Being a relative of plum, cherry plum differs from the latter in higher drought tolerance. However, along with this, it does not have sufficient frost resistance to grow wild in the conditions of frosty winters.
Cultural history
It is believed that for the first time in Armenia, the cultivation of this fruit was started. Then, cherry plum began to slowly spread to areas with an ancient agricultural culture - to Iran and Asia Minor, many Transcaucasian regions.
During excavations conducted on the Black Sea - on the coast of the Crimea and the Caucasus - archaeologists discovered fruit bones, the origin of which dates back to the fifth century
BC. It was a cherry plum.
general information
This perennial and multi-stemmed tree with highly prickly branches sometimes reaches a height of ten meters. Some varieties of cherry plum are shrubs with thin brownish-green shoots. The flowers of this culture - white or pink - are solitary. Self-pollinated varieties of cherry plum initially intensively develop, then, after ten years, their growth rate decreases markedly. On trees and bushes, tops or overgrowing branches begin to form actively. This is due to the awakening of sleeping kidneys.
During the fruiting period, a plant of this family, including the variety of cherry plum for the middle band, enters only in the second or fourth year after planting. Its flowering begins depending on the region both in mid-May and later. For example, cherry plum for the middle zone of our country produces buds at the same time as leaves.
Ripening of fruits in the southern regions takes place in June; it lasts until the beginning of October, depending on the shape and variety. The fruit is a drupe. The root system of this garden culture has a shallow occurrence, and therefore the plant can also be planted in areas where there is a close occurrence - up to one and a half meters - of groundwater. Although the southern varieties of early cherry plum are quite drought tolerant, they are not winter hardy.
Selection
Cherry plum is very interesting and easy in the process of crossing with different varieties of plums. Thanks to this feature of its specialists were able to solve many problems.
For example, cherry plum varieties were created for central Russia and even for the northern regions, which have increased adaptive properties to harsh living conditions. Moreover, breeders managed to combine several valuable traits from various species in separate subspecies. These are characteristics such as high winter hardiness and large-fruited, improved fetal quality, etc.
Winter-hardy varieties
Breeders are still working on creating new varieties of this type of fruit crop. I must say that in recent years enough varieties of "cherry plum" have already appeared, there are even winter-hardy cherry plum varieties for the middle lane - those regions of Russia in which severe frosts are common. Among the other advantages of this culture, experts also call it low demands on the fertility of the soil composition, early maturity and, of course, high productivity. All these characteristics have become the reason for the popularity of this plant, and therefore today, cherry plum is found in almost every second garden.
The cultivation of new winter-hardy varieties in central Russia became possible due to the fact that such varieties appeared that have a great advantage over other stone fruit species. However, at first, few believed in the possibility of adapting this culture to the harsh conditions of the temperate continental climate.
"Russian plum"
At the end of the last century, the Crimean agronomist G. Eremin crossed the existing hybrid cherry plum and various frost-resistant species of trees. As a result, he created many varieties with remarkable properties. All of them were united in one family called "Russian plum."
The best varieties of cherry plum for central Russia and the regions located to the north, tolerate twenty-degree frosts. They have the same productivity as their progenitor. In taste and size, the fruits of these crossed varieties are as similar as possible to the southern plum. Hybrids included in this group, today there are a little more than three dozen species.
Characteristics of New Varieties
Crossed for growth in the conditions of severe Russian frosts, subspecies of “Russian plum” are early-growing. Their fruiting begins already in the second or third year and then happens every year. The yield that characterizes such a hybrid culture is quite high. Cherry plum, planting and care in the middle lane beyond which is not particularly different from the requirements of its southern ancestor, for example, in the Moscow Region, can produce from twenty to fifty kilograms of delicious juicy fruits from each tree.
Hybrid crossed varieties have a lifespan of about two decades. In addition, the new “Russian plum” is resistant to pests or various diseases that often affect many fruit crops.
At the same time, experts note another characteristic feature that justifies the cultivation of cherry plum in the middle lane of our country: in a temperate continental climate, when severe frosts and thaws often replace each other in the winter months, the root neck is not warmed up in this plant.
This, according to experienced gardeners, is a very valuable quality for both the grafted and root-bearing fruit-bearing culture. This was the last reason for the appearance of cherry plum in many gardens of the Central European regions of Russia.
Landing and care
In the middle zone of our country, this photophilous culture cannot be planted in dark places. Hybrid varieties of cherry plum propagate mainly by grafting - budding, and in some cases with seeds or green, slightly lignified cuttings. Many gardeners prefer to separate and transplant root shoots.
When growing plum from seedlings obtained from green lignified cuttings, rooting should be carried out in conditions where the creation of artificial fog is possible, while pre-treating them with growth stimulants.
The best time to plant cherry plum in the gardens of the Russian middle lane is early spring: as soon as the snow melts. You should not be late in putting the planting material in the ground, because experts believe that a plant that has already begun to grow and has swollen buds takes root much worse. In autumn, this process is undesirable due to the features associated with frost resistance of the culture.
The distance between the landing pits should be from three to six meters. It depends on which varieties of cherry plum are cultivated and what kind of crown they have. Many types of "Russian plum" are self-infertile, so they need neighborhood with pollinators. It can be such varieties as "Red Ball", "Skoroplodnaya", etc.
Pruning and pests
This plum in the southern regions grows to ten meters, while cherry plum in central Russia, although it is developing rapidly, however, its maximum height is 5-6 m. Nevertheless, it is necessary to constantly prune, which will be directed only to thinning. With strong removal of branches, vegetative growth of the crown may increase, but this will occur at the expense of yield.
Cherry plum, although it is little susceptible to diseases and pests, nevertheless, it can be affected by black or copper goldfish, plum glaze or sawfly, as well as apple shields. Therefore, periodically in the garden you need to carry out preventive measures. When choosing soil, cherry plum varieties for central Russia are also not picky. They can even grow and bear fruit where some stone fruits will feel uncomfortable and refuse to produce crops. The main thing is to choose the right varieties, and then the southern beauty of the cherry plum will bloom and delight with its delicious plums in the garden.
Varieties for the middle strip
Reviews of those who have already managed to plant this "Russian plum" on their site, especially the inhabitants of the Moscow region, indicate that this culture tolerates severe frosts quite well. The fact that cherry plum has long ceased to be a southern culture pleases many.
Experienced gardeners prefer to grow hybrids, which are displayed at experimental stations in the Crimean Research Institute of Plant Production. They are distinguished not only by high productivity and increased winter hardiness, but also by resistance to pests with diseases. Many varieties are characterized by an extended ripening period. The earliest ripen with late cherries. Many hybrids are weak, so gardeners note not only the ease of care for them, but also the convenience of harvesting.
Timiryazevskaya
Many varieties can be considered the most winter-hardy. "Traveler" - with early ripening and medium fruits weighing up to thirty grams. The tree has a medium-sized crown with medium density.
Winter hardiness of this variety is high with moderate drought tolerance. "Traveler" from each tree can give, under favorable conditions, up to fifty kilograms of cherry plum, sweet and sour taste.
Variety "Ruby" experts attribute to species with medium ripening. It has dark red fruits, juicy flesh. Winter hardiness of this cherry plum is very high.
"Kuban comet" refers to the mid-early partially self-fertile species, giving large fruits with juicy fibrous pulp. The taste of these yellow plums is sweet and sour. The bone does not separate. The fruits of this variety are most often used for canning. The tree has a flat-round crown, it is undersized and begins to bear fruit in the third or fourth year.
Cherry plum Timiryazeskaya was obtained as a result of free pollination of the Kuban Comet at the Moscow Agricultural Academy in 1991. It has a very early maturity and high winter hardiness. Great for the Russian middle band. "Timiryazevskaya" is relatively resistant to disease, has an average yield and early maturity, is self-infertile. The taste of the fruits of this variety is sweet and sour, harmonious. Small bone can be easily separated.
Many other varieties, such as “Scythian Gold”, “Cleopatra”, “Nesmeyana”, “Mara”, “Present to St. Petersburg”, etc., have mainly medium height and a wide-pointed or falling crown. Their branches are spreading. Many of them, for example, the same cherry plum "Gold of the Scythians", "Yarilo", "Pramen", etc., are early ripening. The fruits of most of them reach thirty grams, sweet and juicy.
Despite the relatively low productivity - from each tree to forty kilograms - these varieties have gained great popularity due to such characteristics as high frost resistance. In addition, almost all varieties of "Russian plum" do not suffer from fungal diseases.
Beneficial features
Types of cherry plum hybrid varieties are very different not only in color, but also in size and taste. They can be either amber or pale pink, and orange and dark purple, even variegated. The chemical composition also depends on the color of the fruit: yellow contains more citric acid and sugar, and dark ones have a lot of pectins. The taste is both pronounced sweet, with a tart-honey flavor, and very sour.
The pulp of cherry plum fruit is dense and very tender. The stone, as a rule, is separated quite easily in many varieties.
The fruits of cherry plum or “Russian plum” contain up to thirteen percent sugar, up to seven percent - organic acids, about 1.5% - pectin, as well as tannic, nitrogenous and mineral substances, a lot of carotene and vitamins C, B, A, B2, E , PP. In the kernels of the seeds, about half of the composition is oil, which is very close to almond in quality.
Today, many people make jam and jam from the pulp of cherry plum, prepare marmalade and pastille, and use it as a seasoning for dishes. Stewed fruit, juice, liquors, wine, jelly - all this can be prepared from "Russian plum". In addition, it is often used for therapeutic or prophylactic purposes.
Cherry plum fruits are believed to be excellent in hypovitaminosis, as well as to relieve bouts of rheumatism. They are prescribed as prophylaxis for patients with hypertension, tuberculosis or pneumonia. The reason for this application is that cherry plum with its chemical composition helps to increase vascular permeability.
In addition, the main difference between cherry plum and plum fruits is that they, keeping well on a tree, practically do not fall after ripening. And since the tree itself is not tall, picking them up is not difficult. If you harvest before ripening and the final acquisition of the color characteristic of the variety, it ripens well already in a cool, ventilated place. Another plus is ease of transportation and long shelf life of cherry plum.