Description and characteristics of the Tsarskaya cherry plum variety, cultivation and care

Among the fruit trees in the garden plot, Tsarskaya cherry plum rightfully occupies its worthy place. The fruits are liked by their sweet taste, the tree pleasantly surprises with its resistance to frost and disease resistance, the harvest amazes with its abundance and regularity. And the Tsarskaya cherry plum is simply pleasing to the eye in the spring, covered with a cap of white flowers, and in the summer, when the bright yellow fruits ripen.

The history of breeding Tsarskaya cherry plum

A variety of hybrid cherry plum called Tsarskaya was bred by Russian scientists in the last century. The ancestor was the hybrid cherry plum or, in other words, the Russian plum of the Kuban Comet variety, which, in turn, is the result of crossing a Chinese plum and a cherry plum. During selection, the properties of the original plants were significantly improved.

Description of culture

Fruit trees of the Tsarskaya Alycha variety are of medium height with a flat-round crown. Distinctive features describing the variety are presented below.

Characteristics of wood

Trees of this variety, with their light green foliage over a trunk covered with dark gray-brown bark and a beautifully shaped crown, are not only very decorative, but also pleasantly surprising in their characteristics.

Variety resistance: to frost and dry climate

Royal cherry plum has satisfactory resistance to frost. The above-ground part tolerates frosts down to -30 degrees, but the root system may be damaged if the tree is not covered in frosty winter.The variety does not tolerate lack of moisture very well, so regular watering is necessary.

What pests and diseases is the variety susceptible to?

Hybrid cherry plum is considered resistant to many diseases. However, you should carefully examine the plant, and at the slightest sign of parasite activity or disease, take action by treating it with special preparations. We must not forget about preventive measures. The main threats to the fruit tree of this variety are as follows:

Pollination and flowering period

Trees of this variety are self-sterile. This means that for fruit to form, trees capable of pollination must grow nearby. The best pollinators are self-fertile cherry plum varieties.

During the flowering period, insects are not yet very active, since it occurs in early spring and the weather is still cool. In this regard, pollinating trees are placed within 3 meters. During lush flowering, the Tsarskaya Alycha tree looks elegant and perfectly performs a decorative function.

Productivity and fruiting

The tree bears up to 25 kg of fruit per season, which makes it possible to classify the variety as high-yielding. The fruits of the Tsarskaya cherry plum are fragrant, covered with a shiny waxy skin, and the flesh is yellow. They ripen by early August a year after planting the tree.

Where is the plum crop used?

After harvesting, they prepare jam, compote, juice, and use it as a filling for pies. The fruits of this variety can be dried or used to make wine. But fresh cherry plums are tastier and healthier, as they contain many vitamins and minerals.

Main pros and cons

The variety has many advantages. These include the following:

• Productivity. Under favorable conditions, 20-25 kg are collected from the tree.
• Precocity. The harvest is harvested in the second year after planting.
• Decorative. The tree is especially beautiful in the spring during flowering; it looks great even when covered with yellow fruits.
• Resistance to pests and diseases.
• The fruits of the Royal cherry plum tolerate storage and transportation well.
• The benefits of the harvest, taste.
• Frost resistance of the aboveground part of the tree.

When growing hybrid cherry plum, you should remember the following disadvantages:

• Self-sterility. Pollinator trees need to be planted nearby.
• Does not tolerate drought well. Needs regular watering.
• The roots do not tolerate frost below -10 degrees. It needs to be covered for the winter.
• Forms a lot of basal shoots.

The nuances of planting a tree on the site

In order for the seedling to take root and consistently produce high yields, a number of nuances are taken into account when planting. An experienced gardener first of all determines the site for placing the tree, carefully prepares it, and pays special attention to the selection of a promising seedling.

Timing of planting work

It is better to plant the tree in early spring, before the buds swell. As a rule, this is April or May.

Selection and preparation of seedlings

Annual or biennial plants are recommended for planting. When purchasing, planting material is inspected for the integrity of the integument and the presence of fungal diseases. The root system should consist of 5-6 shoots of 20-30 cm each.

Deciding on the placement of the plum

It is important to pay attention to the groundwater in the area; its level should not be higher than one and a half meters. It is advisable to plant on the south side of the house so that the tree is protected from the wind, but at the same time well lit.The soil is light, loamy, and sufficiently drained.

Preparing the site and planting hole

The selected area is cleared of weeds and dug up, applying fertilizer if there is insufficient fertility. If the soil is acidified, you need to add ash when digging. A hole with a diameter of 60 cm and a depth of 70 cm is dug in advance so that the soil shrinks. A drainage layer is placed at the bottom. A mound is formed from soil mixed with fertilizers.

Step by step planting process

Step by step guide:

• The roots of the seedling are coated with clay.
• The tree is planted in a prepared hole, carefully straightening the roots on a mound at the bottom of the hole.
• Fill the hole with a mixture of soil and fertilizer, compacting it. The soil level should be such that the root collar rises 6-7 cm.
• Water the tree with several buckets of water around the tree trunk into the formed hole.
• The planted plant is mulched with a mixture of compost or peat with lime or dolomite flour.

We organize care for young and adult plants

In order to receive a reward for his work in the form of a good harvest, the gardener must provide the young seedling, and then the adult tree, with proper care. The Tsar's cherry plum needs to be watered, fed, pruned and covered for the winter in a timely and regular manner.

Watering table

The tree does not tolerate stagnant groundwater, but needs sufficient moisture. Water the hybrid cherry plum once every 10 days, 5 buckets of water per plant. After watering, the soil is loosened to retain moisture.

Fertilizing schedule

Fertilizers are applied a year after planting the tree if it was fed when placed in the planting hole.

Crown formation

To maintain the productivity and health of the Tsarskaya cherry plum tree, regular pruning is required, which is done in early spring every year. When planting, one third of the length of all branches is removed from the tree. Every year, up to 4 strong branches are left, cutting off all the rest. In the fifth year, the central conductor is cut. Every year, shoots more than 50 cm long and branches that bend to the ground under the weight of the fruit are removed.

Tree trunk care

The soil around the trunk of the Tsar's cherry plum needs to be regularly loosened and weeded. To prevent the soil from losing moisture, it is mulched with humus or peat. To protect against pests, you can plant marigolds, calendula, wormwood, and tansy near the tree. They will scare away butterflies and moth caterpillars.

Shelter for the winter

The root system of the Tsarskaya cherry plum cannot withstand frosts below -10 degrees, the tree must be covered. In winter, snow is piled around the trunk. The tree trunk circle is mulched with manure. The lower part of the trunk is wrapped with an air- and moisture-permeable covering material. Roofing felt or film are not recommended. By wrapping the trunk with nylon, the gardener will provide protection from rodents.

Tree propagation methods

For vegetative propagation of Tsarskaya cherry plum, graftings using various technologies are used, as well as different types of cuttings.

Green cuttings

In mid-summer, cuttings 10 cm long are obtained by cutting off fresh shoots of growth just below the bud. 2-3 leaves remain on the branch, the bottom one is removed.The cuttings are rooted after soaking in a growth stimulator. The root system is formed in a month.

Lignified cuttings method

During the autumn leaf fall, cuttings 20-25 cm long are prepared for planting in the spring. They are cut from annual shoots, removing leaves and side shoots. The blanks are stored in winter, treated with molten paraffin.

Vaccinations

Grafting is a method of propagation in which parts of several plants are combined. In this case, the rootstock is the plant on which it is grafted, from which the stem and root system are used. The scion is what is grafted: it can be a shoot, a stem, or buds. There are many vaccinations, and variations continue to increase, because gardeners are constantly looking for new ways to increase yields and improve varieties.

Depending on the location of the vaccination, there are top and side vaccinations:

• If the “native” top of the rootstock tree is removed and its place is taken by a scion, the graft is called crown grafting.
• When the top of the rootstock is not cut off, the graft is located on the side of the trunk, then this is a lateral graft.

The following types of vaccinations are distinguished:

• Ablation - grafting with a “whole plant”. Two trees growing side by side grow together, then they are separated. The graft remains to grow on the rootstock, and the cultivated variety is left to grow separately.
• Grafting with cuttings or shoots. There are many options for grafting with one or more cuttings.
• Budding is a type of grafting in which an “eye” or one kidney is taken.

Budding is very popular among gardeners. The method is convenient because it is quick and requires a minimal amount of scion material. For budding it is necessary that juices actively move into the rootstock, and this happens in early spring and towards the end of summer. When performing single bud grafting, many techniques are used.Among the most common are the butt and the shield in a T-shaped cut.

Cherry plum Tsarskaya is undoubtedly of interest to gardeners who can appreciate all the advantages of this hybrid variety. If you remember and follow the simple requirements for caring for the tree, you can admire its beauty and enjoy its juicy fruits for many years.