Plum Cherry gift to St. Petersburg: variety description and pollinators, planting and care with photo

Plum under the name gift to St. Petersburg - a new variety created as a result of hybridization of the plum culture of the Chinese early-fruited and the Pionerka cherry plum. Its advantages are rich productivity and excellent taste. Experienced breeders had a hand in creating the hybrid. The culture develops well, is characterized by increased resistance to cold and disease.

Variety description

When choosing a variety of cherry plum gift to St. Petersburg, read its description.

The plant grows up to 2-3 meters, depending on climatic conditions.The culture has a short trunk and a wide, spreading crown of a weeping look. The leaf plate has a polished bright green surface. The shape of the leaves is elongated, with an uneven edge, while curved like a boat.

The hybrid blooms with white saucer-shaped flowers. Petals with wavy cut edges, like leaves. In each flower - a huge number of stamens with anthers of a beautiful golden color. The plant blooms from the beginning of May, and ripening occurs in August.

The variety was bred for the climatic conditions of the Middle band. The plant is patriotically called the Russian Plum.

Plant characteristics

Culture begins to bear fruit in the third or fourth year after vaccination. It has characteristic qualities that are different from other plants:

• fruiting begins after grafting in the third year;
• stable harvest;
• huge amber fruits;
• universal use of fruits;
• fruit with fine-fibre pulp;
• transfers transportation and storage.

You can collect 25-30 kilograms of fruits from one young plant. Fruits have an elongated ovoid shape weighing 11-13 grams. At the same time, they are quite juicy, sweet, exude a delicate aroma. The bone inside the fetus is slightly pointed and weighs up to 1 gram. The peel is thin, elastic, with a slight wax coating.

You can harvest up to 60 kilograms from a ten-year-old plant. Ripe fruits are prone to shedding, which is why it is not recommended to delay harvesting.

The culture blooms beautifully, so some gardeners prefer the plant as a decorative element in landscape design.

Pros and cons of cherry plum gift to St. Petersburg

The hybrid has a wide range of success rates. The breeding process was quite laborious and long, so the plant creates worthy competition even for the best varieties:

• fruit size is larger than other crops;
• exquisite fruit taste;
• the first harvest can be harvested in the second year after planting;
• undemanding to the soil;
• excellent honey plant;
• the variety practically does not get sick;
• not picky about frequent watering;
• high seed germination;
• tolerates frosty winters well.

Minuses are much less, but they are:

• self-infertile - you need to pollinate to get a crop;
• fruit may fall off by itself.

In addition, at the end of winter and at the beginning of spring, there are sharp temperature drops. This can harm the flower buds of the plant.

Growing Rules

Choosing cherry plum gift to St. Petersburg, you can be sure that many worries are not expected. The variety is practically not picky about soil conditions and has a high level of survival.

Seedling selection

When choosing a plant, pay attention to a seedling with a well-developed root system. It must meet certain standards:

• one-year-old;
• smooth bark;
• roots on a white cut;
• no dry branches and damage;
• length of the root system - not less than 10-15 centimeters;
• lack of dryness in the rhizome.

Important: if there are diseased and damaged roots, they need to be cut off. It is recommended to give preference to seedlings with a closed rhizome.

Choosing a landing site

When deciding on the planting site, it should be remembered that the variety does not like shade and drafts. The southern and southwestern sides of the site from the house are ideal. The building will successfully protect the plant from gusts of icy winds. Loamy soil with neutral acid contributes to good fruiting.

For a hybrid variety, preferably:

• drainable soil;
• stable humidity;
• earth fertility;
• groundwater flow within a meter.

If the planting involves several trees, then place the rows from east to west.

Site preparation

An important point is the preparation of the site. Landing pits, previously dug in autumn or spring, should be 70 by 70 centimeters deep. Keep a distance of at least three meters.

Fill holes:

• phosphorus fertilizer;
• potassium sulfide;
• ash;
• compost.

Important: if clay soil prevails, add a couple of buckets of peat or sand.

As a result, the soil will easily pass moisture and air, which will have a good effect on the survival of the seedling in a new place. Then generously fill the indentations with water.

Step by step process

Following the recommendations, you can safely grow a hybrid. Step-by-step instructions will help the plant take root well in the soil:

• in the center of the landing pit prepared in advance, make a mound;
• place the roots of the plant on the tubercle;
• the root neck of the crop should be at ground level;
• fill the hole and press down on the ground to improve contact with the rhizome;
• form irrigation holes around the planting.

Drive in a 1 meter high stake next to it, to which later attach the seedling. Planting ends with conscientious watering.

Pollinators

The culture is self-fertile, so additional pollination is indispensable.

The following pollinators are excellent for producing fruits:

• cherry plum varieties Pavlovskaya Yellow;
• Pchelnikovskaya;
• Rocket Seedling.

Crops are planted from the main hybrid at a distance of 3 meters.

Further crop care

The plant requires proper and timely care, which consists of watering, pruning and disease prevention.

Irrigation and fertilization

The hybrid is quite moisture-loving, so it needs good hydration. It is enough to thoroughly water the plant every summer month:

• 1st time - after flowering - in June;
• 2nd time - when the bone is formed - in July;
• 3rd time - the fruits are gaining color - in July.

Pour at least five buckets under the plant.

Cutting

After planting the crop, leave five skeletal branches on it. Then shorten them to half a meter and stretch with ties. In winter, this will help to cover the branches with snow, which will save them from freezing.In early summer, it is recommended to shorten the branches by 20 centimeters. This will provoke the emergence of young shoots from the lateral buds, which will bear fruit.

Preparing plants for winter

In late autumn, whiten the plant with a solution of lime to protect the trunk from rodents. Despite the fact that the variety normally tolerates harsh winters, at first it is better to cover young plants with special covering material or spruce branches. Do not mulch the hole with dry herbaceous plants, as they may contain pests.

Disease and pest control methods

The hybrid has a large number of pests. The main measures to combat them and diseases include the following activities:

• destroy all plant residues without leaving them in holes for the winter;
• remove and burn diseased shoots and fruits;
• for fungal infections, cut off the branches, and treat the cuts with copper sulfate or garden pitch;
• clean the trunk of old dead bark.

Remember to collect and destroy fallen leaves and fruits.

Harvesting and storage of crops

Mature fruits are harvested in several steps, as they ripen unevenly. To keep fruits and not spoil, you need to put them in boxes with air holes.

The crop can be stored for up to three weeks at temperatures up to +5 °C.

Culture is very popular among gardeners. And this is not only because the plant is unpretentious in care and calmly endures the winter. The fruits of the hybrid are quite tasty and he althy. They make a wonderful dessert both fresh and canned.

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