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The yellow plum is one of the varieties of home plum. It is often confused with cherry plum, and this is not without reason. Firstly, home plum is, in fact, a hybrid of blackthorn and cherry plum, and secondly, many varieties of yellow plum are obtained by crossing it with cherry plum.
From the point of view of botany, yellow plum refers to some subspecies of the domestic plum, belonging to the group of mirabelles, rennlodes or Chinese plums, which have the corresponding color. Their origin can be very diverse: both hybrid crossing and artificial selection.
Description of the tree and fruits of the yellow plum
The plant height is significantly lower than that of conventional plums. The highest representatives of the "yellow fruit" do not exceed 7 m. The shape of the crown can be ovoid or spherical. In some undersized varieties, it has an irregular shape.
The leaves are alternate, ovoid; they have a barely noticeable pubescence underneath and a short petiole. Leaf sizes usually range from 2-6 cm in width and 5-12 cm in length.
Up to 3 flowers can form in generative buds. Usually the flowers are white or pink. Their diameter rarely exceeds 20 mm. The plant is monoecious, but self-fertility depends on the variety.
Fruit ripening, depending on the variety, occurs from July to September. Fruit diameter varies widely from 18 mm to 50 mm. Taste, pulp structure, wateriness of the fruit and other similar characteristics can be very diverse and strongly depend on the particular variety.
The existing prejudice that the yellow color, which is a sign of kinship with cherry plum, means the sour taste of the fruit, is not supported by anything.
Yellow plum varieties
The variety of home yellow plums is represented by several dozen varieties, which are classified mainly by ripening time.
There are other classifications based on common origin, taste, shades, etc. However, since most plums are self-fertile, varieties with similar flowering and fruiting times should be selected for their correct pollination.
Types of yellow plums
Large yellow plum
Large-fruited yellow plums include such varieties as Golden large, Large-fruited Eliseeva, Jefferson, Firefly, etc. This is one of the most common groups of yellow plums.
Consider variety description yellow plum. Golden, large, as a typical representative of a group with large fruits. This is a medium-sized tree with a height of about 4-5 m, with a pyramidal crown. The size of the fruits can vary widely (40-60 g), however, under favorable conditions, such plums can produce fruits and more weight.
The pulp is yellow, tender. The taste is sour and sour. Taste rating is 4.8 points (hereinafter, all ratings are given on a five-point scale). The pulp does not separate well from the stone.
The variety is self-fertile, but requires pollinators to improve yields: Volga Beauty or Peaceful.
Early yellow plum
Consider the descriptions of varieties of yellow plum early ripening.
One of the earliest summer varieties of yellow plum is Honey or White Honey... The weight of the fruits of this variety can reach 50 g, but on average it is in the range of 30-35 g. Ripening occurs by mid-July-early August.
The tree rarely exceeds a height of 5 m. The crown is rounded, branched. The fruit has an almost perfect round shape with a slight waxy bloom. They are quite dense and well transported. The taste assessment of the quality of the fruit is 4.5 points. The disadvantages include poor separation of dense pulp from the bone.
The plant needs pollinators. Based on the timing of flowering, the varieties of Vengerka Rannyaya or Renklod Karbyshev are best suited for this purpose.
Another early maturing variety is the Renklode Early variety. Its ripening dates begin in the third decade of July - in the first decade of August. The tree has a height of 4-5 m, the shape of the crown is round.
Fruit weight is within 40-50 g. Fruit skin is firm, but thin. The wax coating is pronounced. The pulp of this renklode has a greenish tint. It is dense and juicy, has a honey flavor and a strong aroma.
The variety is self-fertile and therefore requires pollinators. The best pollinator, like that of Medova, is Renklod Karbysheva.
Medium ripening yellow plum varieties
This is one of the most common groups of yellow plums. A typical representative of which is Renclaude White. Its ripening dates are in the second half of August.
The plant reaches a height of 3.5-4 m. It has strong branching shoots. The crown is round. Fruit weight 35-40 g. They have an excellent appearance and are well transported. The pulp is juicy and aromatic, the color is light yellow, up to yellow-white.
Usually, it is grown by grafting, cherry plum is used as a stock. Self-sterile, therefore requires pollinators: Hungarian Donetskaya or Renklod Karbysheva.
The large yellow plum of the Golden Drop variety is obtained from crossing the Egg yellow plum and Green Renklode. The variety is quite old, English selection. The tree reaches a height of 5-6 m. The density of the branches is average. Ripening dates - the second half of August.
The fruits weigh an average of 40 g, in favorable conditions, especially large specimens of 55-60 g can be found. The pulp has a golden color, the stone cannot be separated freely. The variety is self-fertile. Pollinators can be: Renklode Altana, Renklode Green.
Late plum varieties
Such varieties ripen mainly in the second half of August and the first decade of September. A typical representative of this group is the Yellow Afaska. The hybrid was bred in Bulgaria based on the local yellow plum and cherry plum. Cherry plum is also considered the best stock for grafting. Ripening occurs in early September.
A tree up to 4 m high with highly branching lateral branches. Large fruits 50-70g have a slightly elongated shape. The waxy coating is thin, but clearly visible due to its bluish-gray color.
They have a small bone that separates well from the pulp. The flesh itself is very firm, but sweet and tasty.
The variety is considered self-fertile, therefore, theoretically, no pollinators are required. Possesses high resistance to fungal diseases.
Another representative of late varieties is Egg. This is one of the oldest varieties, bred over 300 years ago. The ripening dates for the variety are in September.
The tree is relatively tall - up to 6.5 m. The crown has a wide rounded shape. The density of the branches is average. The amount of deciduous mass is small.
Fruits are of medium size, weighing 25-30 g. The pulp is yellow, fibrous, of medium density. It practically does not separate from the bone. After harvest, the variety requires prompt processing, since it is not stored for a long time. It is used to make preserves and jams. Pollinators are not required.
Like all "old" varieties, it is prone to a large number of diseases, mainly fungi.
Yellow pear-shaped plum
Natasha, obtained by crossing Ochakovskaya Zheltaya and Vengerka Azhanskaya, is a typical representative of yellow pear-shaped varieties.
The tree is 4.5-5 m high, the crown shape is pyramidal. Virtually no pruning is required.
The variety is mid-season, ripening occurs in mid-August. Fruits are of medium size, weighing 35-40 g. The shape of the fruit is characteristic elongated pear-shaped. The wax coating is clearly visible and palpable. There are many dots on the fruit.
The pulp is yellow-orange in color, juicy and grainy. The taste is sweet and sour.
The variety is self-fertile and requires pollinators. For this purpose, the Edinburgh Varieties and the German Award are best suited.
Yellow sweet plum
Among the yellow plums, the mid-late Jefferson variety is considered the sweetest. This variety is specially used for making juices and preserves. This is due to the high sugar concentration (up to 17%) and the low acid content (less than 8%). The tasting grade is 4.8 points.
The tree has a height of 4 m, its crown is oval-elongated, with a diameter of 3-3.5 m. Fruits are large, up to 60 g. Yellow-green pulp, weakly separating from the stone. It has a delicate and soft texture. Despite the softness of the fruit, it has a high transportability.
The variety is self-fertile. Requires Pollinators: Early Blue, Renclaude de Beauvais.
Low-growing yellow plum
Little yellow plums have an undeniable advantage: they are easy to harvest and easier to care for.
Bolkhovchanka is a typical representative of low-growing trees of this type. The height of this variety rarely exceeds 2.5 m. Usually, the height of the trees is 1.9-2.2 m. The crown has a spherical shape.
Fruit weight is about 30-40 g. They are ovoid. The pulp is sweet and sour, yellowish, well separated from the stone.
The variety is self-fertile. Pollinators: Record and Renklode Kolkhozny.
Planting and caring for a yellow plum
Consider how to plant and care for a yellow plum. In care, the plum is a tree with moderate labor intensity: it is more difficult to maintain it in a normal state than an apple tree, but easier than an apricot.
Plums can have a lifespan of up to 30 years. The maximum fruiting occurs at 5-20 years of life. The early years of the seedling's life will be especially difficult, however, when the first two harvests are removed from it, plant care will be minimized.
Site selection and soil preparation for planting
The solution to the question of how to properly plant a yellow plum should begin with choosing a landing site. The tree prefers sunny places, sheltered from the northerly winds. The soil can be any, but light loams of neutral acidity are preferred.
Plum is one of the few plants that love the constant moisture of the root system, so the level of groundwater is not critical for it.
How to plant a yellow plum
Planting of yellow plums can be carried out both in spring and autumn. The planting algorithm is approximately the same, however, depending on whether the planting was done at the beginning or at the end of the season, there are slight differences.
The preparation of the pit for planting a yellow plum seedling should take place 15-20 days before planting it in the ground. The depth of the pit and its diameter are from 0.5 to 0.6 m. 15 cm of humus, compost or topsoil is laid on the bottom.
In addition, it is recommended to add mineral fertilizers to the pit and water it. The composition of mineral fertilizers:
- urea - 20-30 g;
- superphosphate - 30-35 g;
- wood ash - 1 glass.
After watering, a peg is driven into the pit to support the seedling. It is located 15-20 cm north of the center of the pit.
After the period has passed and the fertilizers have penetrated into the soil, planting can be carried out. The soil previously removed from the pit is mixed in a 1 to 1 ratio with compost and with the help of this mixture the pit is filled with a seedling installed in it.
After the hole is filled up and the seedling is tied to a peg, you need to compactly tamp the soil and water the young tree with 10-20 liters of water. In this case, it is recommended to make a watering side 5-7 cm high and a radius of about 0.5 from the seedling.
Planting in the spring should be carried out at the end of the so-called. "Return frosts", planting in the fall - 1-1.5 months before the cold snap. This is necessary so that the root system of the tree can take root and it does not die.
How the yellow plum blooms
The flowering time depends on the variety and climatic conditions. Early maturing plants bloom at the end of April. Having an average ripening period - in early or mid-May. Late ripening - end of May.
The duration of flowering is approximately the same for all varieties and ranges from 8 to 12 days.
Pollinators for yellow plum
Traditionally, when planting plums, apricots and sweet cherries, the question of the pollinators of these crops arises. And, despite the fact that the plum does not have an urgent need for pollinators, it is recommended to purchase several trees of different varieties so that due to cross-pollination, the productivity of the plants increases.
Therefore, when planting plums, it is recommended not to plant one tree, but to take at once 6-8 seedlings of at least three different varieties. The main variety is the one that interests the owner. Of the remaining "auxiliary" ones, one should be the recommended pollinator for the main one. And the second one has a certain number of differences with the previous ones (for example, smaller growth and a different shape of berries).
Plants are planted in different corners of the garden, separating the same varieties by large distances. The distance between the main variety and its pollinator should not be more than 30-40 m.
Yellow plum care
The plant needs periodic care, but it is quite simple and even a novice summer resident can do.
Watering, mulching, feeding
Plum loves moisture, so watering should be abundant and regular. Usually, they are carried out every two weeks. Mature trees require 100-120 liters of water, young trees require 50 to 70 liters. The last watering is done in mid-September.
After watering, the soil under the plant should be loosened to a depth of 5 cm.If mulch is used, this does not need to be done.
Mulch will help retain moisture in the topsoil for longer. For plums, you can use mulch or silt of any available material: sawdust, cut grass or straw, needles, etc.
Plum does not often require top dressing - about 1 time in 2-3 seasons. Mineral fertilizers are traditionally applied in spring (nitrogen) and autumn (phosphorus and potassium). At the rates recommended for garden trees. Depending on the age of the plant, this will be several tens of grams per 1 sq. m.
Organic fertilizers are applied even less often - once every 3-4 years. It is enough in late autumn to add 10-12 kg of humus per square meter for each tree. m.
Pruning yellow plums in spring + video
Pruning in spring is done for sanitary purposes, or to form a uniform crown growth for this season.
Sanitary pruning involves removing dry, frostbitten and damaged branches. Branches with traces of pests and diseases are also removed. In the absence of fruiting, branches are also removed, on which generative buds are not formed.
To stimulate the uniform growth of the crown, it is necessary to cut off the young branches of the last season by 30 cm. However, as practice shows, it is enough to do this only once, for 2-3 years of plant life. In subsequent years, only maintenance and corrective pruning is needed.
Preparing yellow plums for winter
In young trees, it is recommended to tie the branches into one "sheaf" and wrap it in polyethylene or insulating foil.It is recommended to bury the trunk itself with earth for the winter so that a cone with a height of 0.5-0.6 m is formed.
Mature trees also need care, but of a slightly different kind. Their large branches must be propped up with stakes to prevent them breaking off under the weight of a large amount of snow.
After the snow falls, it is necessary to additionally wrap the bottom of the tree trunk with it.
Conclusion
The yellow plum is one of the most popular crops in the southern regions. Their unusual color attracts the attention of many gardeners, and gradually trees with yellow fruits conquer new and new spaces. The fruits of this tree have a wide variety of flavors, they come in different sizes and shapes.
