European plum Amurskaya Rannaya

This variety was obtained by G.T. Kazymin at the Far Eastern Research Institute of Agriculture by pollinating the 'Manchzhurskaya Krasavitsa' variety with a mixture of pollen from early-ripening forms of Ussuri plum. It was officially approved for cultivation in Primorsky and Khabarovsk regions in 1965.

Moderate growth rate. Compact, round-oval crown. Main scaffold branches grow at a right angle, but immediately bend and grow vertically. Bark on multi-year branches is gray-brown, flaking with a purplish tint, featuring oval, convex, sunken nodules. One-year shoots are not long, medium-thick, with short internodes, dark brown with a reddish hue and numerous whitish spots and stripes. Fruit buds form on one-year terminal shoots, shortened shoots 3-10 cm long, and flower clusters up to 30 cm. Buds are round, very small, light brown. Leaves are of medium size, inversely egg-shaped. Leaf blade is dark green, slightly wrinkled. Petiole is medium length, thin, slightly pinkish. Flowers are small, arranged in clusters on branches. Petals are oval-elongated, white, moderately open. Stigma extends beyond the stamens. Calyx is narrow-bowl-shaped. Pedicel is very short, 5 mm.

Fruits are large, average weight 26 g, maximum 31 g. Fruit shape is round-oval, almost radish-like. Upper depression is medium thickness, deep, entering a wide but not deep scar, colored with a red stripe. Main coloration is yellow-green. A large portion of the fruit surface is covered with dark carmine, sometimes dotted and streaked blush. Flesh is yellowish, very juicy, slightly fibrous, sweet-tasting with a mild tartness from the pit. Peduncle is short. Chemical composition: 8.9% sugars, 14.0% dry matter, 1.2% acids, 0.4% tannins. Pit is small, 0.7-1.0 g, elongated-rounded shape with a pointed tip. Ridge is double-sided, fairly pronounced. Pit surface is slightly patterned. Detaches satisfactorily from flesh. Universal use. Suitable for fresh consumption, freezing, jam and compote preparation. Transportability is medium. Sensory evaluation score: 3.5 points.

Self-sterile; pollinators — 'Khabarovskaya Rannaya', 'Rassvet Ranniy'. Flowering begins on May 22. Flower buds do not suffer from late frosts. Begins fruiting on the 3rd-4th year after grafting, heavy fruiting on the 5th-6th year. Fruit production is regular, without periodicity. Early years yield 3-5 kg per tree, mature fruiting period yields 17.8-30.0 kg. Trees exhibit moderate but regular fruiting. Fruits are resistant to cracking during rainy periods. Susceptible to moniliosis and fruit worm.

Advantages of the variety: relatively high winter hardiness, low susceptibility to sunburn, resistance to drought and overwatering, large fruits, early ripening.

Disadvantages: moderate yield, susceptibility to moniliosis and fruit worm.