Among the many different fruit bushes and trees growing in my country garden, plum is not the last in its importance. However, without proper care for plum trees, you will not have to expect abundant fruit from them, or even they may die. Now I want to share my experience in caring for this beautiful culture and talk about the main work related to it.
1. Place and time of planting seedlings
I always plant in early spring, because I am convinced that during autumn they often die before they have time to take root. to frost, and in summer, in hot weather, their superficial root system dries up, which is why the plants also disappear.
I try to choose a place for plums that is well lit by the sun and, most importantly, not windy, protected from drafts. The soil should be fertile, loose, with neutral acidity and not waterlogged.
2. Selection of plum seedlings and their planting
On sale you can find seedlings of many varieties, sometimes choosing one of them can be quite difficult. But in any case, the seedlings should be healthy - without traces of lichen, signs of root rot, as well as dry or broken branches. I usually plant them in April, before the buds open. If necessary, if the seedling is tall, I tie it to a peg.
3. Ensuring pollination
Since most plum seedlings offered for sale are self-fertile, one tree in the garden is not enough to set up a future crop. This question is not before me, since I have about a dozen plums in my garden. However, it is precisely one plum tree that grows near the neighbors, and it bears fruit quite abundantly. And the secret of this phenomenon lies in the fact that its pollination occurs with the help of my plums, at the same time with which it blooms in them.
4. top dressing
Nutrients from fertilizers that were put into the soil when planting a seedling are enough for a young plum for two years. Next, I start feeding her. But not every season, but once every 2-3 years, determining the need for top dressing by the appearance of the tree. I use solutions of urea and potassium sulfate, nitrophoska, as well as chicken manure diluted in water for feeding.
5. Watering
Most of the plum root systems are located at a shallow depth, up to 40 cm, so the roots dry out quickly in hot weather. If the tree does not have enough moisture, it may well shed fruit ovaries. In hot weather, I always check that the soil under the plums is sufficiently moist. If necessary, I spend watering them, while spending up to 5 buckets of water, and even more during the flowering period.
6. seasonal pruning
I spend it twice a year, because young plum seedlings grow quite quickly. In the spring it is a formative pruning, in the fall - sanitary. Places of cuts after pruning are treated with garden pitch.
7. Mulching the trunk circle
Mulch is necessary for winter warming of the root system of plum trees, as well as to prevent the soil from drying out in summer. As mulch, I can use peat, bark (chips), freshly cut grass, or some other suitable material that comes to hand.
8. Preparing plums for wintering
Usually my plums endure the winter, but still, just in case (hard frosts suddenly hit!), In late autumn I wrap the root neck of each tree with layers of sphagnum moss. And to protect the plums from sunburn, I wrap the trunks with paper or some other covering material.
9. Getting rid of root growth
Her presence is inevitable. But I try to immediately remove it, because it takes moisture and nutrients from the main tree, which ultimately adversely affects fruiting.
Most often, I just cut this growth with pruning shears, but sometimes I spray it with a 10% solution of urea, which literally burns it and prevents the appearance of new shoots.
10. Pest control
Like other garden plants, plums are subject to attack by insect pests. In order to prevent their occurrence, I process plums in late autumn or early spring, when there are no leaves on the trees, with Bordeaux liquid (3%) and 5% urea solution. I destroy pests that have already appeared by spraying trees with insecticides (Fufanon, Karbofos, etc.).
11. Grafting plums
If a young plum does not have a good yield, I change its varietal qualities by grafting. And not for any horticultural crop, but only for another plum, apricot or cherry plum, whose age does not exceed 10 years. I don’t know, maybe you can graft a plum on trees of other varieties. Curious what crops other gardeners graft their plums onto?
In general, plum care is not difficult. There has not yet been a season for me to be left without berries. At the same time, my cream always makes me happy with the quality of the harvest.
#plums#cultivation and care#garden