- Authors: G. A. Kursakov, G. G. Nikiforova, T. A. Pisanova, R. E. Bogdanov (Michurin All-Russian Research Institute of Genetics and Breeding of Fruit Plants)
- Appeared when crossing: Eurasia 21 x Volga beauty
- Year of approval: 2006
- Growth type: medium-sized
- Crown: wide oval, dense
- Fruit size: very large
- Fruit weight, g: 52
- Fruit shape: oval, one-dimensional
- Fruit color: main purple, integumentary - dark red
- Skin : medium thick, with a strong waxy coating
The fruit variety Startovaya is most often found on the territory of the Central Black Earth Region of the country. The Starter plum is also grown in Ukraine, as well as in northern and southern countries. This variety has become popular due to its many positive characteristics.
Description of the variety
Trees of the Startovaya variety are considered to be medium-sized. In the process of growth, a thick and wide oval crown is formed. Shoots of medium thickness are slightly curved. Color - brown with a reddish tint. There is a gray bloom. And also a noticeably large number of lentils.
The leaves are medium in size and have a rich green color. The texture is wrinkled. The tip is tapering. The shape is a wide oval. Small ribs are visible at the edges. The buds are cone-shaped and colored silver. In the warm season, large flowers in the form of bells appear on the shoots. The petals are white. The anthers are under the pestle.
Fruit characteristics
In weight, one fruit can reach 52 grams. The sizes are considered very large. Oval plums have a deep purple color, which is the main color. Top color - dark red. There are no subcutaneous points. Fruits are formed in the same size, neat and even.
The skin is covered with a pronounced waxy bloom, medium in thickness. The pulp is juicy in consistency. The yellow flesh grows around a large bone, which is easily detached from the fruit. The shape of the bone is elongated.
Even fully ripe plums stick firmly to the branches and do not crumble during the harvesting process. It is easy to separate them from the stalk without damaging them. Due to the dense skin, fruits can be transported over long distances, while maintaining high commercial qualities. Plum Starter is often grown on an industrial scale.
Purpose of berries:
jam,
candied fruit;
mousses;
compotes;
juices;
guilt;
preparation for the winter.
And also the fruits are often eaten fresh, and when frozen, the taste of the crop is preserved.
Taste qualities
Ripe plums boast of excellent taste. The tasters gave them a score of 4.7 points out of the maximum five. They harmoniously combine sweetness and sourness.
The amount of dry matter is 16.23%, acid is 2.45%, sugar is 8.52%.
Ripening and fruiting
In the fourth year of life, the trees begin to bear fruit when the cuttings are planted. When grown through a seed, fruiting begins in the sixth year. The crop ripens early, especially in the southern countries and regions.
Yield
The yield indicator is average.About 60.7 centners of fruits are harvested from a hectare of plantation, and up to 50 kilograms are obtained from one tree. You can store the crop for three weeks, but no more than 25 days. After that, the plums will start to deteriorate.
Growing and care
It is not difficult to take care of the Startovaya variety and even a beginner can cope with the task. First you need to find a suitable place for planting seedlings. How the tree will bear fruit and develop depends on the correctly chosen site.
When choosing a site, the following conditions must be met:
the area should be well lit and protected from the harsh wind, which causes discomfort to the plants;
light and loose soil is ideal, which quickly passes water and air, plum prefers loam;
the reaction to acid must be neutral;
groundwater should flow at a depth of one and a half or 2 meters.
The land is cleared of debris and weeds. A planting pit is made 14 days before disembarkation. Dimensions - 60x60x60 centimeters. When making a hole, the top soil is taken out and mixed with organic matter (two buckets of horse manure) and ammophos (200 grams).
The finished mixture must be poured into a pit, and a neat mound should be made. A wooden support is placed in the center. The roots are carefully spread on the surface of the mound and sprinkled with a small amount of earth. When planting, the root collar cannot be buried. It should be located at a height of 4-5 centimeters from the ground surface.
After planting, the soil should be carefully tamped, and the seedling should be watered with 4 buckets of water. It should be at room temperature and separated. The soil around the trunk is covered with mowed grass or mulch. So that the trees quickly take root after each irrigation, the mulch layer is changed to a new one, and the soil is loosened.
This variety has a strong immune system, thanks to which it is not afraid of dangerous insects and pests. Chemicals are not used for disease prevention. And also trees do not need to be covered before the arrival of winter, and in the hot season the plum will bear fruit without reducing the yield.
To get large and juicy fruits, you need to properly cut the branches. Competent crown formation is necessary for the fruit to gain juiciness and sweetness.
Full care of the crown must be provided from the moment of planting:
in the first year of the plant's life, the trunk should be cut to 1-1.2 meters;
as soon as the tree turns 2 years old, the most powerful branches begin to be cut, they are shortened, maintaining a length of 25-30 centimeters;
next year, the lateral growths should be cut by 15 centimeters, and the apical ones by 30 centimeters.
At the end of the procedure, 5-6 branches should remain, which grow at an angle of 50 degrees. And you also need to monitor the density of the crown and maintain a cupped shape. Overgrowth formation will adversely affect crop abundance and palatability.
The Startovaya variety prefers regular watering and is able to fully develop even in conditions of excessive moisture. Newly planted plants are especially in need of abundant irrigation.
In the spring, when moisture evaporates faster due to high temperatures, watering should be carried out more often. And also the land is often moistened in summer with prolonged drought. Fortified trees are watered only once a week, and young seedlings are irrigated more regularly, spending 5 to 6 buckets of settled water. During fruiting, the number of buckets is increased to 10. Despite the variety's love for abundant watering, water stagnation should not be allowed. This will provoke root rot and the development of the fungus.
Fruit crops need additional fertilizing, especially when grown in depleted soil. The Startovaya variety is fertilized three times a year. The first portion is brought in in the spring, and the subsequent ones in the summer and after harvesting the fruits. The following substances and components are used as fertilizers: wood ash, urea, superphosphate, compositions with a high nitrogen content. Both folk recipes and ready-made preparations are used.
To protect trees from rodents, a strong and strong net is installed next to them. Its diameter should be 60-70 centimeters. The distance from the fence to the trunk is 40-50 centimeters. The plum will be reliably protected from pests throughout the season.
Alternatively, traps are placed on the site.You can buy them at any specialty store. Vegetables, bacon, herbs and other products are suitable for bait. To enhance the effect, the bait is treated with poisons. Special preparations, for example, "Ratobor", show high efficiency. It demonstrates excellent results and is easy to use.
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.