Plum Egg Blue

The popularity of plum has always been at its height, but since the varieties adapted to central Russia and to the harsh Siberian conditions appeared, the demand for the crop has been constantly growing. The universal fruits of the egg blue plum are used for fresh consumption, from which compotes, jams, jam and preserves are cooked. The plum is dried and used in confectionery. The fruits are of medium transportability.

The originators of the variety are Kh. K. Enikeev, SN Satarova, VS Simonov - breeders of the All-Russian Institute of Selection and Technology of Horticulture and Nursery. The final result was obtained by crossing Skorospelk red and Renclode Ullensa. The drain was approved for use in 1986.

The tree is vigorous, with an oval-spreading crown and dense foliage. Bare shoots are covered with dark brown bark, medium-sized buds, slightly deviated from the shoot. The crown is covered with obovate green leaves with a shiny, slightly wrinkled surface. The non-pubescent plate has one-toothed edges and is attached to the petiole of medium length.

The egg blue plum blooms with white cupped flowers with unclosed petals and 22 stamens on May 13-20. The stigma of the pistil and stamens are located in the same plane. The resulting ovary is bare, as is the peduncle of medium length. Flowering and fruiting occurs on annual shoots and bouquet twigs. The active life of the tree is about 25 years.

The advantages of the variety:

• self-fertility;

• dessert taste;

• high resistance to frost.

The disadvantages are the height, average yield, non-transportability, short shelf life and whimsicalness to the composition of the soil.

Medium-sized (28 g) oval-ovoid fruits are prone to unequal development. The fruits are colored in a red palette with a thick layer of prune of a bluish hue. The plum has an inconspicuous abdominal suture and is covered with a medium-density skin without pubescence. The consistency of medium-dense pulp is fine-fibrous, with increased juiciness and high sugar content. The size and separability of the oval bone are average.

The yellow flesh has a sweet dessert taste with a subtle sourness that gives the fruit a piquant hue. Average aroma, chemical composition: 16% dry matter, 2.01% free acids, 14.8% sugars and 12.06 mg / 100 g of ascorbic acid. Assessment of tasters - 4.2 points.

The variety belongs to the mid-season category - the harvest is harvested on August 17-26. Fruiting is irregular, occurs 5 years after planting.

Plum Egg blue gives yields with average indicators - usually 11 kg are harvested from one tree.

The variety is adapted for the central regions of the Russian Federation, but has taken root well in Belarus, Moldova, Ukraine and in the Baltic gardens.

Egg blue belongs to self-fertile varieties and does not need additional pollination.

For planting, you should choose sunny places, since the variety is characterized by increased light dependence. It does not tolerate plums and drafts with northern winds, so it must be protected in the garden. The most suitable is the southern side of the site, covered with buildings and fences. Egg also reacts poorly to the proximity to groundwater and swampy areas - the proximity of groundwater should not exceed 1.5 meters from the surface. The cultivar prefers loamy soils with a high calcium content and a neutral pH. With a high level of acid-base balance, the earth should be deoxidized with dolomite flour, chalk, lime, wood ash.

A place for a planting pit with dimensions of 100x100x100 cm is carefully dug up, weeds are removed, the soil is made loose and breathable, and then the earth is dug to the desired depth. At the bottom of the pit, a drainage layer with a thickness of at least 30 cm of pebbles, gravel, crushed stone, and broken brick is arranged. The fertile soil removed is enriched with wood ash, superphosphate, organic fertilizers (humus, compost, bird droppings) and potassium sulfate. Simultaneously with the drainage, a support for the seedling is installed in the pit.

A young plant should have a well-developed root system, without signs of damage and dry areas. Before planting, the roots are kept in a root former, for example, "Kornevin", then set in a hole on a previously poured earthen mound, and gently spread the roots over its surface. The root collar does not go deep, it should remain 3-4 cm above the soil level. The near-trunk circle is surrounded by an irrigation groove, or an earthen embankment is made to retain moisture. After that, the planting is abundantly watered with warm, settled water. The next day, the wet soil is loosened to prevent drying out and cracking. Loosening can be replaced by mulching; for this, the near-trunk area is covered with a thick layer of peat or old sawdust (untouched sawdust pulls nitrogen from the ground).

For the formation of the future crown, about 10 strong shoots are left, removing the rest. Strong thickening negatively affects the development of the plant and the quality of the crop. Spring pruning involves removing weak and unviable shoots, as well as frozen and broken branches. The introduction of additional food is carried out for 2-3 years. In the spring, the tree is fed with urea, while the fruit is being poured, nitrophosphate is added (3 tablespoons per 10 liters of water). In August, plums are fed with phosphorus-potassium fertilizers.

In the fall, the plum is watered abundantly, preparing it for the winter frosts. Autumn whitewashing with special compounds will protect the tree not only from rodents, but also from frost cracks, cracks, mold, and fungus. To do this, casein glue, copper sulfate, carbolic acid are added to the lime solution and the trunks and the lower part of the skeletal branches are whitened.

Spring whitewashing serves as a preventive measure against pathogens and pests, because many are quite tenacious and calmly wait out the winter in cracks in the bark or in the soil under a tree. In addition, the bleached trunks are protected from the burns of the aggressive spring sun, because there is no foliage yet, and the trees cannot oppose anything with powerful ultraviolet rays. Such sun is especially dangerous for young last year's seedlings, not covered with a thick layer of bark.

Unfortunately, this variety cannot boast of high disease resistance and pest resistance. Plum is affected by clasterosporium disease (3.5 points), it resists fruit rot a little more. Almost unable to withstand the attacks of the moth and aphids (3-4 points). In order to avoid crop losses and garden contamination, it is necessary to carry out preventive treatments with insecticides and fungicides.

The tree has good winter hardiness and is able to safely survive a drop in temperature down to –30º C. Average heat resistance values ​​indicate that prolonged dry periods have a negative effect on yields.