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.
How do you take care of a plum tree?
Once the fruit begins to develop and the husks are pulling back from the fruit, spray plums with spinosad, esfenvalerate, or permethrin to control the twig borers. Spray again with a mix of fungicide, malathion, and sulfur to control leaf curl, plum pocket, scab, and brown rot, and aphids.
Should I cut my plum tree?
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.
How and when do you prune a plum tree?
Prune in the third week of July when the young shoots have finished growing. Shorten new branches to 20cm (8in), cutting above a downward or outward-pointing bud. Cut side branches back to a bud at 15cm (6in) Train and tie in the central leader to the stake.
What is the best feed for plum trees?
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 (.
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.
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.
What is the best time of year to prune plum trees?
summer
The best season to prune a plum tree is mid summer during full growth. Why not prune a plum tree in dormant season? The answer is that plum trees are prone to fungal infection, including the infamous Silver Leaf disease. Pruning in summer means there are fewer fungal spores in the air.
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.
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 plums grow on new or old wood?
But remember, plums fruit on young wood. Avoid removing branches that are less than three years old unless you have to.
Why does my plum tree not fruit?
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.
Can you use Miracle Grow on fruit trees?
Key Features. Miracle-Gro has tree spikes specially formulated for trees, shrubs, evergreens, fruit, citrus, and palm trees. They should be used annually, in the spring and early fall, for a continuous release of nutrients.
Is blood and bone good for plum trees?
Late winter/early spring is the time to think about giving your fruit trees a feed. As a general fertiliser sprinkle down some blood and bone. Try to avoid applying a fertiliser that is very high in nitrogen, as this will encourage too much vegetative growth.
Why are the leaves on my plum tree going yellow?
Lack of water – trees in pots need regular watering as they dry out quicker and do not catch as much rain water as plants and trees in the ground. Small pots – are the pots big enough? Nutrient deficiencies – as with watering, trees in pots need regular feeding to give them the nutrients they require to grow.
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 month do plum trees bear fruit?
Plum trees are usually in fruit between June and September after blooming between late winter and early spring. In comparison with dwarf varieties, descendants can produce fruit a year earlier (2 to 5 years after planting the plants).
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.
Can plum trees be grown 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.
How long does a plum tree live?
Plum | 10-25 years*
How do you fertilize plum trees?
A plum tree that is three years or younger needs no more than 1/2 cup of 10-10-10 fertilizer once in mid-April and once in early June. A mature plum tree benefits from one annual application of 10-10-10 fertilizer in a quantity of 8 ounces for every year of the tree’s age. It can be applied in mid-April.