European plum Golden

Seedling from open pollination of Ulmus siliqua. Selected at the Krasnoyarsk Experimental Station for Fruit Growing by E.S. Dubeykova from the hybrid fund of V.S. Krutovskiy. Authors: V.S. Krutovskiy, E.S. Dubeykova, D.G. Kisilev. It was regionally approved in the Krasnoyarsk region in 1959.

Medium-growing tree with a spherical, spreading, slightly drooping crown of medium leafiness. Height 250 cm. Shoots green on the underside, red on the sun-exposed side. No hairs. Buds small, pressed. Leaves inversely egg-shaped, medium size. Leaf thickness varies, thin and thick leaves occur. Base of leaves dark green and hairy, upper part dull green, smooth and shiny. Margin finely toothed. Petiole short, with light green glandular dots. Flower: petals slightly closed, few stamens, stigma position relative to stamens — above and below. Weak hairiness of ovary, ovate calyx shape. Very short flower stalk without hairs. Flowering and fruiting type — on panicle branches.

Fruits very small (average weight 6.7 g), round-conical shape with pointed apex, clear stigma trace. Light yellow color. No hair or waxy coating, base round, shallow pit (0.02 cm). Clearly defined, deep suture. Flesh light yellow. Skin thick, sour. Juice colorless, medium-sweet. Starchiness clearly expressed. Fruit stalk medium, 1.3 cm. Stone shape broad-conical, flat. Average stone mass 0.25 g, constitutes 4% of flesh. Fruits attractive. Flesh light yellow, loose, juicy. Good taste, slight aroma. Detachment from fruit stalk dry. Transportability medium. Universal variety. Used fresh and for making dried fruits, juice, jam, compote. Dry matter content — 17%, free acids — 0.88%, sugars — 12.9%.

Flowering period — last decade of May. Ripening period 20-25 August. Fruit-bearing starts on 4-5th year. Self-sterile. Trees long-lived (over 30 years). Average yield per tree at age 5 years — 5.5 kg, 7 years — 9.8 kg, 10 years — 13.5 kg. Maximum yield per tree at age 7 years — 28 kg, 10 years — 32 kg. Shows periodicity.

High winter hardiness, average rating over years: 1940 — 1.6; 1941 — 0.1; 1942 — 0.3; 1944 — 1.4; 1945 — 2.2; 1946 — 1.1; 1947 — 0.7; 1948 — 0.4. In severe winters flower buds freeze, pith and wood turn brown. In 1949, flowers were damaged by spring frost -3.7°C and trees did not bear fruit. Drought-resistant. Slightly damaged by clasterosporiosis, milky bloom, wilting (average 1.2 points). Damage noted from plum fruit moth, plum sawfly, plum aphid, plum weevil.

Not suitable for intensive orchards.

Advantages of variety: high winter hardiness, good yield, good fruit quality.

Disadvantages: early flowering, fruit drop, periodic fruiting.