Plum Peach

Summer residents and farmers who prefer to grow classic plum trees will certainly be interested in the early English variety Peach, which is famous for its high yields and is completely unpretentious in care.

Peach plum is of Western European origin. The first mention of the variety was discovered in 1830, so it is argued that the plum was bred almost 200 years ago. The geography of cultivation in the territory of the Russian Federation for the fruit crop is not very wide - the Stavropol Territory, Chechnya, Ingushetia and Dagestan.

Plum Peach looks like a medium-sized tree, up to 3-4 meters high, which grows rapidly at a young age. The fruit crop is characterized by a round or reverse-pyramidal crown with moderate foliage and thickened skeletal branches. A young tree looks compact and compressed, but over time it acquires a good spreading. Fruits are formed on fruit twigs. The tree blooms late - in July, but the crown, covered with large flowers, looks incredibly attractive.

The variety belongs to large-fruited plum crops. With proper care and favorable weather conditions, the weight of the fruit reaches 50-55 grams. Plums are endowed with a rounded or rounded shape and a greenish-yellow color, diluted with a dark red blush. The skin of the fruit is of high density, smooth, with a slight waxy bloom and pronounced whitish dots. When eating the fruit, the hardness of the peel is not felt.

The purpose of the fruits is universal, therefore they are eaten fresh, used in cooking, processed into jams, sauces, preserves, compotes, and also frozen. Plum transportation is well tolerated, without losing its presentation. Keeping quality is also good when stored at the correct storage temperature. Only overripe fruits can fall off, and the rest stick to the branches very well.

The palatability of the fruit is assessed as high. The reddish-yellow, almost transparent pulp has an elastic-dense structure, which is perfectly combined with tenderness and high juiciness. The fruit has a balanced taste - sweet, with a slight, slightly noticeable sourness. In regions with cool summers, plums acquire a tart flavor. The aroma of plums is present, it is pronounced and characterized by an abundance of fruity notes. The flat-round bone is easily separated from the pulp.

Peach plum is fast-growing, with early ripening. The first harvest can be counted on in the 4-5th year after planting. The tree bears fruit irregularly. Mass fruiting occurs from late July to early August. The fruits are spiced together. The ripening time depends on the climatic characteristics of the region - in the south you can taste plums in mid-July, and in the north - a month later.

Stable and maximally high yield is observed at 12-15 years of tree growth. During this period, the tree produces up to 50 kg of ripe plums per season. For the 6-8th year, the average yield is 20-30 kg.

Today, the peach plum tree is grown not only in Russia (Krasnodar Territory, Kursk, Rostov, Voronezh Region), but also in Ukraine - Transcarpathia and Nikolaev region, as well as in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Moldova.

The tree is not self-fertile, so you need to immediately think about donor trees, the flowering period of which coincides with this species. The most productive pollinators are: Hungarian Azhanskaya, Mirabel Nancy, Renklod Altana, Hungarian Domashnyaya.

Gardeners recommend planting a plum seedling in early spring. This should be a period with sufficiently warmed air and soil, but until the moment of vegetation. Peach plum loves warmth, light and space, so the tree is not planted near hedges, and the site should be abundantly illuminated by the sun's rays.

As for the soil, it should be fertile, breathable, moderately moist with deep passage of groundwater. Dislikes low-lying wood with stagnant water. The best neighbors in the area for plums are: apple, raspberry, gooseberry and currant. It is strictly forbidden to plant a plum tree next to a sweet cherry, cherry or pear.

Plum crop agrotechnology consists of the following activities: abundant watering (at the time of flowering and ripening of fruits), fertilization (abundant fertilizing is performed in the fall), sanitary pruning of dried and diseased branches, crown formation, disease prevention, soil loosening. After watering, it is imperative to loosen and mulch the soil.

Separate procedures are carried out to prepare the tree for winter. First of all, the trunk must be whitewashed, which prevents burns on the surface of the bark. And also protection of the root system is necessary, provided by the shelter of the near-stem zone with a special material, for example, agrofibre or burlap.

The immunity of the fruit tree is average, capable of resisting many fungal diseases. In addition, the variety has a good resistance to polystygmosis. Most often, the tree suffers from rust and moniliosis. To protect against the invasion of pests, as well as from the appearance of fungi and viruses, not only preventive treatments / spraying with copper sulfate, Bordeaux liquid, but also compliance with the basic agrotechnical recommendations will help.

Stress resistance in this species is average. Plum does not tolerate severe frosts, sharp temperature changes and the absence of the sun for a long time, which can negatively affect the taste of the fruits - they become more sour, tart and dense in structure. The tree is comfortable when it is sunny, warm, calm outside. It is also worth remembering that excess moisture can lead to yellow foliage and reduced yields.

Peach plum attracts not only with its name, but also with tasty fruits, simple agricultural technology and universal purpose. Farmers who grow plums on an industrial scale are attracted by the fact that the fruits are quite transportable, they can be stored for a long time without loss of taste and marketability, and also ripen quickly. Of the disadvantages of this type, one can point to weak frost resistance and not very strong immunity.