Today, many different varieties of plums are known. It is difficult for inexperienced gardeners to choose from such a variety exactly the tree that will meet all the requirements at once: frost resistance, large-fruited, and resistance to diseases and parasites. But the Tulskaya black plum, the description of the variety of which must be studied, is one of the few that combines all these qualities.

About the history of creation

Remarkable is the fact that such a valuable breed as the black plum was bred by accident. One lucky summer resident has grown a tree from a stone of a plum of an unknown variety. And then he shared the sprouts with the neighbors. This is how, as a result of folk selection, this variety was born.

For the first time it was described in his works by the domestic agronomist G.Ya. Silver. Since then, the variety has been included in the number of golden plum species and is actively cultivated in central Russia. It also has other names: Bryansk late, Meshchevsky prunes, Tula prunes, Winter blue. It is also popularly known as black cherry plum.

Characteristics and description of the variety

The culture is a low-growing species of spreading tree. After planting, the harvest can be expected in 5 years. Although, if the tree is obtained as a result of grafting on another plant, the fruits will appear earlier. Pollination with another variety of plums is optional, but the neighborhood is encouraged. It will increase the yield by at least 2 times.

Plum Tula Black

Plum Anna Shpet

The described variety can withstand frosts down to -35 degrees. Freezing is not excluded during frosts during a thaw, but the culture is quickly recovering. But the kidneys are more sensitive to cold weather. They appear before the leaves and are often tested at low temperatures. If not protected, yields will drop significantly.

Insufficient watering during a summer drought will have the same effect.

The fruits ripen in early autumn, have a glossy dark blue color and an oval shape. In weight they reach 25 grams, sometimes even more. It tastes sweet and sour. The further south the growing area, the more sweetness. The pulp is yellow, firm. The stone is small, easily separated.

Plum is suitable for fresh consumption, but gardeners often prefer to prepare compotes, preserves, jams from it or dry it for the winter.

Under favorable conditions, it is possible to remove about 30 kilograms of the crop from one tree. In addition, the culture does not lend itself to rot and disease.

Agrotechnics

Plum dries: what to do

The best time to plant plums is early spring. You need to be in time before the buds appear on the trees. During this period, a young immature seedling is no longer afraid of frosts.

It is best to place the plant against a wall or fence to protect it from cold steppe winds and drafts. It is imperative to choose a sunny place on the hills, where melt water will not reach, otherwise the bark will start to rot.

The proximity of the Tula plum with birches, poplars, oaks and ash is undesirable. These trees take most of the moisture from the ground. On the roots of some of them, there are fungi that can cause various diseases in plums.

Plum Tula Black tree

When the ideal site has been chosen, it is time to prepare the soil. The soil is usually prepared in the fall, but if you are late, it's okay. The main thing is to do this a week before planting so that the earth has time to settle.

Plum needs fertile and loose soil. Therefore, it is necessary to dig it up, remove all weed rhizomes and various larvae, and also fertilize.If you plan to plant several trees, the distance between them should be at least 5 m.

For each seedling, a hole is prepared, the size of which depends on the type of soil. The heavier and more clayey the soil, the wider and deeper the pit. On average, the diameter and depth are about 70 cm. Moreover, when planting, only the upper fertile layer is used.

The bottom of the hole is covered with branches and grass. Then soil mixed with compost or humus is poured into it. You also need to add wood ash and bone meal. In cases where the soil is too dense, it is recommended to apply a little river sand. Then all this is well watered and mulched with sawdust, peat or husk of seeds or pine nuts.

When planting a plum, you need to form a small mound. It is prepared from exactly the same mixture. Plus, it will have to be spread out in a diameter of 1.5 m around the seedling.

Attention! The work can be simplified by taking fertile land from the cucumber garden. The height of the hill after shrinkage should be at least half a meter.

It doesn't hurt to add some gravel or pebbles to the ground. Having heated up in the sun, these stones will retain heat and gradually will give it to the roots on a rainy day.

Landing correctly is half the battle. The other half is competent care. A plum tree needs timely pruning, abundant watering, protection from winds, preventive treatment against pests and diseases, as well as additional fertilizing.

Until mid-summer, at the time of flowering, setting and forming fruits, it is customary to water the culture every week. The plant needs about 30 liters of water at a time. When the plum begins to ripen, the soil moisture should be stopped, otherwise the fruit will crack and rot.

On a note. Today the problem of irrigation is solved very simply. Experienced gardeners recommend using a drip irrigation system.

Before cooling, it is necessary to charge the soil with moisture. To do this, 40 liters of water are poured under each tree.

It is not recommended to use industrial mineral fertilizers for dressings. Instead, it is better to add ash, bone meal, humus and compost.

The most advantageous feeding option looks like this:

  1. Before flowering, mullein slurry is introduced in a ratio of 1:10, bird droppings 1:20 and an infusion of herbs 1:10.
  2. During fruit setting and after harvesting - rotted manure and 1 liter of ash.

As for pruning, you need to organize it so that all branches are illuminated and ventilated. Therefore, the ideal shape is a bowl. To get it, remove all branches growing towards the crown, and the central conductor. The overgrown branches are pinched, achieving the appearance of buds on them.

Plum Tulskaya Black fruit

Each spring, the growth is required to be reduced by a third, as well as to remove dry, broken and frozen branches.

Advantages and disadvantages

Plum Ussuriyskaya

You can endlessly describe this variety of plums, but a more detailed description is still given by comparison with other varieties.

In relation to them, the Tula Black has the following advantages:

  • High productivity.
  • Self-fertilization, i.e. no outside pollinator of another variety is needed.
  • Frost resistance and the ability to quickly recover after freezing.
  • Pleasant taste.
  • Versatility of application.
  • Disease and pest resistance.
  • Stable fruiting.

Compared to the advantages, there are very few disadvantages. There are only 2 of them:

  • The tendency to shedding fruits with insufficient moisture.
  • Dependence of sweetness on the area of ​​growth.

Tula black is a plum variety that requires a lot of attention and care, but all the efforts will certainly pay off. The tree will generously endow with a rich harvest.