Contents
The taste of plums is one of the most important indicators when choosing a variety for growing on your site. Plum Candy has not only an outstanding taste, but also good yield and winter hardiness.
History of variety breeding
The plum variety Candy 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 Gennady Alexandrovich Kursakov, Doctor of Agricultural Sciences.
Description of plum variety Candy
Plum Candy is a medium-sized tree with a spreading crown. By forming, you can get a bushy or standard plant. Plum height 2,5–3 m.
Description of Candy Plum Fruit:
- average sizes;
- weight – 30–35 g;
- round shape;
- thin skin;
- rich color with purple and red hues;
- juicy green-yellow flesh;
- juice has no color;
- small elongated bone, partially separated from the pulp;
- middle stem.
According to the reviews of summer residents about the Candy plum, the taste of its fruits deserves special attention – marmalade and very sweet. Evaluation of taste – 5 points.
Variety Candy is suitable for planting in most regions of Our Country with a warm and temperate climate. When grown in harsh conditions, it is recommended to graft Candy plum onto a winter-hardy zoned variety.
Characteristics of a variety
Before planting, the main characteristics of the Candy plum variety are taken into account: resistance to drought, frost, the need to plant pollinators, productivity, resistance to diseases and pests.
Drought resistance, frost resistance
Candy Plum has medium drought tolerance. The tree is watered according to the standard scheme for the culture.
Winter hardiness of the variety – up to -20 ° C. In regions with cold winters, the tree is provided with additional shelter.
Plum Pollinators
Plum Candy self-fertile. For the formation of ovaries, planting pollinators is necessary.
The best pollinating varieties for Candy plum:
- Zarechnaya early;
- Kolkhoz Renklod.
As a pollinator, you can choose another zoned variety that blooms early.
Plum blossom depends on the weather in the regions. Usually the first buds bloom in early May. The flowers are susceptible to spring frosts. The first fruits ripen at the end of July.
Yield and fruiting
The yield of the Candy variety is estimated at an average level. When following the recommendations for planting and caring for Candy plum, 20–25 kg of fruit are removed from each tree. Berries ripen at the same time, which simplifies harvesting.
A ripe plum begins to crumble, so it is not recommended to delay cleaning. Harvested fruits have low transportability and keeping quality.
Scope of berries
Due to the sweet taste, Candy plum is preferred fresh. Dried fruits, jams, compotes and other homemade preparations are also obtained from plums.
Disease and pest resistance
The resistance of the Candy variety to diseases and pests is average. To protect the landings, 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 adverse climatic conditions;
- resistance to diseases and pests.
Disadvantages of Plum Candy:
- ripe fruits begin to crumble;
- low keeping quality and transportability of the crop;
- the need to plant a pollinator.
Features of landing
For planting plum Candy choose autumn or spring. A place for growing a crop is chosen taking into account its illumination and the quality of the soil.
Recommended dates
In the southern regions, the culture is planted in the fall, after the leaves fall. Such seedlings have time to take root before the onset of winter.
In cold climates, planting is postponed to spring. Work is carried out before bud break.
Choosing the right place
Plum Candy prefers lighted areas located on the south or west side of the garden. The permissible level of groundwater occurrence is more than 1,5 m. The site must be protected from the wind.
The tree is suitable for any soil, except for acidic ones. If the soil is clayey, a drainage layer is laid.
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 the plum from poplar, birch, hazel and hazel.
- Shade-loving herbs or spring flowers can be planted under the tree.
- Tulips and daffodils will have time to bloom before the plum leaves bloom.
Selection and preparation of planting material
Candy plum seedlings are purchased from nurseries. High-quality planting material does not have traces of decay, mold, broken shoots. For planting choose one- or two-year-old seedlings.
If the roots of the plant are too dry, they are lowered for several hours in clean water.
Landing algorithm
Stages of planting plum Candy:
- At the chosen place, they 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 amounts 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 neck is left to rise 3–4 cm above the ground.
- The rest of the earth is poured into the pit with a mound.
- The soil is compacted and abundantly moistened.
- The earth 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 plums are planted, then 3 m is left between them.
Plum Aftercare
When growing candy plums, it is important to provide care for the culture. The tree needs watering, fertilizing and pruning.
- When watering, the soil should remain moistened by 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 top dressing, nitrogen fertilizers (urea, ammonium nitrate) are chosen. During flowering and fruit formation, 60 g of potassium salt and superphosphate are added. Substances are embedded in the ground or dissolved in 10 liters of water for irrigation.
- Every 4 years, the soil under the drain is dug up and fertilized with compost.
- To form a crown and obtain a high yield, the Candy plum 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 agrofiber, burlap or spruce branches. Polyethylene and other materials that do not allow moisture and air to pass through are not used.
- Adult plum Candy winters well. The tree trunk is spudded, the soil is mulched with humus. In a snowy winter, a snowdrift is additionally thrown over the plum. To prevent rodents from damaging the trunk, it is wrapped with roofing material.
Diseases and pests, methods of control and prevention
Main diseases:
Name of the disease | Symptoms | Treatment | Prevention |
Klyasterosporiosis | Brown spots with a border on the leaves, deformation of the fruit. | Spraying a tree with Bordeaux liquid. | 1. Regular crown pruning. 2. Elimination of fallen leaves. 3. Spraying with fungicides. |
Moniliasis | Fruits, leaves and shoots soften and turn brown. | Removal of affected parts of the tree. Treatment with a solution of “Nitrofen”. |
Culture pests:
Pest | Evidence | Methods of struggle | Prevention |
Plum aphid | It lives on the underside of the leaves, which curl up and dry out. | Wood treatment with Karbofos preparation. | 1. Digging up the soil. 2. Burning fallen leaves. 3. Removal of root shoots. 4. Prevention with insecticides. |
Plodojorka | Codling moth caterpillars feed on fruits and make passages in the pulp. | Collection of fallen fruits, disinfection of the bark, spraying the tree with a Chlorophos solution. |
Conclusion
Plum Candy is a proven variety for universal use. It is valued for its unusual sweet taste, compact size and resistance to external factors. To get a good harvest, the tree is provided with regular care.
Reviews of gardeners about plum Candy
