Plum tree
Plum trees are a garden favorite that are often overlooked and
make for excellent orchard plants too. Trees produce succulent fruit
that are great eaten alone or make for tasty jams, pies, tarts and other
puddings. In the plum selection you will find greengages, damsons, and
more traditional large fruiting plum trees. If you want to add to your
fruit selection or have a penchant for plums then you are sure to find
the perfect plant for your needs as plums are suitable for both small
and large gardens.
How to grow
There are a few simple
rules which you will need to follow when growing plums and once you have
prepared the area correctly and planted your tree you will be rewarded
for years to come. When you receive your tree you should ensure it is
watered well and plant as soon as possible. If you cannot plant
immediately you should keep plants moist and store in a cool and bright
space.
Position
Plums enjoy a sunny and sheltered
position and a south facing wall is ideal. Planting plums against a
wall or other structure will benefit plants growing in colder areas of
the country, especially as cold weather can slow growth and have a
detrimental effect on flowering. Plums are ideal for training in to
various shapes and this makes them well suited to growing on walls.
Soil
A
fertile and well drained soil is essential when growing plums as they
are hungry plants that do not take well to waterlogging. Soil can be
improved with the addition of organic matter, well-rotted garden
compost, manure, or multi-purpose compost is
ideal, and you may wish to add horticultural grit to improve drainage
further.
Care
After planting your plum tree you
should water well and feed plants regularly to help them establish.
Apply a well-balanced fertilizer in the growing season and
you may also wish to add a liquid seaweed feed to
plants as this will aid in promoting healthy growth. Keep the area
around your plum tree weed free and mulch annually with well-rotted
manure or compost.
Harvesting
Harvest fruits when
they are plump and have achieved their final colour, this will vary on
the type of plum you are growing. For best results allow fruit to ripen
on the tree and pick to eat immediately when fruits are most ripe and
warmed by the sun. Remove fruits by hand or with the use of
pruners.
Top Tip
Hang
wasp traps on your plum
trees as wasp damage can prove significant, affecting fruit quality and
yield.
