Plum-cherry hybrid is a fairly new fruit culture in the arsenal of summer residents and professional breeders. Due to the fact that cherries and plums are close in their genetic composition, when combined, a fairly stable plant is obtained, which is already capable of bearing fruit for 3-4 years after planting.
SVG characteristic
These forms of hybrids were created by crossing Sand cherry with Ussuri plum, and other plum varieties were also used in the process . These plants compare favorably with ordinary plum varieties - they are more frost-resistant, do not vypryvat, have a decorative and neat appearance. During wintering, they can be covered almost completely with snow, due to which high productivity is maintained almost every year. SVG blooms one and a half weeks later than the plums, so they are additionally protected from frost.
Advantages of SVG
The main advantages of these fruits are their high productivity, frost resistance and early maturity. The trees themselves are stunted, do not require much space for full growth and fruiting, do not obscure other plants and love the sun. Plum-cherry hybrid is grown in several varieties. They may vary in color and shape, but are more and more like plums and have a unique combined taste of cherries and plums.
How and at what time to plant trees?
Young seedlings can be bought both in autumn and spring. Well, if they are sold in containers, in this case their root system is less damaged, which increases the stability and survival rate of the crop on new soil. Seedlings can be planted from containers at any convenient time, but judging by the advice of knowledgeable gardeners, it is preferable to plant stone fruit trees in the spring.
In the event that the seedling was purchased in the fall, it can be placed in the cellar directly with the container. However, there is a risk of premature budding, this can weaken the already young and immature plant, so it would be better to dig it in the fall.
Pollination and fruiting
The plum-cherry hybrid is a quick-growing tree, and the plant also exists in the form of a bush. All of them are characterized by abundant productivity. You should know that all varieties of this culture should be planted in pairs or in large quantities, since they themselves are fruitless. To ensure pollination, ordinary cherries or plums, common in orchards, are not suitable. As pollinators, it is advisable to buy several varieties of SVG, or you can plant Bessey cherry nearby. It is also suitable for this role, because it was with her participation that some varieties of SVG were created.
So that the trees and bushes are well pollinated, they should be planted at a distance of 2.5 m from each other. Their flowering occurs a little later than ordinary plums, so they are not afraid of spring frosts. But even if this happens, the trees will suffer little, the volume of fruiting will remain.
How to care for the culture?
As for cultivation, it can be said that SVG should be looked after the same way as ordinary plum. A young tree that still bears few fruits should not be fertilized with nitrogen, this can only be done if it has begun to lag behind in development. Need to feed in June. With a later fertilizer of the tree, it can begin to grow, which will ultimately lead to a decrease in its winter hardiness.
Ash is considered to be a very useful top dressing, its composition contains a variety of trace elements, phosphorus, potassium and calcium, in addition, it does not have nitrogen. It is also advisable in the period from spring to autumn to process the bush several times with complex fertilizers by spraying on branches and leaves.
Plum-cherry hybrid: reproduction
SVG is propagated by the method of horizontal layering, bending the lower branch; their planting by cuttings is also possible. It is undesirable to grow a plant from seeds, since the quality of a new culture can change both for the better and for the worse. A good feature of these hybrids is the absence of root shoots, so root processes need not be dug up every year.
What disease are they susceptible to?
Like other stone fruits, SVG can undergo monilial burns. After the defeat, the plant takes on a burnt appearance, young flowers are the first to suffer, after that the leaves, and then the shoots. At the first signs of the disease, the affected branches should be immediately cut off and burned. In the spring, before blooming flowers and buds, the plant should be sprayed with Bordeaux liquid, copper chloroxide or HOM. The procedure should be repeated, but in the summer.
Common varieties of SVG
The plum-cherry hybrid "Opata" grows in the form of a medium-sized spreading bush up to 2 m. 3-4 years after planting, it begins to produce a plentiful crop that can bend the branches to the ground, therefore, to maintain their integrity, it is necessary to substitute supports. The fruits of red-brown color outside with a flesh of yellow-green color, have a weight of 15-20 g.
The pyramidal plum-cherry hybrid is a bush-shaped plant of a pyramidal shape, hence the name. Differs in the increased frost resistance. The bush can also be used as a decorative element of the garden. Fruits may appear already in the second year of the plant's life, it blooms and bears fruit abundantly, giving yellow-green fruits with an average weight of 15 g, their flesh is juicy and sweet.
SVG "Beta" variety is characterized by stunted shrubs (not more than 1.5 m), the crown of which is slate. Fruiting the bush gives abundant, its fruits are dark red in color, weighing 10-15 g, tasting like cherry. Another distinctive feature of the variety is small bones, which are difficult to separate from the pulp.
Useful notes by experienced gardeners
Plum-cherry hybrids, reviews of which are quite numerous, are very popular. And no wonder, because the fruits of the SVG are great for processing. From them you can make delicious jams, jams or compotes.
Most experienced gardeners have noticed that SVGs do not like cold winds, so it is preferable to allocate a place for their planting on the south side of tall trees or in front of the house, then the high yield will delight the owners for many years.
Plum-cherry hybrid "Gem" - a tree that is distinguished by a crown of the inverse pyramidal shape. It grows to a height of 2.3 m, has 20 grams of fruit with juicy and sweet yellowish-green flesh. The plant bears fruit already in the second year after planting, its flowering occurs later than spring frosts, so the probability of an annual plentiful harvest is quite high. As mentioned above, the SVG is self-fertile, and in this case its pollination is possible if the plum-cherry hybrid “Mainor” is planted nearby. The main positive characteristics of this variety are early maturity, winter tolerance and abundant annual crops.
Plum-cherry hybrid “Mainor" - a variety that is the result of Canadian selection and is a dwarf plant with thin shoots, bearing fruit in the second year after planting. Its fruits have an average weight of 15 g. They are maroon, flat-rounded in shape, have a pleasant taste and aroma, suitable for harvesting for the winter. Ripening occurs in late August. With a single planting, the variety is self-fertile, so it should be planted in tandem with the Gem "Gem". Both hybrids are resistant to dry conditions and are not afraid of frost.
The plum-cherry hybrid Omsk Nochka is a low-growing bush-shaped plant with a height of not more than 140 cm, it differs in productivity already in the 2nd year after planting. The fruits of the plant weigh on average 15 g each, have a black color, juicy and sweet flesh, their full ripening occurs in August. Their high productivity and versatility of the fruits themselves make it possible to produce large quantities of preserves and compotes for the winter. The Omsk Night plum-cherry hybrid must certainly be planted paired with a pollinator, in this case with a Bessey cherry. Hybrids are frost-resistant, do not vypryat, bloom after the end of spring frosts.
The Far Eastern Dessert SVG bears fruit 4-5 years after planting, its fruits have an irregular elongated maroon color, weighing 15-20 g. The fruit pulp has a sweet and sour, juicy taste, the average yield of a mature bush is 15-20 kg.
SVG "Amateur" is a medium-sized bush, in shape and color of the fruit resembles the "Far Eastern dessert." The pollinator of this variety is sand or felt cherry.
Winter fruit recipe
Since SVG have unusual shades of taste, then the jams from them are unusual and aromatic.
So, for the preparation of jam you will need 2 kg of fruits with a seed (any grade). Water is poured to the level of the berries themselves, you get about one and a half liters of water. You need to boil the fruits until half-ready, until the flesh begins to easily separate from the seeds. The mass must be removed from the heat and cool.
Wipe everything through a sieve, add sugar (1.3 kg) and an additional 300 ml of water, put everything back on fire and simmer for another 20 minutes from the moment of boiling jam.
All the time from start to finish, it’s important to constantly stir the mass. The slightest burning should not be allowed, otherwise the dessert may be spoiled. But if this happened, pour the jam as soon as possible into a clean container.
Pour the finished jam into jars and close the lid. Now winter will be much nicer with a cup of tea with a treat that has retained a piece of sunny summer.