Description of the Volzhskaya Beauty plum variety, cultivation and care

The domestic plum variety Volzhskaya krasavitsa with large, tasty fruits is widespread throughout Central Russia. The plum crop begins to bear fruit in 4 years from the moment it is planted in the garden. The variety is distinguished by early ripening, abundant yield, and good resistance to cold. Large fruits with wonderful taste characteristics, suitable for use for various purposes.

History of selection of the Volga beauty

In 1939, at an experimental horticultural station in the city of Kuibyshev, breeder Evgeniy Petrovich Finaev crossed the varieties Renclod Beauvais and Skorospelki red. This is how a type of plum was obtained, called the Volga beauty. In 1965, the variety was included in the state register of the Russian Federation. Fruit trees are zoned for the Lower Volga, Middle Volga and Central regions.

Description and distinctive features of plum

Plum grows quickly, reaches 6-7 m in height. The trunk is straight, the bark is smooth, gray with an ashen tint. The branches are powerful, bare. There are small quantities of white lentils. The crown is moderately dense, raised, spherical.

Large oval leaves are flat, matte, medium pubescent, with a rounded base and a sharply pointed apex. The leaf blade has a serrate-crenate edge, attached to a medium, thick petiole with 2 colored glands. Plum fruits develop on bouquet shoots. White flowers are collected in inflorescences of 2-3 pieces.

The plum fruits are oval-shaped, large, with a prominent seam, weigh approximately 35 g. Ripe plums with a pronounced waxy coating acquire a solid purple color and a reddish tint. The skin is moderately dense. There is a moderate amount of white subcutaneous dots.The pulp is uniformly yellow-orange, juicy, with a pleasant sweet and sour taste (4.5 points). The juice is clear. The bone is oval, medium in size, pointed on both sides, and comes off easily.

Characteristics of the plum variety Volga Beauty

The success of propagation of the Volga beauty by green cuttings is about 40%. More often, breeding is carried out through grafting. Plum prefers light and medium loamy chernozem soils, moderately moist. It grows best on dolomite or calcareous marly soils of clay-carbonate composition.

Plums tolerate light frosts well in sheltered, well-lit areas from the wind.

Many people like large juicy fruits with bright yellow sweet pulp. This variety is very popular among gardeners due to its early ripening, as well as regular abundant fruiting, subject to adequate watering and systematic feeding.

Plum resistance to sub-zero temperatures and drought

Thanks to the thick bark of the plum, the Volga beauty is able to withstand moderate cold without consequences. In terms of winter hardiness, the quality of the variety is average. During severe frosts, vegetative buds may freeze and crumble, reducing the yield of plums. Withstands dry years well.

Susceptibility to insects and diseases

The plum variety Volga Beauty rarely produces gum. The plant is also resistant to gray rot. The risk of damage increases when damaged by plum moth or cherry moth. Susceptibility to the codling moth is low, 0.5-1%.

Plum pollinators

The variety is considered self-fertile; if you plant several plums with similar flowering periods nearby, you can improve the yield.Suitable pollinators for the Volga beauty are Skorospelka red, Zhiguli, Mirnaya, Ternosliva Kuibyshevskaya.

Plum yield and fruiting

From the moment they are planted in a permanent place, plum seedlings begin to bear fruit in 4-5 years. The yield of 6-8 year old fruit crops is about 8-10 kg, after 9-12 years - 13-25 kg. Flowering begins in mid-May. The taste of the fruit acquires a characteristic sweetness by the beginning of August. The harvest is harvested from the 10th to the 25th. Suitability for transportation of plums is average. It is recommended to use the fruits before the beginning of September.

Storage and use of fruits

The harvest is harvested in dry, sunny weather, this will extend the shelf life of fresh plums. After rain, wet fruits become limp and their taste becomes less pronounced. The picked drupes are placed in up to 4 layers in wooden or plastic containers lined with paper.

During the storage period, plums begin to lose their beneficial properties and taste characteristics, so it is recommended to immediately consume or process the fruits.

Unripe fruits are left for several days in rooms with a room temperature of 22 - 25 degrees. The shelf life at temperatures up to 6 degrees without access to direct sunlight and air humidity of no more than 90% is 2 weeks. For long-term storage, plum fruits are frozen after removing the pit.

The main advantages and disadvantages of plums

The main positive qualities of the Volga beauty plum include abundant regular fruiting, early flowering and ripening, large size and excellent taste, and the ability to be transported.

Among the negative features, the large size of the trees, the threat of freezing of flower buds from late frosts, and the likelihood of cracking of the peel in a season with high rainfall are noted.

How to plant a plum on a plot

To grow a healthy, well-developed plum tree, many factors must be taken into account when planting. Particular attention is paid to the choice of seedling, suitable pollinators, compatible neighbors, and planting sites are selected.

Deciding on deadlines

The Volga beauty plum can be planted in the autumn (late September) or from mid-April to early May. Spring planting is considered more rational. The seedling is placed in warm soil, allowing it to quickly adapt to a new location and develop its root and above-ground parts before the onset of winter cold.

Choosing the optimal location for planting plums

The Volga Beauty variety is preferably planted on flat terrain or areas with a slight slope. Plum loves a lot of sun, grows better and produces more fruit in well-lit places protected from the wind. The soil should be breathable, for example light or medium loam. It is not recommended to plant plums in lowlands with a high degree of soil moisture, as well as in areas with close groundwater.

Compatible and incompatible neighbors of plums

Plum can be planted next to the apple tree. Joint cultivation with cherries, cherries, peaches, walnuts, and pears is undesirable. The Volga beauty peacefully coexists with bushes of raspberries, currants, gooseberries, honeysuckle and barberry.

Seedling preparation

It is advisable to purchase 2-year-old trees 1-1.5 m high. When choosing, pay attention to the roots and appearance of the plant. The root system should be well developed, slightly moist, and at least 20 cm long.Healthy seedlings have smooth bark, without damage and dry shoots. Before planting, remove leaves, broken branches, and dried roots.

Technological process of planting

Having decided on the location, dig a hole 0.5 m deep and 1 m wide. The soil is mixed with organic or complex mineral fertilizers. The resulting mixture is poured into the hole as a mound, and a wooden peg is placed there.

The seedling is placed on a prepared earthen elevation on the north side in relation to the peg, the roots are straightened and evenly positioned, and sprinkled with earth. In this case, the tree is periodically shaken, the soil is trampled down a little so that there are no voids.

The root collar should be located at a distance of 5 cm from ground level. After planting, the seedling is tied to a support.

Stepping back half a meter from the trunk, dig a hole around the perimeter for irrigation. For 1 plum you need 3 buckets of water. After this, the tree trunk area is mulched with sawdust or rotted manure.

Rules for caring for Volga beauty plum

Like any fruit tree, plum requires systematic care. To get a good, tasty harvest, it is necessary to ensure proper watering, fertilizing, pruning, and timely treatment against pests and diseases. Due attention is paid to the formation of the crown and the care of the tree trunk.

Watering and fertilizing

When organizing irrigation, it is important to maintain balance. Drought causes the ovaries to fall off, and excessive moisture can lead to cracking of the fruit. Additional moisture will not hurt during flowering, formation and ripening of plums, after picking the fruits and before the onset of cold weather.

Fertilizers can be applied throughout the season, following the recommended amount of substances. In spring and autumn, fertilizing is aimed at nourishing the roots; in summer, the above-ground part is treated. In spring, 3 feedings are carried out:

• before flowering: 30 g/m² ammonium nitrate solution;
• during flowering: 10 g urea/5 l water;
• after flowering: infuse 1 kg of chicken droppings in 12 liters of water (consumption 2 liters per plum).

In summer, potassium and phosphorus supplements are used. In the fall, trees are fertilized to prepare them for winter. More often they use potassium chloride or sulphide, superphosphate.

Crown formation

In the first year of growth, the plum seedling does not need to be pruned. From the 2nd year in the spring, when the buds awaken, they begin to form a crown of a sparsely tiered or tieless type, avoiding strong thickening or excessive thinning. The leading position should be occupied by the central conductor; it is cut off by 2/3. The main branches are left 20 cm long, the side shoots are shortened to 15 cm above the bud directed downwards.

Pruning is repeated in the summer, removing growths up to 20 cm. Strong branches are bent and secured with twine. For the Volga plum, the sparse-tiered type with the formation of three tiers is preferable:

• for the first, use 3 branches at a height of about 70 cm from the soil surface;
• the second is made from 2 branches 70 cm from the first;
• the third tier of 1 branch is placed at a distance of 50 cm from the second.

Further plum care involves annual thinning and removal of competitive, dry, damaged branches.

Diseases and pests, methods of control and prevention

A strong, well-groomed Volga beauty plum tree is resistant to major diseases; it is enough to periodically carry out preventive measures to protect it.When signs of damage appear, emergency measures become necessary.

For clasterosporiasis, moniliosis, and fungal development, the following remedies are used:

• in spring 2 treatments with “Fitosporin” according to the instructions;
• upon completion of flowering, during the growing season, 2 treatments with “Horus” or “Skor”;
• for prevention, 5% urea solution, 3% Bordeaux mixture, Actellik.

For aphids they use “Bitoxibacillin”, “Skor”, “Planriz”, “Zircon”, “Aktofit”. To prevent the cherry elephant from breeding, dig up the soil under the tree in the spring.

Tree trunk care

During the first year after planting, it is important to carefully loosen and clear the top layer of soil around the plum trunk from weeds. This will provide the young tree with maximum nutrition and oxygen saturation and will promote rapid rooting and normal development.

Protecting plums from rodents

Hares and voles can damage plum trees, so you should securely cover the trunks or use special repellents. To protect the bark, trees are wrapped with spunbond, roofing felt, fiberglass or suitable available materials. You can place spruce branches around the plum and install a metal mesh.

Shelter for the winter

The young seedling does not require feeding. For the winter, it must be covered with branches, a layer of hay, and tied with rope. You can also wrap the young tree in several layers of paper. In adult plants, the trunk circle is covered, trunks and large branches are whitened.

Reviews from experienced gardeners about the plum variety Volzhskaya krasavitsa

Oleg, 45 years old

The Volzhskaya plum variety has been growing in the garden for 12 years. The tree has grown large, I harvest it every year, the fruits are large and very tasty. The main thing is to care for the tree in a timely and correct manner.

Lyudmila, 37 years old

I really like this variety. It grows on the site without pollinators. Plums are very juicy, tasty, almost all are eaten fresh. They stay on the branches well and do not fall off for a long time when they are ripe. It is difficult to reach all the branches; the tree has grown very large.