Description and characteristics of cherry plum variety Gift to St. Petersburg, planting and care

The cherry plum called Podarok St. Petersburg is a new variety created as a result of the hybridization of the plum culture Chinese skoroplodny and plum plum Pionerka. Its advantages are rich productivity and excellent taste. Experienced breeders had a hand in creating the hybrid. The culture develops well and is characterized by increased resistance to cold and disease.

Description of the variety

When choosing a cherry plum variety Gift to St. Petersburg, read its description.

The plant grows up to 2-3 meters, depending on climatic conditions. The crop has a short trunk and a wide, spreading crown of a weeping appearance. The leaf blade has a polished bright green surface. The shape of the leaves is elongated, with an uneven edge, while being curved like a boat.

The hybrid blooms with white saucer-shaped flowers. Petals with wavy-cut edges, like leaves. Each flower contains a huge number of stamens with anthers of a beautiful golden color. The plant blooms from the beginning of May, and ripening occurs already in August.

The variety was bred for the climatic conditions of the Middle Zone. The plant is patriotically called Russian plum.

Plant characteristics

The crop begins to bear fruit in the third or fourth year after grafting. It has characteristic qualities that differ from other plants:

• fruiting begins after grafting in the third year;
• stable harvest;
• huge amber colored fruits;
• universal use of fruits;
• fruits with fine fibrous pulp;
• tolerates transportation and storage.

From one young plant you can collect 25-30 kilograms of fruit. The fruits have an elongated ovoid shape weighing 11-13 grams. At the same time, they are quite juicy, sweet, and exude a delicate aroma. The stone located inside the fruit is slightly pointed and weighs up to 1 gram. The peel is thin, elastic, with a slight waxy coating.

From a ten-year-old plant you can harvest up to 60 kilograms. Ripe fruits are prone to shedding, which is why it is not recommended to delay harvesting.

The culture blooms beautifully, so some gardeners prefer the plant as a decorative element in landscape design.

Pros and cons of cherry plum gift to St. Petersburg

The hybrid has a wide range of successful indicators. The breeding process was quite labor-intensive and long, so the plant creates worthy competition even for the best varieties:

• fruit size is larger than other crops;
• exquisite taste of fruits;
• the first harvest can be harvested in the second year after planting;
• undemanding to soil;
• excellent honey plant;
• the variety is practically disease free;
• does not require frequent watering;
• high seed germination;
• tolerates frosty winters well.

There are much fewer disadvantages, but they are there:

• self-sterile - to get a harvest, you need to carry out pollination;
• fruits may fall off on their own.

In addition, at the end of winter and at the beginning of spring there are sharp temperature changes. This can harm the plant's flower buds.

Growing rules

By choosing cherry plum Gift to St. Petersburg, you can be sure that you won’t have a lot of worries. The variety is practically not picky about soil conditions and has a high survival rate.

Selection of seedlings

When choosing a plant, pay attention to a seedling with a well-developed root system. It must meet certain standards:

• same year;
• smooth bark;
• roots are white when cut;
• absence of dry branches and damage;
• the length of the root system is at least 10-15 centimeters;
• lack of dryness in the rhizome.

Important: if there are diseased and damaged roots, they need to be trimmed. It is recommended to give preference to seedlings with a closed rhizome.

Choosing a landing site

When deciding where to plant the plant, you should remember that the variety does not like shade and drafts. The southern and southwestern sides of the site from the house are ideal. The building will successfully protect the plant from gusts of icy winds. Loamy soil with neutral acid promotes good fruiting.

For a hybrid variety it is preferable:

• drained soil;
• stable humidity;
• soil fertility;
• groundwater flow within a meter.

If planting involves several trees, then place the rows from east to west.

Site preparation

An important point is the preparation of the site. Planting holes, previously dug in autumn or spring, should have a depth of 70 by 70 centimeters. Keep a distance of at least three meters.

Fill in the holes:

• phosphorus fertilizer;
• potassium sulphide;
• ash;
• compost.

Important: if clay soil predominates, add a couple of buckets of peat or sand.

As a result, the soil will easily allow moisture and air to pass through, which will have a good effect on the seedling’s survival in a new place. Then fill the indentations generously with water.

Step by step process

By following the recommendations, you can safely grow a hybrid. Step-by-step instructions will help the plant take root well in the soil:

• in the center of the planting hole, prepared in advance, make a mound;
• Place the roots of the plant on the tubercle;
• the root collar of the crop should be at the level of the soil surface;
• fill the hole and press down the soil to improve contact with the rhizome;
• form watering holes around the planting.

Drive a stake 1 meter high nearby, to which you will subsequently attach the seedling. Planting ends with conscientious watering.

Pollinators

The culture is self-fertile, so it cannot be done without additional pollination.

The following pollinators are excellent for obtaining fruits:

• cherry plum variety Pavlovskaya Yellow;
• Pchelnikovskaya;
• Rocket seedling.

Crops are planted from the main hybrid at a distance of 3 meters.

Further care of the crop

The plant requires proper and timely care, which consists of watering, pruning and disease prevention.

Watering and fertilizing

The hybrid is quite moisture-loving, so it needs good moisture. It is enough to water the plant thoroughly every summer month:

• 1st time - after flowering - in June;
• 2nd time - when the bone is formed - in July;
• 3rd time - the fruits gain color - in July.

You need to pour at least five buckets under the plant.

Trimming

After planting the crop, leave five skeletal branches on it. Then shorten them to half a meter and stretch them with ties. In winter, this will help cover the branches with snow, which will save them from freezing. At the beginning of summer, it is recommended to shorten the branches by 20 centimeters. This will provoke the appearance of young shoots from the lateral buds, which will bear fruit.

Preparing the plant for winter

In late autumn, whitewash the plant with a lime solution to protect the trunk from rodents. Despite the fact that the variety normally tolerates harsh winters, it is initially better to cover young plants with special covering material or spruce branches. You cannot mulch the hole with dry herbaceous plants, as they may contain pests.

Methods of controlling diseases and pests

The hybrid has a large number of pests. The main measures to combat them and diseases include the following:

• destroy all plant debris without leaving them in the holes for the winter;
• remove and burn diseased shoots and fruits;
• in case of fungal infections, cut off the branches and treat the sections with copper sulfate or garden pitch;
• clean the trunk of old dead bark.

Don't forget to collect and destroy fallen leaves and fruits.

Harvesting and storage

Ripe fruits are harvested in several stages, as they ripen unevenly.To preserve fruits and not spoil, they should be stored in boxes with air holes.

The crop can be stored for up to three weeks at temperatures up to +5 °C.

The culture is very popular among gardeners. And this is not only because the plant is unpretentious in care and easily tolerates winter. The fruits of the hybrid are quite tasty and healthy. They make a wonderful dessert, fresh or canned.