The Chinese plum was introduced to Europe in the 19th century and almost immediately became a popular culture. This small fruit tree remains in demand to this day. Moreover, its varietal variety can only be envied. Among the most famous varieties can be named Golden Ball plum, Superior plum, Chemalskaya plum and Orlovskaya dream plum. Let's talk about the latter in more detail.

History of creation

The Oryol Dream has not yet achieved the same popularity as the Chinese Lychee plum. Nevertheless, this variety is quite worthy of the attention of gardeners. The variety was obtained through the selection of seedlings of another Chinese culture called Alenushka, after free pollination. The culture was bred in the All-Russian Research Institute of Selection of Cultures. Plum was included in the State Register for the Central Black Earth Region.

Oryol Dream is a variety of dining purposes. Due to its excellent taste characteristics, Oryol Dream can be eaten both fresh and processed. Often it is from this variety that such dried fruit as prunes are harvested.

Description of the variety

Plum Orlovskaya Dream variety description should begin with the characteristics of the plant itself. The tree grows to a height of no more than one and a half meters. The crown is pyramidal, of medium density, has a spreading appearance. The bark is smooth, brown. Shoots are predominantly medium, straight. The foliage is obovate, light green in color. The surface of the plate is smooth and dull.

Plum Orlovskaya Dream tree

Apple Tree Dream

Plum blossoms with inflorescences of three white flowers. Flowering culture usually occurs in May.

The Oryol Dream belongs to early ripening varieties and begins to bear fruit early enough - in August. The fruits have an average weight of 40 g, round in shape. The plum fruit has a red color and a golden pulp.

The bone is oval. Its peculiarity is that it is rather difficult to separate from the pulp.

In part, the variety is self-fertile. But planting one or more trees of other plum varieties in the garden will not be superfluous, since self-fertility is not a permanent feature for this variety, and in certain circumstances, an additional pollinator may be required.

Like the Chemal blue plum, the Oryol Dream has an excellent yield indicator. Most fruits, if not overexposed on the branch, retain their presentation well.

Despite the fact that the variety is considered cold-resistant, the Oryol Dream does not tolerate spring frosts very well. They may well ruin the color.

Important! When planting an Orlovskaya Dream plum on your site, it should be borne in mind that the abundance of fruits affects their size. As a result, the fruit becomes noticeably smaller.

Features of agricultural technology

Tomato Gardener's Dream

To get a large harvest of plums, the plant requires some care.

Choosing a landing site

Plum will grow well if the planting site is chosen correctly. Well-lit areas are suitable for culture. If the tree is planted in the shade, the crop will not be too plentiful and the fruit will be too sour.

Plum Orlovskaya Dream

Best of all, the Oryol Dream takes root on the southern side of the site, next to any summer cottage that protects the plant from the wind.

Since the crop reacts very negatively to stagnant water, if there is even a minimal likelihood of flooding the tree, it is recommended to provide high-quality drainage or place the plant on a hill. The groundwater level should not be less than 1.5-2 meters.

The soil is best suited loamy or sandy loam. If the cultivation, due to circumstances, is carried out on sandy or clayey soil, a larger planting pit should be provided. Soil acidity should be as close to neutral as possible. Otherwise, it is recommended to pre-lime the soil.

Landing

Planting the Chinese plum is best in spring. When placed in the ground, the seedling does not need to be buried. The root collar should ideally be about 5 cm above ground level.

When buying a seedling in the spring, you can cut it off immediately. The only thing that should never be shortened is the roots. The more of them remains in a young tree, the sooner it can take root.

Top dressing

When planting, some organic fertilizer should be placed in the hole. Nitrogen should not be added. In the future, the plant is fed before flowering. In this case, urea and potassium sulfate are introduced into the soil. During the period when the fruits are poured, the plum should be fed again. This time, urea and nitrophoska will be the best option. In late autumn, after leaf fall, the soil must be enriched with organic matter for the last time in the season.

Watering the plum

Watering

You need to water the Oryol Dream 4-5 times a month. One bucket of water should be poured over each adult plant. Watering is especially important during the period of fruit ripening and the setting of flower buds, which form the harvest for the next season. Lack of moisture at this time is fraught with a significant decrease in the yield of the plum tree. In addition, when water is scarce, the fruit can begin to crack.

It is necessary to stop watering the plant in August. If this is not done, the growth of shoots will be delayed, which will negatively affect the winter hardiness of plants.

Important! The watering regime should take into account the weather conditions.

Pruning

Correct pruning of a plum tree is not only an opportunity to regulate crop yield and sugar content, as well as the size of fruits, but also the prevention of diseases. When planting, the branches of the seedlings are shortened by an average of a third. This allows the plant to start laying the crown faster.

Pruning should be done in early spring, before bud break. Autumn pruning is not recommended for plums.

The tree should be thinned annually. Sick, weak and crooked branches are subject to removal.

Important! In no case should you cut more than a quarter of the total weight of the branches.

When the plant reaches a height of 2.5 meters, you can begin to limit the growth of the plum upward.

Advantages and disadvantages

Plum Kuban Comet

The Chinese plum Oryol dream has both advantages and disadvantages.

The highly described variety is prized not only for its delicious fruits, but also for its flowering. Despite the fact that this period does not last long - from 3 to 5 days, it is an indescribable beauty spectacle. But this is by no means the only advantage of the Oryol Dream.

The following points can be attributed to the advantages of the variety:

  • early maturity;
  • good transportability;
  • versatility of fruits;
  • marketable appearance of plums;
  • high taste.

Of the minuses, the varieties are usually noted:

  • too early flowering, due to which the crop may be damaged by frost (flowers crumble, and the tree does not bear fruit in the current season);
  • short life span (15 to 20 years);
  • susceptibility to rot.

In general, the Oryol Dream is a wonderful variety that can decorate a garden plot in any region of the country of Russia.