European plum Early Virovskaya

This variety was developed at the Far Eastern Experimental Station of VNIIR from open pollination of the Chinese 'Kitsayskaya' plum and the Ussuri 'Ussuriyskaya' plum. Breeders: V.P. Tsarenko, N.A. Tsarenko. Undergoing state variety testing since 2006. Recommended for cultivation in the fruit-growing zones of Primorsky Krai and southern Amur Oblast.

Tree is low-growing, up to 3.5 m in height. Pyramidal-extended crown. Multi-year branches branch off at right angles, smooth, gray with a dark-brown tint and rarely distributed lenticels. Shoots are short, dark-brown. Buds are large, form in groups of three, the outer ones are generative, the middle one is vegetative, offset from the shoot. Leaf blade is oval (10.5 x 4.6 cm), dark green, with a pointed apex and sharp base, dense, surface smooth. Leaf margin is doubly serrated. Petiole of medium length 1.5 cm, with two glands, hairy. Flowers form in pairs or trios from buds, medium size 1.8 cm in diameter at the corolla, petals white, freely arranged. Stamens 22, length 0.7 cm. Pistil one, 0.5 cm long, stigma located below the anthers. Calyx is elongated-oval, pedicel 1.4 cm, hairy. Flowering type on multi-year and one-year wood: fruiting spurs, bouquet branches.

Fruit is large, flat-round in shape, average weight 27 g, maximum 32 g. Main color is blue, covering color is purple with a dense waxy coating, giving a plum-black hue. Apex is indented, base is deeply sunken with a deep cup. Ventral suture is weakly expressed. Flesh is yellow-orange, mealy, dense. Peduncle 1.8 cm long, thick, hairy. Stone is round, apex rounded, base slightly elongated, small, average weight 1.0 g, makes up 2.7% of flesh weight. Fruit appearance is attractive and visually appealing. Flesh is sugary with a mild aroma, sweet-sour, pleasant. Taste rating 4.5 points. Fruits have semi-dry detachment, transportable. Fresh fruits contain dry matter — 13.1%, sugars — 6.0%, acids — 1.5%, ascorbic acid — 12.8 mg/100g, vitamin B2 — 12.1 mg/100g, P-active substances — 110 mg/100g. The variety's utility is universal: consumption fresh and for conservation — jams, compotes, jellies, juice, etc.

Flowering period 14-20 May, fruit ripening period 25-30 August. Enters fruiting on the 3-4th year, plant longevity 20 years. Self-fertile, well pollinated by simultaneously blooming Ussuri plum varieties. Visual yield rating 5 points. Fruit production is regular. Average yield is high — 41 kg per tree, maximum — 50 kg. High winter hardiness even in southern Amur Oblast conditions. Flower buds are not damaged by winter frosts and spring frosts. Drought-resistant. Susceptible to scarlet fever, clasterosporiosis, damaged by plum fruit moth, requires protective measures.

Production evaluation of the variety is high: low growth, high yield, good taste qualities, large fruit size, winter hardiness. The variety is suitable for intensive orchards.

Advantages: large, visually striking fruits, high yield, good taste qualities, low growth, suitability for intensive orchards.

Disadvantages: requires protection against fungal diseases and fruit moth.