Plum (Prunus domestica) RAUSVĖ

Plum (Prunus domestica) 'Rausvė'

A Lithuanian variety with large, attractive fruits and good yield.

'Rausvė' is a Lithuanian plum variety, valued for its large to very large fruits with a tasty, sweet, and aromatic flavour. It is characterized by a good and regular yield and an early entry into bearing. The tree has less vigorous to medium growth with characteristic drooping branches.

Main advantages of the variety:

• Large to very large fruits (50 – 60 g).
• Tasty, sweet, aromatic flavour with a specific note.
• Good and regular yield.
• Early entry into bearing.
• The stone separates easily from the flesh.

Origin and Registration

• Country of origin: Lithuania
• Breeder: A. Lukoševičius
• Institution: Vytėnai Experimental Station of Horticulture
• Origin: Originated from the seed of a self-pollinated seedling in 1969.
• Registration: Included in the list of recommended varieties in Lithuania in 1997.

Variety Characteristics

Tree

• Growth: Small to medium-vigorous.
• Crown: Inversely pyramidal, medium density, with drooping branches.
• Flowering: Early.
• Pollination: It is partially self-fertile.

Fruit

• Size and weight: Large to very large, with a weight of 50 – 60 g.
• Shape and colour: Round to slightly oval. Greenish-yellow with an intense pink to red blush.
• Flesh: Yellow, firm and juicy.
• Flavour: Tasty, sweet, aromatic, with a specific note.
• Stone: Medium-sized (1.9 g), ovate, easily separable from the flesh.
• Use: Versatile (fresh consumption, processing).

Resistance and Requirements

• Frost resistance: Medium. In cold winters, trees and especially flower buds can be damaged by frost.
• Disease resistance: Good, but in very rainy summers, the fruits are susceptible to rot.

Cultivation Recommendations

• For a better yield, early-flowering varieties such as ‘Victoria’ are recommended.

Harvest and Storage

• Harvest time: Mid-early, mid-August to early September.
• Yield: Good and regular.
• Entry into bearing: 3rd to 4th year after planting.
• Transportability and storability: Medium, lasts for about a week after harvest.