Plum Tsarskaya: description and characteristics of the variety, pollinators, cultivation and care

Among the fruit trees on the garden plot, the royal cherry plum rightfully occupies a worthy place. The fruits are pleasant with a sweet taste, the tree pleasantly surprises with frost resistance and disease resistance, the harvest is striking in abundance and regularity. Yes, and just Tsarskaya cherry plum pleases the eye in spring, covered with a hat of white flowers, and in summer, when bright yellow fruits ripen.

History of Tsarskaya cherry plum breeding

A variety of hybrid cherry plum called Tsarskaya was bred by Russian scientists in the last century. The progenitor was the hybrid cherry plum or, in other words, the Russian plum of the Kuban comet variety, which, in turn, is the result of crossing the Chinese plum and cherry plum.In the course of selection, the properties of the original plants have been significantly improved.

Description of culture

Fruit trees of the Tsarskaya cherry plum variety of medium height with a flat-rounded crown. The distinguishing features that describe the variety are listed below.

Tree height Characteristics of the crown Crown radius 1.5mFlowers White, fragrant Globular Yellow 18-25 g TasteSweet, sour

Up to 2.5-3 m
Compact, medium density
	Fruit: shape
	Fruit: color
	Fruits: bulk
Yield	20-25 kg per tree
Ripening time	Second half of July - early August
Beginning of fruiting	For the second summer after planting

Tree characteristics

The trees of this variety, with their light green foliage over a trunk covered with dark gray-brown bark and a beautifully shaped crown, are not only very decorative, but also pleasantly surprise with characteristics.

Variety resistance: to frost and dry climate

Royal cherry plum has a satisfactory resistance to frost. The aerial part tolerates frosts down to -30 degrees, but the root system may suffer if the tree is not covered in frosty winter. The variety does not tolerate the lack of moisture very well, so regular watering is necessary.

What pests and diseases is the variety susceptible to?

Hybrid cherry plum is considered resistant to many diseases. Nevertheless, you should carefully examine the plant, and at the slightest sign of the activity of parasites or diseases, take action by treating it with special preparations.We must not forget about preventive measures. The main threats to the fruit tree of this variety are:

MoniliosisTrunk, leaves and branchesRustleavesPowdery mildew Leaves, shoots and trunksSwamplandWood of branches and trunksDown silkwormTree leavesCodling mothFruits

Pollination and flowering period

Trees of this variety are self-fertile. This means that for fruit formation, trees capable of pollination must grow nearby. The best pollinators are self-fertile varieties of cherry plum.

Insects are not very active during the flowering period, because it occurs in early spring, and the weather is still cool.In this regard, pollinating trees are placed within 3 meters. During lush flowering, the Tsarskaya cherry plum tree looks elegant and perfectly performs a decorative function.

Yield and fruiting

The tree brings up to 25 kg of fruit per season, which makes it possible to classify the variety as high-yielding. The fruits of the Tsarskaya cherry plum are fragrant, covered with a shiny waxy skin, the flesh is yellow. Ripe by the beginning of August a year after planting the tree.

Where is the plum crop used

Having harvested, they prepare jam, compote, juice, and use it as a filling for pies. The fruits of this variety can be dried or used to make wine. But fresh cherry plum is tastier and he althier than anything, as it contains many vitamins and minerals.

Main pros and cons

The variety has many advantages. These include the following:

• Yield. Under favorable conditions, 20-25 kg are harvested from a tree.
• Precocity. Harvested in the second year after planting.
• Decorative. The tree is especially beautiful in spring during flowering, it looks great even when covered with yellow fruits.
• Resistant to pests and diseases.
• Royal cherry plum fruits are well tolerated by storage and transportation.
• Benefits of the harvest, taste.
• Frost resistance of the aerial part of the tree.

When growing hybrid cherry plum, remember the following disadvantages:

• Self-fertility. Requires planting nearby pollinator trees.
• Poor drought tolerance. Needs regular watering.
• Roots do not tolerate frost below -10 degrees. You need to cover for the winter.
• Forms a lot of root growth.

The nuances of planting a tree on the site

In order for the seedling to take root and consistently please with a high yield, a number of nuances are taken into account when planting. An experienced gardener first of all determines the site for placing the tree, carefully prepares it, pays special attention to the choice of a promising seedling.

Terms of planting operations

It is better to plant a tree in early spring, before the buds swell. This is usually April or May.

Seedling selection and preparation

Annual or biennial plants are recommended for planting. When buying, planting material is examined for the integrity of the covers and the presence of fungal diseases. The root system should consist of 5-6 shoots of 20-30 cm each.

Determining the placement of the plum

It is important to pay attention to the groundwater in the area, their level should not be higher than one and a half meters. It is advisable to plant on the south side of the house so that the tree is protected from the wind, but at the same time well lit. The soil is light, loamy, well-drained.

Preparing the site and planting pit

The selected area is cleared of weeds and dug up, fertilizing with insufficient fertility. If the soil is acidic, ash must be added when digging. A hole with a diameter of 60 cm and a depth of 70 cm is dug in advance so that the soil shrinks. A layer of drainage is laid at the bottom. From the earth mixed with fertilizers, form a mound.

Step by step planting process

Step by step guide:

• The roots of the seedling are coated with clay.
• The tree is planted in a prepared hole, carefully spreading the roots on a mound at the bottom of the hole.
• Fill the hole with a mixture of soil and top dressing, tamping it down. The level of the soil should be such that the root neck rises by 6-7 cm.
• The tree is watered with several buckets of water along the trunk circle into the formed hole.
• The planted plant is mulched with a mixture of compost or peat with lime or dolomite flour.

We organize the care of a young and adult plant

To get a reward for the work in the form of a good harvest, the gardener must provide the young seedling, and then the adult tree, with proper care. Cherry plum Tsarskaya needs to be watered, fed, cut and sheltered for the winter in a timely and regular manner.

Irrigation chart

The tree does not tolerate stagnant groundwater, but needs a sufficient amount of moisture. Water the hybrid cherry plum every 10 days, 5 buckets of water per plant. After watering, the soil is loosened to retain moisture.

Feeding schedule

Fertilizers are applied one year after planting the tree, if it was fed when placed in the planting pit.

Type of fertilizer with an indication of the approximate amount per square meterSpring diggingMust or humus - 5 kg.Potassium sulfate - 40g Nitrophoska - 30g Super Phosphate - 35g Must or humus - 5 kg.

Period
	Urea - 60g
Before flowering	Urea - 40g
Fruit pouring	Urea - 30g
After Harvest	Potassium sulfate - 35 g
Autumn digging	Urea - 60g

Crown formation

To maintain the yield and he alth of the Tsarskaya cherry plum tree, regular pruning is required, which is done in early spring every year.When planting, the tree is removed one third of the length of all branches. Each year, up to 4 strong branches are left, cutting off all the rest. In the fifth year, the central conductor is cut off. Annually, shoots longer than 50 cm and branches that are bent to the ground under the weight of fruits are removed.

Caring for the trunk circle

The soil around the trunk of the Tsarskaya cherry plum needs to be regularly loosened and weeded. So that the earth does not lose moisture, it is mulched with humus or peat. To protect against pests, marigolds, calendula, wormwood, and tansy can be planted near the tree. They will scare away butterflies and codling moth caterpillars.

Shelter for the winter

The root system of the Tsarskaya cherry plum does not withstand frosts below -10 degrees, the tree must be covered. In winter, snow is thrown around the trunk. The trunk circle is mulched with manure. The lower part of the trunk is wrapped with an air- and moisture-permeable covering material. Ruberoid or film is not recommended.By wrapping the trunk with nylon, the gardener will provide protection from rodents.

Methods of tree propagation

For vegetative propagation of the Tsarskaya cherry plum, grafts made using various technologies, as well as different types of cuttings are used.

Green cuttings

In the middle of summer, cuttings 10 cm long are obtained by cutting off fresh growth shoots just below the bud. 2-3 leaves remain on the branch, the lower one is removed. The stalk is rooted after soaking in a growth stimulator. The root system will form in a month.

The method of lignified cuttings

During the autumn leaf fall, cuttings 20-25 cm long are harvested for planting in the spring. They are cut from annual shoots, removing leaves and side shoots. The blanks are stored in the winter, treated with molten paraffin.

Vaccinations

Grafting is a method of reproduction in which parts of several plants are combined. At the same time, a stock is a plant on which it is grafted; a stem and a root system are used from it. A graft is what is grafted: it can be a shoot, stem, buds. There are many grafts, and the variations continue to grow as growers continue to look for new ways to increase yields and improve varieties.

According to the location, vaccinations are top and side:

• If the "native" top of the rootstock tree is removed, and its place is taken by a graft, the graft is called a top graft.
• When the top of the rootstock is not cut, the graft is located on the side of the trunk, then it is a side graft.

The following types of vaccinations are distinguished:

• Ablactation - grafting with a "whole plant". Two trees growing side by side are merged, then they are separated. The graft remains to grow on the rootstock, and the cultivar separately.
• Grafting with cuttings or shoots. There are many options for grafting with one or more cuttings.
• Budding - a type of vaccination when they take a "peephole" or one kidney.

Budding is very popular among gardeners. The method is convenient because it is performed quickly and requires a minimum amount of grafting material. For budding, it is necessary that juices actively move into the rootstock, and this happens in early spring and towards the end of summer. A variety of techniques are used when grafting a single kidney. Among the most common - butt and shield in a T-slit.

Plum Tsarskaya is undoubtedly of interest to gardeners who can appreciate all the advantages of this hybrid variety. If you remember and follow the simple requirements for caring for a tree, then you can admire its beauty and enjoy juicy fruits for more than one year.

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