Content
Plum Nika - a universal variety, common in the northern, southern regions. The variety has a number of undeniable advantages. They made it popular with summer residents, commercial gardeners. An unpretentious plant to care for will delight you with a quick, bountiful harvest. Plum fruits are a delicious summer dessert.
Breeding history
Nick's plum is the result of trial work with hybrid forms. Selective experiments were carried out by A. Voronchikhina at the Rososhanskaya zonal experimental station. The plum was added to the State Register in 1994.
Description plum variety Nika
The variety is now widespread in several areas:
- north of Rostov;
- south of Belgorod;
- south of Voronezh.
Plum is characterized by an average growth of up to 3 m. An adult plant after 15 years of life can reach 4 m. The rough bark is dark gray in color. Plum shoots change color: pinkish-brown in the sun, dark green in the shade.
Wide oval crown of medium density. Green leaves with deep veins in length from 6 to 10 cm. Medium-sized flowers turn into rather large oval fruits. Their weight ranges from 30 to 40 g. When ripe, the plum skin is light green in color. Ripe fruits with a deep purple hue. Their flesh is rich yellow. The overripe fruit becomes very juicy and soft. The taste of plum is sweet, with a slight sourness and a slight tinge of astringency.
Variety characteristics
This variety has distinctive features that determine the nuances of planting, plant care. The abundance of the crop, the health of the planting depend on taking into account the personal characteristics of the Nika plum variety.
Drought resistance, frost resistance
Plum tree tolerates drought and frost without damage to itself. The Nika variety withstands the hot season, taking into account the regular abundant soil moisture. Resistance to significant temperature changes allows planting the plant in the northern regions of the country.
Nick plum pollinators
The Nika variety is self-fertile.
Plum blossoms in the middle of the warm period. For a bountiful harvest, the plant needs good weather during this period. Poor climatic conditions impede the flight of insects and high-quality pollination. The fruits ripen by August.
Productivity, fruiting
Five to six years after planting, the plum will give its first harvest. It is distinguished by high early maturity. Up to 35 kg of fruit can be harvested from one tree. With proper care, good pollination, the yield can be doubled.
Scope of berries
Most often, the fruits of the Nick plum are consumed fresh. An excellent option for using fruits - jams, jams. In compotes, the fruit turns sour.
Disease and pest resistance
One of the advantages of the Nika variety is its high resistance to all types of diseases.Throughout history, scientists have not recorded cases of mass destruction by known diseases, pests. Timely methods of prevention prevent their emergence and development.
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
The plum's advantages make it stand out in comparison with other horticultural crops:
- Frost resistance. Can be planted in northern regions. Temperature changes will not harm the plant.
- Bountiful harvest. Plum bears many fruits in one season. Under favorable conditions, good care, the amount of fruit from one tree can be doubled.
- Unpretentiousness. The variety does not require large time, material costs.
A specific feature of the Nick plum is the instability of the crop. Under unfavorable climatic conditions, pollination will be worse - the number of fruits is significantly reduced. The situation can be easily corrected by pollinating varieties planted in the neighborhood.
Landing features
Nick's plum is planted in the garden for several decades. Planting a tree is a responsible event. It is important to take into account the characteristics of the variety, choose the right place, soil. If all the recommendations are followed, the plant will delight you with its rapid growth, abundant harvest.
Recommended timing
The best time to plant is spring. During the warm season, the young plant will have time to take root, get used to the climate, the place of planting. If the seedlings were purchased in the fall, then for the winter period they should be buried in the ground, carefully covered.
Choosing the right place
Plum Nika prefers sunny places, protected from drafts and winds. The soil for planting must be moisture-absorbing. It is worth checking the groundwater level. They should not be higher than 2 m to the seedling hole.
What crops can and cannot be planted nearby
Pollinating varieties are located near the Nika plum. They have a beneficial effect on yields. Apple trees and shrubs will be good neighbors for this variety. Tall plants with spreading crowns will provide shade. This will negatively affect the growth and development of the plum. Such a neighborhood should be avoided.
Selection and preparation of planting material
Planting material for planting seedlings of the Nika variety must be prepared in advance:
- Shovel for holes.
- Ripper.
- Fertilizer.
- Stake for fixing the cutting.
- Elastic rope for tying plants.
- Water.
Landing algorithm
Planting Nick plum is an easy process. There are several required steps:
- Pit preparation. The holes for seedlings are formed in a few weeks or in the fall. The depth is from 45 to 50 cm, the diameter is from 60 to 70 cm. If you plan to plant several cuttings, then the pits for them are placed at a distance of at least 3 m from each other.
- Working with soil. The fertile soil layer from the holes is mixed with fertilizers.
- Fixation of the plant. A stake is driven into the center of the pit. The seedling is lowered into the hole. Its roots should be 5 cm from the bottom. Sprinkle the plum with prepared soil, tamp it. The plant is tied to a peg with a soft rope.
- Watering. For the first watering, two or three buckets of clean water are enough.
- Mulching the soil.
Plum follow-up care
Caring for a young plant after planting is an important process. There are various recommendations for watering, fertilizing, pruning plums. The advice of experienced gardeners is easy to follow:
- Watering. Nick's plum is a moisture-loving variety. It will perfectly tolerate drought, provided it is timely moistened. June, July, end of September are favorable months for irrigation with the root technique.
- Fertilizer. Plum prefers magnesium supplementation. It should be brought in during the autumn digging of the garden. In the spring, planting is fertilized with nitrogen preparations.
- Pruning. To form the crown, numerous young shoots are shortened, which appear on the tree 2-3 years after planting.
- Fight against diseases, pests. To prevent the adverse effects of diseases, you should use special means for spraying the plant.
- Preparing for winter. Before the onset of cold weather, the tree trunk is covered with burlap.
Diseases and pests, methods of control and prevention
Disease / pest | Method struggle | Prophylaxis |
Moniliosis | Spraying the tree with Bordeaux liquid | Timely pruning of branches, removal of weeds. Affected shoots are subject to immediate destruction. |
Plum moth | The use of special pheromone traps. They lure insects, saving the plum from their harmful influence. | Regular insecticidal spraying. During the warm season, it is held at least twice. In May - the first treatment. 30 days before harvest - the second |
Conclusion
Nika plum is an excellent fruit tree for the site. The variety will delight you with an abundant harvest of juicy sweet berries. The easy care process is one of the main advantages of this variety. Plum can grow in a wide variety of climates. Thanks to this, it is distributed in the garden plots of the southern, northern regions.
Reviews of gardeners about Nick's plum
