Plum Imperial

When the personal plot is small, and you want to plant a lot of fruit crops, it is worth taking a closer look at the columnar varieties that give abundant yields, are not capricious in care, and take up very little space. These include the French-bred Imperial plum variety.

Plum Imperial is a compact columnar tree, characterized by a narrow pyramidal crown with a weak thickening of dark green foliage, the diameter of which is no more than 100 cm. In addition to the strong trunk, the tree contains annual branches and ringlets. In a favorable environment, the plum grows up to 150-200 cm.

The flowering culture begins in the first week of May. At this time, the tree is abundantly covered with large snow-white five-petal flowers, and the inflorescences are all female. Flowering can be observed in the first year, but it is recommended to remove the flowers, directing all the strength to the growth and development of the tree.

The French plum is a large-fruited variety, endowed with a regular rounded shape and an attractive color - pink-purple with a smooth surface, on which a whitish waxy bloom is noticeable. Fruit weight is 55 grams. The peel of the fruit is thin, not hard. The plum sticks on a shortened stalk, separating from it without pulp.

The fruits have a wide range of uses - plums are eaten fresh, canned, processed into jams, preserves and marmalades, compotes are boiled, and liqueurs are made. The harvested crop is easily transported, and also stored for a rather long time - up to 7-10 days. If you remove the fruits at the stage of technical ripeness, then they can be stored for 12-14 days.

The fruit tastes excellent. The golden yellow flesh has a fleshy, tender and juicy texture. Plums have a sweet taste with honey notes, harmoniously combined with a piquant sourness. Fruit juice is clear and thick. A small bone is easily separated from the pulp.

This variety is characterized by early fruiting - the first crop can be harvested the next year after planting a one-year-old seedling. The fruits are ripening gradually. The phase of active ripening of plums occurs in the second half of August. The life cycle of a fruit crop is 15-20 years.

Imperial is famous for its high yields. With intensive agricultural technology and favorable weather conditions, 10-12 kg of ripe fruits can be harvested from 1 tree. From the age of two, yields increase. The maximum productivity is observed at 7-9 years of growth. It is characteristic that ripe fruits are firmly adhered to the stalk without crumbling.

The tree grows well and bears fruit in central Russia, but the most productive culture is in the Kuban. In addition, the variety is very popular among gardeners and farmers of the Ciscaucasia.

Plum belongs to the category of self-fertile species, therefore it needs cross-pollination. Donor trees must bloom at the same time as the Imperial plum. The following plum species are considered the best pollinators: Renklod Altana, Stanley, Bluefri.

Planting a plum seedling is carried out in early spring - before the buds awaken, while the soil should thaw and slightly warm up. Only in the southern part of the Russian Federation are plums planted in the fall - a month before the onset of frost. Only annual seedlings with a developed root system and living buds are suitable for planting. In the tree garden, the southern part should be allocated, where there is enough sun and light, but there is protection from drafts and strong winds. Apples and black currants are good neighbors for the plum tree.

The agricultural technology of the Imperial columnar plum consists of regular watering - weekly, fertilizing, plowing the soil, removing dry branches, preventing diseases and preparing for winter. For the winter, the tree is mulched using dry foliage or sawdust, and wrapped using agrofibre or burlap. The tree reacts very well to the introduction of mineral fertilizers. Top dressing begins in the third year after planting.

Variety Imperial has a good immune system. It is extremely rare that a tree is exposed to diseases such as cercosporosis, rust and spotting. The pests attacking the tree are the moth, sawfly and aphids. Rodents love to feast on plum bark, protection from which will be provided by spruce or pine branches. In addition, the installation of a special fine-grained mesh is very effective.

Imperial is considered a frost-resistant crop.It is worth noting that fruit buds and wood are also resistant to freezing. Sensitivity to strong drops in temperature is present only in young trees, up to 2-3 years old. The drought resistance of the tree is weak, so the culture needs regular watering.

A site for a tree should be chosen flat, free of weeds, it is possible on a small hill, with deep groundwater. The soil should be fertile, moist, breathable, neutral or low acidity. The most comfortable plum tree in black soil and loam.

The fruit tree-column Imperial is gaining popularity lately. This is due to its compactness, ease of care, quick adaptation to growing conditions and good yield. It is also worth emphasizing the incredible taste of the fruits, their attractive presentation, the ability to withstand transportation. Most housewives are captivated by the versatility of plums, the ability to store in the refrigerator for a long time. Among the shortcomings of culture, only the high cost of seedlings is noted.