- Authors: USA
- Growth type: medium-sized
- Crown: cupped, wide, spreading, open, no conductor, dense, strongly leafy
- Tree height, m: 3,5-4
- Fruit size: large
- Fruit weight, g: 120
- Fruit shape: rounded, slightly elongated and pointed in the direction of growth
- Fruit color: dark pink, slightly waxy coating
- Skin : thin, poorly separating from the pulp
- Pulp (consistency): juicy, tender
Plum is a fruit that has amazing taste. Ozark Premier is one of the varieties with dessert fruits, which is remarkable for its excellent transportability and marketability.
Description of the variety
This plant has medium vigor, usually 3.5 to 4 m in height. The crown of an adult tree is formed wide, open, in the shape of a bowl.
Fruit characteristics
The fruits of the Ozark prime plum are large, weighing an average of 120 grams. These plums are dark pink in color, the skin is thin, and the pulp is juicy inside.
Taste qualities
The fruits of the described variety are sweet, characterized by a slight sourness, there is an aroma.
Ripening and fruiting
The fruiting period begins at 3-4 years. Ripening of plums is observed in mid-July. Ozark Prime trees bear fruit on a regular basis.
Yield
The yield is decent, up to 60 kg per plant.
Growing regions
This variety is grown in the Urals, in the Moscow region and even in the southern regions of the country.
Self-fertility and the need for pollinators
Ozark premier self-fertile variety.
Growing and care
In our climatic conditions, watering plums has a significant impact on the strength of growth, productivity and endurance of plants. It is very important that the applied dose of water moistens the soil well to the depth of the root system. In our particular case, this is at least 40 cm, while it must be remembered that prolonged flooding of the root system reduces the air content in the soil and creates favorable conditions for the development of pathogens.
Ozark Prime has a particularly high need for nutrients during the flowering period, therefore, in early spring (in April), it is necessary to use a multicomponent fertilizer intended for fruit trees. The second and third doses of top dressing are applied at intervals of 4 weeks. At the end of summer or in autumn (after harvesting the plums), you also need to apply fertilizers, you can use compost or manure, thanks to them, the plum will be better prepared for wintering.
Thinning Ozark Prime is a procedure that improves the quality of the fruit produced by the tree. During the operation, it is necessary to remove first damaged, then weak, gnarled ovaries. It is worth leaving the fruits at a distance of 10-20 centimeters, then they will have enough nutrients on the tree.
It is imperative to remove the weeds, sometimes one weeding of the near-stem circle is not enough. In the fight against weeds and moss, the natural preparation Effect will help. The product is intended for use with hand sprayers. With the correct use of the product, the effect of the product is visible within a day.
As an additional protection of the Ozark Prime plum, it is worth using whitewash.Such treatment protects trees from the appearance of wounds that form under the influence of sunlight and severe frost. Whitewashing must be carried out from November to the end of January. Lime is used to treat Ozark Prime's trunks.
Disease and pest resistance
Despite the fact that the described variety has a high resistance to pests and diseases, preventive treatment should be carried out in early spring. Such a procedure is aimed at protecting the Ozark Prime trees from fungal diseases and pests, it should be carried out regularly throughout the season. It is worth paying attention if there are any dried fruits left under the tree, which can contribute to the occurrence of brown rot. Already in early spring, you need to start the first spraying. Effective protection during this period is provided by preparations based on copper or Topsin.
From pests, neem oil is excellent.
Despite the fact that plum is considered more hardy than many fruit trees, it is not immune from diseases. It is attacked by viral, fungal and bacterial infections, and parasitic insects harm it. It is necessary to notice and recognize the signs of plum disease in time. They are easier to deal with and defeat early on. Well, in order to protect the garden tree from such a misfortune in the future, preventive procedures can be carried out.
Resistance to soil and climatic conditions
Plum Otsark prime has high winter hardiness.
