Plum Volga beauty: variety description, cultivation and care, pollinators and photos

Plum of the domestic variety Volga beauty with large tasty fruits is widely distributed in Central Russia. Plum culture begins to bear fruit from 4 years from the moment of planting in the garden. The variety is characterized by early maturation, abundant yield, good resistance to cold. Large fruits with excellent taste characteristics, suitable for use in various purposes.

History of selection of the Volga beauty

In 1939, at an experimental horticultural station in the city of Kuibyshev, breeder Evgeny Petrovich Finaev crossed the varieties Renklod Bove and Skorospelka red.Thus, a type of plum was obtained, called the Volga beauty. In 1965, the variety was entered into the state register of the Russian Federation. Fruit trees are zoned for the Lower Volga, Middle Volga and Central regions.

Description and distinctive features of the plum

Plum grows quickly, reaches 6-7 m in height. The trunk is straight, the bark is smooth, gray with an ash tint. The branches are powerful, bare. In a small amount there are white lentils. The crown is moderately dense, raised, spherical.

Large oval leaves are flat, matte, medium pubescent, with a rounded base and a sharp tip. The leaf blade has a serrate-crenate edge, attached to a medium, thick petiole with 2 colored glands. Plum fruits develop on bouquet shoots. Flowers of white color are collected in inflorescences of 2-3 pieces.

The fruits of the plum are oval, large, with a prominent seam, weighing approximately 35 g.Ripe plums with a pronounced waxy coating become a solid purple color and a reddish tint. The skin is moderately dense. There is a moderate amount of white subcutaneous dots. The pulp is uniformly yellow-orange, juicy, with a pleasant sweet and sour taste (4.5 points). Juice is transparent. The stone is oval, medium in size, pointed on both sides, easily separated.

Characteristics of the Volga Beauty plum variety

The success of reproduction of the Volga beauty with green cuttings is about 40%. Most breeding is carried out by vaccination. Plum prefers light and medium loamy chernozem moderately moist soils. Grows best on dolomite or calcareous marl soils of clay-carbonate composition.

Plums tolerate light frost well in sheltered, well-lit areas.

Many people like large juicy fruits with bright yellow sweet pulp. This variety is very popular with gardeners due to its precocity, as well as regular abundant fruiting, subject to adequate watering and systematic top dressing.

Plum resistance to sub-zero temperatures and drought

Thanks to the thick plum bark, the Volga beauty is able to endure moderate cold without consequences. In terms of winter hardiness, the quality of the variety is average. In severe frosts, vegetative buds can freeze and crumble, reducing the yield of plums. Handles dry years well.

Insect and disease susceptibility

Gum flow is rarely observed in the plum variety Volga Beauty. Also, the plant is resistant to the incidence of gray mold. The risk of damage increases when damaged by a plum codling moth or cherry elephant. Susceptibility to codling moth is low, 0.5-1%.

Plum Pollinators

The variety is considered self-fertile, if you plant several plums of similar flowering time next to each other, you can improve the yield. Pollinators suitable for the Volga beauty are Red early ripening, Zhiguli, Mirnaya, Kuibyshev Ternosliva.

Plum yield and fruiting

Plum saplings from the moment of landing on a permanent place begin to bear fruit for 4-5 years. The yield of 6-8 summer fruit crops is about 8-10 kg, after 9-12 years - 13-25 kg. Flowering begins in mid-May. The taste of the fruit acquires a characteristic sweetness by the beginning of August. Harvested from the 10th to the 25th. Suitability for transportation of plums is average. The fruits are recommended to be used before the beginning of September.

Storage and use of fruits

Harvest in dry sunny weather, this will extend the shelf life of fresh plums. After rain, wet fruits become sour, their taste becomes less pronounced. Picked drupes are placed up to 4 layers in wooden or plastic containers lined with paper.

During the storage period, plums begin to lose their beneficial properties and taste characteristics, so the fruits are recommended to be consumed or processed immediately.

Unripe fruits are left for several days in rooms with a room temperature of 22 - 25 degrees. Shelf life at temperatures up to 6 degrees without access to direct sunlight and air humidity of not more than 90% is 2 weeks. For long-term storage, plum fruits are frozen after removing the stone.

Main advantages and disadvantages of plum

The main positive qualities of the Volga beauty plum are abundant regular fruiting, early flowering and ripening, large size and excellent taste characteristics, the ability to transport.

Of the negative features, they note the large dimensions of the trees, the threat of freezing of flower buds from late frosts, the likelihood of cracking the peel in a season with high rainfall.

How to plant a plum in the area

In order to grow a he althy, well-developed plum, many factors must be taken into account when planting. Particular attention is paid to the choice of seedlings, select suitable pollinators, compatible neighbors, as well as landing sites.

Determining the timing

Plum planting Volga beauty is allowed in the autumn (end of September) or from mid-April to early May. Spring planting is recognized as more rational. The seedling is placed in warm ground, allowing it to quickly adapt to a new place, develop the root and aerial parts before the onset of winter cold weather.

Choosing the best plum planting site

The Volga beauty variety is preferably planted on flat terrain or areas with a slight slope. Plum loves a lot of sun, grows better and gives more fruit in well-lit places protected from the wind. The soil should be breathable, such as light or medium loam.Plum is not recommended for planting in lowlands with a high degree of soil moisture, as well as in areas with a close location of groundwater.

Compatible and incompatible plum neighbors

Plum can be planted next to an apple tree. Joint cultivation with cherries, cherries, peaches, walnuts, pears is undesirable. The Volga beauty quietly coexists with raspberry, currant, gooseberry, honeysuckle and barberry bushes.

Preparing the seedling

It is advisable to purchase 2-year-old trees 1-1.5 m high. When choosing, pay attention to the roots and appearance of the plant. The root system should be well developed, slightly moist, from 20 cm long. He althy seedlings have a smooth bark, without damage and dry shoots. Leaves, broken branches, dried roots are removed before planting.

Technological process of planting

Having decided on the place, they dig a hole 0.5 m deep, 1 m wide. The soil is mixed with organic or complex mineral fertilizers. The resulting mixture is poured into a hole with a mound, a wooden peg is placed there.

The seedling is placed on a prepared earthen elevation on the north side in relation to the peg, the roots are straightened and evenly spaced, sprinkled with earth. At the same time, the tree is periodically shaken, the soil is trampled a little so that there are no voids.

The root neck should be located at a distance of 5 cm from ground level. After planting, the seedling is tied to a support.

Departing half a meter from the trunk, they dig a recess for irrigation around the perimeter. For 1 plum you need 3 buckets of water. After that, the trunk area is mulched with sawdust or rotted manure.

Rules for caring for plum Volga Beauty

Like any fruit tree, plum requires systematic care. To get a good tasty harvest, it is necessary to ensure proper watering, top dressing, pruning, as well as timely treatment from pests and diseases.Due attention is paid to the formation of the crown and the care of the near-stem circle.

Water and fertilize

When arranging irrigation, it is important to maintain a balance. Drought causes the ovaries to fall off, and excessive moisture can lead to cracking of the fruit. Additional moisture will not interfere during flowering, the formation and ripening of plums, after fruiting and before the onset of cold weather.

Fertilizers can be applied throughout the season, following the recommended amount of substances. In spring and autumn, top dressing is aimed at nourishing the roots, in the summer they process the aerial part. In the spring, 3 top dressings are carried out:

• before flowering: 30 g/m^{2 ammonium nitrate solution;}
• during flowering: 10 g urea/5 l water;
• after flowering: insist 1 kg of chicken manure in 12 liters of water (consumption 2 liters per 1 plum).

In the summer, potash and phosphorus additives are used. Trees are fertilized in autumn to prepare them for winter. More often they use potassium chloride or potassium sulfide, superphosphate.

Crown formation

In the first year of growth, the plum seedling does not need to be pruned. From the 2nd year in the spring, when the buds awaken, they begin to form a crown with a sparse-tiered or non-tiered type, avoiding strong thickening or excessive thinning. The leading position should be occupied by the central conductor, it is cut off by 2/3. The main branches are left 20 cm long, the side shoots are shortened to 15 cm above the bud pointing down.

Pruning is repeated in the summer, removing growths up to 20 cm. Strong branches are bent, fixed with twine. For the Volga plum, a sparse-tiered type is preferable with the formation of three tiers:

• for the first use 3 branches at a height of about 70 cm from the soil surface;
• the second is made from 2 branches 70 cm from the first;
• the third tier of 1 branch is placed at a distance of 50 cm from the second.

Further plum care is annual thinning, removal of competitive, dry, damaged branches.

Diseases and pests, methods of control and prevention

A strong well-groomed plum tree of the Volga beauty is resistant to major diseases, it is enough to periodically take preventive measures to protect it. When signs of damage appear, there is a need for emergency measures.

From clasterosporiasis, moniliosis, the development of fungi, the following remedies are used:

• spring 2 treatments with "Fitosporin" according to the instructions;
• at the end of flowering, during the growing season, 2 treatments with "Horus" or "Soon";
• for prevention 5% urea solution, 3% Bordeaux liquid, Actellik.

From aphids use "Bitoksibacillin", "Skor", "Planriz", "Zircon", "Actofit". To prevent the breeding of the cherry elephant in the spring, they dig up the soil under the tree.

Caring for the trunk circle

During the first year after planting, it is important to carefully loosen and remove weeds from the top layer of soil around the plum trunk. This will provide the young tree with maximum nutrition and oxygen saturation, will contribute to rapid rooting and normal development.

Protecting plums from rodents

Hares and voles can damage plum trees, so you should securely cover the trunks or use special repellent preparations. To protect the bark, trees are wrapped with spunbond, roofing material, fiberglass or suitable improvised materials.You can arrange spruce branches around the plum tree, install a metal mesh.

Shelter for the winter

Young seedling does not require feeding. For the winter, it must be covered with branches, a layer of hay, tied with a rope. You can also wrap a young tree with paper in several layers. In adult plants, the trunk circle is covered, trunks and large branches are whitened.

Reviews of experienced gardeners about plum variety Volga beauty

Oleg, 45

12 years old, Volzhskaya plum has been growing in the garden. The tree has grown large, I harvest annually, the fruits are large, very tasty. The main thing is to take care of the tree in a timely and proper manner.

Lyudmila, 37 years old

I really like this variety. On the site grows without pollinators. Plums are very juicy, tasty, almost all are eaten fresh. It is good to keep on the branches, they do not fall off for a long time when they ripen. It is difficult to get to all the branches, the tree has grown very large.

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