3-4 feet tall.
(2 years old and 3-4 feet tall.) The Italian Plum is a fantastic, well-rounded tree that always produces a significant amount of extra sweet, dark purple, oval shaped fruit.
What is the growth rate of a plum tree?
Growth Rate
This tree grows at a medium rate, with height increases of 13–24″ per year.
How tall is a plum tree?
16 feet
Plum trees are naturally small trees, generally growing to a height of up to about 5 metres (16 feet), with a spread of around 4 metres (13 feet). This can be an advantage if you want a tree that takes up less space – but make sure you bear in mind that you need two of them in order to have fruit!
What is the lifespan of a plum tree?
Plum | 10-25 years*
What are the stages of a plum tree?
PLUM AND PRUNE
It was derived from the European plum Prunus domestica L. Growth Stages: (1) dormant, (2) swollen bud, (3) bud burst, (4) green cluster, (5) white bud, (6) bloom, (7) petal fall, and (8) fruit set.
Do plum trees need full sun?
Plum trees should be planted in well drained moderate soil that gets full sun exposure. Plant plum trees at the highest point of your garden to discourage frost from settling around the base as it can damage the tree. Plum trees do well in areas that are a bit sheltered from wind exposure as well.
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.
Are plum trees hard 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.
When should you trim a plum tree?
It’s important to prune a young tree during its first dormant season to encourage good growth and a suitable shape. As soon as possible after planting, cut it down so that it’s only about 30 inches (76.2 cm) high. Make the cut just above a bud. New growth will occur where you make each cut.
How long does it take a plum tree to produce 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.
Do plum trees fruit every year?
Fruit such as apples and plums may fruit in alternate years. This is known as biennial bearing. A generally poor crop, but vigorous growth. Performance may decline over several years.
How do you look after a plum tree?
Grow plum trees in moist but well-drained soil in full sun. Prune in summer and mulch in autumn with home-made compost or well-rotted animal manure. Harvest the plums when ripe and juicy.
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.
Can you grow plum trees in pots?
With careful selection of cultivars and appropriate growing methods, it is possible to grow fruit such as apples, cherries, pears and plums in containers. This is a great way to grow fruit in a small garden, particularly as it keeps trees smaller than if they were grown in the ground.
Where do I plant a plum tree?
Selecting a Planting Site
- Plant plum trees in loamy, well-drained soil.
- Choose a planting location that receives full sun—6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight at the very least.
- Avoid planting in low areas where frost may settle, as the frost can damage your trees.
How deep do plum tree roots go?
These feeder roots extend horizontally to the edge of the leaf canopy, or drip line, and beyond up to 1 1/2 times the height of the tree. A few anchoring “sinker” roots grow down several feet to stabilize the tree. It’s likely that your plum tree has some roots that extend 5 feet deep.
Can you cut the top off a plum tree?
A mature tree that hasn’t been pruned needs help to become a good fruit producer, but whacking off the top is not the optimal solution. If pruning old plum trees this way doesn’t kill them, it will assuredly produce unattractive and unproductive new growth.
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.
Can you overwater a plum tree?
It’s important to note that even if you’re in the midst of a brown-lawn drought, you don’t want to water too much. Once every 10 days or two weeks is plenty. Worse than dry, thirsty roots is waterlogged, drowning roots.
What kind of fertilizer do plum trees need?
For newly planted plums, fertilize in the early spring by broadcasting one cup of 10-10-10 fertilizer over an area that is roughly three feet (. 9 m.) across. In mid-May and mid-July, apply a ½ cup of calcium nitrate or ammonium nitrate evenly over an area about two feet (.
What do I feed my plum tree?
Nitrogen, phosphorus/phosphates, and potassium/potash are the “big” macronutrients plum trees need to grow normally. They are present in healthy soil, but may be added when soil is deficient.