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The yellow plum is one of the varieties of the house plum. It is often confused with cherry plum and this is not without reason. Firstly, domestic plum is, in fact, a hybrid of blackthorn and cherry plum, and secondly, many varieties of yellow plum are obtained by crossing with cherry plum.
From a botanical point of view, some subspecies of the domestic plum are called yellow plums, belonging to the group of mirabelles, renklods or Chinese plums, having the corresponding color. Their origin can be very diverse: both hybrid crossing and artificial selection.
Description of the yellow plum tree and fruit
The height of the plant is significantly lower than that of ordinary plums. The highest representatives of the “yellow fruit” do not exceed 7 m. The shape of the crown can be ovoid or spherical. In some undersized varieties, it has an irregular shape.
Leaves are alternate, ovate; they have a barely noticeable pubescence below and a short petiole. Leaf sizes usually range from 2-6 cm in width and 5-12 cm in length.
In generative buds, up to 3 flowers can form. The flowers are usually white or pink. Their diameter rarely exceeds 20 mm. The plant is monoecious, but self-fertility depends on the variety.
Fruit ripening, depending on the variety, occurs from July to September. Fruit diameter varies widely from 18 mm to 50 mm. Taste, pulp structure, wateriness of the fruit and other similar characteristics can be very diverse and are highly dependent on the particular variety.
The existing prejudice that the yellow color, which is a sign of kinship with cherry plum, means the sour taste of the fruit is not supported by anything.
Varieties of yellow plum
A variety of domestic yellow plums is represented by several dozen varieties, which are classified mainly by ripening time.
There are other classifications based on common origin, taste, shades, etc. However, since most plums are self-fertile, varieties that have similar flowering and fruiting periods should be selected for their proper pollination.
Types of yellow plums
large yellow plum
Large-fruited yellow plums include varieties such as Golden Large, Large-fruited Eliseeva, Jefferson, Firefly, etc. This is one of the most common groups of yellow plums.
Consider the description of the yellow plum variety Zolotistaya large, as a typical representative of the group with large fruits. This is a medium-sized tree about 4-5 m high, with a pyramidal crown. The size of the fruit can vary widely (40-60 g), however, under favorable conditions, such plums can produce fruits of greater weight.
The flesh is yellow, tender. The taste is sour. Taste rating 4.8 points (hereinafter, all ratings are given on a five-point scale). The pulp is poorly separated from the bone.
The variety is self-fertile, but it requires pollinators to improve productivity: Volzhskaya Krasavitsa or Mirnaya.
Plum yellow early
Let’s consider descriptions of yellow plum varieties of early ripening.
One of the earliest summer varieties of yellow plum is Honey or White Honey. The weight of the fruits of this variety can reach 50 g, but on average it is in the range of 30-35 g. Ripening occurs by mid-July-early August.
The tree rarely exceeds a height of 5 m. The crown is rounded, branched. The fruits have an almost perfect round shape with a slight wax coating. They are quite dense and well transported. The taste assessment of the quality of the fruit is 4.5 points. The disadvantages include poor separability of dense pulp from the stone.
The plant needs pollinators. Based on the timing of flowering, the varieties of Hungarian Early or Renklod Karbyshev are best suited for this purpose.
Another early ripe variety is Renklod Early. The terms of its ripening come in the third decade of July – in the first decade of August. The tree has a height of 4-5 m, the shape of the crown is rounded.
The mass of fruits is within 40-50 g. The peel of the fruit is strong, but thin. The wax coating is markedly pronounced. The flesh of this renklod has a greenish tint. It is dense and juicy, has a honey flavor and a strong aroma.
The variety is self-fertile, so it requires pollinators. The best pollinator, like that of Medova, is Renklod Karbysheva.
Yellow plum varieties of medium ripening
This is one of the most common group of yellow plums. A typical representative of which is Renklod White. Its ripening dates are in the second half of August.
The plant reaches a height of 3.5-4 m. It has strongly branching shoots. The crown is rounded. The mass of fruits is 35-40 g. They have an excellent appearance and are well transported. The pulp is juicy and aromatic, the color is light yellow, up to yellow-white.
Usually grown by grafting, cherry plum is used as a stock. Self-infertile, therefore requires pollinators: Hungarian Donetska or Renklod Karbysheva.
The large yellow plum of the Golden Drop cultivar is a cross between an Egg Yellow Plum and a Green Green Plum. The variety is quite old, English selection. The tree reaches a height of 5-6 m. The density of branches is average. Ripening dates – the second half of August.
The fruits have an average weight of 40 g, under favorable conditions, especially large specimens of 55-60 g can also be found. The flesh has a golden color, the stone does not separate freely from it. The variety is self-fertile. Pollinators can be: Renklod Altana, Renklod Zeleny.
Late plum varieties
Such varieties ripen mainly in the second half of August and the first decade of September. A typical representative of this group is the Yellow Afaska. The hybrid was bred in Bulgaria on the basis of local yellow plum and cherry plum. Cherry plum is also considered the best stock for vaccinations. Ripening occurs in early September.
Tree up to 4 m high with strongly branched lateral branches. The fruits are large 50-70g and have a slightly elongated shape. The wax coating is thin, but clearly visible due to the bluish-gray color.
They have a small bone, well separated from the pulp. The pulp itself is very dense, but sweet and tasty.
The variety is considered self-fertile, therefore, theoretically, it does not require pollinators. It has a high resistance to fungal diseases.
Another representative of late varieties is Egg. This is one of the oldest varieties, bred over 300 years ago. The ripening dates of the variety are in September.
The tree is relatively tall – up to 6.5 m. The crown has a wide rounded shape. The density of the branches is medium. The amount of deciduous mass is small.
The fruits are medium in size, weighing 25-30 g. The pulp is yellow, fibrous, of medium density. It practically does not separate from the bone. The variety after harvesting requires prompt processing, since it is not stored for a long time. It is used to make preserves and jams. Does not require pollinators.
Like all “old” varieties, it is subject to a large number of diseases, mainly fungi.
yellow plum pear
A typical representative of pear-shaped yellow varieties is Natasha, obtained by crossing Ochakovskaya Yellow and Hungarian Azhanskaya.
Tree 4.5-5 m high, crown shape – pyramidal. Almost no pruning required.
The variety belongs to mid-season, ripening occurs in mid-August. The fruits are medium in size, weighing 35-40 g. The shape of the fruit is characteristic elongated pear-shaped. The wax coating is clearly visible and palpable. There are many points on the fruits.
The flesh is yellow-orange, juicy and grainy. The taste is sweet and sour.
The variety is self-infertile and requires pollinators. For this purpose, the Edinburgh and German awards are best suited.
yellow sweet plum
Among the yellow plums, the medium-late Jefferson variety is considered the sweetest. This variety is specially used for making juices and jams. This is due to the high concentration of sugar (up to 17%) and low acid content (less than 8%). The tasting score of the variety is 4,8 points.
The tree has a height of 4 m, its crown is oval-elongated, with a diameter of 3-3.5 m. The fruits are large, up to 60 g. Yellow-green flesh, slightly separated from the stone. It has a delicate and soft texture. Despite the softness of the fruit, it has a high transportability.
The variety is self-infertile. Requires pollinators: Early Blue, Renklod de Beauvais.
Plum yellow undersized
Small yellow plum trees have an undeniable advantage: they are easy to harvest and easier to care for.
A typical representative of low-growing trees of this type is Bolkhovchanka. The height of this variety rarely exceeds 2.5 m. Usually, the height of the trees is 1.9-2.2 m. The crown has a spherical shape.
Fruit weight is about 30-40 g. They are egg-shaped. The pulp is sweet and sour, yellowish, well separated from the stone.
The variety is self-fertile. Pollinators: Record and Renklod Kolkhozny.
Planting and caring for yellow plum
Consider how to plant a yellow plum and care for it. In care, plum is a tree with moderate labor intensity: it is more difficult to maintain it in a normal state than an apple tree, but easier than an apricot.
The lifespan of plums can be up to 30 years. Maximum fruiting occurs at 5-20 years of age. The early years of a seedling’s life will be especially difficult, however, when the first two crops are taken from it, plant care will be reduced to a minimum.
Site selection and soil preparation for planting
The solution to the question of how to properly plant a yellow plum should begin with choosing a landing site. The tree prefers sunny places, protected from the northern winds. The soil can be any, but light loams of neutral acidity are preferred.
Plum is one of the few plants that like constant moistening of the root system, so the level of groundwater is not critical for it.
How to plant yellow plum
Planting yellow plum can be carried out both in spring and autumn. The landing algorithm is approximately the same, however, depending on whether the landing was made at the beginning or at the end of the season, there are slight differences.
Preparation of the pit for planting a yellow plum seedling should take place 15-20 days before planting it in the ground. The depth of the pit and its diameter range from 0.5 to 0.6 m. 15 cm of humus, compost or topsoil is laid on the bottom.
In addition, it is recommended to add mineral fertilizers to the pit and water it. The composition of mineral fertilizers:
- urea – 20-30 g;
- superphosphate – 30-35 g;
- wood ash – 1 cup.
After watering, a peg is driven into the pit to support the seedling. It is located 15-20 cm north of the center of the pit.
After the time has passed and the fertilizer has penetrated the soil, you can plant. The soil previously removed from the pit is mixed in a ratio of 1 to 1 with compost, and with the help of this mixture, the pit is filled with a seedling installed in it.
After the pit is filled up, and the seedling is tied to a peg, you need to compact the soil tightly and water the young tree with 10-20 liters of water. At the same time, it is recommended to make a watering edge 5-7 cm high and with a radius of about 0.5 from the seedling.
Landing in the spring should be carried out at the end of the so-called. “return frosts”, planting in the fall – 1-1.5 months before a cold snap. This is necessary so that the root system of the tree can take root and it does not die.
How the yellow plum blossoms
Flowering time depends on the variety and climatic conditions. Early ripe plants bloom in late April. Having an average ripening time – in early or mid-May. Late ripe – end of May.
The duration of flowering is approximately the same for all varieties and ranges from 8 to 12 days.
Pollinators for yellow plum
Traditionally, when planting plums, apricots and sweet cherries, the question arises with the pollinators of these crops. And, despite the fact that plums do not have an urgent need for pollinators, it is recommended to purchase several trees of different varieties so that plant yields increase due to cross-pollination.
Therefore, when planting a plum, it is recommended not to plant one tree, but to take 6-8 seedlings of at least three different varieties at once. The main variety is the one that interests the owner. Of the remaining “additional” ones, one should be the recommended pollinator for the main one. And the second – having a certain number of differences with the previous ones (for example, smaller growth and a different shape of berries).
Plants are planted in different corners of the garden, separating the same varieties at long distances. The distance between the main variety and its pollinator should not be more than 30-40 m.
yellow plum care
The plant needs periodic care, but it is quite simple and even a novice summer resident can do it.
Watering, mulching, fertilizing
Plum loves moisture, so watering should be plentiful and regular. Usually, they are carried out once every two weeks. Mature trees require 100-120 liters of water, young ones from 50 to 70 liters. The last watering is done in mid-September.
The soil under the plant should be loosened after watering to a depth of 5 cm. In the case of using mulch, this is not necessary.
Mulch will help retain moisture in the topsoil for longer. For plums, you can use mulch or any material at hand: sawdust, mowed grass or straw, needles, etc.
Top dressing plum requires infrequently – about 1 time in 2-3 seasons. Mineral fertilizers are traditionally applied in spring (nitrogen) and autumn (phosphorus and potassium). In the norms recommended for garden trees. Depending on the age of the plant, this will be several tens of grams per 1 sq. m.
Organic fertilizers are applied even less often – once every 3-4 years. It is enough to add 10-12 kg of humus per square meter under each tree in late autumn. m.
Pruning yellow plum in spring + video
Pruning in the spring is carried out for sanitary purposes, or to form a uniform crown growth for this season.
Sanitary pruning consists in removing dry, frostbitten and damaged branches. Branches that have traces of pests and diseases are also removed. In the absence of fruiting, branches are also removed on which generative buds are not formed.
To stimulate the uniform growth of the crown, it is necessary to cut the young branches of the last season by 30 cm. However, as practice shows, it is enough to do this only once, for 2-3 years of the plant’s life. In subsequent years, only maintenance and corrective pruning is needed.
Preparing yellow plum for winter
In young trees, it is recommended to tie the branches into one “sheaf” and wrap it in polyethylene or insulating foil. The trunk itself is recommended to be dug in with earth for the winter so that a cone 0.5-0.6 m high is formed.
Mature trees also need care, but of a slightly different kind. Their large branches must be supported with stakes to prevent them from breaking off under the weight of a large amount of snow.
After snow falls, it is necessary to additionally wrap them around the bottom of the tree trunk.
Conclusion
The yellow plum is one of the most popular crops in the southern regions. Their unusual color attracts the attention of many gardeners, and gradually trees with yellow fruits conquer more and more new spaces. The fruits of this tree have a wide variety of taste qualities, they come in various sizes and shapes.