Fruit and Nut Trees

by steve stamos

A hardy, long-lived (100 years), 4m-8m, deciduous tree native to Iran and China. There are several hundred species of prunus. Young trees respond well to rich fertile soil, and mature trees prefer heavy clay soil and surface planting is recommended.

The plum tree prefers a mild to warm summer and sufficiently cool winter to induce a long dormancy period. Ample water supply is essential from late winter through the growing season. If the weather is too dry, the plums will develop to a certain stage and then fall of the tree still tiny green. However, unseasonably wet weather, when plums are ripe and not harvested soon enough, a fungal condition, brown rot can develop.

When flowering in early spring, the tree will be covered with blossom and approximately half of them will become plums, in a good season. Although the tree is tolerant of winter frosts, the blossoms are subject to frost damage. The fruiting season can continue throughout summer depending on the variety. Fruit should be left on the tree to develop its fullest flavor. Plum fruit comes in a wide variety of colors and sizes. Some have yellow, white green, red and orange flesh with an equal large number of skin colors. Plum fruit is sweet and juicy and can be eaten fresh, made into jams or ferment their juice into plum wine.

A number of varieties are self-sterile and need to be planted with a compatible variety. Butting is the preferred method of propagation. Grafted trees bear within 3 to 4 years. Plum trees are very susceptible to silver leaf disease. Mid-summer pruning is recommended to minimize the risk and all cuts should be sealed with a latex paint or sealing wax.

plum
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