Depending on your plum variety, your tree may be self-pollinating or require a second tree for cross-pollination—if your tree doesn’t self-pollinate, be sure to choose a spot that has enough space for at least two mature trees.
Where is the best place to plant plum trees?
full sun
Plant plum trees in loamy, well-drained soil. Plums do not do well when planted in clay-heavy soils or in locations where their roots will be constantly wet. Choose a planting location that receives full sun—6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight at the very least.
What is the best time to plant plum trees?
spring
The ideal time to plant a plum tree is in the early spring, while the tree is still dormant. Transplant shock frequently happens during the planting process. However, fruit trees experience less shock if you plant them during dormancy.
How long does it take to bear fruit on a plum tree?
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.
Do I need 2 plum trees to produce fruit?
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. European, Japanese, and Damson plum varieties are available depending on your location.
What should I plant next to my plum tree?
(Bulbs to plant around a plum tree include daffodils (to repel voles and suppress grass) and alliums (such as garlic, onions and shallots, which repel a range of pest species).
How much space does a plum tree need?
Plums grow 20 to 25 feet tall with a spread of 15 to 20 feet, so provide each plant with 20 feet of space on all sides. Dwarf plums grow eight to 10 feet tall and wide. Allot 10 feet of space between these.
How far apart should you plant plum trees?
Plum trees should be spaced 15 feet (5 m.) apart and apricots 20 feet (6 m.) apart. Sweet cherries need quite a bit of room and should be space about 30 feet (9 m.)
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.
Will a single plum tree produce fruit?
Plum trees never self-fruit, and trees require a cross-pollination process to produce fruit, so in order to set fruit, you will need to plant two or more compatible varieties. Four to six years after the tree is planted, it usually begins bearing fruit.
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.
Why are there no plums on my plum tree?
Reasons Plum Tree not Fruiting
Freezing temperatures before blooms open will also kill the flowers. Without flowers, you will have no fruit. Insects that chew the terminal ends, shoots, and flowers will also cause no fruit on plum trees. Excess nitrogen fertilizer promotes leafy growth and can diminish fruiting.
Will an apple tree pollinate a plum tree?
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.
What’s the easiest fruit tree to grow?
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.
Which plum trees are self-pollinating?
Some self-pollinating plum trees include: Au-Roadside, Beauty, Damson, Green Gage, Methley, Mount Royal, Persian Green, Plum Burgundy, Santa Rosa, and Stanley. Of course, planting additional plum trees nearby can increase the size of your harvest.
What fruit trees should not be planted together?
What Fruit Trees Should Not Be Grown Together? (If Any)
- Apples or apricots with peppers or walnuts.
- Blackberries, nectarines, or pears with raspberries.
- Blueberries, cherries, corn, grapes, or melons with tomatoes or eggplants.
- Peaches with plums or raspberries.
Can you Underplant fruit trees?
Underplant fruit with nectar-rich flowers such as nepeta, lavender or annual flower mixes to attract bees and other pollinating insects – they’ll pollinate your blossom at the same time.
Can you plant a peach tree near a plum tree?
A Good Couple
Since both types of fruits require similar soils and environment, they can easily be planted near each other in the same yard. Plum trees are generally a bit taller than peaches, so be sure that they are planted where the peach’s access to sunlight won’t be hindered as the trees grow.
Are plum trees invasive?
When deciding which ornamental plum tree to plant in your yard, consider that most species of ornamental plum trees are classified as “limited invasive,” except Blireiana flowering plum (Prunus blireiana).
Are plum tree roots invasive?
Their roots are non-invasive, so if you live in a suitable climate, they can go straight into your ground, and containers aren’t necessary. When fully grown, they can be as tall as 20 feet and as wide as fifteen feet.
How do plum trees spread?
According to ‘Shrubs and Woody Vines of Missouri’, wild plum can propagate by root sprouts to form tickets or a small tree to 20 feet with spreading more or less hanging branches. Space plants eight feet within rows and 16 feet between rows for farmstead and feedlot windbreak plantings.