Here are the most important things that you need to take into consideration when choosing plum trees:
- Variety. Choosing the right variety is by far the most important consideration.
- Rootstock.
- Tree Forms.
- Cropping season.
- Blossom.
- Pollination.
How do you pick a good plum tree?
A ripe plum will be very sweet, flavorful, and juicy. A less ripe plum will have no sweetness. Feel and texture: Ripe plums are soft and “give” when pressed. An overripe plum will be very soft and squishy (and splat on the ground).
What is the most popular plum tree?
Santa Rosa Plum Tree
Santa Rosa Plum Tree: The most popular Plum tree for commercial use and home growing, the Santa Rosa produces tons of sweet, dark purple fruit.
Where is the best place to plant a plum tree?
full sun
Plum trees need full sun to produce sweet fruit, so pick a planting site that gets at least six hours a day. For soil, they prefer loamy, well-draining soil rich with organic matter.
What is the sweetest plum variety?
Mirabelle plums are the sweetest of all plum varieties. The small fruit with a slight reddish blush is popular for making eau-de-vie in France. Red plum varieties have bright red skin. Some, like the Santa Rosa, have amber flesh, while others, like Simcas, have bright red flesh that matches the skins.
Do I need 2 plum trees to produce fruit?
Plums are a stone fruit that are both delicious and beautiful. Most plum trees are not self-pollinating, so you will need to plant at least two plum trees to bear fruit. When planting a plum tree, it is important to make sure that the variety you choose will grow well in your climate.
How long does it take for a plum tree to bear fruit?
three to six years
Plum trees typically begin to bear fruit when they are three to six years of age. Fruit develops earlier in some varieties and you even see baby plums begin to appear earlier in age.
When should I buy a plum tree?
Buying Plum trees
Barerooted Plum trees are sold between October and the end of March.
What is the hardiest plum tree?
Some of the best and hardiest plums for our area are the Japanese-American hybrids, developed from crosses between the large fruited Japanese plum and the native, cold hardy American. Varieties include ‘BlackIce’, ‘Toka’, ‘Waneta’, and ‘Pembina’, all of which have sweet, red or purple fruit.
What is the most disease resistant plum tree?
President
‘ Japanese plums are generally less susceptible. ‘President’ is the only type of edible plum that is considered highly resistant.
Do plum trees need a lot of water?
Young plum trees need to be watered at least once a week to promote healthy root growth. Once the tree is established, it requires regular watering, especially in the dry summer months. Deeply water your plum tree once every two to four weeks.
Do plum trees spread?
Plum trees are usually vigorous growers with a wide, laterally spreading root system that grows close to ground level, often producing numerous basal shoots or suckers within three feet of the trunk on all sides.
Are plum trees easy to grow?
Growing plum trees is not too difficult as long as you give them what they need. Plums require full sun and well-drained, sandy soil in order to thrive. They prefer a soil with a pH that ranges from 5.5 to 6.5.
What is a good eating plum tree?
Satsuma plums are prized for their sweet taste, delicious candied or eaten fresh from the tree. Satsuma plums can easily replace the plums you buy in your supermarket once you’ve tried them!
What is the tastiest plum?
Toka Plum
What is this? The Toka plum is a wonderful variety that might just be the sweetest plum you have ever tasted. In fact, it is sometimes called the Bubblegum plum because it really does taste like bubblegum! These medium-sized plums have warm red skin and bright yellow flesh.
What plum trees pollinate each other?
European plums (Prunus domestica) can inter-pollinate with closely-related species such as damsons, mirabelles and cherry plums. European plums cannot generally cross-pollinate with Japanese plums (Prunus salicina). Many European plums are self-fertile, but most Japanese plums are not self-fertile.
Can an apple tree pollinate a plum tree?
Likewise, other fruit tree varieties will not pollinate geneticly different fruits. Apples only pollinate apples, pears only pollinate pears, plums only pollinate plums and so on. It is best to plant a completely different variety of tree, but still in the same fruiting specie.
Should you prune a plum tree?
Plum trees do not require as precise pruning as apples and pears, but still benefit from initial training and the thinning of old wood to ensure they produce as much fruit as possible. Plums are pruned in early spring or mid-summer to avoid infection by silver leaf disease.
What’s the easiest fruit tree to grow?
pear trees
Many people consider pear trees to be the easiest fruit tree to grow on your own. Specifically, Asian pear tree varieties are well-known as the perfect fruit trees for beginners because of how simple they are to take care of and how much fruit they produce with little extra effort.
How many times a year does a plum tree produce fruit?
Stark Bro’s Fruit Trees – Years to Fruit
| Fruit Tree Type | Years to Fruit |
|---|---|
| Peach Trees | 2-4 years |
| Pear Trees | 4-6 years |
| Persimmon Trees | 3-4 years |
| Plum Trees | 3-6 years |
What kind of soil do plum trees like?
loamy
Plums prefer slightly acid soil (pH 6.0-6.8) and thrive in lightweight loamy, well-draining soil. Plum trees grow and produce the best fruit in well-drained but moist fertile soil that is rich in organic matter, but tolerate a wide range of soils as long as water and nutrients are not limiting and soil pH is adequate.
Elvira Bowen is a food expert who has dedicated her life to understanding the science of cooking. She has worked in some of the world’s most prestigious kitchens, and has published several cookbooks that have become bestsellers. Elvira is known for her creative approach to cuisine, and her passion for teaching others about the culinary arts.