Plum Steppe blue

The Stepnaya Blue plum variety was bred in the Gorno-Altai branch of the Research Institute of Horticulture specifically for growing in the Siberian climate. Therefore, the variety perfectly tolerates severe frosts and temperature extremes. Other advantages include: drought resistance, resistance to rainy weather (the plum does not crack), immunity to a number of fungal diseases, sweet juicy fruits.

Characteristics of the variety

Treeof medium height with a spreading crown. The main branches grow almost horizontally to the ground and can bend under the weight of the fruit, which greatly simplifies harvesting.

Fruitsmedium size 25-30 gr., round shape. Peel – elastic, blue-violet color with a bluish bloom. Pulp – bright yellow, very juicy, fragrant. Taste – sweet.  Fruits  plums «Steppe blue» Ideal for canning and freezing. After defrosting, they do not lose their shape and do not flow.

Productivity variety is high — up to 30 kg per tree. Fruiting is stable, does not depend on the weather. The tree gives a full harvest for 3-4 seasons. The ripening period is medium early, stretched: the 2nd decade of August – 1st decade of September. Thus, they manage to collect all the ripe plums before the onset of cold weather.

Growing conditions

Drought, frost resistance, preservation of the integrity of fruits during rainy summers, independence of the crop from weather conditions, – allow you to grow plum "Steppe Blue" in almost any climatic zone.

Sort – self-fertile. For the formation of fruits, it is necessary to replant other plum trees that bloom at the same time, for cross-pollination.

Peculiarities of care:

• Place of planting. Plum seedlings are planted in open, sunny, elevated areas with low groundwater (depth from 1.5-2 m). Also, the site must be protected from the north wind and drafts.
• Soil. Blue steppe plum grows well on loamy, soddy-podzolic, chernozem and other fertile soils, with a neutral or slightly alkaline pH (5.5-7.0). Acidic soil must be "neutralized" before planting; lime-containing substance, such as chalk or dolomite flour.
• Date. As a rule, plums are planted in the second half of spring, at the end of April – early May, when the soil warms up to a depth of more than 50 cm and warm weather sets in. When planting in autumn, the risk of freezing seedlings increases.
• Landing. Seedlings are lowered into planting pits 0.5-0.6 m deep, 0.6-0.8 m in diameter. A mixture of fertile soil layer, compost, superphosphate and wood ash is laid at the bottom. The seedling is covered with earth to the root collar. Then the soil around the trunk is slightly trampled and 10 liters of water are poured.
• Feeding. The first feeding is carried out on the 3rd year after planting, repeat – annually. Organics are added in early spring: rotted manure or compost. Prior to flowering, mineral nitrogen-containing complexes are added to the near-trunk circles, which enhance the growth and development of fruit trees. Plums are fertilized with phosphorus and potassium in the fall.
• Pruning. In the spring, before the buds swell, sanitary and formative pruning is carried out. Remove dry, frozen and weak branches.
• Wintering. In the 2nd half of autumn, until the first cold weather, water-recharging irrigation of plum trees is organized, which increases their winter hardiness. Then the trunks and skeletal branches are whitewashed. The site is mulched with a thick (at least 15 cm) layer of sawdust. Spruce branches are laid out around young 1-2-year-old trees to protect the root system from freezing as much as possible in a snowy winter.

Selection of seedlings

Before you buy seedlings of the "Blue Steppe" plum variety, carefully inspect them.  For a healthy tree:

• Roots – well developed, fibrous, moist. No signs of decay or stains.
• Stamp – in good condition.
• Bark – without cracks, wrinkles and signs of dryness.
• Branches – fresh, elastic, with swollen buds.
• Seedling age – one-year-old.

Beware of counterfeit planting material! Buy seedlings «Blue Steppe» plums in nurseries and specialized stores.

Preparations