Plum Manchurian beauty

Plum seedlings «Manchurian Beauty» came to Russia from China. It is believed that at the beginning of the 20th century, the seedlings were personally selected and sent from Manchuria by the outstanding scientist M.F. Ivanov. So the trees ended up in the Far East with the breeder N. N. Tikhonov, who at the end of the 20s adapted and distributed a promising variety.

Variety advantages: early fruiting, stable yield, resistance to a number of fungal diseases, drought and frost resistance, universal use of fruits.

Characteristics of the variety

Treefast growing, low – 1.6-2.0 m. The plant lacks a central trunk, so it looks more like a shrub. Crown – thick, round shape. Due to the increased branching, there is a need for regular shaping pruning. Bark – gray-brown, with lenticels and signs of peeling. Foliage – dark green, concave, pointed with carved edges. Flowers – small, abundant, bloom before the leaves. Blooming "Manchurian beauty", similar to a snow-white bouquet, will become the main decoration of your garden.

Fruitsmedium-sized plums – 15-20 gr., maximum – 30 gr. Form – round, wide-heart-shaped, with a flat base and a slightly pronounced ventral suture. Peel – yellow-orange color, with a burgundy blush and a bluish bloom. Pulp – dense, juicy, yellow-green hue. Taste – sweet, not cloying, with a slight sourness. The aroma is weak. Bone – oval, pointed, separated from the pulp with effort. Peduncle – short.

A multi-purpose variety, characterized by excellent transportability and good keeping quality. Plum is suitable for fresh consumption, sale in markets, canning.

Productivity is moderate, on average, 8-10 kg are harvested from a tree. The variety begins to bear fruit regularly after 3 years from the date of planting an annual seedling. Plum ripens in early autumn, in early September – this feature makes the "Manchurian handsome" in demand in cold climates with a short autumn. The fruits are removed from the branches as soon as they reach maturity, because. the tree quickly drops a ripe plum to the ground.

Immunity. Plum has an increased resistance to rubella and klesterosporiosis. Susceptible to  moniliosis caused by the fungus Monilia, which is carried by weevils. The rapid development of the disease contributes to high humidity. When the first signs of infection appear, it is necessary to prune and burn the affected areas, cut off the rotten plum, remove and burn all plant debris around the tree. Signs of damage to Monilia: rapid drying of diseased branches and leaves, rotting of fruits. Of the pests, the plum codling moth and sawfly can choose the plant. Method of struggle – insecticides.

Growing conditions

The variety is drought- and frost-resistant, tolerates cooling down to -35°C. It takes root well in the Urals, in Siberia, in the Far East.

"Manchurian Beauty" – self-infertile. For cross-pollination, it needs the neighborhood of other plum varieties. For these purposes, the Ussuriyskaya or Uralskaya (red / golden) varieties are best suited.

Care tips:

• Planting seedlings in open ground is carried out in spring, in April-May, focusing on the weather and soil temperature. Previously, the earth is enriched with organic matter and superphosphate.
• For planting, choose a sunny elevated area on the south or southwest side.
• The soil should be fertile, loamy and sod-podzolic in composition, with neutral acidity.
• Once a month, the plum is watered. Around the tree, along the edge of the landing hole, a groove is made into which water is supplied. In dry hot summers, increase the frequency of watering.
• From the 2nd year of growth, spring formative and sanitary pruning of the crown begins.
• Feeding with organic matter and mineral compounds for fruit crops is carried out annually, starting from the second season.
• Before wintering, sanitary cleaning is carried out around the trees and the trunks are whitewashed. The near-stem area is mulched with an 8-cm layer of humus and sawdust. To protect the tree from rodents, the trunk is wrapped with a garden net. Young trees – wrapped with agrofibre.

Selection of seedlings

Before you buy "Manchurian Beauty" plum seedlings, inspect them carefully. Roots should be well developed, fibrous, moist, without strange spots. Branches – fresh, elastic, with swollen buds. Bark without cracks, and signs of dryness. Seedling age – not older than one year.

Beware of counterfeit planting material! Buy plum seedlings of the "Manchurian beauty" variety in nurseries and specialized stores.

Preparations