Plum Vesta

Vesta is one of the new varieties of plum, bred in Yekaterinburg at the Sverdlovsk selection station of gardening. It is considered one of the best varieties for cultivation in the Urals and Western Siberia, as it can withstand frosts down to -50 °.

This is a universal home plum. The tree has a medium type of growth, the height reaches 3.5 m. The bark is brown or gray. The crown is spreading, of medium density, the branches are thin and rather brittle, and therefore the fruits can quickly crumble.

The tree is well leafy, the leaves are light green, oblong in shape, not fleecy. The roots are powerful, but do not grow deep into the ground, and this gives some difficulties in growing. So, the plant does not withstand prolonged drought, and when processing the trunk circle, the surface roots are often damaged. But the presented variety is distinguished by good flowering. The flowers are compact, white, and grow densely, which makes the tree the main decoration of the garden.

The fruits are round in shape, weight - 20-25 g, the skin is bright red, and the flesh is yellow. When consumed, the bone is easily separated from the pulp, which simplifies the process of preparing some culinary products, for example, pies with plum filling.

Vesta gets great reviews for her taste. The pulp is juicy, the taste is sweet, without sourness, the aroma is well expressed. Plums are suitable both for fresh consumption and for preparing compotes, jam and other dishes.

Vesta belongs to varieties with an average ripening period. Fruiting is regular, the harvest can be removed in the second half of August.

Gardeners note the high productivity of the presented variety: on average, one tree gives 20 kg of fruit, the maximum figure is 30 kg.

It is a self-fertile variety that requires additional pollinating varieties for fruiting. The Alye Zori variety shows the greatest efficiency in this regard.

First of all, pay attention to planting a seedling. Use the recommendations.

• Choose a sunny place for planting. Avoid planting in swampy areas and lowlands, plains and gentle slopes will do. Groundwater must flow at least 1.5 m from the surface of the earth.
• The optimal type of soil will be loam with a neutral and slightly alkaline reaction.
• As a soil mixture, a composition of earth, sand, clay, superphosphate and ash is suitable. Do not forget to lay a drainage layer on the bottom of the planting pit.
• Make sure that the root collar is 3 cm above ground level.

When caring for a plant of the presented variety, pay attention to some points.

• Watering.An adult tree needs watering 3-4 times per season. Use 40-50 liters of water for each bush. If the region where Vesta is grown has an arid climate, then water the tree before flowering, at the stage of ovary formation, then after 3 weeks and at the time of fruit ripening.

• Fertilizers. The first top dressing is applied only in the third year after planting. During the season, an adult plant needs additional nutrition up to 5 times.

• Pruning. During pruning, the branches are shortened to a healthy tissue, which can be identified by the white color of the wood. To prevent the shoots from intertwining, prune them at the outer bud. If several shoots develop from the bud, then they are eliminated, keeping only one. Damaged, old, diseased branches are removed to the base on a ring and destroyed.

• Penumbra. It is a light-loving plant that gives a bountiful harvest when grown in a sunny area and when shaded for a maximum of a couple of hours during the day.

Variety Vesta is very rarely affected by various ailments. However, if the tree nevertheless turned out to be a victim of gray rot, then the damaged parts must be removed and destroyed, and the healthy elements must be treated with the means of "Skor" or "Raek" before the flowering period and after its completion.

Among insects, the plant often infects the plum aphid. The preparations "Fitoverm", "Actellik", "Inta-Vir" will help to cope with this pest, and the means "Karbofos", "Fufanon", "Kemifos" are suitable as a prophylaxis.