Description of the plum variety Smolinka, planting and care, watering and pruning the tree

The unpretentious plum Smolinka has rightfully won its popularity among gardeners and truck farmers. The tree provides its owners with tasty, juicy, healthy fruits that can be eaten both naturally and processed.

Breeding history

The Smolinka variety was bred by breeding by crossing two varieties, yellow Ochakovskaya and Renklod Ullens. Tests began in 1980, and only in the 90s of the last century was the variety entered into the state register. At the end of the trial period, the plum variety was recommended for cultivation in the central regions of the country.

Description and varietal features

Fruit trees of the Smolinka variety have the following advantages:

1. The variety has a high yield per 1 sq. m.
2. Natural immunity to diseases and pests.
3. Long-term storage of ripe fruits.
4. The size of the fruit is distinguished by its large size.
5. The pleasant, refreshing taste of the plum characterizes it as a dessert fruit.
6. Easily tolerates and quickly recovers from frost.

Disadvantages:

1. Weak branches require additional supports, especially during fruit ripening.
2. The large size of the plant makes it difficult to care for it.
3. Abundant fruiting occurs once every 3 years.
4. Plum Smolinka will not bear fruit without a pollinator.
5. Poor drought tolerance.
6. Ripe fruits fall off quickly.

The abundance of tasty and juicy fruits of the high-yielding plum variety has a significant advantage over its disadvantages.

Suitable climatic conditions

The Smolinka variety was bred specifically for the central and central regions of Russia, where climatic conditions differ in their diversity. Plum easily tolerates frost, quickly departs after the winter period. It tolerates heat well, but in dry times requires intensive additional watering.

Characteristics of the tree

Plum Smolinka is characterized by its ability to grow rapidly. Mature fruit trees grow up to 5.5 meters, have an oval crown with medium or sparse vegetation.

The trunk is not very thick, it is framed by a dense, rough brown bark. The average life span of a plum reaches 25 years.

Pollinators and flowering

Plum blossoms begin in mid-May, producing two white flowers from each bud. It must be pollinated, otherwise the plum will not bear fruit.Pollination takes place in a cross way between trees, which are planted no more than 50 meters from each other. Suitable for cross-pollination of cherry plum or other types of plum. If there are no plum crops in neighboring plots, then you will have to take care and plant several additional ones in your garden.

Another method of pollination is by grafting cuttings of a related variety into the crown of the plant.

Fruit and yield

The ripe fruits of Smolinka are large, oval, with an average weight of 30 g. The dark-purple fruit with a gray waxy bloom contains tender, juicy pulp with a sweet taste and a slight presence of acidity. Due to such taste characteristics, the fruit is considered a dessert, but despite this, it is often used for processing and freezing.

Average fruit yield is 4-5 kg. for 1 sq.m. In good season it can produce up to 40 kg of plums. Plum begins to bear fruit at 3-4 years of age.

Important! Plum seeds contain hydrocyanic acid, which is dangerous for the human body. Canned blanks are stored for no more than 1 year.

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How to plant a plum on the site

To get a large harvest of fresh and tasty plums, you need to know how, when and where to plant a tree. And this requires detailed instructions.

The choice of planting material

For planting a fruit tree, seedlings are needed, the choice of which is a difficult and important task.

1. The seedling must be strong and healthy, free from pests and diseases.
2. Large plants are more difficult to tolerate transplanting, and young seedlings 1-2 years old, quickly take root.
3. When choosing planting material, it is important to pay attention to the root system. Seedlings sold in pots do not allow you to study the roots in detail, but such seedlings take root faster and are planted in open ground at any time.
4. The leaves should not have traces of parasites, various spots and rot.

When buying seedlings with open roots, pay attention to pruning them. With too short a root system, a young plum is unlikely to survive.

Determining the landing site

Choosing the right place for planting plum seedlings is the key to a large and tasty harvest in the future.

1. The tree loves good lighting. Sunlight affects the growth, ripening and taste of fruits. The southern side of the site will be the right choice for planting a seedling.
2. The seedling should not be planted in a place where groundwater accumulates.
3. Take into account the size of an adult tree, which, if improperly planted, can block the access of light to other plants and interfere with buildings on the site.
4. Cold air currents and winds can also hurt. Protection will be the proximity of a high fence or the wall of a house, located at least 2-3 meters from the seedling.

By following these rules when planting young trees, you can count on an abundance of tasty and juicy fruits.

Preparing the soil and planting a seedling

Plum planting soil is best prepared in the fall. Soil with a high acid content is not suitable, therefore it is diluted with lime.

1. The soil is mixed with humus, sulfate fertilizers and wood lime.
2. Holes are dug no more than 70 cm deep, 90-100 cm in diameter.
3. A seedling is placed in the hole, the roots are straightened and carefully buried. Each spine should be well dug in and not leave empty space around itself.
4. The earth is compacted and thoroughly watered.
5. In a young seedling, after planting, both the central and lateral shoots are cut off.

Young and mature tree care

A young fruit tree requires special attention. This is especially true for good soil moisture during rapid growth and flowering. If during planting the soil was well prepared and fertilized, then within 1-2 years additional feeding of the seedlings is not needed. But trees planted in soil not saturated with nutrients require additional care.

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Basic rules of care:

1. Annual spring pruning.
2. High-quality and timely watering.
3. The plum is fertilized once every 3 years.
4. Weed control around the plum tree.
5. Processing and loosening of the soil.
6. Annual preparation for the winter period.

Watering frequency

Plum variety Smolinka does not differ in resistance to arid climate. And young and flowering trees require additional moisture, because the quantity and quality of the harvest directly depends on it. If the amount of water in the soil is insufficient, then the crop will begin to crumble.

In the first year of growth, the seedling is watered as needed, as soon as the soil seems dry. Adult plums require less moisture, so they are less watered. They receive a sufficient amount of water with abundant watering once every 10 days.

What fertilizer plum loves: fertilization technology

Plum Smolinka is a large-fruited species, therefore it needs additional nutrition. During the period of fruit ripening, the plum is fed with fertilizers with a high potassium content. And after fruiting, the tree needs feeding with sulfates and phosphates.

Formative pruning

The first formative pruning of a seedling is done one year after planting in open ground. Further, this procedure takes place annually for 4-5 years, until the tree is fully formed.

Initially, the main trunk is cut to 60 cm. Every year it is necessary to form 2-3 tiers of the crown from several of the strongest branches. After 5 years, the upper stem guide is cut off, which limits the strong growth and height of the plum.

Barrel circle care

So that the plum is not exposed to frost and harmful influences, special care is needed for the near-trunk circle. In the autumn, it is mulched with organic fertilizers with the addition of sawdust. This allows the root system to endure the cold season without freezing and unnecessary stress for the plant.

Diseases and pests: control and prevention

Like other plants, plums are susceptible to fungal and other diseases. Although this variety has developed immunity against fungi, sometimes the plum is exposed to the harmful effects of diseases such as:

1. Fungal lesion of clasterosporium appears on the leaves with holes. Treatment takes place with special drugs that are sold in specialized stores
2. The fungus moniliosis causes the flowers to dry on the plant. To combat, the affected areas are cut off and treated with special solutions.
3. Homoz, or resin release. Areas are treated with solutions with the addition of copper sulfate.
4. When fruit rot appears, complete pruning of affected fruits and affected areas is necessary.

The most common pests in the Smolinka plum are the moth, moth, sawfly, aphid and gall mite. Special preparations are needed to combat such pests..

Reviews of gardeners about the variety

Nina, Moscow.

Plum Smolinka is simply gorgeous, large and very high in taste.

Ivan, Krasnodar.

Plum varieties Smolinka grow in the garden, we do not get a full harvest every year. And I also don’t like the fact that we do not have time to collect the entire crop, the berries are crumbling.