Description and characteristics of the cherry plum variety Kuban comet, planting and care

Cherry plum is called wild plum, which has long been used to make sauces, syrups, and preserves. But the unpretentiousness of the plant, its multiplicity led breeders to research varieties, hybrids of culture that can delight gardeners and have a pleasant taste. So the cherry plum variety Kuban comet appeared, and then others, which became widespread in the southern regions of Russia, the Caucasus, and Central Asia.

The history of the removal of the Kuban comet

The cherry plum variety was bred at the Crimean Experimental Station from the Vavilov Research Institute. Biologists crossed plum Skoroplodnaya and Pionerka, having obtained a hybrid with high fruiting qualities, resistance to difficult climatic and weather conditions, and early maturity. At the end of the last century, cherry plum was included in the list of cultures zoned in the North-West region, as well as in the Central Black Earth, North Caucasus.

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

The advantages of the cherry plum variety include the fact that this early culture:

• bears fruit stably;
• tolerates low temperatures well;
• famous for its large harvests of 10-40 kilograms;
• unpretentious care;
• used for cultivation by farmers.

They note the advantages of choosing a hybrid and the fact that plums have an excellent taste, can hang ripe on branches for a long time and not spoil.

The disadvantage of a hybrid is that it is partially self-fertile, so pollinators must be planted nearby. The seeds inside the fruit are poorly separated from the pulp, which is also not liked by many.

Characteristics of the tree and fruit

When choosing a cherry plum variety, a description of the tree and fruits, their characteristics, play an important role. Before planting a culture, a place is allocated for it in the garden, the dimensions of which depend on the width of the crown. The quality of the fruit is also important. In addition to high yields, I would like to get a crop with tasty, juicy, versatile plums.

Crown size

A weak plum tree has a spreading crown, but with sparse, short branches. It resembles a ball in shape, but sometimes it forms a bush crown.Over time, the crown becomes slightly flattened, growing in diameter up to 4-5 meters.

Leaves with a slightly wavy surface appear on the branches from the buds. They are round, green, glossy on top. Branches of the 2nd order of gray color are located horizontally in relation to the trunk.

Barrel height

The trunk of the tree is covered with gray bark, like young shoots. Adult cherry plum reaches a height of 2.8 to 3 meters.

Branching of the root system

In the plum culture, the roots have 5 main branches. When planted, they should reach a length of 25-30 centimeters. The depth of the roots is low, this is taken into account when planting, without deepening the root collar. Loosening and digging of the root circle is carried out carefully so as not to damage the roots of the plant.

Drought resistance, winter hardiness

For a tree to bear fruit successfully, it must be resistant to the climate of the growing region. The culture tolerates persistently dry seasons. She may not freeze under a temperature of 20 degrees below zero.

Immunity to diseases and pests

The stone fruit culture is characterized by resistance to the main diseases of the fungal type. But infection with gray or fruit rot is possible with wet summers and poor care. Good illumination of the crown, its regular thinning saves from diseases and pests.

Reproduction of cherry plum

The most common ways to breed cherry plum:

1. By the bone. In autumn, large fruits are selected, the seed is taken out, washed and dried. Then the planting material is placed in the grooves at a distance of several centimeters from each other. Grooves are poured and the seeds are covered with soil and peat. It is necessary to protect the seeds from rodents. In the spring, seedlings will appear, they are looked after, and after a year they are transplanted to a permanent place.
2. Cuttings. They are prepared in the spring, before the sap flow begins. Choose straight shoots 1-2 meters long, cutting out cuttings 10-15 centimeters long. The material is stored at a temperature of 5 degrees Celsius, and then planted in a greenhouse in wet sand. After a month, you can replant seedlings.
3. Vaccination. For the rootstock, it uses a seed sprout, and a stalk as a scion. The stock can be cherry, plum, apricot. It is best to use budding for grafting.

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The work of breeding cherry plum requires gardening skills and knowledge.

Features of flowering and fruiting trees

Although pollination takes place on the plum independently, it is better to plant pollinators of the Krasny ball and Seyanets varieties next to the Kuban comet. Flowers appear on the hybrid in the last decade of April. They are white, not pubescent. The fruits are set quickly and abundantly and reach technical maturity in July.In the first summer, they get up to 10 kilograms of berries, and after 3-4 years with good care - up to 40 kilograms.

Taste and use of fruits

In the variety, the fruits have distinctive features in the form:

• large weight of 40 grams of each berry;
• color change as it ripens from yellow-red to burgundy;
• juicy pulp, yellowish, fibrous;
• sweet and sour taste, reminiscent of apricot.

It is not possible to remove the fruits from the tree immediately. They do not deteriorate, but taste better. Berries are consumed fresh, stored in the refrigerator for 20-25 days. Compotes, preserves, sauces are excellent.

Landing technology

Even a novice gardener can grow cherry plum. It is necessary to carry out planting correctly, observing agrotechnical standards. Indeed, at this time the foundation of culture is being laid.

Optimal timing

It is necessary to choose the timing of planting taking into account that the plant has time to adapt in conditions comfortable for it. Enough to strengthen the plum 2-2.5 months. You can plant the culture in the spring, then it will get stronger over the summer. Autumn planting is carried out in temperate climates in September-October.

Appropriate place

For a hybrid, areas illuminated by the sun and closed from the cold wind are suitable. The soil needs neutral acidity. The plant is dangerous in swampy places with saline soils. It is necessary that for the development of the tree there are enough nutrients, moisture and air.

Preparation of planting material

Choose seedlings of varietal cherry plum without rot, damage. Carefully examine the root system. When it dries, the roots are lowered into water or a mash made of clay and manure. If a seedling with a closed root system, then water it before planting, and then carefully pull it out of the pot, trying not to damage the clods of earth on the roots.

Landing algorithm

Pits for planting cherry plum are prepared in advance, deepening them by 40 centimeters. Crushed stone is laid at the bottom. Then the fertile layer removed during the digging is mixed with humus and mineral fertilizers and a third of the pit is filled with it. A peg is stuck in the center of the pit, and a seedling with straightened roots is placed next to it.

Holding the plum seedling with one hand so that the root collar is 5 centimeters above the soil level, sprinkle with soil. Having tamped the trunk circle, water it abundantly and mulch it.It is necessary to shorten the lateral branches of the cherry plum sapling to the point of growth, and the top of the central shoot by 5-7 centimeters.

Culture care

To create a fruit tree with a powerful root system, you need to properly care for the seedling. This includes the maintenance of the soil and the formation of the crown of the plant.

Irrigation

Cherry plum is unable to withstand prolonged drought, this can negatively affect the branched root system located close to the surface of the earth. Therefore, a young tree is watered every month, spending up to 40 liters of water per cherry plum. For an adult fruiting hybrid of cherry plum, the consumption is increased by 10 liters. It is imperative to irrigate the tree a month before harvesting. In August, start to reduce the frequency of watering to reduce the formation of new shoots.

Foliar and root fertilization

The young cherry plum will receive food when planting, and then when digging mulch. But every year, both root and foliar fertilizers are applied. They include all the elements necessary for the development of cherry plum. We need humus, bird droppings, and urea. Begin feeding in the spring, continuing throughout the growing season. It is especially important to feed after flowering to allow the plant to bear fruit.

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Crown formation

For the cherry plum variety, a bowl-shaped crown is suitable. This will give the wood a decorative effect. Restricting cherry plum growth will help regulate fruiting. Cherry plum Kuban comet is actively growing up to 5 years of life, therefore, it is necessary to thin and shorten the shoots. For the southern regions, the autumn procedure is suitable. Summer pruning of cherry plum is needed in order to restore normal fruiting, remove shoots that will not bear fruit. In spring, they form a crown in regions with cold winters.

Barrel circle care

The care of the area around the plum includes loosening the soil. Will help retain moisture, limit weed mulching. Peat or humus can be used as mulch. Dry straw and sawdust are also suitable.

Shelter for the winter

The cherry plum variety is winter-hardy, but if the temperature is below 30 degrees, then you need to cover the plum before wintering. For this, non-woven materials, roofing material are suitable. Whitewashing saves the cherry plum from winter and spring burns, which is carried out in the fall.

Diseases and pests and methods of dealing with them

Some fungal diseases are not dangerous for varietal cherry plum. But some of them hit the cherry plum. This happens more often in wet and cool weather. You must be able to recognize a disease or pest and take the necessary measures.

Gray rot

With this disease, a pile of gray-white bloom covers the leaves, and brownish spots are visible on the shoots.Cherry plum also get sick, rot and fall off. They begin to treat the tree in the spring by spraying with a solution of copper sulfate. Of the drugs, Kuprofan is effective.

Brown spot

The danger of the disease is that it causes damage in which half of the crop is lost. Determine the presence of fungus by brown spots with a border. Black dots are visible in the middle. After the growth of spots, cherry plum leaves dry. Copper-based products are used for the prevention and treatment of the disease.

Rust

The main sign of cherry plum infection is red spots on the leaves. Then the irregularities grow, and a yellowish-orange bloom with fungal spores appears on the lower side of the leaf. Of the drugs, Baktofit will be effective. And in early spring, the spread of the disease can be prevented with a 5% carbamide solution.

Fruit sapwood

The vital activity of the beetle on the drain is determined by the flow of the gum and the moves made in the tree trunk. Feeding on tissues at the base of the buds, females lay eggs, and the larvae that appear absorb the bark of the cherry plum tree, reaching the roots. It is necessary to carry out an insecticide treatment twice to destroy the pest.

Fruit moth

The name of the parasite speaks for itself. The object of activity of the insect and caterpillars is the fruits of the cherry plum. Only insect control can protect you from damage. It is carried out with the help of Bitox and Avant preparations. It is necessary to spray after 20 days, as the cherry plum will fade. The procedure is repeated after 10-14 days.

Gum therapy

When on the trunk of the cherry plum appears abundantly amber resin, gum, then the reason for this may be damage by pests. In the spring, this is a sign of the tree freezing or getting burned. After trimming the hybrid, gum flow may also begin. It can be prevented by taking care of the tree, proper care.

Western gypsy moth

This pest is recognized by damage to the cherry plum bark of the Kuban comet. Inside the trunk, the insect lays eggs, and then the larvae appear. At this time, the trunk is treated with a solution of "Karbofos" or "Dichlorvos". For prevention, it is necessary to burn cut branches. If the tree is heavily infested, it is best to uproot it.

Downy silkworm

In the crown of the cherry plum, you can find cocoons and larvae of this species of silkworm. Parasitizing, they eat cherry plum leaves. You can collect the larvae by hand and incinerate. But processing is also required. The drug "Virin-ENZH" is considered effective against the pest. Before the appearance of buds on the plant, use "Nitrofen".

Variety hybrids

Cherry plum Kuban comet is a representative of the Russian plum species. This is one of the best and most popular varieties of cherry plum, which is grown in many regions of Russia and gives high yields. The variety Vladimirskaya comet was obtained from it. He has higher winter hardiness. In addition, this cherry plum is fast-growing, quickly yields rich harvests. Hybrid Kometa Late was obtained by pollination of the Kuban species. Plum fruits are large, with dark red skin, with good taste. But the plant needs pollinators.