Description of the cherry plum variety Found, planting technology, care and pruning

In many regions of Russia, the Naiden cherry plum is popular due to its unpretentiousness. How this crop has won the love of gardeners, what features it has, what its advantages and disadvantages are - our article will help you find out.

History of variety development

Cherry plum Naydena was bred by breeders in Crimea by combining varieties of two plum trees - the Chinese Skoroplodnaya and the Russian Dessertnaya.

This variety was included in the State Register in 1993. Initially, the fruit tree was cultivated in the Lower Volga and Central Black Earth regions, but subsequently the experience of growing it in other territories, less favorable in terms of weather and climatic conditions, turned out to be successful.

Description

Tree

The tree can reach a height of 3 meters and has a smooth gray trunk. The crown is medium-dense, rounded, slightly flat. The shoots are thick, horizontal, usually green to brown-red in color. The leaves are oval, large, the color of the leaves is light green, medium shiny. The tip of the leaf is pointed, the edges are jagged.

Flower buds bloom starting in April, each bud develops two small flowers with white petals and a large number of stamens. Plum blossoms continue for about a week.

Fruit

Naidena plum has medium or large fruits. The fruits are oval, slightly deformed. The skin is dense and elastic. They have a faint waxy coating. The color is mainly red-violet tones. You can also notice a large number of small yellow dots.

The pulp has medium fibrousness and density, and is orange in color. Cherry plum fruits are moderately juicy. The bone is removed from the center with little difficulty. The taste is more sweet than sour. It is noteworthy that due to the thick, strong stem, the fruits, even after ripening, do not fall to the ground for a long time, remaining fresh and of high quality.

Characteristics of culture

Resistance to frost, drought

The Naidena plum variety has excellent winter hardiness. However, it is not as drought tolerant.

What diseases and pests are dangerous for trees?

This crop is not particularly susceptible to diseases or insect damage, however, if the rules of planting and caring for the plant are not followed, you can unwittingly create conditions for the development of diseases and the appearance of parasites.

The following diseases may be unfavorable for cherry plum:

• coccomycosis (fungal disease);
• moniliosis;
• Clusterosporiosis.

Pests also pose a danger to the tree:

• mite;
• slimy sawfly;
• aphid.

Found to withstand diseases and pest invasions, but do not forget about preventive treatments.

Pollinators and flowering

The plum variety has been found to be self-sterile. If you want to reap a good harvest, the tree needs pollinators. To do this, cherry plum must be planted in a plot close to other plum varieties.

The best pollinators for cherry plum have been found:

• Traveler;
• Gift to St. Petersburg;
• Nesmeyana;
• Vitba;
• Mara.

Independent, artificial pollination is also possible using special pollinators for the garden.

Features of fruiting and yield of the variety

By planting this plum variety, you will collect a large number of fruits every year, since high yield is one of the main qualities of this crop.

In the southern regions, yields of up to 100 kilograms per tree were recorded. Naidena begins to bear fruit in mid-July.

Where are the fruits used?

The plant begins to bear fruit just 2 years after planting. The fruits of the Naiden cherry plum are tasty enough to be consumed freshly picked. They are also good for canning for future use.

Fresh fruits contain many beneficial substances for the body, and processed fruits make very tasty desserts.

Options for preserving fruits for a long time:

• freezing;
• juice, compote;
• preserves, jam, marmalade.

Advantages and disadvantages

The Naiden cherry plum stands out among others due to the following qualities:

• fruits that taste good;
• high level of cold resistance;
• the fruits remain on the tree for a long time;
• high harvests every year;
• resistant to various diseases;
• precocious;
• good level of adaptation to weather;
• resistance of fruits to transportation.

However, there are some disadvantages:

• cherry plum needs pollinators because it is self-sterile;
• the pit is difficult to separate from the pulp.

Landing technology

Deciding on deadlines

As a rule, under conditions of a closed root system, seedlings are planted from April to October. If the root system is open, the plant is planted with the arrival of spring.

Optimal landing place

You should not plant cherry plum on flooded and swampy soils; excessive moisture is detrimental to the tree. Also, the soil should not be heavy. Choose a sunny area, protected from the winds. Such protection can be a slope, a fence, or other trees.

Recommended and contraindicated neighborhoods

A good neighborhood will be ensured by planting cherry plum trees nearby. The tree also gets along well with gooseberries, blackcurrants and other shrubs.

You should not plant fruit trees next to plum trees. However, the apple tree may be an exception.

Seedling preparation

When choosing a seedling, carefully examine it. The plant must have a good root system. Also pay attention to the crown and trunk of the tree. The foliage should be healthy and the trunk should not have cracks.

You should purchase seedlings in the fall, at which time you will have much more choice. For the winter, seedlings should be stored in a cool place, where the temperature will be from 0 to +5 degrees.

Planting scheme

Before planting, the seedling should be inspected again. If the root system is open, it should not have less than 5 shoots. Also check it for root damage. Old roots must be removed.

The hole is dug in advance. The recommended depth is about 70-80 centimeters. The diameter may be approximately the same. Depending on the composition and quality of the soil on your site, you can add to the hole:

• sand;
• peat;
• turf;
• lime.

Fertilizers such as potassium and superphosphate will also not be superfluous.

When starting to plant, you need to form a mound in the center of the hole and place a peg on it. Attach the seedling tightly to the stake, carefully spreading the roots around. After which the seedling is covered with earth, the soil next to the plant is compacted.

Cherry plum needs abundant watering immediately after planting.

Caring for Found

Irrigation

A young plant needs more moisture than an adult. The cherry plum needs abundant watering in the first year of life. From the second year, the frequency of watering should be reduced.

The dose of water must be adjusted depending on weather conditions. Do not over-hydrate the plant. During the summer it is enough to shed it well 2-3 times.

It is worth finishing moistening the soil in August. It is not recommended to water the tree for the winter.

Fertilizing

Fertilizing should be done after the first fruiting. Plum trees are fertilized in spring, summer and autumn. In spring, urea, mullein and superphosphate are used. In summer - superphosphate or potassium. In autumn, compost and ammonium nitrate are used.

Tree trunk care

Immediately after planting a cherry plum seedling, it is recommended to mulch and loosen the soil a few days later.

If your site is located in a dry area, the tree trunk should be kept under mulch at all times. If there is an excess amount of moisture, it will be enough to mulch once every year or two. In this case, it is worth pouring about 8-10 centimeters of humus and peat onto the tree trunk circle.

When changing mulching, embed the previous layer into the soil with a shovel to a depth of 5-6 centimeters so as not to damage the roots located close to the surface.

Formative pruning

It is necessary to start pruning the crown only after the first year of cherry plum life. This procedure is usually carried out in the spring. It is also considered a measure of preparation for winter. The cut areas are treated with a special garden varnish.

Remember that pruning done at the right time will help you reap a larger harvest.

Prevention from diseases and pests

Cherry plum Naidena rarely suffers from diseases and insects, but prevention should not be discounted. For coccomycosis and klyasterosporiosis, a solution of Bordeaux mixture is used to treat plants in the fall and spring.

Trimming damaged shoots and treating them with fungicides will save you from moniliosis. Cleaning old bark and removing affected leaves and branches will help against pests. Also, when fighting parasites, the tree is sprayed with insecticides, novocaine or karbofos. To prevent rodents from injuring the plum, it must be protected with a net.

Preparing the cherry plum tree for wintering

Preparing for winter is an important procedure that must be taken extremely seriously. In autumn, it is necessary to remove fallen fruits and leaves and carefully dig up the soil near the trunk.

By whitening the plum trunk before winter, you will prevent sunburn.In winter, the thickness of the snow cover should not be more than a meter, in which case the snow must be trampled down. It is also recommended to put a casing made of sheet iron 40 centimeters in diameter on the cherry plum trunk. It is important that there are no branches under the shelter.

The top of the tree is wrapped with mesh and burlap. Such wintering saves the cherry plum from rodents, heating and freezing.

Conclusion

It is not for nothing that this fruit tree is cultivated in many regions of Russia. Cherry plum Naydena is an unpretentious crop, resistant to weather and climatic conditions. The fruits of the plant have a pleasant taste and retain their shape for a long time. Caring for the tree is not difficult, and with due care, the cherry plum will delight you with high yields every year.

Even with the listed disadvantages, this cherry plum variety can be recommended for planting on the site. It is suitable for those who like fruits with a slight sourness.