- Authors: R.V. Korneev, V.A. Korneev (Dubovsky stronghold of the Lower Volga Research Institute of Agriculture)
- Appeared when crossing: Giant x Hungarian local
- Year of approval: 1987
- Growth type: medium-sized
- Crown: round, raised, of medium density
- Fruit size: large
- Fruit weight, g: 30-35
- Fruit shape: elongated oval
- Fruit color: dark purple, almost black when ripe with a bluish waxy bloom
- Pulp (consistency): dense, juicy
Sweet and juicy plums have long been used in Russia for making jam, preserves and other treats. To make the harvest happy, you need to choose the right variety and take care of it regularly. The Bogatyrskaya plum variety has remarkable taste characteristics.
Description of the variety
The tree's lifespan ranges from 15 to 30 years. Medium-sized plants reach 4 m in height. From the moment the tree begins to bear fruit, its growth stops. The crown has a rounded shape. It is slightly spreading and raised. The density is medium.
Curved branches are gray in color and grow at an acute angle with respect to the trunk. The shoots are powerful. Their color is gray with brown. The surface is covered with a lot of lentils. Thickness and length are medium.
Each side of the sheet is painted in a different color. Above it is dark green, and below it is light. At the ends, the leaves are slightly pointed and slightly pubescent. Sizes are medium. The surface is corrugated. Form - obovate. In spring, medium-sized white flowers are formed, they can be either triple or double.
Fruit characteristics
Plums of the Bogatyrskaya variety are considered large due to their weight of 30–35 g. Ripe fruits are covered with a dark purple skin, almost black. A slight waxy bloom of a bluish tint is noticeable. The shape is oval, slightly elongated.
A dense pulp with a large amount of juice forms inside. Color - yellow-green. The abdominal suture on the berry is almost invisible. Inside, a medium-sized bone grows, which is easily detached from the pulp.
Universal fruits are suitable for making juice, compote, jam or canning. From fresh fruit, you can prepare a flavored tincture. Also, the fruit can be used as a pie filling.
Taste qualities
All summer residents who are personally familiar with the cultivation of this variety speak about the excellent taste of plums. Juicy pulp has a delicate and rich taste with honey notes. Due to their high sugar content (12.66%), plums grow sweet. The volume of dry matter content is 17.9%. Also, the harvest is rich in useful vitamins and minerals.
Ripening and fruiting
Trees begin to bear fruit when they reach 4–5 years of age. Flowering begins in early May, so the ripening dates are marked as late or very late. Ripe fruits are harvested in the second decade of the last summer month. With the right care, it is easy to achieve a consistent harvest.
Yield
The yield from one tree is from 60 to 80 kg of fruits, which indicates a high yield. Even fully ripe plums are highly transportable.This feature is very important when growing fruits for commercial purposes, since the crop has to be transported over long distances.
Growing and care
The Bogatyrskaya variety is considered self-pollinated, so it does not need to plant additional fruit crops. The dates for planting trees fall in the spring or autumn. It is recommended to choose the first option, since during spring planting, the roots will quickly adapt to the new environment and soil. Autumn planting is chosen in the southern regions, where spring begins early and hot and dry weather sets in in summer.
The site chosen for transplantation must be prepared 2 weeks before the work. The pit should be about 60 cm deep and about 80 cm wide.The minimum distance between trees is 4 m.
Plum prefers sandy loam or loamy soil. When planting trees in clay soil, river sand is mixed into it. The upper layers of the soil are fed by adding peat (1 bucket), humus (1 bucket), potassium sulfate (45 g), superphosphate (0.5 kg) and ash. With a high acidity index, lime is mixed into the ground (500 g of the substance are used per square meter).
It is recommended to choose a southern or southeastern garden plot in a temperate climate. The area should be well lit by the sun, especially in the morning. To avoid stagnation of moisture, plums are often planted at a slight elevation. The roots should not reach groundwater, if any. To protect the plantation from gusts of cold air, the site is protected with fences and other fences. You can also land next to low buildings.
The health of seedlings and their subsequent fruiting depends on the care of young plants. After watering, the soil in the area of the trunk circle is loosened, and all weeds are destroyed. At the end of loosening, the tree is fed with 1 bucket of humus.
Plum Bogatyrskaya loves water, but excessive moisture has a bad effect on the condition of the tree. The leaves lose color and the fruit stops setting. Irrigation is carried out every 7 days, spending 3 buckets for each young plant. For watering mature trees, use 4 buckets of clean water. The frequency of watering is 6 times throughout the season. Prolonged drought leads to the fact that the crop begins to fall off not yet ripe.
A large amount of water is introduced before the upcoming wintering. This procedure is called moisture charge and is needed to prepare the plum for frost.
The fertilization process deserves special attention. No top dressing is applied immediately after planting. During the first year of life, the plant is treated with a growth stimulant. The procedure is carried out once every 7-12 days. Fruiting plums are fertilized several times throughout the season:
- before flowering, urea is introduced, 90 g of which is dissolved in 2 liters of water;
- during the formation of fruits, they switch to nitrophosphate, 60 g of the substance are consumed per 2 liters of water;
- as soon as the crop has been harvested, superphosphate is used (proportions are the same as for the above substance);
- with the onset of autumn, plums are fed with rotted manure, one bucket is enough to feed an adult tree.
Fertilizers are used every season so as not to reduce the yield. Upon reaching the age of 15, the volume of organic matter is doubled. In the fall, nitrogen fertilization is not needed. This substance affects the formation of a dense green mass, which is not necessary at a given time of the year.
Yellow leaves often indicate a lack of potassium. To compensate for the lack of this component, you can use urea or ammonium nitrate. The crown is treated with these substances. With a lack of magnesium, the edges of the foliage curl. You can correct the situation with potassium or magnesium. Consumption - 30 g per sq. m plot.
Pruning is performed in early April or at the end of March. When performing work, the air temperature must be at least 10 °. When forming a crown, it is preferable to choose a tiered shape.Weak and broken branches are also regularly disposed of. If the crown is too thick, it must be thinned out, otherwise the fruits will not receive enough sunlight. The process of oxygen metabolism is also disrupted, the tree may begin to ache - another reason for the regular pruning and thinning of green mass.
Despite the fact that plum is considered more hardy than many fruit trees, it is not immune from diseases. It is attacked by viral, fungal and bacterial infections, and parasitic insects harm it. It is necessary to notice and recognize the signs of plum disease in time. They are easier to deal with and defeat early on. Well, in order to protect the garden tree from such a misfortune in the future, preventive procedures can be carried out.