Plum Blue Bird

Plum Blue Bird is the development of Russian scientists. Plum has spread in the southern regions and in the middle latitudes of the Russian Federation. The culture is high-yielding, the fruits have good marketability and excellent taste, and the variety is resistant to frosty periods.

A brief excursion into history

The plum variety Blue Bird was bred on the basis of VNIISPK, in the oldest domestic horticultural organization. VNIISPK investigates fruit and berry plants, in addition, it develops new varieties that are adapted to middle latitudes.

The variety was obtained by crossing the varieties "Early Kabardinskaya" and "Hungarian Caucasian". The development was carried out on the basis of the Crimean experimental selection station.

The authors of the Blue Bird plum variety are S. N. Zabrodina and G. V. Eremin. After a varietal trial period in 1997, "Blue Bird" was entered into the state register, and the culture in the North Caucasus was zoned.

Plum Blue Bird: variety description and characteristics

Plum Blue Bird: photo of the variety

Plum The blue bird is a medium-sized tree. The crown is distinguished by its spreading, moderately dense. Shoots are brown-brown in color, have knees. The leaves are bright green in color, the leaf blade is large, wrinkled, matte.

The fruits are wide, in the form of an oval, weigh about thirty grams, one-dimensional, blue in color, covered with a strong waxy coating, the inner contents are dry, green-yellow in color, the pit can be easily separated from the pulp. Sweet and sour taste. Tasting score - 4.6 points. Plums have a content of dry matter (15.6%), sugars (10.8%), acids (0.7%), vitamin C (five percent).

The variety shows itself in the best way if it grows in the North Caucasian and Lower Volga territories. But it is also successfully grown in other regions of the middle latitudes.

Plum Blue Bird: culture features

When choosing a variety for planting, the following factors are taken into account: the plant's resistance to dry and frosty periods, productivity and self-fertility / self-fertility.

Drought and frost resistant.

This variety is on average resistant to dry periods. To get a bountiful harvest, watering is done according to standard.

The variety has very good winter resistance. If you additionally cover the tree, then it will withstand even the very frosty winter seasons.

Pollination.

This culture is characterized by partial self-fertility. The ovaries form even if there is no pollination helper. To increase the yield, it is advisable to plant nearby plum varieties that bloom at the same time, for example, plums such as: “Smolinka"," Yakhontovaya "," Oryol Dream ".

The tree blooms in the last days of April. Maturation takes place from August 10.

Indicator of productivity and fruiting.

The Blue Bird variety begins to bear fruit from the fifth or sixth year after planting. The variety pleases with a regular yield every year. About thirty-five kilos of fruit are harvested from one plum. Since the inner contents of the plums are plump, they can be stored for a long time and are also well transported.

Where the fruits are applied.

Culture is universal in purpose. Plums are eaten fresh, as well as sauces, compotes, preserves, marshmallows, dried fruits are prepared from them.

Immunity to diseases and harmful insects.

The plum variety Blue Bird is immune to diseases such as moniliosis, polystygmosis, clotterosporium disease. To reduce the risk of disease and attacks of harmful insects, trees are treated for prevention.

Advantages and disadvantages of the Blue Bird plum variety

Varietal advantages.

• Excellent taste.
• Plums for universal use.
• Disease immunity.
• High level of resistance to the winter season.

The main disadvantage of the Blue Bird plum variety is a crown with spreading. The tree grows rapidly and needs to be pruned regularly.

Plum Blue Bird: planting varieties

Plum Blue Bird: photo of the variety

The further development of the plant and its yield indicator depend on competent planting. It is required to make the right choice of a site for planting, and soil preparation is also important.

Optimal time for disembarkation.

Planting time depends on the climatic conditions of the area. In the southern regions, planting is carried out in the autumn season, after the foliage has fallen. The seedling takes root successfully before frost.

If the planting material was bought late, then it is buried in, covered with spruce branches, so it is left until the spring season. They are planted after the snow has melted.

In cool climatic conditions, plants are planted early in the spring, after warming up the soil. Planting is done before foliage appears on the trees.

How to choose a suitable site.

The plum tree likes to grow in areas that are well lit by the sun and are located in the south or west of the garden. Plum responds negatively to stagnant liquid in the soil, and therefore it does not plant in low-lying areas. Groundwater must pass one and a half meters deep or more.

Plum variety Blue Bird is unpretentious to soils, excluding acidic ones. With acidified soil, dolomite flour or wood ash is introduced before planting (six hundred grams per square).

What plants are allowed and prohibited to plant near the plum Blue bird.

The plum tree is removed at an interval of five meters or more from hazel, birch, poplar, fir, pear, cherry.

Plum of the Blue Bird variety feels comfortable with such neighbors as: apple tree, elderberry. It is recommended to plant various plum varieties or cherry plums nearby.

How to choose and prepare material for planting.

Planting material should be purchased from a nursery or other centers. A good seedling, intact, healthy. Before planting, the root system of the seedling is examined. If the roots are dried, then they are kept in clean water for three hours.

Planting progress.

Plum planting pit Bluebird is prepared in two to three weeks. During this period of time, the soil will settle. If you are going to plant a plant in the spring season, then it is advisable to dig a hole in the autumn season.

Plum planting algorithm Blue Bird:

• A hole is dug in the selected place, its diameter is seventy cm, the depth is sixty cm.
• Fertile soil, compost fertilizer and peat are mixed in equal proportions.
• Part of the substrate fits into the hole.
• After the substrate has settled, the remaining soil is poured in, a seedling is installed on top.
• The roots are straightened and covered with earth.
• Abundant watering is carried out. The trunk circle is mulched with peat.

Plum Blue Bird: variety care

How the tree will bear fruit depends on further agricultural technology.

In the dry season, the plant is watered with settled water. Watering is important when the tree is in bloom and the plums are ripe. The average frequency of watering is three to five times per period. Up to six liters of water is poured under a young tree, up to ten liters under an adult.

Top dressing is applied three times per season. Before the plum blossoms, when the first fruits are ripe, after the fruits are harvested.It is necessary to feed the tree with urea, potassium salts and superphosphate (thirty grams each). The elements dissolve in water, after which the plum is watered by the root method. The second and third time, the same mixture is prepared, but the urea is removed from it.

Watering the Blue Bird variety plum works well with fertilization.

Thanks to the circumcision procedure, the formation of the crown can be carried out. The tree is pruned in the spring season, or in the fall season, after the foliage has fallen off. Dry, broken and frozen branches are removed. The crown is formed in several tiers, the main branches are shortened to sixty cm.

The Blue Bird plum variety is highly resistant to frost. Only young trees are required to cover. You can cover them with a special covering material or burlap; spruce branches are placed on top. In order to further protect the tree, a snowdrift is thrown in during the winter season.

For better wintering, the trunk is earthed, a humus layer is poured into the trunk circle, ten cm thick.

To protect the Blue Bird plum from mice and hares, roofing material or a net is attached to the trunk.

Diseases and harmful insects: treatment, preventive measures

• Gum therapy. Signs: wounds appear on the bark, resin flows from them. Infected branches dry up and die. How to deal: clean and disinfect wood damage with copper oxychloride. Preventive measures: do not mechanically damage the trunk and branches; clean the trunk of dead bark, mold and lichens; remove fallen leaves; take care of the tree regularly.
• Rust. Signs: convex specks of red color appear on the leaves, increasing in the future. How to deal: remove infected leaves; spray the tree with Bordeaux mixture.
• Moth... Caterpillars eat up plums, they leave passages. How to fight: Eliminate infected plums. Process the fruits with the drug "Karbofos". Preventive measures: loosen the near-trunk circle and soil under the tree, remove fallen leaves and fruits, treat plants for prophylaxis with Nitrofen.
• Plum aphid. The pest lives on the inside of the foliage. As a result, the leaves curl and dry out. How to fight: treat the tree with the "Benzophosphate" preparation.

Summary

Plum Blue Bird is a good variety for cultivation in domestic garden plots. It is valuable for its resistance to the winter season, fruiting without pollinators, for a regular yield. Plums are universal in purpose and have a sweet taste. The variety is suitable for cultivation in private gardens and for commercial purposes.

Plum Blue Bird: variety reviews

Ilya Vasiliev, 59 years old, Saratov region: “The Blue Bird plum variety showed itself very well that summer. The fruits are large and sweet. The tree is not so tall, however, the crown is very large with spreading branches. We use fruits to prepare preparations for the winter, they can be kept cool for a long time. "

Alexander, 37 years old, Krasnodar Territory: “The Blue Bird Plum has been growing in my garden for more than seven years. During all this time, he was never struck by an illness. You need to take care of the tree according to the standard: water and feed so that the harvest is rich. Fruits steadily, the fruits are quite plump, but very sweet. "

Marina, 46 years old, Leningrad region: “The Blue Bird plum has been growing at the summer cottage for five years already. Despite the fact that the crop is recommended for cultivation in the south, it perfectly withstands our climate. Fruits are large enough and easily transported. We prepare delicious compotes and sauces from the Blue Bird plum. "