Plum plum Kuban comet: variety description and characteristics, planting and care with photo

Plum is called wild plum, which has long been used to make sauces, syrups, jams. But the unpretentiousness of the plant, its multiplicity led breeders to research varieties, hybrids of culture that can please gardeners and have a pleasant taste. This is how the Kuban comet variety appeared, and then others, which became widespread in the southern regions of Russia, the Caucasus, and Central Asia.

History of launching the Kuban comet

The breeding of the cherry plum variety was carried out at the Crimean Experimental Station from the Vavilov Research Institute. Biologists crossed plum Skoroplodnaya and Pionerka, resulting in a hybrid with high fruiting qualities, resistance to difficult climatic and weather conditions, and early maturity.At the end of the last century, cherry plum was included in the list of crops zoned in the North-West region, as well as the Central Black Earth, North Caucasus.

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

The virtues of the cherry plum variety include the fact that this early culture:

• bearing steadily;
• tolerates low temperatures well;
• famous for yielding large fruits of 10-40 kilograms;
• unpretentious care;
• used for cultivation by farmers.

The advantages of choosing a hybrid are also noted in the fact that plums have an excellent taste, can hang ripe on branches for a long time and do not deteriorate.

The disadvantage of the hybrid is that it is partially self-fertile, so it is necessary to plant pollinators nearby. The bones inside the fruit do not separate well from the pulp, which is also not liked by many.

Characteristic of the tree and fruits

When choosing a variety of cherry plum, the description of the tree and fruits, their characteristics play an important role. Before planting a crop, a place is allocated for it in the garden, the dimensions of which depend on the width of the crown. The quality of the fruit is also important. In addition to high yields, I want to get a culture with plums that are tasty, juicy, and universal in purpose.

Crown size

The undersized plum tree is characterized by a spreading crown, but with rare, short branches. In shape, it resembles a ball, but sometimes they form a bushy crown. Over time, the crown becomes slightly flattened, growing in diameter up to 4-5 meters.

Leaves with a slightly wavy surface appear on the branches from the buds. They are round, green, glossy on top. Branches of the 2nd order of gray color are located horizontally in relation to the trunk.

Trunk height

The trunk of the tree is covered with gray bark, as are the young shoots. Adult cherry plum reaches a height of 2.8 to 3 meters.

Root branching

A plum culture has 5 main branches. When planted, they should reach a length of 25-30 centimeters. The depth of the roots is low, this is taken into account when planting, without deepening the root collar. Loosening and digging the root circle is carried out carefully so as not to damage the roots of the plant.

Drought resistance, winter hardiness

For a tree to bear fruit successfully, it must be resistant to the climate of the growing region. The culture endures dry seasons. It may not freeze at a temperature of 20 degrees below zero.

Immunity to diseases and pests

Stone fruit is inherently resistant to major fungal diseases. But infection with gray or fruit rot is possible with wet summers and poor care. Good illumination of the crown, its regular thinning saves from diseases and pests.

Propagation of cherry plum

The most common ways to propagate cherry plum:

1. Bone. In autumn, large fruits are selected, the stone is removed, washed and dried. Then planting material is placed in the grooves at a distance of several centimeters from each other. Shed the grooves and cover the seeds with soil and peat from above. It is necessary to protect the seeds from rodents. Shoots will appear in the spring, they are looked after, and a year later they are transplanted to a permanent place.
2. Shanks. They are prepared in the spring, until the sap flow begins. Choose straight shoots 1-2 meters long, cutting cuttings of 10-15 centimeters. The material is stored at a temperature of 5 degrees Celsius, and then planted in a greenhouse in wet sand. After a month, seedlings can be transplanted.
3. Vaccination. For a rootstock, a sprout from a stone is used, and a stalk as a scion. The rootstock can be cherry, plum, apricot. It is best to use budding for grafting.

The work of cherry plum propagation requires horticultural skills and knowledge.

Features of flowering and fruiting of a tree

Although pollination occurs on the plum itself, it is better to plant pollinators of the Red Ball, Seyanets varieties near the Kuban comet. Flowers appear on the hybrid in the last decade of April. They are white, hairless. The fruits set quickly and abundantly and reach technical maturity in July. In the first summer they get up to 10 kilograms of berries, and after 3-4 years with good care - up to 40 kilograms.

Taste and application of fruits

The fruits of the variety have distinctive features in the form of:

• large weight of 40 grams each berry;
• change color as it matures from yellow-red to burgundy;
• juicy pulp, yellowish, fibrous;
• Sweet and sour taste reminiscent of apricot.

It is not possible to take fruits from a tree right away. They do not spoil, but become tastier. The berries are consumed fresh, stored in the refrigerator for 20-25 days. Compotes, jams, sauces are obtained from cherry plums.

Fitting technology

Even a novice gardener can grow cherry plums Kuban comet. Landing must be carried out correctly, observing agrotechnical standards. After all, at this time the foundation of culture is being laid.

Optimal timing

It is necessary to choose the timing of planting, taking into account that the plant has time to adapt to conditions that are comfortable for it. It is enough to strengthen the plum for 2-2.5 months. You can plant a crop in the spring, then it will get stronger over the summer. Autumn planting is carried out in a temperate climate in September-October.

The right place

For a hybrid, areas lit by the sun and closed from the action of a cold wind are suitable. The soil needs neutral acidity. The plant is dangerous marshy places with saline soils. It is necessary that for the development of the tree there are enough nutrients, moisture and air.

Preparation of planting material

Choose seedlings of varietal cherry plum without rot, damage. Carefully inspect the root system. When it dries, the roots are lowered into water or a mash of clay and manure. If the seedling has a closed root system, then it is watered before planting, and then carefully pulled out of the pot, trying not to damage the clods of earth on the roots.

Seating algorithm

Pits for planting cherry plums are prepared in advance, deepening them by 40 centimeters. Gravel is laid at the bottom.Then the fertile layer taken out during digging is mixed with humus and mineral fertilizers and a third of the pit is filled with it. A peg is stuck in the center of the pit, and a seedling with straightened roots is placed next to it.

Holding the plum seedling with one hand so that the root collar is 5 centimeters above the soil level, sprinkle with soil. Having rammed the trunk circle, water it abundantly and mulch. It is necessary to shorten the side branches of the cherry plum seedling to the point of growth, and the top of the central shoot by 5-7 centimeters.

Crop care

To create a fruit tree with a powerful root system, you need to properly care for the seedling. This includes both soil care and the formation of the crown of the plant.

Irrigation

Cherry plum is unable to tolerate prolonged drought, this can negatively affect the branched root system, located close to the surface of the earth.Therefore, a young tree is watered every month, spending up to 40 liters of water per cherry plum. For an adult fruit-bearing hybrid, cherry plums increase consumption by 10 liters. Be sure to irrigate the tree a month before harvesting. In August, they begin to reduce the frequency of watering to reduce the formation of new growth.

Foliar and root fertilizer

Young cherry plum will be fed when planting, and then when digging the mulch. But annually fertilizers are applied both root and foliar. They include all the elements necessary for the development of cherry plum. We need humus, and bird droppings, and urea. Start top dressing in the spring, continuing throughout the growing season. It is especially important to feed after flowering to enable the plant to bear fruit.

Crown formation

For the cherry plum variety, a cup-shaped crown is suitable. This will give a decorative effect to the tree.Limiting the growth of cherry plum will help regulate fruiting. The cherry plum Kuban comet is actively growing up to 5 years of life, so it is necessary to thin out and shorten the shoots. For the southern regions, the autumn procedure is suitable. Summer pruning of cherry plum is needed in order to restore normal fruiting, to remove shoots that will not bear fruit. In the spring they form a crown in regions with cold winters.

Caring for the trunk circle

Care for the area around the plum includes loosening the soil. Mulching will help retain moisture, limit the number of weeds. As mulch, you can use peat or humus. Dry straw and sawdust are also suitable.

Shelter for the winter

The cherry plum variety is winter-hardy, but if the temperature is below 30 degrees, then you need to cover the plum before wintering. For this, non-woven materials, roofing material are suitable. Cherry plum, which is carried out in the fall, saves from winter and spring burns.

Diseases and pests and methods of dealing with them

Part of fungal diseases are not dangerous for varietal cherry plum. But some of them hit cherry plum. This happens more often in wet and cool weather. One must be able to recognize a disease or pest and take the necessary measures.

Grey Rot

With this disease, a pile of gray-white plaque covers the leaves, and brownish spots are visible on the shoots. Cherry plum fruits also get sick, rot and fall off. They begin to treat the tree in the spring, spraying with a solution of copper sulfate. Of the drugs effective "Kuprofan".

Brown spotting

The danger of the disease is that it causes damage in which half the crop is lost. The presence of the fungus is determined by brown spots with a border. Black dots are visible in the middle of them. After the growth of spots, the cherry plum leaves dry. Used for the prevention and treatment of the disease means based on copper.

Rust

The main sign of cherry plum infection is red spots on the leaves. Then the irregularities grow, and a yellowish-orange coating with fungal spores appears on the underside of the leaf. Of the drugs, Baktofit will be effective. And in early spring, you can prevent the spread of the disease with a 5% solution of urea.

Fruit sapwood

Determine the vital activity of the beetle on the drain by the flow of gum and the moves made in the tree trunk. Feeding on tissues at the base of the buds, the females lay eggs, and the larvae that appear consume the bark of the cherry plum tree, reaching the roots. It is necessary to treat with insecticides twice to destroy the pest.

Codling moth

The name of the parasite speaks for itself. The object of activity of the insect and caterpillars are the fruits of cherry plum.Only insect control can save from damage. It is carried out with the help of drugs "Bitoks", "Avant". It is necessary to spray after 20 days, as the cherry plum fades. Repeat the procedure after 10-14 days.

Gum flow

When an amber-colored resin, gum appears abundantly on the trunk of the cherry plum, the reason for this may be pest damage. In the spring, this is a sign of the tree freezing or getting burnt. After pruning the hybrid, gum healing may also begin. You can warn him by taking care of the tree, proper care.

Western gypsy moth

This pest is recognized by damage to the bark of the Kuban comet plum. Inside the trunk, the insect lays eggs, and then larvae appear. At this time, the trunk is treated with a solution of Karbofos or Dichlorvos. For prevention, it is necessary to burn the cut branches. If the tree is heavily infested, it is best to uproot it.

Down silkworm

In the crown of cherry plum you can find cocoons and larvae of this species of silkworm. Parasitizing, they eat cherry plum leaves. You can collect the larvae by hand and burn. But processing is also required. The drug "Virin-ENZH" is considered effective against the pest. Before the appearance of buds on the plant, "Nitrofen" is used.

Variety hybrids

Plum plum The Kuban comet is a representative of the Russian plum species. This is one of the best and most popular varieties of cherry plum, which is grown in many regions of Russia and gives high yields. From it the variety Vladimirskaya comet was obtained. It has higher winter hardiness. In addition, this cherry plum is fast-growing, quickly gives rich harvests. Hybrid Comet Late obtained by pollination of the Kuban species. The fruits of the plum are large, with a dark red skin, with a good taste. But the plant needs pollinators.

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