Italian Vengerka Plum

Pluma Vengerka Italian (Prunus domestica) – a late cultivar of the Domestic Plum (Prunus domestica). Presumably originating from Northern Italy, it gained worldwide fame in the mid-20th century. In Ukraine the cultivar was zoned in 1928 and included in the State Register of Plant Varieties of Ukraine. Today the cultivar is considered one of the most "valuable" vengerka plums.

It is a deciduous, medium-sized tree 3.5–3.8 m (4.5–5 m) in height and 5.5–6 m in width. The crown is dense, broadly pyramidal when young, later becoming rounded-broad and somewhat flattened. Trunks of medium thickness, somewhat twisted. Scaffold branches are thick, departing from the trunk at angles of 45—70°, knotty, with transverse scars at the sites of former lenticels. Fruiting shoots are thin; fruiting spurs are strongly knotted. Shoots are brownish-reddish, of medium length and thickness. Leaf buds are almost appressed and directed parallel to the shoot. Fruits on short shoots - spurs and numerous bouquet branches.

Leaves are large, narrow, dark green, oblong-ovate; the blade is smooth, slightly pubescent above, rather strongly pubescent below; slightly folded along the midrib, margin rounded-serrated. Petiole 15—16 mm long, medium thickness, pubescent, reddish, with 1—3 greenish-brown glands.

Flowers are initially yellowish, later becoming white, borne singly or in pairs. Flowering is mid-late or late.

Fruits are large, weighing 35–40 g, size 43 x 35 x X 35 mm, of attractive appearance, oval in shape, dark blue, almost black; the sun-exposed side has a reddish-brown tint, with a bluish waxy bloom. The suture is comparatively shallow, dividing the fruit into two equal halves. The pedicel is of medium thickness, 15—20 mm long, seated in a small funnel-shaped cavity. The apical point lies at the end of the groove (suture). Flesh is greenish-yellow with white veins, very juicy, firm, of good to excellent harmonious sweet-and-sour taste (4.5–4.8 points). Stone medium-sized, 24 x 15 x 8.5 mm, rough, rounded at the upper part, pointed toward the pedicel with a distinct prominence, easily separates from the flesh. Under Kiev region conditions it ripens at the end of December. Yield is annual, average, 157 c/ha. Begins fruiting in the 6th–7th year after planting.

Best pollinators: the cultivar is self-fertile, but gives the best yields with cross-pollination – Vengerka Azhanskaya, Anna Shpet, Ekaterina, Izyum-Erik, Kliman, Renklod Zelyonyi, Vengerka Domashnyaya, Velikiy Gertsog, Mirabelle Nancy, Kirke, Renklod Altana. In turn, Vengerka Italian pollinates the cultivars: Anna Shpet, Renklod Zelyonyi, Izyum-Erik, Kirke, Velikiy Gertsog, Vengerka Domashnyaya, Renklod Altana, Mirabelle Nancy and Victoria.

Hardiness zone: 4a (-32°C).

Location: prefers moist, loamy, well-drained, warm soils rich in nutrients. Of all fruit trees it is most demanding of moisture, so regular watering is recommended during active growth. Does not tolerate waterlogging; groundwater should be no closer than 1.5 m from the soil surface. When planting plums in rows, it is best to orient rows north-south; spacing between seedlings should be at least 2–3 m.

Planting: Plum planting is preferably done in spring, since many seedlings die if planted in autumn. In autumn seedlings should be heel-in with the expectation they will be sheltered under snow in winter. Soil at the planting site should be worked to a depth of at least 35–40 cm. Planting scheme – 4 x 6 m. Planting hole size – 50 x 50 cm. Into the hole add 10–16 kg manure or compost, 100–150 g double superphosphate, 80–120 g potassium sulfate or 60–80 g potassium chloride, 400–500 g ash, mix with the topsoil and fill up to the root collar.

Pruning: the most convenient training is an open fan on a low trunk 10–20 cm high. This training increases winter hardiness. Also well-lit and ventilated flattened low crowns allow comfortable tree care while obtaining a quality yield. Young trees require annual correction of growth, as they often form acute branch angles that should be widened using spreaders. Because the plum has a weak ability to self-regulate the growth of shoots and trunk and can quickly produce new strong shoots from dormant buds on the trunk, such water sprouts should not be cut flush. They are recommended for forming lateral branches. Crown height is limited to 2 m. To increase the number of fruiting buds, strongly growing shoots of all orders should be slightly shortened. Dense crowns are thinned – cut out interlacing branches, as well as those directed inward and too close to desired branches. It should be remembered that it is better to cut one large branch than many small ones. To prevent infection by silver leaf fungus, pruning is recommended at leaf bud break.

Care: to obtain stable and high yields, apply organic and mineral fertilizers. In September it is recommended to apply half a bucket of compost with 30–40 g of double superphosphate and potassium sulfate or potassium chloride per 1 sq.m. In spring, feed with urea at 20–25 g per 1 sq.m. Under the crown the soil should be loosened while incorporating fertilizers, and outside the crown – shallowly dug without damaging roots. Acid-prone soils should be limed once every three years at 300–500 g/sq.m.

Diseases: Clasterosporium blotch, red spot.

Pests: codling moth, plum sawfly, aphids.

Propagation: named plums are propagated vegetatively – by cuttings, root suckers, grafting. Seed propagation is used only for rootstock production. For seed propagation take the healthiest seeds, clean them of flesh and soak in water for 4 days, stirring and changing the water daily. After that, remove the seeds, dry and store them in a jar. Before planting they must be stratified – placed in a moist but not wet medium (sawdust or sand) and kept for 180 days at +1–+10°C. Seeds are sown in autumn or in spring at the end of April after frosts. Seed germination – 70–100%. Spacing between seedlings – 10 cm, between rows – 70 cm, depth 70 cm. For grafting it is necessary to grow a winter-hardy seedling rootstock. Grafting can begin after one year. Grafting should be done during active sap flow, in April-May or in July-August. Cuttings are usually grafted in spring, and bud grafting in summer. For propagation by root suckers in autumn cut the root connecting the sucker to the mother plant and plant it in spring in a permanent place. For propagation by root cuttings dig up roots at a distance of 1 m from the trunk for a young tree and 1.5 m for a mature tree. Use roots 1.5 cm thick and 15 cm long. If roots are dug in autumn, store them over winter in a trench up to 50 cm deep covered with coarse river sand and peat in a 1:1 ratio or in a cellar covered with layers of damp sawdust and moss. In late April–early May they should be planted in prepared soil (sand and peat 1:3) obliquely or vertically. Row spacing 10 cm, cuttings spaced 5 cm, depth 5 cm. Upper ends are buried 2 cm and mulched with peat or sawdust. Cuttings are shaded to prevent drying out. Nitrogen fertilizers can be applied several times during the season.

Uses: fruits are consumed fresh, used for desserts, jams, and for producing high-quality prunes. Transportability is good.