Plum Volga beauty

Plum Volzhskaya beauty – a common variety of early ripening, fragrant and juicy, is in great demand among experienced gardeners. Almost no garden in Central Our Country is complete without this strong and prolific tree.

History of variety breeding

Thanks to the honored breeder of the Samara region, E.P. Finaev, the Volga beauty plum appeared at the Kuibyshev agricultural experimental station in the early 30s and was included in the State Register of the Federation in 1965. His dedication to his work helped to revive about 20 varieties of plums. Finaev tried many combinations, and the decisive step was the crossing of the varieties Krasnaya precocious and Renklod Bove.

Description plum Volga beauty

Spherical fruits of the Volga plum are large in size, slightly elongated along the edges, purple in color with a red tint. In the middle is a groove that visually divides the fetus in half.

The skin of the plum fruit Beauty is dense, with a bluish bloom, easily separated from the pulp. The stalks are hard, thick. The stone is almond-shaped, woody in color, medium in size.

The height of the Volga beauty plum tree reaches 6–7 meters. The trunk is straight and even, ash-gray. The bark is dry and smooth. 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 plums. Variety Volzhskaya blooms profusely, inflorescences consist of 2-3 flowers.

The Middle Volga, Nizhnevolzhsky and Central regions of Our Country are favorable for planting plum Beauty. The climate and soil composition of these areas contribute to the high yield of the variety.

Characteristics of a variety

Characteristics of the plum variety Volzhskaya beauty have many advantages. It has attractive qualities: drought resistance, frost resistance, immunity to diseases and pests.

Drought resistance, frost resistance

Plum Volga is a lover of sunlight, which confirms its drought resistance.

At the same time, it is able to withstand low temperatures due to its thick bark: its frost resistance is rated as average. When the temperature drops, flower buds are prone to freezing, which provokes their shedding.

Plum pollinators Volzhskaya beauty

Plum Beauty can self-pollinate. But this does not exclude the possibility of pollination by other varieties, which increases fertility. This process is favored by planting the Volga beauty next to pollinating varieties.

Yield and fruiting

Plum Volga has a good yield, as evidenced by the yield of up to 25 kg. With age, the Volga beauty can produce even more fruits. From trees 5–8 years old, eight to ten kilograms of fruit are harvested, and after 9 years, the variety brings from twelve to twenty-five kilograms. Good fruit density is typical in season.

Scope of berries

Homemade plum Volzhskaya beauty is a juicy dessert variety. Depending on the ripeness, the taste of the fruit varies from sweet-sour to sugary-sweet. Delicious compotes, jelly, jams, preserves, sauces are prepared from the Volga plum. Perfect for filling pies, charlotte turns out very tasty. You can also note the wine-making qualities of plums.

Disease and pest resistance

The plum variety Beauty, in addition to drought resistance and frost resistance, has a number of important qualities – first of all, it is resistance to many diseases and pests.

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

Reviews of experts about plum Volzhskaya beauty confirm a lot of advantages and notice minor flaws.

Features of landing

No matter how numerous the virtues of the Volga plum are, they manifest themselves only after proper planting and with proper care of the fruit tree.

Recommended dates

Gardeners are carefully preparing for planting and caring for the Volga Beauty plum. The characteristic seasons for the favorable cultivation of plums Volga beauty from a seedling are autumn and spring. In autumn, the earth has not yet cooled down and is ready to receive 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 adaptation of the seedling.

• Autumn landing the last two weeks of September.
• Spring landing from mid-April to mid-May.

Choosing the right place

The right choice of a place for a seedling is the key to a successful harvest. Plum Volzhskaya is useful to plant on flat areas or on low slopes. The variety loves warmth – it is advisable to place it in those 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 found that the Beauty plum does not take root well next to neighbors such as pear, apple, blackcurrant and raspberry.
• Best of all, planting nearby maple and black elderberry, which help her cope with aphids, is welcome.
• Other pollinating plums will become excellent neighbors for the Volga beauty.

Selection and preparation of planting material

Specialty stores, nurseries, markets offer a wide range of seedlings, but it is better to buy Volzhskaya plum at trusted outlets, where the risk of mixing plant varieties is minimal.

• The best choice of planting material is 2-year-old seedlings with a root length of 10 cm or more.
• Close attention should be paid to the roots: they should be slightly moist, 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 clean it of weeds, debris and dig.
• Two weeks before planting, dig a hole 50 cm deep and 60 cm in diameter.
• Mix organic fertilizers with the excavated earth.
• A wooden support should be used to tie the tree.
• Drive in a support, pour out the mixed soil and plant a seedling.
• The root neck should be positioned so that it rises a few centimeters above the ground.
• Be sure to compact the soil around the plum so that there is no empty space.
• Plum tie up and water.

Plum Aftercare

After the Beauty plum variety is planted, a period of preventive care begins. Its main stages: pruning, preparation for winter, watering, top dressing, protection from rodents.

Trimming

• The first step is the plum cutting procedure. In the case when there is no crown, a part of the annual seedling is removed from the ground level by 65 cm. If there is a crown, then the main shoot is cut: its elevation above the rest of the branches is 20 cm.
• In a two-year-old tree, side shoots are shortened by 1/3.
• In subsequent years, plums are regularly trimmed at the end of March and October.

Preparing for the winter period

Plum Volga beauty, of course, is a winter-hardy variety, but nevertheless, one should take into account the mandatory tips for preserving it in frosts.

• After the last leaf fall, the surface of the earth around should be cleaned and dug to a depth of 15–20 cm.
• Unfruitful young trees 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 and growth-covered areas. Then you need to carefully whitewash the trunk and branches of the plum twice. This will protect against pests.
• In case of accidental damage to healthy tissue, carefully treat with var.

Watering

An important aspect in care is irrigation work, they contribute to the growth and normal development of the Volga Beauty plum.

• During the growing season, it is watered up to 5 times with loosening the soil to a depth of 10 cm, and in the autumn period they are dug 20 cm deep.
• During flowering, 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.

Additional fertilizing

Plum Volga beauty has large fruits. In order for them to reach their natural size and be saturated with taste and aroma, in combination with the sun’s rays and soil moisture, nutritious top dressing is necessary.

• The main organic fertilizers include compost and rotted manure, a few buckets of one or the other will be enough.
• Plum Volga is not a fan of soil with acidity, 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 kind of organic matter, depending on the size of the tree. Apply once every three years.
• Lime and mineral dressings should be carried out at different times.

Protection against rodents

In winter, rodents tend to eat tree trunks and roots. For protection purposes, the Beauty plum should be wrapped with paper, straw, roofing felt, spruce branches, peppermint branches, as well as cloth flaps moistened with creolin.

Diseases and pests, methods of control and prevention

Plum Volga Beauty is a versatile plant that is resistant to pests and diseases. Regular preventive measures will save gardeners from serious problems.

The main diseases of the Volga plum: marsupial disease, monoliosis, perforated spotting.

Harmful insects attacking the Beauty variety: cherry elephant, plum aphid.

• Marsupial disease – a fungus that infects the fruit of the plum. It is recommended to spray trees with Bordeaux liquid in spring and autumn.
• perforated disease – a disease that is characterized by branches affected by formations in the form of ulcers on a dry bark. It is recommended to treat with Bordeaux liquid.
• Monoliosis – defeat of buds and flowers. It is recommended to spray the plant with Bordeaux liquid for the first time before the leaves appear. Continue the procedure with an interval 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 ground before flowering, after flowering – apply 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 causes leaf damage. They curl, wrinkle and dry out. Shoots are 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, a solution of “Skor fungicide” (2 ml per 10 l of water) and “Planriz” (5 l per 1 ha) is used. During the growing season, you can use “Zircon” (1 ampoule diluted in 1 liter of water) or a solution of “Aktofit”: 6 ml per 1 liter of water.

Conclusion

Plum Volga Beauty is a great choice for growing. She gets along great with other varieties of plums. Juicy fruits of a purple hue will not only decorate the garden, but will also delight during the harvest season. Delicious jams and pie fillings will also delight you in winter.

Reviews