Plum Manchurian beauty

Plum variety Manchurian beauty has such a name for a reason. Its positive qualities and undemanding agrotechnics invariably arouse the interest of gardeners of different levels of training.

The variety was bred in Manchuria, which is why it received the appropriate name, but Russian breeders were engaged in this. At the beginning of the 20th century, when the Far East was actively studied, the plum was noticed by breeders and quickly spread in Russia. Unfortunately, the initial data on withdrawal remain unknown. There is an assumption that the Chinese and Ussuri views of Simona were taken as a basis.

Thanks to its excellent yield, this variety quickly began to spread throughout the country. Now you can meet the Manchurian beauty in the Urals, in Eastern and Western Siberia. Agronomists successfully grow it in European regions.

The external characteristics of the variety are as follows:

• maximum height - about 1.8 m;
• the crown has a dense foliage, the shape is close to round;
• the trunk does not differ in power, the bark is brownish-gray;
• uneven branches have a dark brown tone;
• buds are formed different, for fruits large, and vegetative smallish;
• the leaves are green, close to emerald;
• the shape of the sheet plate as a lancet or ellipse;
• leaf length - 10 cm, width - about 5 cm;
• inflorescences are collected in 3 small buds.

The variety has a number of positive properties:

• matures rather quickly;
• tolerates dry weather well;
• fruits are perfectly transported;
• plum is well resistant to many diseases and pests;
• high level fruit taste;
• universal products.

But there are also disadvantages that should not be discounted:

• the variety is self-infertile;
• the tree can grow out;
• the fruits often crumble.

Plums of this variety are roundish in shape, the abdominal seam is not particularly noticeable. The base is flat, the funnel is narrow, the size of the fruit is close to large, the average weight is 15 g. The density of the skin is medium, the color is bluish-claret, under the skin is yellowish-green flesh. The structure of the pulp of plums is juicy, while quite dense. It is not easy to separate the oval-shaped bone.

The taste is very rich, sweet with sourness, the aroma is not too pronounced. The variety is transported perfectly. This variety is well suited for making prunes, but it is more commonly consumed fresh. The benefits of the fruit are obvious, they contain ascorbic acid.

This type of plum blooms early, before the foliage appears on the branches. Specific dates directly depend on the climatic features of the region. This variety is used quite often as a decorative element of the site. Fruits ripen on average by late August - early September. The variety belongs to the early-growing, already 3 years after planting a one-year-old seedling, you can harvest a full harvest.

If pollination is ensured, the fruiting of the tree is regular and stable. A young plant brings from 3 to 8 kg, a mature one - a little more. The yield is directly related to the climate, agrotechnical features.

This variety is self-fertile, the ovaries will not appear by themselves. It is necessary to take care of the pollinator and plant other types of plums on the site. It is recommended to place together with this variety:

• Ussuriysk plum;
• Ural golden;
• Manchurian prunes;
• Ural red.

Experts believe that you need at least 2 varieties for cross-pollination and a good harvest, and better - at least 3.

Despite the fact that this drain does not require special care, it needs high-quality standard measures. There are a number of procedures without which the Manchu beauty will not develop well and actively bear fruit.

• Pruning. After planting, the seedling is not cut in the first year; subsequently, the procedure should be carried out every season. It is optimal to do this in late autumn or early spring. From 2 to 5 years, the crown is formed so that three tiers are created. The first tier is at the level of half a meter from the ground in the amount of 5 branches, the second - at a level of 40 cm above the first in the amount of 3 branches. The third is 40 cm higher than the previous one, 1 shoot remains. The crown is pruned at a height of 1 m 80 cm. Once the tree has formed, it will need to be pruned annually to maintain the crown. All infected, dry, broken branches are removed; too large, it is also better to cut off. Slices are processed with garden varnish.
• Top dressing. The plant of the first year of life does not need fertilizers, except for those that were applied during planting. From the second year, plums of this variety need to be fed according to the scheme. Before flowering - with potassium-nitrate formulations, during the flowering period - with a solution of urea at the root, immediately after the flowers have fallen - with mullein and superphosphates. At the beginning of the summer period, the plant is sprayed with urea, in September - with superphosphates and potassium compounds.
• Moisturizing. This variety tolerates drought well, but this does not mean that it does not need watering. The procedure is carried out regularly, once a month during the growing season. It is optimal to form a depression around the stem, not too deep. Water is poured into it, and not directly under the bole. The diameter of the recess is formed by analogy with the crown projection.
• Winter care. So that the plant does not suffer from frost, it is necessary to ensure its protection even before the onset of winter. In November, the area near the trunk is mulched with sawdust. It is also important to whitewash the stems, skeletal shoots. Trees that have not yet matured should be wrapped in paper or other material. Mesh fabrics come in handy to protect the plant from hares. When the snow falls, you can shovel it to the trunk and thus protect the roots from frost.
• Harvesting and storage. The fruits are harvested after they have ripened, on the second day. It is not worth delaying with this, since plums of this variety are prone to falling off. Plum is stored at a temperature not higher than +5 C for about a week and a half. Can be dried or frozen.

Plum of this variety has good immunity against clasterosporiosis, rubella, coccomycosis. But there are other diseases that can afflict the Manchu beauty. The most dangerous are gum flow, spotting, rot, especially gray.

• If the buds have not yet blossomed, and the gray rot is fixed, it is necessary to treat it with a solution of copper, and after the end of flowering, spraying with a Bordeaux mixture.
• Another danger for this variety is red spotting. It is necessary to spray the entire tree even before bud break, for this use a two percent solution of "Nitrafen". At the end of flowering, a Bordeaux mixture is used, and the plum is treated with it for pockets.
• If there are gum wounds, the trunk and branches are coated with garden varnish. Copper sulfate treatment is also useful.

Plum of this variety is defenseless against some types of pests:

• treatment with "Chlorophos" will save the moth from the moth, and after flowering - with "Benzophosphate";
• treatment with "Nitrafen" will help from the comma-shaped scabbard - until the kidneys dissolve;
• the black sawfly will stop attacks if it is treated with "Aktara" - before the buds appear, "Rogor" before the formation of buds, "Karbofos" - after flowering;
• a three-time treatment with Nitrafen and a single treatment with Karbofos will cope with a false shield.

Do not forget about preventive measures: in the fall, you need to dig up the soil, remove the foliage and burn it, cut the plant, freeing it from diseased branches and thickening.