Many plums need
cross-pollination from specific varieties to set adequate crops. Such
requirements will be included in the variety descriptions. Santa Rosa
is one of the most versatile pollinizers.
Pests and Disease
Plums are subject to a
variety of diseases and pests. Few are troublesome except in cool,
humid regions. A regular spray schedule, however, may eliminate most
of these problems. Dormant oil spray or dormant disease control
applied in January or February before the buds swell will help ensure a
healthy crop by killing overwintering insect eggs. Further insect
control may be achieved by spraying with Master Nursery Pest Fighter, Fruit & Vegetable Insect Control or Garden Insect Spray if
infestation is discovered.
Possibly the most
serious disease is bacterial gummosis, which causes long, narrow,
damp-looking gummy patches on the trunk or branches. This can be
controlled by pruning; be sure to sterilize your pruning implement after
each cut or use by dipping it into a 10-to-1 bleach and water solution.
Without proper sterilization, you will pass the disease to other parts of
your tree. Bacterial gummosis can also be prevented by following a
regular fertilization and watering schedule.
Neglected trees may
develop mites. Ask for professional garden center assistance in mite
identification and control. A regular washing down of the tree with
the power end nozzle of your hose may be your best control because it breaks
up the spider mite webs. Be careful that you don’t wash off your
blossoms or fruit!.
Pruning & Thinning
When cared for
properly, plums achieve tremendous shoot growth. For this reason, they
may require pruning at all stages. Trees should be trained in a vase
shape, which is readily accomplished because of the vigorous growth and
free-branching habit of most varieties. Some tend to branch upright
and should be cut to outside branches. Others tend to spread and
should be cut to inside branches. After the initial training period of
2 to 3 years, it is unnecessary to cut back branches. Prune carefully.
Plums bear on long-lived spurs that are formed abundantly on all branches.
Many plums tend to
overbear. Pruning can seldom regulate a crop so that no thinning is
needed. Hand thinning should be done as soon as the fruit is large
enough to be seen and picked easily. The remaining fruit should be
thinned to 4 to 6 inches apart and clusters should be broken up. Look
before you thin your fruit!. Each tree is different; yours may not
For best quality, plums
should remain on the tree until firm-ripe. This stage is often
difficult to determine. Possibly the best guide to ripening is to
watch for softening fruit. As soon as they appear, most fruit on the
tree will be ready to harvest.
Due to the
uncertainty of wholesale grower stock, trucking, and weather, all varieties
will not be available at all times. Although we do have the ability to
special order some stock, we make no guarantee of its arrival and cheerfully
encourage alternate selections.
Black Amber Fruit oblate. Flesh is yellow with some red when over-ripe. Firm
flesh, small pit, good quality. .
Blue Damson. . .
The smallish blue fruits are best for jam, jelly, and preserves. Self-fertile.
Burbank The large red fruit has amber flesh of excellent flavor good for canning or
dessert. Pollinate with Santa Rosa.
Elephant Heart Very large. Blood red skin. Red flesh, excellent flavor - one of
the best. Use Santa Rosa as a pollinator.
Emerald Beauty One of the
highest rated in taste tests. Light green skin, greenish-yellow to orange
freestone flesh. Sweet, crisp and crunchy. Pollinate with Beauty,
Burgundy, Late Santa Rosa, .
Nubiana Flavor King Pluot.
This European variety greenish-yellow fruit has amber flesh and is good
fresh, cooked, or preserved. Self-fertile.
Italian Prune Plum Large, oval. Dark purple skin. Excellent quality,
greenish-yellow flesh. Self-fertile.
Mariposa The large round fruit has maroon skin and flesh. Pollinate with
Mount Royal Dark purple fruit. Sweet, firm, juicy. Self-fertile.
This extremely large red plum has yellow flesh. the trees are disease
resistant, hardy and productive. Partially self-fertile; may use
Satsuma to pollinate.
Redheart Medium-sized fruit is slightly oval to heart-shaped (thus the name) with
dull green skin covered by medium dark red with heavy, gray bloom. The
bright red flesh is sweet, firm, fine-grained and aromatic. Partially self-fertile; may pollinate with Burbank or Santa Rosa.
Santa Rosa Widely popular large plum with a deep crimson skin and flesh that is
purplish near skin and yellow, streaked pink near the pit. Excellent
for dessert or canning. Self-fertile.
Satsuma A meaty, small to medium blood plum with red juice, dark red skin, red flesh
and a small pit. Its mild flavor makes it a good choice for desserts
or preserves. Use a Santa Rosa as a pollinizer.
One of the most widely planted European plums because of its dark blue fruit
with firm, richly flavored yellow flesh. A heavy bearer. Self
Superior This large, conical red fruit with russet dots and heavy bloom has yellow,
firm flesh excellent for eating. Pollinate with a Toka.
Toka This large, pointed fruit is medium red, and often described as apricot
colored with a rich, spicy flavor. Use Superior as a pollinizer.
This golden yellow European plum has a thick skin and yellow flesh. Self-fertile.