branches, peppermint branches, as well as scraps of fabric soaked in creolin.
Diseases and pests, methods of control and prevention
Volga beauty plum is a universal plant that is resistant to pests and diseases. Regular preventative measures will save gardeners from serious problems.
The main diseases of the Volga plum: marsupial disease, monoliosis, perforated spot.
Harmful insects attacking the Beauty variety: cherry elephant, plum aphid.
- Marsupial disease - a fungus that attacks the plum fruit. It is recommended to spray trees with Bordeaux mixture in spring and autumn.
- Hole disease - a disease that is characterized by branches affected by formations in the form of ulcers on dry bark. It is recommended to treat with Bordeaux mixture.
- Monoliosis – damage to buds and flowers. It is recommended to spray the plant with Bordeaux mixture for the first time before the leaves appear. Continue the procedure at intervals of 2 weeks until recovery.
- Cherry elephant damages buds, ovaries, fruits, which contributes to a decrease in yield. It is recommended to dig up the soil before flowering, and after flowering to use a 10% solution of Karbofos. The drug "Akarin" will help during the growing season; the solution is prepared from 3 ml per 1 liter of water.
- Plum aphid leads to leaf damage. They curl, wrinkle and dry out. The shoots become deformed and do not develop normally. It is recommended in the spring, before flowering, to use a solution of “Bitoxibacillin”: 40 g per 10 liters of water. After flowering, use a solution of “Skor fungicide” (2 ml per 10 l of water) and “Planriz” (5 l per 1 ha). During the growing season, you can use “Zircon” (dilute 1 ampoule in 1 liter of water) or “Actofit” solution: 6 ml per 1 liter of water.
Conclusion
Volga beauty plum is an excellent choice for growing. It gets along well with other varieties of plums. Juicy purple fruits will not only decorate the garden, but will also delight you during the harvest season. Delicious jams and pie fillings will bring pleasure even in winter.
