Growing Santa Rosa Plum Trees These fruit trees need full sun and, in the winter, require 500 chill hours, so be sure to check the USDA hardiness zones to see if it is a good choice for your area. It is self-pollinating, but cross pollinating with other Japanese varieties will result in greater yield.
Do Santa Rosa plums need a pollinator?
While the Santa Rosa plum is a self-pollinator, you’ll harvest a better crop when planted with other Japanese varieties.
Where do Santa Rosa plums grow?
Growing in USDA zones 5-9, this is one of the more temperature tolerant trees, tolerating cold down to -10 degrees. The Santa Rosa only requires 300 chill hours so it will produce plums well even in southern climates.
How do you trim a Santa Rosa plum?
Right after planting the bare root tree, cut it off to one short stick 24 to 30 inches high (1/4 inch above a bud or branch) and cut any other side shoots remaining below that. This encourages low branching and equalizes the top and root system.
Are Santa Rosa plums healthy?
Nutritional Value
Santa Rosa plums are an excellent source of vitamin A to maintain healthy organ functioning, vitamin C to boost the immune system, and are a good source of vitamin K to promote faster wound healing.
How long does it take for a Santa Rosa plum to bear fruit?
Santa Rosa Plum – this self-pollinating tree grows in Zones 5 to 9, and produces large red fruit that matures in July. Bears fruit in 3 to 6 years.
Do you need two Santa Rosa plum trees?
Nope! The Santa Rosa is self-fruitful, meaning it can pollenize itself without even having other plum trees nearby.
Do Santa Rosa plums ripen after picking?
In the Bay Area, Santa Rosa and small Cherry plums typically ripen in late June, with Satsuma, Mariposa, and Green Gage in July. Prune plum varieties are most commonly ripe in August. Plums don’t improve (much) after picking from the tree, so you’ll want to pick your tree several times during the 2 week season.
Are Santa Rosa plums grafted?
SANTA ROSA PLUM Trees, Large to Medium Size Reddish Purple. Sweet Juicy Flesh. Ripen early. Grafted, 3-5 ft tall.
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.
Should plum trees be pruned every year?
Pruning established plum trees
Prune every year in early spring (April), before bud break. Remove any suckers growing from the rootstock. Rub out any buds growing on the lower trunk. Cut out any dead, damaged or diseased wood, and dispose of it as appropriate, removing it from the garden.
Is Santa Rosa plum a dwarf tree?
Dwarf plum trees, such as the ‘Santa Rosa’ plum (Prunus salicina ‘Santa Rosa’) require less space in the landscape while still producing an abundant crop of fresh produce each year. The small dwarf ‘Santa Rosa’ plum tree size also makes yearly pruning easier and mature fruit more accessible.
What month do you prune plum trees?
Prune when the buds are just bursting, or when the tree is just beginning to flower. Established plum trees that are more than three years old can be pruned in summer, from mid-June onwards. Again, the aim is to keep the tree a manageable size and shape, while allowing the fruit to ripen.
What are the disadvantages of eating plum?
Plum might cause stomach issues like gas and diarrhea. If dried plums or pits are swallowed whole, they might block the intestines.
How big do Santa Rosa plums get?
Mature Size
| Standard | 18 – 20′ tall x 18 – 20′ wide |
|---|---|
| Dwarf | 8 – 10′ tall x 8 – 10′ wide |
What is the best 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. Methley Plum Tree: Considered one of the most productive and attractive Plum Trees, the Methley Plum has beautiful spring blossoms and juicy, deep-red fruit.
How often do you water a Santa Rosa plum tree?
Avoid wetting the trunk. Depending on rain, your new tree may not need much irrigation until the weather is warm and new growth is several inches long. In a moderate summer, your first-year tree is likely to need 5 to 10 gallons a week, applied every 1 to 3 weeks.
How often should you water plum tree?
Give your tree enough water to soak the ground all around the roots. 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 is the best tasting plum?
Elephant Heart – mottled dark crimson colored skin, rich firm, red, juicy flesh. One of the best tasting plums with extremely sweet flavor. Japanese variety has clingstone fruit.
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 water a Santa Rosa plum tree?
Water your “Santa Rosa” plum at least once each week but more often during dry spells. When the tree is young, give it deep soakings so it establishes a strong root system. The tree should be pruned every year when it is dormant, during winter.