Content
Cherry plum and plum are related crops common in the middle lane. When choosing between them, their characteristics, unpretentiousness, quality and taste of the fruits are taken into account.
The difference between plum and cherry plum
Although cultures have common features, they belong to different species. The differences between them are at the genetic level.
The main similarities of cultures:
- round shape of the fruit;
- elongated green leaves;
- the appearance of flowers;
- high content of vitamins and microelements in fruits;
- grow well in lighted areas and neutral fertile soils;
- most varieties need pollination;
- extended fruiting, which requires harvesting in several stages;
- good honey plants for bees;
- care scheme (watering, pruning, feeding);
- breeding methods (cuttings or shoots).
Plum and cherry plum are often grafted onto one stock. However, crops do not pollinate each other, so planting a pollinator is mandatory.
The fruits of each crop are used fresh and for homemade preparations.
Namely:
- jam;
- jam;
- jam;
- compote;
- pastilles;
- syrup;
- jelly;
- marmalade;
- juice;
- wine.
In cosmetology, masks are prepared from them to moisturize the skin of the face.
Genetic differences between cultures
Plum and cherry plum are a representative of the Pink family, which also includes various stone fruits, pome fruits and berry crops (cherry, homemade plum, peach, apricot, almond). The genus Plum unites more than 250 species common in the temperate climatic zone.
Cherry plum is the original form of homemade plum. The crop is also known as cherry plum. It got its name from the Azerbaijani word aluca, which translates as "small plum".
Home plum is obtained by crossing blackthorn and cherry plum. There are no wild varieties of plums in nature.
How cherry plum differs from plum in the photo:
Plum is less resistant to diseases and pests. It is not recommended to plant tomatoes, peppers and other nightshades next to it. This neighborhood leads to the spread of insects and fungal diseases. Plum is prone to spotting, rust, fruit and gray rot, and gum leakage.
Cherry plum produces single white or pink flowers 20-40 mm in size. The culture tolerates spring frosts well. The tree blooms more abundantly, which is reflected in the yield. They are grown for decorative purposes. The culture completely lacks self-fertile varieties, so it is planted in groups.
The plum has simple flower buds that produce 1-3 white flowers with a diameter of 15-20 cm. Among the varieties of plum, there are partially self-fertile ones. However, they are late flowering and cannot serve as pollinators for earlier varieties.
Which is tastier: cherry plum or plum
The size, color and taste of the fruit largely depend on the cultivar. Usually, at home plums, the fruits weigh 35-50 g, the largest ones reach 70 g.
The plum has purple, yellow, light green, red or dark blue fruits. There is a waxy coating on the skin. The bone is flattened, pointed at the edges. The shape of the fruit is round or elongated. The pit can be easily removed from the pulp.
Cherry plum bears fruits weighing 12-37 g. They are more often round or flattened. When ripe, the skin turns pink, yellow, red or purple. Fruits of some varieties have a slight waxy bloom and a longitudinal furrow. The bone is not separated from the pulp.
Fruit taste depends on the variety. Cherry plum has a sugar content of up to 14%. It tastes sweet and sour, tasting score from 4 to 4.8 points. The plum contains from 9 to 17% sugar, its pulp is sweeter and is estimated at an average of 4.5-5 points.
The difference between cherry plum and plum in the photo:
Calorie content and nutritional value of 100 g of plums:
- 34 kcal;
- proteins - 0.2 g;
- fats - 0.1 g;
- carbohydrates - 7.9 g;
- dietary fiber - 1.8 g
Calorie content and nutritional value of 100 g of cherry plum:
- 49 kcal;
- proteins - 0.8 g;
- fats - 0.3 g;
- carbohydrates - 9.6 g;
- dietary fiber - 1.5 g
Cherry plum is a more nutritious product that surpasses plums in terms of protein, fat and carbohydrate content. Unlike plum, it contains starch, more organic acids and potassium.
Crop fruits differ in shelf life. The maximum shelf life of plums is 4 weeks, after which the fruits begin to rot. Cherry plum tolerates long transportation, ripens easily after harvest and is stored for more than 3 months.
Scopes of plum and cherry plum
Cherry plum is used to prepare sauces for fish, meat, poultry and side dishes, including the traditional Georgian appetizer - tkemali. To prepare tkemali, sour fruits are chosen, garlic, coriander and other spices are added.
For obtaining dried fruits and candied fruits, preference is given to plums. Cherry plum contains more water, and after drying the fruit, it becomes difficult to separate the seeds.
How to distinguish plum from cherry plum
Due to the abundant flowering of cherry plum, it has an increased yield. Up to 50 kg of fruits are removed from one tree. The average yield of plums is 20-30 kg.
Cherry blossoms begin in the third decade of March at the same time as the leaves open. Plum buds bloom in April-mid-May, depending on the region of cultivation.
The timing of fruiting is determined by the crop variety. Early cherry plum bears fruit in late June, later varieties - in August and September. Plum ripens in mid-July, the latest varieties yield in the second decade of September.
Cherry plum begins to bear fruit faster. The first crop is harvested 2 years after planting. The culture looks like a shrub or multi-stemmed tree 3-10 m high. Life expectancy is from 30 to 50 years.
After planting, the plum begins to bear fruit for 3-6 years. The tree grows up to 15 m. The lifespan of the culture is up to 25 years. Active fruiting lasts 10-15 years.
The average frost resistance of cherry plum is -20 ° С. Certain varieties can withstand up to -30 ° C. When grown in cold climates, roots and shoots often freeze out.
Plum is considered to be more capricious due to its lower resistance to disease and drought. The culture needs increased care.
In nature, cherry plum is found in Western and Central Asia, the Tien Shan, the Balkans, the North Caucasus, Moldova, Iran and southern Ukraine. Modern frost-resistant hybrids are grown in the middle lane and more northern regions.
Ancient Persia is considered the birthplace of the plum. Over time, the culture spread throughout Eurasia. In Russia, the culture has been cultivated since the 17th century. Her seedlings were brought to the village of Izmailovo near Moscow from Europe. The seedlings were characterized by low winter hardiness. Breeding work on the development of more frost-resistant varieties of plums was carried out in the 19th-20th centuries.
Difference between plum and cherry plum in planting and care
Cherry plum is more suitable for growing in warm regions. In cool climates, plums are preferred. To a large extent, the resistance of trees to external factors depends on the variety.
Cherry plum seedlings take root faster after planting. It is best to purchase planting material from local nurseries and select a variety that is adapted to the desired region. Zoned seedlings grow stronger.
After planting the cherry plum grows rapidly.The crown of the tree is prone to branching, so special attention is paid to pruning. Weak and incorrectly oriented shoots must be eliminated. Every year the culture is rejuvenated by pruning old branches.
Plum shaping involves trimming the center conductor. 5-7 skeletal branches are left per tree.
Due to its low immunity to diseases, the plum needs frequent preventive treatments. For spraying, fungicide solutions are used. Processing is carried out before and after the growing season. For the prevention of diseases, special attention is paid to caring for the tree, removing root shoots and digging up the soil.
Young cherry plum needs additional shelter for the winter. In late autumn, the tree is watered abundantly, and the trunk is covered with earth. The seedlings are covered with special agrofibre and spruce branches.
Conclusion
Plum and cherry plum have similar characteristics, however, there are significant differences between them. When choosing in favor of a particular crop, attention is paid to winter hardiness, yield, resistance to diseases and pests. It is also taken into account that the growth and fruiting of trees largely depend on the particular variety.
Great article! Now I will know exactly the differences between cherry plum and plum. Very accessible and informative!