Content
Cherry plum Lama is a fruitful variety with decorative properties due to its dark red foliage. The plant is unpretentious and frost-resistant, tolerates long periods of drought.
Breeding history
The culture has been spreading over household plots since 2003. The semi-dwarf cherry plum variety Lama was bred by the famous Belarusian breeder Valery Avksentievich Matveyev on the basis of cherry plum and Ussuri plum seedlings. He is the author of many large-fruited hybrids of delicate taste, which have spread from Belarus to neighboring and distant countries. The scientist was looking for an opportunity to combine in a plant:
- frost resistance of plum and hardiness of wild cherry plum;
- pest resistance;
- the taste of cherry plum and plum fruits, bringing them closer to dessert indicators;
- increased early maturity.
Abroad, these varieties are more commonly known as Russian plum.
Description of culture
Cherry plum Lama belongs to the undersized species - the height does not exceed 2 m, more often 130-150 cm. The crown is compact, it is formed in the form of a spectacular semicircular sphere, as noted in the reviews of the Moscow region gardeners about the cherry plum Lama. The smooth brown-red bark of young plum shoots darkens over the years and becomes rough. Shoot formation is high, the growth per season is up to 150 cm. The length of the lanceolate plum leaves, which taper towards the base, is 15-18 cm. The leaf blade is finely serrate at the edges, two-color: the upper side is green, the lower side is red-burgundy in spring and early summer, colored unevenly. Over time, Lama plum trees stand with brown leaves on the back of a warm chocolate tone.
In the spring, the annual shoots of the Russian plum Lama are decorated with graceful bouquets in the middle and lower parts. The flowers are small, 3-3.5 cm wide, with white-pink petals, attached in several pieces to short bouquet branches.
The large fruits of the table hybrid of cherry plum and plum are round-oval, weighing 15-40 g, fleshy. The fibrous pulp is juicy, with an exquisite fruity-almond aroma. The dense skin is purple, dark, there are grayish subcutaneous points. A small bone separates from the dark red pulp. The taste of cherry plum combines pleasant sweetness and invigorating sourness, which is especially pronounced near the stone. The fruits contain malic and citric acid, 10% sugars. The tasters gave 4.4 points to the hybrid variety of cherry plum Lama with red pulp.
The Lama variety inherited winter hardiness from plums, so it can be cultivated in the middle climatic zone, in the north-west of the country, in Siberia and the Far East.
Characteristics
In the descriptions of the red-leaved cherry plum Lama, gardeners indicate its endurance.
Drought resistance, winter hardiness
The cherry plum variety is drought-resistant, withstands 40-degree heat. Plum is watered only in conditions of prolonged heat. The plant survives frosty winters well, up to -36 aboutC, but sudden changes with thaws and return of cold can be fatal for him.In terms of their species characteristics, plums have a short dormant period, up to 45 days, so late winter temperature fluctuations can damage the kidneys. Flowers can withstand temperatures down to -7 aboutC.
Pollination, flowering period and ripening times
With an even winter, the cherry plum Lama begins to bloom later than other hybrids, in mid-May, so spring frosts are not terrible for her. The variety is self-fertile; for a full-fledged harvest, the culture needs other related plants, preferably East Asian plums and wild cherry plums. European species and thorns are not suitable for hybrids. The following varieties are considered the best pollinators for Lama cherry plum:
- Mara;
- Asaloda;
- Vitba.
Plums are planted according to the scheme of 5 x 3 m. Fruits of a medium late variety are grown after August 12-16.
Productivity, fruiting
The Russian plum is extremely fruitful, the branches are literally strewn with bright burgundy fruits. Already in the 3rd year cherry plum can give up to 40 kg of fruit. The harvest of an adult plum reaches 300 kg. The Lama variety begins to bear fruit early, sometimes even in the first year of planting.
Scope of the fruit
Dessert cherry plum tastes good, is healthy in composition, so it is better to eat it fresh. At the same time, plums are versatile, suitable for a variety of homemade preparations.
Disease and pest resistance
The plum variety Lama resists many fungal diseases with the condition of proper annual pruning and crown formation. Regular garden maintenance will prevent pests from emerging.
Advantages and disadvantages
Gardeners grow the variety thanks to the striking advantages of the Lama cherry plum:
- endurance to atmospheric factors;
- early maturity;
- yield;
- good consumer qualities;
- transportability;
- disease resistance;
- decorativeness.
The disadvantages of the variety include:
- the need to plant pollinators;
- obligatory annual pruning;
- crumbling of ripe plums.
Landing features
Although the cherry plum variety is rather unpretentious in terms of growing conditions, some requirements must be adhered to.
Recommended timing
Growing cherry plum Lama in the south will be successful with an autumn planting, the tree will have time to take root before the onset of winter. In cold regions, plums are planted in spring, when the earth has already dried out and the air has warmed up to 12-14 degrees.
Choosing the right place
In reviews of cherry plum Lama, gardeners advise planting a hybrid on the slopes of the western direction, including with a slope to the south or north. The variety will survive in lowlands, but the quality of the fruit will be markedly reduced. For plums, it is important to place groundwater no higher than 1.5 m and soil with neutral acidity. When planting, a drainage layer is required.
What crops can and cannot be planted next to cherry plum
In the characterization of cherry plum Lama, it is emphasized that pollinating varieties should be planted next to the hybrid. Other stone fruit species also have a beneficial effect. Plum is not placed near tall trees and those plants whose roots grow far to the sides.
Selection and preparation of planting material
Experienced gardeners choose 1- or 2-year-old plums for planting. Plants planted in containers are moved in the summer. An open root system is carefully examined to keep the shoots fresh. The bark of healthy seedlings is smooth, without cracks, and the branches are elastic.
2-5 hours before planting, the roots of the plum are soaked, adding clay and a growth stimulator to the water as desired.
Landing algorithm
Drainage, fertile soil with fertilizers are laid in the pit and a small support is installed.
- The plum is placed so that the root collar deepens by 3-4 cm, covered with a substrate.
- The trunk is tied to a support, cut off by one third.
- The soil is trampled down, poured with a bucket of water and mulched.
Follow-up care of the culture
The soil is loosened and removed weeds... Planting and caring for cherry plum Lama is simple, in early spring they are pruned, leaving 11-12 skeletal branches.1-year-old shoots are shortened by one third. In the fall, the trunks are whitewashed. This is pest prevention and protection from rodents, from which the trunks are also wrapped in burlap or newspapers. In winter, snow is thrown to the cherry-plum. Plums are watered at 30-40 liters in case of drought, when ovaries are created. They are fed with mineral fertilizers.
Collection, processing and storage of crops
According to the descriptions of the cherry plum Lama, the fruits are harvested every two days. Unripe plums are stored in the basement for up to 3 months. They are used to prepare jam, jam, sauces for second courses.
Diseases and pests, methods of control and prevention
Red-leaved cherry plum Lama is moderately resistant to clotterosporium disease.
Diseases | Signs | Prophylaxis | Treatment |
Clasterosporium disease | Brown spots on shoots, leaves and fruits | Foliage harvesting in autumn, pruning | Bordeaux liquid |
Moniliosis | Dry tops of the shoots | Trimming, removing the affected parts | "Horus", "Skor", "Mikosan V" |
Verticillosis | A darkened and withered plant | Treat the plot with vitriol | The tree is removed and burned |
Photo of cherry plum Lama, affected by clotterosporia.
Pests | Signs | Wrestling | Prophylaxis |
Aphid | Leaves curl | Spraying with soda or soap solution | Removing ants |
Fruit brown mite | Leaves dry, little ovary | Application of acaricides | Cleansing old bark |
Plum moth | One-sided fruits | Application of insecticides | Loosening the soil, cleaning the old bark |
Conclusion
Cherry plum Lama will bring double joy - with its bright appearance and delicious fruits. Having planted a Russian plum tree in an unused area, attention should be paid to crown formation and watering in the heat. The plant will give a bountiful harvest.
