Description of the plum variety Firefly, planting dates, cultivation and care

If you need to choose a highly productive and relatively unpretentious variety, then you should give preference to a tree such as the Firefly plum. It is also valued for its increased immunity to major ailments and parasitic individuals, and good frost resistance. To grow a plant that bears fruit abundantly and is resistant to adverse environmental factors, you need to know the basic rules of planting and care.

History of breeding plum Firefly

A varietal tree with an average ripening period is the result of crossing the Volga beauty and Eurasia 21. The work was carried out at the Research Institute of Genetics and Breeding named after I.V. Michurin. The fruit crop was bred by L.E. Kursakova, G.A. Kursakov, R.E. Bogdanov and G.G. Nikiforova. In 2004, the variety passed state testing.

Description of culture

The Firefly plum is practically free of drawbacks; it is positioned as a productive and cold-resistant plant. Even novice gardeners can grow it.

Wood appearance

Plum Firefly is distinguished by its vigorous growth and the presence of a spreading crown. The tree reaches 5 meters in height. The medium-dense crown forms an oval shape. The brownish-brown shoots have pubescence and grow thin and straight.

The leaf apparatus is distinguished by its elliptical shape, dark green color and medium size. There is crenate serration along the edges. The surface of the concave sheet plate is smooth and matte.

Stipules are small in size and fall early. The pigmented petioles are also of medium size. The tree at the flowering stage is covered with small white flowers.

Taste qualities of the fruit

Firefly plum produces large fruits. Their color is greenish-yellow, with a slight waxy coating visible. Fruit weight 40 grams, wide-round shape. There are no difficulties in separating the stone from the pulp. The Firefly plum is known for its juiciness, sweet and sour taste and pronounced aroma.

The Svetlyachok plum deserved a tasting score of 4.5 points. The variety's sugar content is 13%, acidity is 1%, and dry matter is 14.05%. There are 6 milligrams of ascorbic acid per 100 grams of fruit..

Characteristic

Knowledge of the varietal characteristics of the Firefly plum allows the gardener to reap a rich harvest.

How does a plant tolerate drought and frost?

The Firefly plum has a good degree of winter hardiness and drought resistance. She is able to painlessly tolerate temperature drops down to -20 degrees. But it is recommended to protect young plants additionally.

The tree can also survive dry weather, but it should be maintained and irrigated abundantly once every 10-12 days. Not only a lack of moisture has a detrimental effect on the Firefly plum, but also its excess. Excessive moisture in the soil provokes the development of fungal infections.

Resistance to diseases and pests

Due to the high degree of resistance to major diseases, in particular to moniliosis, rust and clasterosporium, the Firefly plum is actively grown on an industrial scale. With proper care, the plant is not afraid of fungal diseases. Of the harmful insects, small aphids can attack the tree. Therefore, the fight against parasites should also be aimed at destroying garden ants.

Self-fertile plum or not?

Since the Firefly plum does not belong to the category of self-fertile plants, it needs additional pollination. You need to choose varieties that bloom at the same time as the given hybrid.

Pollinator varieties

Harvest Renklod, Mayak, and collective farm Renklod have proven themselves well. Such garden plantings near the Firefly plum will allow you to collect up to 20 kilograms of harvest from one tree.

Flowering and yield

The flowering phase of the Firefly plum occurs between the 12th and 19th of May. The tree begins to bear fruit 3-4 years after being assigned to a permanent location. It produces a harvest within 10-15 years and lives for 25 years.

Unlike other stone fruits, the Firefly plum produces fruit consistently and abundantly. When grown on farms, productivity indicators are almost 112 centners per hectare.

Collection and use of fruits

Considering the universal purpose of the fruit, the Firefly plum is used both for winter preparations as a raw material and for preparing desserts. The crop is not prone to cracking and can be transported over long distances. The commercial and consumer qualities of the Firefly plum are high.

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

When growing the Firefly plum, the following positive characteristics were noticed:

• large fruit;
• excellent taste;
• universal use of fruits;
• resistance to drought, frost;
• high productivity rates;
• increased immunity to major ailments and parasitic individuals;
• transportability of the crop;
• low maintenance requirements.

The Firefly plum attracts the attention of gardeners with its promise and the absence of serious drawbacks. The only flaw of the plant is the dependence of yield indicators on the presence of pollinating varieties on the site.

Planting a tree on the site

In order to initially create the most comfortable conditions for growth, you need to familiarize yourself in more detail with the basic rules for planting the Firefly plum.

Disembarkation dates

The choice of planting dates for Firefly is influenced by the climatic conditions of a particular region. If seedlings are planted in the southern regions, it is recommended to do it in the fall, and in the northern regions - in the spring.Preparatory work should be done in advance.

Seedling preparation

When purchasing planting material, you should give preference to annual or biennial plants with a well-developed root system. There should be no traces of mold, signs of damage by pathogenic microorganisms, as well as various types of damage.

If the roots of the Firefly plum have dried out a little, they can be kept in a container with water for 2-3 hours. Before planting, they should be treated with a solution of a growth stimulator such as Kornevin.

Choosing the best place

Planting the Firefly plum is effective in a clearing that is well-lit and protected from draft winds. To prevent the plant from being negatively affected by cold fog, it is recommended to plant it at a higher elevation. The depth of groundwater at the landing site should be from 1.5 meters. Wetlands are the enemy of fruit crops.

Planting technology

The dimensions of the planting hole for the Firefly plum are: 70×70 centimeters, depth 50 centimeters. To enrich the soil with useful components, use 1 bucket of manure, ½ handful of potash fertilizers, 2 handfuls of superphosphate and 1 shovel of wood ash.

A seedling is placed in the prepared hole, where a drainage layer (10 centimeters) has already been laid, and its straightened roots are carefully sprinkled with the soil mixture. To avoid the formation of voids in the hole, it is necessary to compact the soil slightly. There is no need to deepen the root collar; it should be 5-7 centimeters higher from the ground level.

Watering the Firefly plum should be done using a groove 10 centimeters deep formed in a circle. To preserve moisture and against weeds, a mulching layer of peat or humus or dry soil will help.

Care

The Firefly plum is not difficult to maintain; to maintain its health and abundant fruiting, it is necessary to regularly loosen the soil, prevent the soil in the tree trunk from drying out, add nutrients and protect it from diseases and pests.

Watering and fertilizing

It is especially important to carry out irrigation measures in the first years after planting. The signal for performing the procedures is the drying of the top layer of soil. It is enough to do three irrigations per season. It is better to moisten the soil in the evening.

Organic fertilizers for the Firefly plum are added once every three years. In the fall, it is recommended to add a mineral complex composition in the same dosage as during planting. Under mature plantings, it is effective to mow the grass and lay it in a circle around the trunk.

This technique allows you to both mulch the soil and feed it.

Crown molding

Manipulations associated with pruning begin from the second year of the tree’s life. The crown should be formed taking into account the standard variant characteristic of plum culture. Every year you should inspect the plant and remove all ineffective branches, shoots with signs of infection, as well as crowns growing inside. In order for the wound surface to heal faster and not become a source of problems, it is necessary to disinfect it with garden varnish.

Tree trunk care

It is recommended to loosen the soil after each irrigation to prevent oxygen starvation of the roots. Young growth should be removed in a timely manner. The soil in the tree trunk circle needs to be mulched after each treatment, using 1 bucket of humus for this purpose.

Protection from parasites and diseases

One way to resist pests is to whitewash the trunk. Under mature plantings, the tree trunks are painted and tinned. To prevent the development of diseases and the invasion of parasitic individuals, it is necessary to spray the Firefly plum with insecticidal agents. Manipulation is carried out before the beginning of the flowering phase, and repeated - after the ovary.

Once a season, it is recommended to treat the plants with Bordeaux mixture, diluted according to the manufacturer’s instructions. In addition, fallen leaves are burned to prevent pests from overwintering in them.

Preparing the plant for winter

First of all, the soil in the tree trunk circle needs to be dug up to a depth of 30 centimeters and fertilizer (humus, wood ash, superphosphate) must be added. The Firefly plum should be treated with Bordeaux mixture. Before the onset of cold weather, 35 liters of water are poured under each planting. Wrap the trunk with roofing felt to prevent rodents.

Growing Firefly plums is not a difficult and profitable activity. The tree bears fruit consistently; the main thing is to adhere to the correct agricultural techniques and not to neglect preventive measures against diseases and pests.