Contents
Cherry plum Zlato Skifov is one of the few varieties grown in regions with a cold climate. Plum fruits of bright yellow color have a pleasant aroma and rich taste. Planting and caring for the plant does not cause any particular difficulties even for novice gardeners.
History of breeding
The cherry plum variety Zlato Skifov is a hybrid obtained as a result of pollination of the plum Kuban comet. This is the merit of domestic breeders working on the basis of the Agricultural Academy. K. A. Timiryazev in the late XX – early XXI century.
Description of the culture
Hybrid cherry plum Gold of the Scythians can reach a height of 200-250 cm. The spreading crown of the tree has a rounded shape. The leaves, like most plum varieties, are oblong in shape, the edge of the leaf blade is serrated, and its end is pointed.
As you can see in the photo of the Zlato Scythian cherry plum, the shoots of the tree are quite thick, yellowish in places. The flowers of this plum are white, numerous. The fruits are large, bright yellow, oval. There is a slight wax coating on the skin of the plum.
The weight of each fruit reaches about 30-35 g. The pronounced fruity aroma and sweet and sour taste make it possible to use the Zlato Skifov variety in the food industry.
The main regions recommended for growing yellow plum are Ivanovo, Ryazan, Bryansk, Vladimir and other regions of the central part of Our Country.
Features
Characteristics of cherry plum Zlato Skifov shows that this is one of the best varieties bred by breeders.
Drought resistance, winter resistance
Cherry plum is considered a heat-loving crop, which quite favorably tolerates dry periods of the year. But only some varieties, including the plum Zlato Scythov, can boast of winter hardiness. This hybrid is suitable for growing even in areas with a cold climate.
Pollination, flowering period and ripening period
Due to the infertility of the plum, other varieties must be planted in the neighborhood. The main pollinators of the cherry plum Zlato Scythov:
- Pavlovskaya yellow;
- Gift to St. Petersburg;
- Ruby.
Plum blossoms in late April – early May, and begins to bear fruit in June.
yield, fruiting
Cherry plum Zlata Skifov has an average yield: about 20 kg of plums from each mature tree. At the same time, the culture begins to bear fruit 4-5 years after planting.
Scope of fruits
The fruits of this plum variety are very juicy and soft, have a bright sweet taste with sourness and an attractive aroma. All these characteristics make it possible to use cherry plum for cooking a variety of dishes at home.
Disease and pest resistance
Plum is quite vulnerable to pathogens and diseases. But regular preventive spraying will reduce the risk of tree infection.
Advantages and disadvantages
The main advantages of the cherry plum variety Zlato Scythov include:
- earlier fruit ripening;
- harvesting already 3-4 years after planting;
- regular fruiting;
- the possibility of growing in areas with a cold climate;
- universal taste of plum fruits.
The disadvantages are:
- self-infertility;
- relatively low plum yield;
- vulnerability to many stone fruit diseases;
- poor keeping quality.
All of the above disadvantages of this variety are compensated by the numerous advantages of the Zlato Scythian plum.
Features of landing
Growing cherry plum Gold of the Scythians does not require special skills and abilities. It is important to wisely choose a seedling, planting site and place other varieties nearby for pollination of the crop.
Recommended dates
Despite the fact that the variety is winter-hardy, you need to choose the time for planting so that the seedling does not suffer from severe frosts and winds. The best time for excavation is the beginning of April. In the south, plums are planted after leaf fall.
Choosing the right place
Cherry plum is a heat-loving and light-loving crop, so it is better to plant a tree in the southern part of the site on neutral loamy soils.
What crops can and cannot be planted next to cherry plum
Yellow cherry plum Gold of the Scythians grows well next to other stone fruits, such as cherries, apricots, sloes or plums. And the best neighbors are pollinating varieties.
It is undesirable to place the plum next to nightshade crops, large trees and berry bushes.
Selection and preparation of planting material
The optimal age of seedlings is 1-2 years, they take root easily. Reviews about the cultivation of cherry plum Gold of the Scythians in the middle lane confirm this. Before buying, it is important to inspect the seedling for damage to the root system, fractures of the shoots and cracks in the bark.
Preplant preparation consists in soaking the root for at least 3 hours.
Landing algorithm
The main stages of planting the plum Zlato Scythov:
- First you need to dig a hole about 60 cm deep and about 65-70 cm in diameter, then prepare the soil with a mixture of humus, peat or sand.
- Set the seedling in the center of the hole so that the root neck rises about 5 cm above its edge.
- After that, all fertile land is filled up and tightly compacted. If the seedling is flimsy, you can drive a peg next to it and tie a tree to it.
- Around the trunk of the seedling, a roller is formed from the earth and spilled with 25-30 liters of water.
- After all the moisture has been absorbed, the soil around the plum must be mulched with peat or straw.
Culture aftercare
Due to the resistance of the plant to drought, it does not need regular watering with regular rainfall. But with a long absence of rain, especially in the southern and arid regions, about 3-4 waterings per season are required. On average, one tree at a time takes 30-35 liters of water. When watering, in no case should you use cold water.
You also need to regularly weed and loosen the soil around the tree. As for top dressing, if organic or mineral fertilizers were applied to the pit before planting, then the tree does not need them until the first fruiting. Next, you should proceed according to the following scheme:
- April – the introduction of ammonium nitrate and potassium salts at the rate of 25 g and 35 g per square meter, respectively;
- May – a solution of urea at the rate of 80 g per 25 liters of water;
- June – a solution of mullein with the addition of superphosphate in a ratio of 1: 3.
If the soil in the area with a drain is acidic, then every five years it is recommended to add chalk or lime.
In addition, planting and caring for cherry plum Zlato Scythov includes regular pruning of the tree. The procedure is carried out at the very beginning of spring before the buds swell, or in late autumn after the leaves fall.
To prepare the tree for winter, it is enough to whitewash the trunk with lime to protect it from pests.
Collection, processing and storage of crops
Fruiting begins from 4-5 years after planting the seedling. Plum picking usually takes place in July. This variety does not have a high keeping quality, so the maximum shelf life of cherry plum in a ventilated box at low temperatures is about 2-2,5 weeks.
Diseases and pests, methods of control and prevention
The plum variety is characterized by an average resistance to diseases, and gardeners’ reviews about the cherry plum Zlato Scythov confirm this.
Table “The main diseases of the Zlato Scythian variety”
Disease | Methods of treatment and methods of prevention |
perforated spotting | Before bud break, it is necessary to treat the tree with nitrafen. After the leaves bloom, the treatment is carried out with a Brod mixture. |
Sooty fungus | It is important to monitor the irrigation regime and prevent waterlogging of the soil. The destruction of the disease is carried out by treating the tree with copper sulphate with the addition of laundry soap. |
Milky luster | For prevention, it is recommended to cut and destroy the affected shoots, and in no case should the tree be pruned in frost. The cut surface should always be treated with oil paint with the addition of copper sulfate. |
Table “The main pests of cherry plum Gold of the Scythians”
Pest | Methods of control and prevention |
Plum moth | The culture after flowering must be treated with Acarin, during the growing season, spray with Alfacin. |
Brown fruit mite | It is important to remove the dying bark in a timely manner, and when a pest appears, treat the tree before Apollo blooms, and during the growing season with Zircon. |
Acacia false shield | One of the best ways to deal with this pest is ladybugs. You can also spray the tree with Fufan or Confidor (before flowering) and Kinmiks (during the growing season). |
Conclusion
Cherry plum Zlato Skifov is one of the few winter-hardy varieties that have found wide application in the central regions of Our Country. And the taste and aroma of its fruits make it possible to use the culture in the food industry.