How to Grow and Care for Plum Fruit Tree

Plums have a place in a similar family as of peaches, nectarines, and apricots. In any case, plums are considerably more different than their stone-fruit cousins. They can be large or small, with red, purple, green, yellow or orange skin, and pink, yellow, or orange flesh.

Plum is a drupe fruit of the family, Rosacea. Develop plum fruits may have a dusty white covering that gives them a glaucous appearance. Dried plum fruits are known as prunes or dried plums. Plums are one of the first fruit being domesticated by humans; its remains have been found in Neolithic age archeological destinations alongside olives, grapes, and figs.

They initially developed in China thousands of years ago. Then, plums advanced toward Japan, parts of Europe, and America. Today, more than 2,000 varieties are developed throughout the world. Today, the U.S., Russia, China, Romania are among the fundamental makers of plums.

The fruits help in increasing the absorption of iron in the body and are also plentiful in vitamin C, dietary fibers, copper, and potassium. This is additionally utilized in various structures. This is taken in pizza toppings. Utilized in baked dishes, in flavored yogurt, and so on. 

Nutritional Value of Plums

Plums are loaded with a variety of healthy elements, nutrients, and minerals. They are a powerhouse of vitamin A, vitamin C, folate, vitamin K, vitamin B1, and minerals like magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, calcium, fluoride, and potassium. They additionally provide dietary fiber and offer low calories with no unhealthy fats.

One plum contains:

• Calories- 30
• Carbohydrates- 8 g,
• Fiber- 1 g, 4% of your daily value
• Protein- 0 g
• Fat- 0 g
• Vitamin C- 10% of your daily value
• Vitamin A- 5% of your daily value

Varieties of Plums

There are numerous varieties of plums, each with different colors, tastes, and textures.

El Dorado is a well-known Japanese dark plum with yellow flesh. It has a sweet, mellow plum flavor and tends to keep its shape when cooked, making it ideal for things like plum tarts.

The Moyer plum is a typical large, oblong European variety of plums. It’s cherished for its sweet flavor and can be eaten fresh or dried. Damson plums are another popular European plum.

Greengage plum is a green plum popular in France having green skin and a greenish-yellow flesh and tastes like honey. Mirabelle plums are the best of all. The tiny fruit with a slight reddish blush is well known for making eau-de-vie in France.

Red plum varieties have bright red skin. A few, similar to the Santa Rose, have amber flesh, while others, as Simcas, have bright red flesh that coordinates with the skin. The skin is tart and balances out the sweet taste of the fruit. When ripe, these plums are truly soft, so they are among the most delicate. An Elephant heart is another basic red plum.

Yellow plums are yellow inside out and are juicy with a fine crisp texture.

How to Grow Plums

• Buy ripe plums from the market.
• Eat the flesh of the plum.
• Keep removing all the flesh so that the pit looks bare.
• Keep the pit out on a windowsill for some days.
• With the help of a nutcracker, crack the seed gently. Don’t apply a lot of pressure because a smashed seed can’t be planted.
• Soak the almond-like seeds overnight in a glass full of water at room temperature.
• Fill two-thirds of a plastic bag or canning jar with soil and make sure the soil is properly moisturized.
• Place the seed or seeds deeper into the soil in the container and seal the container.
• Place the bag or jar in the refrigerator to start the stratification process, keeping the temperature at 40 degrees Fahrenheit (4 Celsius).
• Choose a permanent place in your garden to plant your plum trees.
• Pick a place that gets direct sunlight and a place that you can mulch and cover to avoid frost.
• Add Plenty of well-drained soil and compost before planting.
• Remove the seed from the jar or bag once healthy, white roots form. Make sure not to destroy these roots when transplanting.
• Dig a small hole that is a few inches deeper than the roots. Create a small mound of soil in the center. Place the seed atop it and spread the roots around the mound.
• Cover the planted seed with soil. Place your seeds in different mounds about 20-25 feet apart.
• Water the area and protect it well.
• It will take three to five years to bear the fruits.

Soil Requirements

Plums require full sun and well-drained sandy soil to flourish. They incline toward soil with a pH that ranges from 5.5 to 6.5. It is consistently a smart thought to have your soil tested before planting any fruit tree to be certain that their pH is fitting.

Water Requirements

Enough water must be utilized during irrigation to hit the plum tree’s root line and beyond. For young trees, around 2 gallons of water is adequate. Grown-up plum trees require around 8 gallons of water at each watering. Regardless of the varieties, all plum trees react well to two times every week watering applications.

Climatic Conditions

Plum trees are strong, and numerous varieties can deal with cold winters.

If you live in a territory with cold winters, think about an American hybrid plum (like the Alderwood plum), some of which can do well in temperatures as chilly, similar to those found in USDA hardiness zone 3.

If you live in a zone with moderately cool winters, think about either an American hybrid or European plum variety. European plums (Prunus domestica, similar to greengage, Stanley, or damson plums), while not exactly as tough as American hybrids, can deal with the cold in many atmospheres in the United States.

If you live in a territory with mild winters, think about a Japanese variety (Prunus salicina, as Methley or satsuma plums), which do best in hotter atmospheres, like peach trees.