Plum: planting and care in the Leningrad region, which variety to choose

Leningrad region is a region of our country with a cold, changeable climate. You can grow orchards here, it is important to choose the right varieties and types of fruit trees. Plum is a stone fruit tree adapted to the weather conditions of the northern regions. To get a decent harvest, you need to know the nuances of growing plums in the Leningrad region: the planting system, zoned varieties and the rules for caring for plum orchards in the north.

Difficulties in growing plums in the Leningrad Region

The Northwest region has a specific climate and peculiar soils.From fruit trees on the territory of the Leningrad region, only cold-resistant zoned varieties take root. The work of breeders is ongoing, and every year new improved types of plums are created.

Top varieties suitable for the region

Many varieties have been bred for the Leningrad region. The same varieties take root perfectly in the Urals in the Volga region, they are resistant to temperature extremes, prolonged cold snaps and winter hardiness. The best plum varieties for the Leningrad region are popular among gardeners in other regions.

Ochakov yellow

Delicious plum variety with high care requirements. The yield is average, it hardly tolerates frosts and temperature changes, it prefers the southern climate. The fruits are prone to cracking and fall off in windy weather. For commercial purposes, Ochakov yellow is not grown, the culture needs pollination from neighboring plum trees.Fruits not every year.

For all its shortcomings, Ochakovskaya yellow fell in love with gardeners of the Leningrad region for the unusual juicy sweet taste of ripe fruits, trees are easily propagated by cuttings.

Renklod collective farm

A variety that has been proven for decades and has not lost popularity among gardeners in the Leningrad Region. Created Renklod collective farm Ivan Vladimirovich Michurin by crossing the blackthorn (wild plum) with green renklod. As a result, the plum inherited excellent frost resistance and resistance to temperature fluctuations.

Stable yield and precocity are the hallmarks of Renklod collective farm. The only drawback is the shedding of fruits when the plum is overripe.

gift to Saint Petersburg

Hybrid cherry plum, zoned for cultivation in the Leningrad region in the late nineties. Of the genetic advantages of the gift to St. Petersburg, high yields, disease resistance, and frost resistance are distinguished.The tree is able to quickly recover from mechanical damage.

The main disadvantage is the inability to self-pollinate.

Etude

Improved mid-early plum variety, characterized by increased winter hardiness. The first harvest of a plum orchard will bring young seedlings in the fourth year of life. The study refers to self-fertile varieties of fruit trees.

The purpose of the variety is table-technical, excellent for growing on personal plots. Does not require special additional shelters in winter. Resistant to fungal diseases and pests.

Red early ripening

Grown in the Leningrad region since the late forties. Early maturing red - a beautiful variety of plum trees, a small neat tree adorns the landscape of personal plots. Withstands frosts down to -38 ^{С, the variety is self-fertile, unpretentious, adequately tolerates both drought and waterlogging of the soil.}

Round ripening round

The variety belongs to the Leningrad selection and was bred specifically for this region. Early ripeness, high taste qualities of ripe fruits are among the advantages of early ripening round. Endurance of frosts and temperature changes is average; in severe winters, trees can completely freeze out. Companions required for pollination, Early ripening round self-fertile variety.

Emma Lepperman

Plum variety of German selection, popular in the B altic States, Poland, where it is grown commercially. Emma Lepperman has taken root well in the North-West region of our country, requires cross-pollination, and has a high yield. The nuance of care - trees need systematic pruning. In the West, the variety is considered one of the most profitable.

Edinburgh

High-yielding English winter-hardy columnar variety of plum. The tree is genetically resistant to clasterosporia, self-fertile. The taste of ripe fruits is sweet and sour. Suitable for cultivation in the Leningrad region.

Orlovskaya dream

Representative of the Far Eastern selection - Chinese garden plum. Young seedlings bear fruit in the third year of life. The variety is partially self-fertile, frost-resistant, drought-resistant. The disadvantages include the gradual grinding of fruits.

The popular name of Oryol's dream is a three-flower, because of the characteristics of flowering plum trees.

Volga beauty

Variety of Samara selection, grown everywhere: in Central Russia, the Volga region, the Leningrad region and other regions. The greatest yield can be achieved in the southern regions of cultivation, the tree is thermophilic, demanding on illumination. It tolerates drought well, gives a good harvest. Plum is most vulnerable to frost during flowering.

With excessive moisture, the fruits crack, the shelf life of the fresh crop is limited.

Alyonushka

Chinese plum Oryol selection. The winter hardiness of the plant is average, but the trees are able to tolerate temperature fluctuations in the spring and autumn. The yield is small, but the tree bears fruit every year. The variety is genetically resistant to perforated spotting and moniliosis.

The disadvantages of Alyonushka include the predisposition of trees to the defeat of aphids.

Boarding rules

Leningrad region is the northernmost region of our country where it is allowed to grow orchards of stone fruits.

It is recommended to plant young seedlings in early spring. Preparatory work is carried out in advance:

• Choose a sunny place without drafts.
• The soil is carefully dug up within a radius of one meter based on the hole width of 90 centimeters.
• Dig a hole 60 centimeters deep and apply a mineral-organic complex of fertilizers.

A mixture of humus, peat, sand and wood ash, mixed in equal proportions, is added as top dressing, you can add a handful of urea.

Next, start planting seedlings. The planting pattern for different varieties of plums will differ: from 1.5 meters between plants, up to 3 meters. The distance between the rows in the orchard will be 5-6 meters.

The roots of a young tree must be carefully spread and pressed by hand, the hole should be evenly covered with soil and pressed, then the plum must be watered and the near-trunk circle should be mulched. You can use sawdust or freshly cut grass.

Note! For some varieties of plums, you can use an additional support in the form of a peg located on the north side at a distance of 15-20 centimeters from the tree trunk.

Features of care

Orchard care includes:

• Irrigation system.
• Regular feeding.
• Processing from diseases and pests.
• Pruning branches (for some varieties).

Most varieties of plums do not like excess moisture and easily tolerate drought. But prolonged drying of the soil can affect the taste of the fruit and the he alth of the plant itself. When hot weather sets in for a long time, it is recommended to water fruit plantations at the rate of 50 liters of water per plant.

Note: By the appearance of the fruits, one can tell about the level of soil moisture: if the fruits are cracked, the plum lacks moisture, if the tree actively turns yellow leaves and the top dies off, then water stagnation at the roots could form plants.

Excess moisture is especially detrimental to plants during the growing season, with an abundance of rain during this period, special moisture-wicking grooves are made in the trunk circle.

From fertilizers, plum needs top dressing with phosphorus, nitrogen and potassium. Superphosphate or urea mixed with organic fertilizers are essential tree nutrition at various stages of growth.

When caring for plum plantings, you need to pay attention to the nuances of a particular variety: some trees need pollinating companions, pruning or additional shelters for the winter.

The first pruning of plums is carried out in early spring, such thinning is called sanitary. The main task is to remove frost-damaged, diseased branches. During the summer, plum root shoots are removed, taking strength from the tree. Places of cut branches are covered with garden pitch or clay.

Diseases and pests

In the Leningrad region, plum orchards are vulnerable to the following diseases and pests:

1. Moniliosis. A fungal disease that affects flowers, buds, branches and trunks of plums. Gray outgrowths form on the bark of trees, the shoots turn brown, look burnt, the leaves turn black and fall off.
2. Formation of gum on the trunks and branches of plants. Fruit may become infected. Peculiar caked droplets appear on the plums, resembling resin.
3. Rust is a fungal disease that manifests itself in the form of brown spots with a yellow border, the plant loses strength, growth slows down.
4. Alusterosporiasis or perforated spotting - plum fruits are strewn with black-gray spots, over time, gum disease begins in the trees.
5. Aphids are parasitic insects that live off trees and feed on its juices. Colonies are able to completely destroy the crop.
6. Gall mite - lives on the leaves of trees, feeds on the juices of trees. Affected leaves turn yellow and fall off, all metabolic processes are suspended.

Insecticides are used to control insect pests: Aktellik, Aktofit, Iskra, Aktara. Against fungal diseases, fungicide treatments are carried out, damaged parts are removed and burned.

For better resistance of fruit trees to diseases, it is recommended to select zoned, genetically resistant varieties to plum disease infections.

As a preventive measure against infections, it is recommended to bleach the trunks with lime at a distance of 1.5 meters from the root of the plant.

Do not apply insecticides and fungicides during the fruiting period. The fruits will not be edible. The main stages of processing: early spring (the period of bud set), bud set, flowering, autumn processing (after fruiting).

Leningrad region is a northern region with a changeable climate, but it is possible to grow orchards here. When growing plums, gardeners must take proper care of the plants systematically, select available, proven, zoned varieties, and spray the trees against pests and diseases. Some varieties of plums need additional shelters for the winter.

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