Plum "Candy": characteristics of the variety and peculiarities of cultivation

Plum "Candy" is one of the most unpretentious, but incredibly delicious fruit. For these qualities, this variety has received great popularity and love of many gardeners. "Candy" trees quietly bear fruit in places where other types of fruit or vegetables will not give even the smallest shoots. In this article we will look at the characteristics of the variety, its features, as well as give advice on proper planting and cultivation of plums.

This variety of fruit brought domestic breeders. The best is the “Candy” plum, which was bred by Professor G. A. Korsakov. As a rule, the height of the trees does not exceed 2.5 m. Such a variety will decorate any garden, even the smallest. In the spring of a huge number of small white flowers cover the entire crown, almost darkening the dark green leaves. In mid-July, the tree is already fruiting, dotted with purple fruits. From one tree you can get about 25 kg of crop. Fruit weight is on average 30-35 g.

Plum "Candy" has a lot of advantages, thanks to which it has become one of the favorite fruits not only among experienced gardeners, but also among beginners. The tree grows fast. Literally in 3-4 years, a small sprout turns into a fruiting plant with a lush green crown. With proper care, you can get a rich and stable crop with a minimum weight of 20 kg per adult tree.

A huge advantage of this variety is its precocity. As early as mid-July, the fruits begin to ripen and can be collected. Plums are very sweet in taste, have a thin skin and honey pulp. Externally, the fruit is neat, round shape. Such fruits will never lie in a vase for a long time - they will be immediately dismantled not only because of their excellent taste, but also because of their early appearance on the table (especially in comparison with other fruits). In addition to the above benefits, this drain contains a large amount of minerals, vitamins that have a beneficial effect on the work of the vascular system, the heart and the body as a whole.

Plum "Candy" has a high frost resistance. It withstands temperatures up to -20 degrees, which allows gardeners living in the middle lane of our country to grow it in their plots. However, it should be remembered - the lower the level of heat falls, the better for the tree to be covered for the entire cold period. Also, plants are resistant to various diseases, which frees the owners from additional hassle for care and prevention.

This variety has some features that you should pay attention to before you start growing. The trees are not very high, the branches are thin, and therefore do not withstand heavy loads. For these reasons, as soon as the plums ripen, they should be collected, otherwise they will fall on the ground and burst. Because of the thin skin, the fruit is inconvenient to transport, so they are not very suitable for sale on the market. A long harvest will not lie either - the fruits deteriorate quickly, so they should be eaten as soon as possible, although this is not such a big problem, because the fruits are very tasty.

Plum "Candy" is a self-fruitful variety, therefore it needs pollinators. She can not be the only tree on the site. The flowering time of pollinators must necessarily coincide with the flowering of this variety, otherwise cultivation will be useless. The most optimal varieties for pollination are the “Early Zarechnaya” and “Kolkhoz Renklod”. There should be no problems with pollinators, as they are also quite unpretentious in their care, however, they will have to plant trees at the same time (at least) so that they bloom in time.

Experienced gardeners say that "Candy" trees are extremely unpretentious to care, easy to grow. You just need to follow some simple principles, and then you can grow a healthy tree with a good harvest. When planting, you should correctly choose a place - it should be on the sunny side of the site, well be warm by the sun.

The most optimal type of soil is:

• neutral;
• moisture permeable.

Planting should occur at a distance of four meters from other plants. To begin with, one should dig a hole, and then fill it with a special mixture by a third to ensure favorable growth conditions. The composition can be bought in a store or made by mixing fertile soil with humus or urea with superphosphate. In the center of the fossa it is recommended to install a strong stick from the very beginning, which will serve as a support for the tree. At the end of the preparatory work, you can proceed directly to planting seedlings. The roots should be gently straightened, and then covered with soil, compacting it.

As a rule, “Candy” plum is planted at the very beginning of spring. The plant should be slightly raised for the correct location of the roots, slightly protruding over the soil. Then you need to thoroughly water the tree, and also mulch the earth around it. This variety produces a crop four years after planting.

Every spring should gently loosen the ground under a tree. Soil need to dig over without leaving below eight cm in depth. For more careful work, the spade should be directed edge to the trunk. Thus, the roots will remain intact.

Abundant watering should be done during:

• planting plants;
• the appearance of the first kidney;
• at the first fruits.

For the first two years, it will not be necessary to tinker with fertilizers, since this variety all this period is fed by the reserves that were laid in the soil before planting. Already in the third year, you can begin to feed the soil around. Usually, nitrogen fertilizers are used for this in the spring, and phosphoric and potassium species are added before flowering. Nitrogen dressing should be used only in the first part of growth to curb the development of shoots, which should sleep to the cold. Professional gardeners recommend using wood ash extract for obtaining potassium fertilizers - it will provide optimal growth of flowers and fruits.

Starting from the last week of August, superphosphate is scattered around the crown circumference, and then the soil is dug up. When sprouts appear, they should be carefully eliminated. It is important to properly care for the growing tree: remove weeds, and also loosen the soil in time to improve the circulation of oxygen. To spend less time on watering and weeding the land, it should be mulched. Thus, the moisture will last longer inside.

From one tree you can bring several others. To do this, you should carry out the procedure of breeding plums - there are several options.

In this case, you must purchase:

• graft;
• rootstock.

The first is the cuttings of the variety, which must be grafted, and the second is the tree itself for grafting. This process is recommended to perform at the end of May. First of all, you should make oblique cuts (identical in size) on both parts, and then strongly press them to each other, and then roll them with a film, which is removed after four weeks. For maximum effectiveness, vaccination is done in two or three places at once.

For this method, the healthiest and longest shoot is taken, which is located at the maximum distance from the maternal one. It is cut, measuring fifteen centimeters from the root, and then transplanted to another site.

For the implementation of the breeding process will have to prepare for it from the fall. It is necessary to dig up the roots, located at a distance of a meter from the trunk. Of these, you need to select the most durable and cut. The cuttings covered with a layer of sand are stored either in a cold room or in a dug trench. At the very end of April, they need to be planted under the film, shot thirty days later. After a while, shoots will appear, among which it will be necessary to leave the strongest, and the rest will have to be pulled out.

Plum "Candy" is sufficiently resistant to all sorts of diseases and pests, but for greater safety of trees Some preventive actions should be taken.

• It is necessary to carry out sanitary pruning branches. It will prevent the reproduction of pests, and also improve the plant as a whole.
• Every spring and autumn it is recommended to whiten the lower part of the trunk to protect against sunlight or the appearance of insects.
• For preventive purposes, it is enough to spray the leaves and branches with fungicides several times to protect the fruit tree from various diseases.

Responses of gardeners about a grade of "Candy" plum only positive. Newbies in this business, as well as professionals, praise the sweet taste of fruit. A huge plus is the rapid ripening of fruits that appear as early as July, which delights all family members. Unpretentiousness of trees in care and feeding is also noted. A plus is a good harvest, which appears already in the fourth year after planting and competent care.

For details on how to care for plums, see the video below.