Candy Plum: variety description, pollinator trees, planting rules and photo care

Among gardeners, Candy plum is known as a hardy and hardy plant. It can be grown in regions with a long period of cold weather, where there is a frequent change in weather conditions. Due to its compact size, the tree does not take up much space on the site, and besides, it has excellent decorative qualities. In order to achieve not only a quantitative, but also a qualitative harvest from the Candy plum, you need to know when and how to plant, what care measures it needs.

Characteristics of the variety

According to the description, Candy plum grows up to 3 meters in height, has a spreading crown. The tree can be grown in a bushy or standard form. The fruits are distinguished by a purple or red tint, juicy pulp and thin skin. Their weight is 30-35 grams.

Climate and growing regions

Candy Plum is not afraid of sub-zero temperatures, it is not afraid of harsh winters and dry summers. The variety does not require a special soil composition and climatic conditions; it can be planted in regions with a warm climate and in temperate latitudes. If you cultivate the Candy plum in the northern areas, then there is a need for additional shelter.

Freeze and drought tolerance

Since the Candy plum is positioned as a plant with an average degree of resistance to dry weather, irrigation measures should be carried out 1 time in 10-12 days. The main thing is to prevent stagnation of moisture in the soil, otherwise there is a high probability of infection with fungal infections.

The level of cold resistance of candy plum is at -20 degrees. The best option for growing a variety is in the central and southern regions, in the northern regions one cannot do without additional protection of the trunk and near-stem circle.

Yield and fruiting

Productivity indicators of the Candy variety plum are at a high level. The tree enters fruiting for 4-5 years after determining the seedling for a permanent place. From one plant, it is possible to harvest 20-35 kilograms of a crop with excellent taste and pronounced aroma.

The fruits ripen at the same time. If the Candy plum is not harvested before reaching its technical maturity, then it will crumble. The weak side of the variety is the low transportability of fruits and their poor keeping quality.

Immunity to diseases and pests

When growing Candy plum, its average degree of resistance to major diseases and parasitic individuals should be taken into account. To protect the tree from misfortune, it is necessary to carry out preventive measures. Most often, Candy plum suffers from moniliosis, clasterosporiasis, small aphids and codling moth.

Plum Pollinators Candy

This variety is classified as self-fertile, so it needs to be cross-pollinated. It is best to place Zarechnaya early, Renklod kolkhozny near the Candy plum.

Scope of berries

Fruits of plum Candy fully justify the name of the variety. They are quite juicy and sweet, it is better to use them fresh. But they are also suitable for making compotes, jams, desserts.

Pros and Cons of Plum Candy

Among the positive characteristics of the variety, gardening enthusiasts distinguish:

• stable and abundant fruiting;
• excellent consumer qualities;
• resistance to adverse environmental factors;
• universal purpose of fruits;
• sufficient level of resistance to major ailments, pests.

But Candy plum has its drawbacks, including:

• variety prone to fruit shedding;
• crop afraid of long distance transportation;
• there is a need for pollinator varieties on the site.

Fit features

In order to grow a he althy and abundantly fruiting tree, you must adhere to the basic rules regarding both planting and care.

Optimal timing for landing

It is recommended to plant Candy plum in the fall, when all the leaves on the trees have fallen. The seedlings will have enough time to adapt, root. If planting work will be carried out in areas with a cold climate, then the best time is in the spring, before the awakening of the kidneys.

Choosing a suitable location

For the Candy plum, it is preferable to choose areas with good illumination and not close groundwater (from 1.5 meters). The area must be protected from through winds. The site should be prepared on the south or west side of the cottage.

The place for planting candy plums should be prepared in advance. Wood ash should be added for digging.

The soil should not be acidic, a neutral environment is more suitable for the plant. On clay soil, planting a seedling is carried out with laying a drainage layer in the pit.

The best and worst tree neighbors

For Candy Plum, the neighborhood with berry bushes is the best option. The plant goes especially well with gooseberries, currants and raspberries. The distance between other fruit plantations should be within 3-4 meters.

Poplar, hazel, birch and hazel do not affect Candy plum in the best way. Next to the variety, it is effective to grow spring flowers, shade-tolerant plants.

Preparation of planting material

When buying seedlings, you should pay attention to their appearance. High-quality one-year or two-year-old material has no signs of disease, rot, and various kinds of damage. It is recommended to lower the overdried root system into a container with water for several hours, treat it with a growth stimulator solution.

Fitting technology

The process of planting Candy plum consists of the following steps:

• First, they dig a hole, its dimensions are 60 centimeters in diameter and 70 centimeters deep.
• Then, drainage of beaten brick, expanded clay is laid on the bottom (layer thickness 10 centimeters).
• The pit is filled with soil mixture from the extracted soil, peat and humus, taken in equal proportions. Superphosphate (200 grams), potassium sulfate (50 grams) are added to it.
• The pit is filled with 1/3 of the total volume, and after 3-4 weeks the Candy plum is planted.
• The young plant is placed in a hole, the straightened roots are sprinkled and the soil is lightly tamped. The root neck should be 3-4 centimeters above ground level.
• The seedling is watered abundantly, and the soil is mulched with peat.

In the center of the hole before planting a tree, you can install a wooden peg. It will hold the plant in the first 1-2 years.

How to care for a crop in the garden

Caring for the Candy plum does not cause any difficulties. The main thing is to irrigate the plant in a timely manner and treat it for diseases.

Frequency and rules for watering and fertilizing

Moisten the soil in the near-trunk circle should be at a depth of 40-50 centimeters. Use for irrigation is only settled water, warm. Depending on the weather, the frequency of irrigation measures is 3-5 times per season, where the water consumption for a young plantation is 4-6 buckets, and for an adult - 10 buckets. Particular attention should be paid to plants at the stage of flowering and fruit ripening.

Feeding procedures in the spring are done with urea or ammonium nitrate. During flowering and fruit formation, potassium s alts (60 grams) and superphosphate (60 grams) are used. Every 4 years, the soil is enriched with compost.

Plum pruning

The crown of the candy plum is formed mainly in a pyramidal shape. In autumn and spring, the tree is freed from dry, frozen and broken branches.

Prophylactic treatments for insects and diseases

Nitrofen solution is effective against moniliosis, and 3% Bordeaux liquid is effective in the fight against clasterosporiosis. Karbofos will help prevent the appearance of aphids, and Chlorophos is effective against the codling moth.

Transfer

Dig up only plants whose age is up to 4-5 years. Previously, 5 buckets of water are poured under the drain, then carefully dug in at a distance of 70 centimeters from the tree, and taken out. Landing in a hole in a new place is carried out according to the standard scheme.

Preparing for wintering

In order for young plants to endure frost well, they must be protected with burlap, agrofiber or spruce branches. Mature trees do not need such care, the soil is mulched with humus, and the trunk is wrapped with roofing material from rodents.

Methods of reproduction

There are several ways to breed candy plums.

Inoculation

The cuttings of the grafted variety are used as a scion, and the rootstock is a garden planting, on which the cutting will be grafted. The procedure is performed in the last days of May. The meaning of the manipulation is to tightly press two sections of the same size. The vaccination site is wrapped in polyethylene, and removed only after 4 weeks.

Root offspring

For this method of reproduction, a powerful shoot is used, which is located at the maximum distance from the mother. The cut material (length 15 centimeters) is planted in another area.

Root cuttings

In autumn, it is necessary to extract the roots growing a meter from the trunk, and choose the strongest ones. You can store blanks in a trench or in a cold room in the sand. In the spring (in April) they are determined under a film and kept for 30 days. When shoots are formed, a powerful one is chosen, and the rest are removed.

Candy Plum has mostly positive reviews among experienced gardeners. Even beginners can grow it, the main thing is to adhere to the correct agricultural practices and plant on time.

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