Content
It is difficult to find gardens without fruit trees. Plum ranks third in prevalence after apple and cherry. One of the worthy representatives of her family is the plum Ksenia. The tree is a type of Chinese plum. The variety pleases gardeners with large yields and good taste.
Breeding history of the variety
Plum originates from the Far East. Wild relatives of this culture live in Japan and in the north of the PRC. Ksenia was removed to the village. Chemal (Gorny Altai) at the selection station of the Research Institute of Gardens by the scientist M. Matyunin. Seedlings appeared from pollination of another variety - the Red Ball. The Chemal large plum appeared in 1975. Included in the register of the Russian Federation in 2005.
Chemal large is of low and medium height, has a paniculate crown, dense shoots. White cupped flowers, collected in bouquets, appear in May. By this time, the dark green leaves do not reach their mature size, so the Chemal variety looks unusual.
Description of the plum variety Ksenia
The fruit of the Chemal large is round and weighs about 40 g. Its color is yellow, with a crimson blush. The taste is juicy, sweet. The skin lacks the sourness inherent in many varieties of plums. The large variety Ksenia does not taste bitter like an ordinary Chinese plum. Ripe fruit falls off easily.
According to the description of the plum variety Chemalskaya large differs from other crops in its large size, as well as in the average depth of the abdominal suture. The yellow color of the fibrous pulp has a green tint. Subcutaneous points are barely visible. The seed of the Xenia variety is freely separated from the pulp.
Plum Xenia is recommended to grow in the southern and central regions of Russia. In these places, it is well cultivated. Chemal large also adapts well to more severe climatic conditions, since its winter hardiness is satisfactory.
Characteristics of the variety
Among fruit trees, the large variety Ksenia occupies one of the leading places, since it has excellent characteristics.
Drought resistance, frost resistance
Plum Chemalskaya large is characterized by medium drought resistance. However, it tolerates winter well, being the record holder for frost resistance. Various sources claim that the plum is able to withstand temperatures from 30 to 50 degrees below zero. Plum flowers can tolerate frost if they do not exceed 3 ° C. However, Xenia plum is not resistant to diaper rash.
Plum pollinators
The Ksenia variety is self-infertile. Therefore, when planting the Chemal large, it is worth considering that other plums are needed for its normal fruiting.
The best pollinators of Chemalskaya are the following varieties:
- Scarlet Dawn;
- Vika;
- Anniversary;
- Peresvet.
Chemal large breeds well with bones. At the same time, one should not forget about stratification. Sprouted material is sown before frost on a specially designated garden bed.In the absence of spring shoots, do not touch the bed, but wait until next spring and then draw a conclusion. The vegetative method produces a completely pure variety.
Productivity and fruiting
Plum Xenia has a high yield, but its fruiting is irregular. Chemal large begins to yield a crop 3-4 years after planting. Then it bears fruit steadily for ten years, and with proper care, the specified period is extended.
The Chemal variety is early in maturity. It bears fruit in late July - early August.
Scope of berries
Plum Xenia is considered a universal variety for the use of berries. They can be eaten fresh or used for culinary purposes. Compotes, juices, preserves, desserts, and wine are prepared from the Chemal large plum.
Disease and pest resistance
Chemal large plum has an average resistance to various infectious and fungal diseases. But if the tree falls ill, simple measures should be taken to cure it. For example, introduce insecticides, burn fallen plum leaves, whitewash the trunk.
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
Chemal large plum is a favorite tree of many gardeners. It has excellent product characteristics:
- good portability;
- appetizing look;
- extraordinary taste without bitterness and sourness.
This distinguishes the Xenia plum from other types. The disadvantages include two characteristics: increased requirements for moisture provision and instability to diaper rash.
Landing features
Like any other fruit tree, the Xenia plum has its own characteristics that should be taken into account when planting it in the ground.
Recommended timing
The timing of the landing of the Chemal large plum depends on the specific area. In the middle and southern regions of Russia, you can plant the Xenia plum after the snow melts. If the crop is intended for planting in the Urals or Siberia, then it should be counted up to the first frost for about 4 decades, otherwise the plum sapling will not have time to solidify in the ground.
Choosing the right place
An important role in planting plums Ksenia plays the right place. Elevated and well-lit areas are considered a good location. A suitable soil substrate should be light to medium. Sand is added to heavy soil. The substrate should have a pH value of 4.5–5.5.
Plum variety Ksenia suffers from too wet soil, so it should be planted in an area where groundwater does not lie too close to the surface. If the landing area is flat, it is necessary to build a ridge. She will raise the tree in winter, when the snow cover reaches 80 cm.
What crops can and cannot be planted nearby
The Chemalskaya large variety needs neighbors. Next to this tree, it is worth planting other plums, an apple tree, a black currant bush. If you plant thyme under the Ksenia plum, it will prevent the growth of weeds, and the black elderberry will protect the Chemal variety from aphids.
Plum friends Ksenia:
- tulip;
- narcissus;
- primrose.
It is not recommended to plant large poplar, birch, fir, walnut trees, sea buckthorn near Chemal.
Selection and preparation of planting material
In order for a tree to grow strong and healthy, it is necessary to choose the right material for planting. The plum sapling must be at least two years old, otherwise it will be difficult to transfer the transplant. A large biennial plant is more frost-resistant, and it is also able to endure a sharp change in soil.
Landing algorithm
Seedling Chemal large has a closed root, so this planting material can be planted throughout the season.
Recommended bed sizes: height within 50 cm, width - 2 m. The length of the bed depends on the number of seedlings. A distance of 60 cm should be maintained between plum seedlings, approximately 80 cm between rows.
Planting stages:
- Plum roots are carefully distributed in a hole (the depth of which is 70 cm), then covered with soil.
- When a young plum sapling is planted in the ground, the soil should be trampled down to eliminate air gaps.
- The root collar is left above the ground (approximately 10 cm).
- At the heart of the bed is usually humus (about a bucket), mixed with superphosphate (2 handfuls), potassium salt (handful) and wood ash (shovel).
- Around the planting pit, it is necessary to build a small trench from the ground, which will prevent the spread of water during irrigation, and also protect the Chemalskaya plum sapling from pests.
- After abundant watering, the young plant must be tied to a peg.
When planting a large Chemal sapling, it should go into the ground by one third or half.
Fertilizers are applied when planting plums. Preference is given to organic ingredients. 2 kg of compost is diluted in 10 liters of water. Pour 3 liters of the composition under each tree. Phosphate and potassium fertilizers added to the soil will saturate it with useful substances. Ratio: 500 g of any preparation per bucket of humus.
Fertilizers laid during planting will last for 3 years. Plums should not be overfeeded as this will result in excessive branching and reduced yields.
Plum follow-up care
A large Chemal tree needs high humidity or regular watering. However, if the tree is watered frequently, it will rot. Watering is carried out once a week, in the morning. In summer, Xenia plum should be moistened every 30 days.
A young tree needs shaping pruning. During fruiting - rejuvenating. Sanitary pruning is carried out every year, in the first decade of March. Its purpose is to remove dry branches that absorb many useful microelements from the ground.
After the Chinese plum Xenia begins to bear fruit, it needs to be fed. A typical mixture consists of 7 kg of organic matter and 100 g of ash. After 2 or 3 years, fluff lime is added to the soil.
In the fall, you should prepare Chemalskaya large for winter.
This requires:
- Remove dry and diseased branches, as well as unnecessary branches.
- Apply fertilizer.
- Dig up the soil (digging is carried out a year after planting the seedling).
- Peel and whiten the barrel.
To protect against rodents, you can use a simple and safe way: treat the culture with a mixture of clay and cow dung (1: 1 ratio).
It is necessary to shelter Xenia for the winter in the following cases:
- if the tree is young;
- if the culture is planted in a harsh region.
For this, bags, paper, polyethylene, humus and other available material can be used.
Diseases and pests, methods of control and prevention
Gum therapy. A heavily fertilized plum, as well as a culture exposed to severe frosts, can be affected by gum flow. Sore areas of the tree should be cleaned with a knife and smeared with copper sulfate.
Dwarfism. If the development of a Chemal large tree slows down, then it is uprooted. To prevent dwarfism, you need to treat the plant with a clean tool.
Rust and clotterosporia. With rust, small specks appear on the leaves. And with clotterosporia, holes remain in the place of the spots that have arisen.
These diseases are fought with the help of Bordeaux liquid. It is also necessary to dig up the soil around the tree and cut and then burn the old shoots.
Chlorosis appears in veins. Ready-made means "Chelate" and "Antichlorosin" cope with the disease.
Parasites that can overpower the plum:
- moth;
- aphid;
- ants;
- beetles;
- caterpillars;
- plum sawfly.
To combat the moth, painful areas are treated with Bordeaux liquid (2 mg per 10 liters of water).
To get rid of aphids, the drug "Oxyhom" is used, which contains copper. They are sprayed with a tree (30 mg per 10 l of water).
To protect the plum from other parasites, as well as to prevent diseases, the culture should be whitened with a limestone composition in which iron vitriol, mullein and clay are diluted. Whitewashing is done annually in the first half of April.
Conclusion
Plum Ksenia is an unpretentious culture that does not need special care. It has an unusual taste that does not contain bitterness or acidity. By planting this wonderful tree, you can not only enrich your fruit table, but also get excellent raw materials for harvesting.
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