2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
Plum is one of the favorite fruits of adults and children, which has not only excellent taste characteristics, but also useful medicinal properties. It has been proven that plum is saturated with vitamins, micro and macroelements, minerals and other substances necessary for the normal functioning of the human body. Of course, the culture deserves special attention as a medicinal plant that has been very popular for several centuries. And not in vain
How many wonderful properties this unique fruit combines in itself is countless. It helps to normalize high blood pressure, strengthen the cardiovascular system and liver defenses. And thanks to coumarin, which is part of the plum, the likelihood of thrombosis is significantly reduced. Plum is also useful for diseases associated with metabolism, kidney disease and even rheumatism.
The history of the appearance of plum is documented accurately, at the turn of the 3rd and 4th centuries BC, the ancient Greek philosopher and naturalist Theophrastus described in one of his works two cultivated fruit varieties - a short tree-like and tall tree-like wild form with small sweet fruits with a tart taste, and probably this there was just a plum.
It is known for certain that the home plum came to Egypt and Greece from Asia. The culture was grown not only as an ornamental plant, but also for harvests, which processed and prepared a variety of homemade products. Today, plum is common in almost all countries with a temperate climate. It is hard to imagine, but the world production of plums is almost three million tons per year. In Russia, the plum is very popular among amateur gardeners, but the lack of winter hardiness of many varieties is considered a serious obstacle to the expansion of the culture.
Growing conditions
Plum is a culture demanding for growing conditions, it prefers chernozem, sod-podzolic, gray forest, cultivated, loose and rich in mineral composition soils with neutral pH. On acidic soils, the plant develops poorly, therefore, such areas need preliminary liming, at least once every three to four years.
Plum negatively refers to floating soils and lowlands with stagnant cold air. Despite the fact that the culture is hygrophilous, it does not tolerate excess moisture. It develops well and gives good and high-quality harvests in well-lit areas, not shaded by buildings, tall trees and fences. In the shade, the culture stretches out and practically does not bear fruit.
Reproduction and planting
Plum is propagated by seeds, cuttings, root shoots and grafts. For varietal plums, seed propagation is not used, this method is used only to obtain rootstocks, onto which the desired varieties are subsequently grafted.
Amateur gardeners most often plant seedlings purchased from specialized nurseries. Seedlings are planted in early autumn or early spring. Late planting dates in the fall, as a rule, lead to freezing of the roots of a young plant, as a result of which it dies, without having time to please its owners with tasty and juicy fruits.
Planting pits for plums are prepared in a couple of weeks, their depth should be about 50-55 cm, and their width should be 60-70 cm. A planting stake is installed in the center of the pit, and a soil substrate is poured onto the bottom, consisting of fertile soil and river sand and fertilized rotted manure, granular superphosphate, wood ash and potassium sulfate.
In order to avoid damage to the bark after planting, the root collar of the seedling should be located 3-5 cm above the soil level. The roots of the seedling are carefully straightened, covered with the remaining soil substrate, tamped, watered abundantly and mulched with peat or humus.
Care
In general, plum care is not difficult. In the first year, the plant only needs weeding, watering and loosening the soil near the trunk circle. Starting from the third year, mineral fertilizers are applied. In autumn, plums are fed with potash and phosphorus fertilizers, in spring - with nitrogen fertilizers. Organic matter is introduced in mid-June. Regular watering is also important, the soil near the trunks should be moistened to a depth of at least 35-40 cm. Important: an excess of moisture leads to the defeat of the plant by fungal diseases and cracking of the fruit.
Plum pruning is carried out 2-3 weeks before the beginning of the growing season. Thinning of thickening, dry and diseased branches must be carried out annually. Formative pruning is carried out 6-7 years after planting. The most common for plums is a sparse-tiered crown with a stem height of 37-40 cm, although a vase-like one is not prohibited. The first few years in plants, the branches grow unevenly, often the tip is below the lateral branches. That is why it is necessary to shorten the growth, as well as remove the frozen tops, if any.
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