Cultivating Delicious Plums: A Step-by-Step Guide
Plum trees, with their sweet and juicy fruits, make an excellent addition to most gardens. They can be grown as small trees, dwarf fruit trees, or even in pots for balconies.
When it comes to selecting a plum variety, there are several options to choose from. 'Cambridge Gage' is a popular greengage, known for its delicious green fruits with yellow flesh that ripen in mid-August. 'Victoria' plums, on the other hand, are a popular variety that produces heavy crops of egg-shaped fruits. They are self-fertile and grafted on to a semi-dwarfing rootstock.
For those seeking hardier trees, Damsons like 'Farleigh Damson' are a good choice. They are smaller, more resilient, and will often do well where larger varieties fail. 'Golden Sphere', a hardy Mirabelle cherry plum, is another option, with large fruits that are good for eating and cooking.
However, plum trees are not without their challenges. They are prone to a variety of pests and diseases, including aphids, plum fruit moth, plum sawfly, wasps, silver leaf, brown rot, and bacterial canker. The larvae of plum moth and plum sawfly can tunnel through fruits, leaving them inedible. Removing damaged plums in May can help prevent infestations.
To manage these problems, it's essential to practice good sanitation, proper pruning, and disease control measures. Remove and destroy diseased wood and fruit, especially those affected by black knot or brown rot, to reduce fungal spores and infection sources. Prune trees during the appropriate dormant period (late winter to early spring) to improve air circulation and sunlight penetration, which help minimize fungal diseases.
Fungicides like captan or chlorothalonil can be used based on local extension recommendations to manage fungal diseases such as black knot. Nutrient management through soil testing and fertilization, and mulching with organic materials, also support tree health and resilience against pests and diseases.
Proper site selection, including well-drained soil and suitable soil pH, is crucial. Plums grow best in a sunny spot in well-drained, fertile soil. Summer pruning helps keep the tree manageable and allows the fruit to ripen. Mulching with home-made compost or well-rotted animal manure in autumn is beneficial.
In summary, by integrating these cultural practices, sanitation, chemical control, and nutritional adjustments, you can effectively prevent and manage common plum tree problems to maintain healthy, productive trees. Whether you prefer to eat them fresh, cook them, or use them in preserves, plums offer a versatile and delicious addition to any garden.
[1] University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources. (2021). Plum and Apricot Diseases. https://ucanr.edu/sites/PestManagement/Plum_and_Apricot_Diseases/ [2] Michigan State University Extension. (2021). Plum Culture. https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/plum_culture [3] Purdue University Extension. (2021). Plum Varieties. https://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/misc/plum_varieties/plum_varieties.html [4] Cornell University Cooperative Extension. (2021). Pruning Plum Trees. https://blogs.cornell.edu/extag/2021/02/04/pruning-plum-trees/ [5] Washington State University Extension. (2021). Plum Diseases. https://extension.wsu.edu/tree-fruit/fruit-diseases/plum-diseases/
[1] A home-and-garden enthusiast might find it rewarding to cultivate plum trees in their garden, as these trees offer a versatile addition to one's lifestyle.
[2] To create an enchanting home-and-garden setting, consider designing a pocket garden around the plum tree, incorporating flowering plants, shrubs, and even vegetable crops to enhance the overall ambiance.
