Stanley plum: variety description, cultivation guide

The article presents Stanley Plum: description of the variety, characteristics, guidance on planting, care, cultivation, protection.

Plum is a very popular fruit tree that every gardener tries to grow. However, in Russia, not all regions have suitable conditions for growing plums. If you decide to grow a plum on the site, then you need to choose a certain variety that will be suitable for the climatic conditions of this region. In addition, everyone wants to get not only a frost-resistant crop, but also a high-yielding variety. It is to this variety that the Stanley variety belongs, which will be discussed in this article.

Stanley plum: variety description and characteristics

Plum Stanley: photo of the variety

Plum of this variety has existed and been cultivated for a very long time. The USA is considered her homeland.

The Stanley plum tree is of medium height and sparsely arranged branches on a rounded crown. The trunk is straight, with a slightly rough bark and small cracks. The color of the bark is dark gray.
The branches here have a crimson hue. Sometimes thorns are found on shoots. The leaves are characterized by a green color and a shiny surface. At the same time, the edges are uneven, and the sheet itself has an average length. The tree begins to bloom in mid-spring. At the same time, two flowers are formed on each bud, which have a diameter of more than 3 cm. The flower stalks are long. Then the fruits are formed, which grow in bouquets and on growth. The fruits of the Stanley plum are quite large, each weighing about 45 g or 50 grams.

The shape of the fruits resembles the shape of an egg, and they also have a pronounced waxy coating. The flesh has a green tint, while the rind is dark purple. The peel is quite dense and does not separate well from the fruit itself. The taste of the pulp is sweet and sour, while there is a pronounced aroma and a granular structure is felt. Each fruit contains a sufficient amount of sugar, vitamin C. Inside the fruit there is a large enough bone that freely leaves the fruit.

Plum Stanley: a description of the advantages and disadvantages of the variety

Plum Stanley: photo of the variety

TO positive the characteristics of the Stanley plum include early fruiting. So the plum begins to ripen 4 years after planting. Self-fertility of the variety, the ability to give a high yield, stability of fruiting, as well as a fairly good resistance to winter - all these are the advantages of the Stanley plum variety. This tree is not afraid even of temperatures below 30 degrees. The pluses include the large size of the fetus, resistance to some common diseases.

However, there is also negative qualities of the Stanley plum variety, which include instability to drought, heat, and possibly there is a risk of moniliosis.

How is Stanley plum planted correctly?

Plum Stanley: photo of the variety

Since the Stanley plum variety is partially self-fertile, pollinators are not always needed for this plant. It is recommended to grow nearby such varieties as Stanley plum pollinators such as Empress, Bluefri and others.

Stanley plum blooms very early, therefore, in the absence of other varieties of plums, as well as if there are still too few insects, then it is necessary to pollinate the plant mechanically using a brush or cotton swab. The procedure is carried out during the day in warm, dry weather.

The soil for growing this plant must be rich, fertile with a neutral and acidic reaction. Moreover, it should be loose and light. This plant does not tolerate waterlogging of the soil, as well as stagnant moisture.
It is necessary to pay attention to the planting material. He must be one or two years old.

You need to carefully examine the bark so that it does not have cracks and signs of disease. In addition, you need to carefully examine the branches and roots of the plant. You should not buy seedlings on which the leaves have already blossomed.

The optimal time for planting Stanley plums will be either mid-spring or mid-autumn. If you are planting a plum in the fall, then you need to calculate that there is more than one month left before frost. You also need to set the time and plant the plum before the leaves begin to bloom. If it so happens that you purchased the planting material in the fall, then you can plant it in the spring. To do this, the seedling is buried in the area, and covered with spruce branches for the winter, and also covered with snow. In the spring, when the snow melts, it is necessary to check the seedling for its integrity, and only then dig it out.

A place on the site must be chosen open, sunny, but protected from drafts. You can plant a tree near the fence, on the south side. At the same time, it is necessary to ensure that the shadow from large trees or buildings does not fall on the tree, since this plant needs sunlight. If you have several trees on the site, then the distance between them should be at least 3 m

A planting pit is preliminarily prepared, which has parameters of 50 cm by 70 cm.You should dig a hole 2 weeks before the expected planting date. It is possible in the fall. Immediately into the pit, it is necessary to put a special support stake in order to then tie up the Stanley plum sapling. Then the pit is filled with earth, to which the necessary fertilizers are added - this is compost, ammonium nitrate, superphosphate and potassium chloride. In order to make good drainage, you can also add river sand to the planting hole. If the soil is acidic on the site, then lime can be added in advance in the fall.

After the hole is ready and the support peg is driven in, it is necessary to place the seedling on a mound and carefully spread all the roots in a circle. Further, the pit is gradually filled up, while it is necessary to constantly ram the ground. The Stanley plum sapling should be strictly vertical, in addition, you need to make sure that the root collar is about 4 cm above ground level.

After the Stanley plum tree is planted, it is necessary to form a hole into which you will then need to pour water. Then the tree is watered. Watering a tree will require three buckets of water. Next, the young tree should be tied to a pre-prepared peg with a cloth.

How much care should a Stanley plum get

Caring for a Stanley home plum comes down to the basic manipulations that are needed when caring for any garden tree.

Feeding

Like any horticultural crop, the Stanley plum needs to be fed. The first two years of fertilization do not need to be applied, since the tree feeds on the fertilizers that you applied during planting. Starting from the third year, the plums should be periodically fed with organic and mineral fertilizers. When the tree bears fruit consistently and in large quantities, it is necessary to apply fertilizer annually.

If fruiting has not happened, then fertilizer is not applied this year, but it is applied only the next year. As a rule, to feed the plum, it is necessary to add humus, urea, double superphosphate, and potassium sulfate. Ash can also be used instead of potassium sulfate. Fertilizers must be applied in the fall and everything should be dug up properly. Urea is usually applied in the spring.

Essential for plum trees and such essential elements as nitrogen, potassium and magnesium.With a nitrogen deficiency on the tree, there will be a change in the color of the leaves, which will eventually turn light yellow. If you observe these signs, it is necessary to treat the plant with a urea solution. Both a deficiency and an excess of this substance are harmful. If there is too much of it, it will not prepare well for winter, as a result of which some branches may freeze.

With a deficiency of potassium, the edge of the leaves will turn brown, and if the plant lacks magnesium, then the veins of the leaf will also change their color. Sometimes it happens that the plant lacks all the substances at once. In this case, it is necessary to immediately apply fertilizers containing these substances. If the soil is too dry, then it is difficult for the plant to absorb the necessary substances. This is usually accompanied by premature shedding of the plums.

If you notice that the branches grow poorly, and the tree also dries up, then it is necessary to apply nitrogen-containing fertilizers in the spring. Before the flowering period begins, organic and mineral preparations are introduced. Manure and poultry droppings are used as organic matter, which are preliminarily bred in water. Also, sometimes organic fertilizers are replaced with a liquid mineral composition, which includes saltpeter. The solution must be applied under a young plum, at the rate of three buckets per plant. If we are talking about an adult tree, then four buckets. After you have fed the plant, you need to lay out a good layer of mulch, which is perfect for sawdust or peat.

In the summer, it is necessary to feed the plants with organic matter, necessarily dissolved in water. As this, it is optimal to use manure or bird droppings. Fertilizers are usually applied to specially constructed trunks.

Crown formation

It is necessary to form the Stanley plum periodically, as well as carry out sanitary and thinning pruning. The procedures are carried out in autumn or spring, since it is at this time that the tree is still at rest. Sanitary pruning is allowed to be carried out in the summer, if necessary.

When the Stanley plum is planted, no pruning is done at first in order for the seedling to take root properly. Then, over the course of several years, the tree is gaining growth and its shoots grow intensively. When they reach a length of more than 40 cm, then you should definitely pinch them so that the crown does not become too thickened. Experienced gardeners use the tiered method when forming the crown.

Here it is necessary to leave the central conductor, as well as several more main branches, which are located in several tiers. After the tree reaches 2 meters, you need to remove the side shoot. If the pruning is the first, then it is necessary to form a stem. In order for the plum to tolerate the cold well, it is necessary that the stem is about 50 cm high. In this case, the branches are cut into a ring.

Long branches on a tree must be shortened by about 1/3 so that they branch better. It is not necessary to shorten the main branches and shoots that are too long in order not to thicken the crown. If the tree is old or weak, then anti-aging pruning should be done.

When the harvest is very large, the plum is thinned out so that the fruits are not too small. This must be done twice, when the ovaries are small, and then when they are larger than a hazelnut.

Soil care rules

It is imperative to monitor the soil under the drain, namely to clear it of weeds, debris, and loosen it after each watering. For loosening it is necessary to use a pitchfork so as not to damage the root system. It is not necessary to process the tree deeper than 20 cm. And also to make it easier for yourself, you should lay out a good layer of mulch. Some gardeners use sodding to get rid of mulching. To do this, you need to mow the grass several times per season, and then the grown rug will serve as an excellent mulching material.It is forbidden to mow the grass already in late summer or early autumn.
In addition, when the tree is still young, some gardeners planted other small shrubs, such as currants or gooseberries, between them. Then, after they are finished harvesting, they are harvested and smaller grasses such as strawberries or honey plants are planted.

Home plum Stanley: watering rules

As mentioned above, this plant does not tolerate drought, so it must be constantly watered and monitored so that the soil does not dry out. The root system of this plant is very close to the ground and therefore more susceptible to drying out. If we are talking about a young tree, it must be watered at least 5 times per summer, at the rate of 40 liters of water per Stanley plum sapling. Mature trees should be watered in the same amount, but using more water.

In the autumn, trees should be watered even more, at the rate of 60 liters per tree. In order for the plum not to freeze in winter, as well as during such important periods as flowering and active growth of shoots, the formation of fruits, the plant should be constantly watered so that the culture grows and develops normally. Moisture is needed if the summer is hot with little rainfall.

After each watering, it is necessary to loosen the soil or cover it with a layer of mulch. It is necessary to water the plant using the sprinkler method or use watering through the grooves around the crown perimeter. Also, do not overdo it with watering, as this can cause fungal diseases.

Preliminary preparation for winter

Since the Stanley plum variety has a high resistance to frost, no additional manipulation is required from the gardener before the winter period. The only thing that needs to be done is to protect the plants from rodents. To do this, the trunk is tied with some kind of material: it can be mesh, spruce branches or glass wool. Some place traps and baits around the tree.

Plum Stanley: Protection

Insect pests

Most often, the Stanley plum is attacked by such pests as the plum moth, as well as the plum moth or slimy sawfly.

• Plum stalk can have a negative effect on the plant bone. In this case, the fetus stops developing. The pest remains overwintering in this fruit. If the insect multiplies very strongly, then the parasite can destroy all the fruits.
• Slimy sawfly has a negative effect not only on the plum tree, but also on other garden trees. In doing so, he destroys, first of all, the leaves. If you notice signs of the presence of a plum stump, namely shedding of fruits, then here it will be necessary to treat the plant with karbofos after the flowering period has passed. Then the treatment is repeated after another ten days. In addition, it is necessary to cultivate the soil around the plum. Fallen branches, fruits, seeds must be collected and destroyed. To control pests, it is necessary to dig up the soil around the trunk.
• Plum moth usually manifests itself as dark spots on the leaves. In addition, they change their appearance and fruits. However, they still fall off. If these signs are found, chlorophos treatment should be carried out after the flowering period has ended, after about 2 weeks. Also, then the treatment is repeated after another two weeks. In addition, it is necessary to install trapping belts, loosen the soil around the trunk and remove regularly falling leaves and fruits. The sawfly can manifest itself as affected areas on the leaves, which become larger and larger. Sometimes, it is even possible to spot the biggest pests.

In order to get rid of the parasite, it is necessary to dig up the soil well, and also spray the tree with karbofos before flowering, as well as after the harvest is harvested.

Diseases

Of the Stanley plum diseases, the most frequent and dangerous is considered moniliosis, since the tree is not immune to this ailment. A disease such as rust is also common.

Signs rust there are brown spots on the leaves of the tree, and the leaves can grow and swell. After that, they dry up and fall off prematurely. If these signs are found, it is necessary to destroy those leaves that are already affected, and also to process the tree several times with a Bordeaux mixture. In addition, all nearby, if any, junipers are removed, since they are the carriers of the disease.

If a tree is sick with moniliosis, then the flowers will begin to change their color, and they will also dry out. In addition, the leaves also wither, the fruits also begin to become covered with brown spots, crack, and the bark also cracks. If these signs appear, the affected wood should be cut back to healthy wood. Sick branches must be destroyed. You should also carry out the treatment with nitrafen. This is done at the beginning of spring or after all the leaves have already fallen. Treatment with copper oxychloride also helps to get rid of the disease. It is usually carried out before and after the flowering period, and Bordeaux mixture is also used. For prevention purposes, it is necessary to dig up the soil in the fall.

Harvesting and application

You can harvest Stanley's home plum in early autumn. At the same time, plums do not ripen simultaneously, but in several stages.

Fruits that form on the outside of the crown begin to pick from the bottom up. When harvesting, it is imperative to pluck the stalks so that the fruits are stored longer. There is no need to erase the wax film, which also contributes to the long-term storage of the fruit. If all conditions are met, the crop will be stored for at least 3 weeks. The storage temperature should be approximately 6 degrees.

Plums are usually eaten fresh, but they are also used to prepare blanks. They are dried, frozen, made from them jam, marinades, juices, as well as compotes. In addition, in many countries, the Stanley plum variety is used to prepare prunes.

Conclusion

Stanley plum has a large number of advantages and is suitable for growing almost throughout the entire territory of our country. In addition, the variety is characterized by large fruits with high external and taste qualities.

Home plum Stanley: video about the variety