Hello dear gardeners - amateurs!
If you don’t know how to plant a plum in the fall, I’ll give you some tips. Last autumn, a neighbor from the nursery brought a new variety as a present. A year passed, and the result was not long in coming: the tree grew, got stronger, bloomed in the first spring. In gardening, the main thing is to choose the right agricultural technique.
The main advantage of the southern regions is the opportunity to do gardening work almost all year round. The question of choosing the time for planting seedlings is not as acute as in the Moscow region, in the Urals or in Siberia. Where young trees often freeze out during autumn planting, they do not have time to start before the cold weather. The dates are postponed to spring, only frost-resistant varieties are taken for divorce.
My guide is suitable for mild climates. In spring, the plum grows well, blooms one of the first, therefore, autumn planting is preferable in the south.
The culture is sensitive to heat and requires attention and care. The best site is sandy or loamy, well-moistened soils, but without excess moisture. Swampy, shaded areas, clayey strata or layers with far from the surface groundwater are not suitable.
Pay attention to the level of snow cover in winter. If the height of the snowdrifts exceeds 60 cm, it is not recommended to plant a plum.
My choice fell on a free area near the fence. There is enough sunlight, the crown of the tree will not subsequently shade the currant bushes growing nearby.
It is important not only to choose the right place, but also to adhere to the correct agrotechnical techniques. Pits are dug in advance, 10-14 days in advance: excess soil will crumble, settle, which will improve root survival. Suitable sizes- diameter and depth 60 cm.
Fertilizers must be applied before starting work. Those who like to follow the step-by-step guides use complex mineral supplements.
I used to deal with them too. Slightly "going through" the norms, I achieved a reverse reaction: the branches grew strongly, no ovaries were formed, subsequently the tree disappeared.
Concentrated fertilizers have a bad effect on the roots, "burning" them. Therefore, I feed the plum traditionally, with organic matter: I mix the earth from the pit with humus in a 2: 1 ratio.
In order for the tree to take root better, a strong stake is driven into the hole for support. The plum is placed on the north side of it, the roots are carefully distributed over the entire volume of the pit. Another tip is to dip them in a clay solution before planting. The same rule applies to other trees.
I fill the hole according to my own method: first, simple soil, then - soil with humus, on top - the remaining earth. Good watering, and the last layer is mulch (straw, compost).
An important point: I do not sprinkle the root collar to the end, leaving about 5 cm above the surface. At the end of the work, I cut off the seedlings, leaving half the height, I tie them up. Further care comes down to the timely formation of the crown, garter and feeding.
I don’t know what the reason is - my "light hand" or following the recommendations of popular gardening publications and information on the Internet, but the plum was taken easily. I look forward to a good harvest in the future.
Who has not had the desire to remove the plum from the stone, after being offered to taste the juicy fruits of a new variety for tasting? Familiar situation?
Just a word of caution for newbies: don't try to do this.
First, the process is very long and complicated. The drupe planted in the ground in the fall has practically no chance - it will be eaten by rodents.
The germination rate of seedlings in a box is unlikely to reach 60%. After the appearance of the first shoots, weak plants are discarded (cut off), the rest are grown, transplanted.
The slightest deviation from the irrigation and feeding regime is fraught with the death of the sprouts.
Problems will arise at the stage of transfer to open ground... The sprouts are poorly accepted, get sick, wither. Lack of light, fertilizers, excess moisture have a detrimental effect on them. They are susceptible to disease and poor conditions.
The plum will begin to bear fruit only for 5-6 years, it is highly likely that the berries will turn out to be small and sour (or they will not be at all). In this way, only the Ussuri, Far Eastern, Canadian, Chinese varieties are propagated. It is hardly possible to grow a good, full-fledged healthy tree from a bone, such as in the photo.
I have everything for today, dear readers and subscribers. I would like to hear your opinion on the methods of growing plums.
Do you agree with me? Or do you have your own opinion, for example, on the possibility of obtaining full-fledged seedlings from the seeds of fruit trees?
Maybe your experience was more successful? Share it in the comments, and don't forget to recommend the article to your friends on social networks. Truth is born in controversy. Let's not deviate from this rule!
You can talk about the useful and taste properties of plums for a long time, these trees are found in many garden plots.
However, like any plant, agricultural technology has its own characteristics. Planting plums in autumn is the best option so that the tree takes root well and bears fruit abundantly. Why is it better to plant it during this period, how to prepare the site, than to feed it, how to prune and protect it from pests and diseases? It is important to understand these issues so as not to be mistaken with the variety and growing methods in a particular region.
There are often discussions about when it is better to plant plums: in spring or autumn? In the autumn period, intensive sap flow stops. The seedling is in a semi-dormant state, therefore it tolerates transplanting better, gets used to a new place, and will not suffer immediately after transplanting from the sweltering summer heat. It rains more often in the autumn, so you can do without additional watering.
When to plant plants? It is important to plant before frost. For Central Russia, seedlings are placed in a new place at the end of September. In Siberia and the Urals, it is desirable to be in time in the first week of September.
If the planting material was bought late, it is better to dig in the tree at an angle and transplant it in the spring. In this case, intensive watering is required during the summer.
For a long time, breeders have bred varieties with different ripening periods. Fruits differ in color, taste. Currently, the following varieties are popular:
| Greengage | Has large yellow fruits, exquisite taste with a late ripening |
| July | High yield, large purple-red fruits, early fruiting |
| Zarechnaya early | A winter-hardy tree with an early harvest, purple, fleshy oval fruits, ideal for home harvesting |
| Souvenir of the east | A tree with juicy, deep red heart-shaped fruits, sweet mid-season |
| Golden ball | The plant has bright yellow fruits with a peach flavor with early fruiting, is top in taste |
| Early | Begins fruiting 2 years after planting, reddish fruits ripen in early summer |
| Svetlana | The variety is suitable for northern regions, the fruits are not large, but with high taste. |
| Romain | Mid-season variety with red fruits and tasty pulp. |
After planting, the first 7 years of fruiting is weak, after 12 years the period of the highest yield begins. Based on this physiology, it is necessary not only to acquire, but also to create living conditions. The correct growth and acceleration of the onset of intensive fruiting depends on this.
Lowlands are not suitable for trees, in which cold air accumulates in spring and autumn, it has a detrimental effect on plants. A good place would be the border of the site along the fence or next to the house, which will protect from the wind, but not in the shade. Drought has a bad effect on fruiting; during dry periods, watering is organized. The optimum pH of the earth is in the range of 6.4–7.2.
Plum is afraid of standing tall groundwater... Therefore, if they are at a depth of less than 1.5 meters, you can plant a plum in the fall on specially prepared high beds, or organize the drainage of water from the site.
| Moscow suburbs | Planting and care: if the winter is snowless, it is important to insulate the roots. To do this, in the fall, before frost, a mound is thrown around the trunk and covered with grass or sawdust. |
| Leningrad region | In areas with a high groundwater table, organize drainage: diversion ditches are dug around the perimeter. Be sure to mulch the tree trunk circle with peat or hay. |
| Middle lane | How to plant a plum in autumn in central Russia? For this, it is important to choose or create conditions for growth and reproduction: moisture, soil quality, security, and fight against pests and diseases. |
| Siberia | It is necessary to grow varieties that can withstand the harsh winter on the southern and southwestern slopes, protected from the wind. |
| Ural | In this region with frosty winters, it is necessary to choose zoned varieties, prepare the plant as described below. |
The site must be protected from drafts: trees should be placed near fences or buildings. The soil should not be acidic and waterlogged. If the place does not correspond to the physiology of the plant, a special technology is used: high ridges are created, fertilizer is applied, protective shields are erected.
It is necessary not only to properly plant the plum in the fall, but also to prepare the soil. A mixture is needed for each pit:
Dolomite flour is added to the acidic soil - 0.5 kg.
The best option for buying a tree is specialized nurseries that sell rootstock plants with grafted varietal cuttings. Such seedlings start flowering and fruiting earlier. Main parameters:
A step-by-step guide designed by an experienced gardener:
it is necessary to properly prepare the soil in the garden. It is good to dig the earth not only at the site of the future pit, but also around it. Planting plums in the fall begins with choosing the optimal place, the correct preparation of the land;
before you mark out the scheme for planting seedlings, you should take into account the size of an adult plant, what shape and height the crown will be. In any case, the distance should not be less than 3 meters from each other;
photo: © thefruitnut.files.wordpress.com
a planting hole is required with a diameter of at least 80 cm and a depth of 60 cm, it is dug two weeks before the planned planting. For better drainage, sand is poured at the bottom. Fill with fertilized soil not completely. A peg is driven in the center of the hole, it is intended to become a support for a young plant;
before planting, gardeners carefully examine the plant and trim bad roots;
photo: © richmondtreestewards.files.wordpress.com
place the seedling, straighten the roots, so that the root collar is located slightly above ground level (after watering, it will sit a little lower);
cover the roots with soil without fertilization, so as not to burn them, fill in all the voids and gently trample. Then water, loosen the soil and mulch so that moisture is not lost.
photo: © stormwater.allianceforthebay.org
After that, the question arises: caring for plums in the fall?
Planting and care in the open field includes timely feeding, pruning, watering and protection from pests and diseases. In the first year, you can do without fertilization. The plant will use the fertilizer applied before planting in the spring and throughout the summer season.
Pruning is carried out annually, which forms the crown. In April, in the northern regions in May, a healthy pruning is carried out. This is the best time for such work. Branches that grow inside the crown are removed, intersect with each other, shoots growing from the root. Shorten the upper branches to lower the crown. This improves growth, fruiting and further propagation by shoots.
Gardeners get rid of gum and white rot by early pruning. Thinning the crown prevents perforated spotting. Processing with Bordeaux liquid eliminates fruit rot, coccomycosis, curly leaves, bacterial spotting, moniliosis, this minimizes plum care in autumn.
During the spring awakening of the plant, harmful insects appear. To protect the garden you need:
We figured out how to plant a plum in the fall, let's talk about top dressing. Fertilizer is applied annually, which includes ammonium sulfate. For acidic soil, ammonium nitrate is used. Trees cannot do without organic matter: you can use cow dung diluted in water in a ratio of 1:10. And also use humus for mulching, it improves the growth of both a seedling and an adult plum quite well. Every spring, foliar feeding is carried out with a 0.5% urea solution.
Planting plums in the fall includes watering: 2 buckets of water, but only if heavy rains are not expected. Plum does not like waterlogging. From spring and throughout the summer, it is important to organize timely watering.
The plant needs to be helped to survive the winter, as the plum loves comfort:
Interesting! “For the Urals and Siberia on open place a shield shelter is made for protection from the wind. "
In the video, an experienced gardener tells and shows in practice how to plant a plum in the fall.
Despite the fact that the plum is a "characteristic" tree that loves good feeding and watering, protected places, using the above tips, you can grow it even in the difficult conditions of the North and the Urals.
In the hope of feasting on delicious and useful fruits many summer residents plant a plum on the site. However, not every gardener manages to provide the tree with the necessary conditions for further growth, and it suddenly dies. The reason for this phenomenon lies in the wrong spring or autumn planting.
In order for the tree not to freeze in winter and to start growing quickly by the arrival of heat, it must be planted at such a time that it has time to root well before the onset summer heat and severe frosts. So, in the spring, the plum is planted in late March-early April, when the sap flow has not yet begun, and in the fall - in September, about a month before the establishment of cold weather.
Autumn is considered the best time for planting plums. Planting at this time has several advantages:
The main disadvantage of planting plums in autumn is that the seedling needs to be covered for the winter, otherwise it will freeze out.
Planting in the spring also has its pros and cons. The only advantage of spring planting is that the seedling takes root well during the season and tolerates the winter safely.
It is undesirable to plant a tree for the following reasons:
Before running headlong for a seedling, you need to carefully study all the rules for planting a plum. What do you need to know?
Video: correct phased planting of plums
When choosing a planting material, first of all, you need to pay attention to its origin. It is best to choose zoned varieties that are adapted to the weather conditions and soil composition of the growing region. Seedlings from other regions are not recommended for planting, since in most cases they do not tolerate long-term low and high temperatures, grow slowly and die within a short time.
Since plums are divided into those that are themselves pollinated and those that need other trees of this species for pollination, you need to decide on the method of pollination. To do this, you need to take into account not only your own desires, but also the amount of free space on the site.
It is equally important to inspect the appearance of the seedling. The first step is to assess the condition of the rhizome: it should be well developed with a central conductor of medium length. A normal root system should consist of 4-5 shoots, the length of which is more than 25 cm.
Important! You should not buy a seedling whose conductor is cut too short.
The thickness of the trunk of a young tree should be 1-2 cm. In some varieties, the thickness of a 2-year-old seedling may be more or less by a few millimeters.
For planting, it is best to use trees that are one or two years old.
In order for the seedling to develop well and bring delicious fruits in the future, it is very important to place it in the right place. It is necessary to plant a plum in well-lit areas or in a small partial shade, only here it will be able to form high-quality fruits,
Do not plant plums in lowlands where water stagnates for a long time or in places where groundwater flows close to the surface. Plum growing in such conditions often suffers from fungal diseases, which is why it does not bear fruit well.
According to the map of combining trees and shrubs, the plum cannot be planted next to pear, cherry, cherry and walnut... According to the observations of experts, trees planted nearby inhibit each other's growth and bear fruit poorly.
The distance between trees depends on their variety. In order for large specimens of plums to have enough space, they are planted with a step of 3-4 m, trees of low-growing varieties are planted at a distance of 2.5-3 m.
Important! When drawing up a site plan, you need to take into account the fact that many varieties are not capable of self-pollination, so they should be planted only in groups.
The ideal environment for growing plums is loamy soil, the acidity of which is 6.5-7 units. You can determine the acidity of the soil using litmus paper. To do this, take a handful of wet earth after rain and apply a test paper to it. If she colored in pink color- the soil is neutral or alkaline. Red signals that the environment is acidic.
In this case, the soil must be lashed before planting: pre-add slaked lime or dolomite flour to the site.
To improve sandy or peat soil, a layer of clay 10 cm high is poured into the pit.
Even the highest quality seedling will take root for a long time if the soil is poor in micro and macro elements. To prepare the substrate, the following substances are added to the soil:
You can fill the planting hole with a simpler mixture. 2 cups of nitrophoska and 200 g of wood ash are added to the fertile land. The latter substance can be replaced with the same amount of fluff lime or dolomite flour.
After combining all the components, the mixture is thoroughly mixed.
A week before the expected landing date, a hole is dug at the selected place with a diameter of 70-80 cm and a depth of 70 cm. When arranging a place for landing, the top layer of earth is folded on one side, and the bottom layer on the other.
If the soil on the site is heavy, the bottom is loosened to a depth of 20-25 cm. Then the fertile soil taken from the heap where the top layer of the earth was folded is mixed with fertilizers.
A wooden peg 110 cm high is thrust into the bottom of the planting pit at a distance of 2 cm from the center.
Crushed eggshells are poured onto the bottom and covered with 2/3 of the prepared substrate. If the mixture is not enough, fertile soil is poured into the pit.
Important! To prevent young wood from drying out, the root collar should rise 3-5 cm above the ground.
After all the necessary preparations, the procedure for planting a plum is as follows:
Video: how to plant a plum
In order for young trees to take root in a new place, they need to create the most comfortable conditions. Seedling care includes the following manipulations.
Watering. Due to the fact that the plum prefers to grow in a humid environment, the soil must be regularly moistened. It is especially important to water after spring planting, since after the arrival of heat, the soil dries out quickly and the young tree may die.
In the future, in dry weather, the tree is watered once a week. The volume of water should be such that the soil is moist at a depth of 40 cm. Following this rule, the water consumption for watering a young tree is 40 liters, for an adult - 60 liters.
Important! You cannot turn the soil around the plum into a swamp. Excess moisture is the main cause of the development of fungal diseases and cracking of fruits.
In order for the tree to feel normal, in winter you need to monitor the thickness of the snow cover. If the snow near the seedling is more than 60 cm, it is removed.
Top dressing. Young trees begin to feed at the age of 2 years. In the spring, an organic solution from mullein or droppings, prepared at the rate of 1:10 and 1:20, is introduced under the plum. Fans of mineral fertilizers feed plums with urea or complex mixtures with a high nitrogen content. In autumn, the tree is fed with phosphorus and potassium fertilizers: 100 g of potassium sulfate or superphosphate.
Pruning. In order to form the correct crown, the seedling is cut immediately after planting. In the first year, the central conductor is shortened to the level of 1-1.2 m, in the second, the strongest branches are chosen and cut to a length of 25-30 cm.At the age of 3 years, the apical growths are shortened by 30 cm, the lateral ones by 15 cm ...
At the end of the formation, the crown should consist of 5-6 strong branches located at an angle of 50 degrees. In the future, shoots are annually removed, which thicken the crown, as well as dried, diseased and damaged branches.
Loosening. After each watering or heavy rain, the soil around the seedling is carefully loosened. As a result of this manipulation, more air enters the roots, and the plum grows faster.
Mulching. To prevent moisture evaporation and the growth of weeds, as well as to protect the roots from freezing, the near-stem circle of a young seedling is covered with humus or compost. Organic substances not only cope with the above functions, but also replenish the stock of micro and macro elements of the soil for a long time. The mulch should cover the soil above the rhizome, but should not touch the trunk.
Shelter. The tree planted in the fall is not yet strong enough to withstand the winter cold without additional protection, therefore, it must be covered in the first year. On the eve of cold weather, the trunk circle is mulched with a layer of straw, which is covered on top with sheets of thin metal or slate. The trunk of the seedling is wrapped in burlap or dense material.
Read more about preparing plums for winter and care in the fall - for pruning and shelter, read this article.
Video: how to care for a plum
In order to plant the plum correctly, amendments must be made to the general planting recommendations, which are caused by different weather conditions and the state of the soil of a particular region.
Due to the fact that winter in this region is not characterized by severe frosts, plums are planted in spring in late March-early April, and in autumn in mid-September. For planting, it is recommended to use varieties resistant to moniliosis and clasterosporium.
Plum planting in spring and autumn in the Moscow region is carried out according to the above recommendations, without any peculiarities.
In the north, plums are planted in the open ground in April in the spring, immediately after the soil has thawed. Since there is a high risk of freezing, fruit tree usually not planted in autumn. Only zoned frost-resistant varieties are used as planting material.
Video: how to plant a plum sapling in Siberia and the Urals
Even in such a simple matter as planting a plum, novice gardeners manage to make a few mistakes. Here are the most common ones:
All that is needed for the correct planting of a plum is a little time to study the technology and put it into practice. A few years later, the plum will certainly thank the owner in full for the care rendered with an abundant harvest of sweet fruits.
Video: how to grow plums
The purpose of autumn grooming is to prepare the plum tree for the cold winter season. The fruits have already been removed, and now you should thank your wet nurse. The main stages of autumn care are as follows:
Plum planting process in autumn
How often do we hear the complaints of gardeners that the planted plum trees for some reason do not bear fruit, or even die. And the reason lies not at all in a bad variety or low-quality seedling, the fault is in the wrong planting.
The sequence of the autumn planting of plum trees is in the following chronology:
If the cold has come, and you completely missed the time for the autumn planting in the ground, there is still a way to preserve the seedlings until spring.
This can be done as follows:
If there is a greenhouse on your garden plot, then you can dig in young growth in it.
Pruning plums in autumn
Pruning in the fall is essential for the best preparation of the plum tree for the winter season. It is held in the first or second decade of September. Avoid pruning later, or the tree will not have enough time to properly prepare for the cold.
Correct autumn pruning helps to form the future crown correctly. If you leave branches that are too long, they can break under strong gusts of wind. General recommendations for autumn pruning are as follows:
If you are too lazy to prune a plum tree in the fall, then in the spring do not expect a blooming and healthy appearance from it.
Top dressing of plums in autumn
Throughout the year, the plum tree needs to be fed several times, the final one falls just in the fall. The procedure can be carried out after the final ripening of the fruit. Each tree will have to use about thirty-five liters of fertilizer, which consists of:
Note that in the first year of life, young animals do well without fertilizers.
Completed in due time, autumn feeding will bring you a generous and bountiful harvest later.
Treatment of plums from diseases and pests
A very important stage in the process of growing fruiting is the timely and scrupulous processing of the plum tree from various pests and diseases. The greatest harm to a tree is caused by aphids, spread by black ants. To protect yourself from this misfortune, you will have to actively get down to business.
Plum processing from this pest is carried out several times a year, but the control one - in the fall. After you have harvested the last crop (but before the leaves fall), you can start the rescue procedure:
In addition, the main branches and boles should be whitewashed. Before starting the event, you should thoroughly clean the bark from excess debris.
Plum breeding methods
Any gardener dreams of learning the right way propagating plum trees. There are three main breeding methods:
Blitz Tips
So, the main points in autumn plum care:
Modern plum varieties cannot be called unpretentious. They have certain requirements for planting, agricultural technology, fertilizers, and without meeting these conditions, trees may not bear fruit, or even die altogether.
We have repeatedly talked in detail about the various stages of plum care and the operations that need to be done with it, but in this article we want to collect all the main points for those who are just going to start this beautiful tree in their garden.
Plum seedlings can be found on sale almost all warm seasons, however, despite the assurances of sellers, the planting itself is best done in early spring. When planting in autumn, young plums often do not have time to take root and die, and the summer heat is destructive for these trees with a shallow root system.
In extreme cases, if in the fall you come across a sapling of a very attractive variety, try to plant it so that at least 2 months remain before the onset of cold weather, then the tree will have a chance to survive until spring.
Choose a place that is well lit and protected from the wind for plums. It can develop in partial shade, but definitely not in a draft.
Plums grow best in fertile, loose soils with a neutral pH. It can be both loamy and sandy loam soil, the main thing is that there is a sufficient amount of nutrients in it, and they are applied regularly.
The type of soil on the site - how to determine and improve the structure
To find out on your own what type of soil prevails on your site, it is enough to carry out a few simple manipulations.
Plum does not tolerate stagnant moisture and waterlogging, therefore it will not grow on wetlands or lands where the distance to groundwater is less than 1.5 m.
The choice of planting material is always difficult, because the eyes simply run up from the proposals of nurseries, shops and private farms. Whichever variety you prefer, remember that the seedling must meet a number of requirements:
In addition, the seedling does not show signs of disease, traces of lichens, broken or cut branches.
Young plums are planted in a permanent place in April, before budding on the tree. For an annual tree (and the survival rate of plums is highest at this age), you need to dig holes 60-70 cm deep.If you plant several plums nearby, then the distance between them should be at least 3 m, but from large adult trees, they are desirable move it 7-10 m away so that the "kids" do not have to compete for light and food.
In order to provide the young tree with plums optimal conditions, a drainage layer is laid in the pit during planting, and then 250 g of superphosphate and a bucket of humus are added, evenly mixing it with the main soil.
The tree is placed in a hole so that the root collar is 3-4 cm above ground level, leveled and filled up to half, then spilled with 3 buckets of water so that the soil is compacted, and filled up to the top. It is advisable to mulch the tree trunk circle with peat or humus.
If your seedling is already more than 1 m in height, tie it to the peg with a soft rope.
Most of the plum varieties currently on the market are self-fertile. This means that one tree on the site will not be enough, and the crop will not be tied. If there is a neighboring garden next to your territory, where plums of other varieties grow, blooming at the same time as yours, you can do without planting additional plants. If this is not the case, you will have to plant several copies at once, specifying when buying whether they have the same flowering time.
However, you can also find self-fertile varieties of plums. True, even they will bear fruit better in the company of their own kind.
Top 5 best self-fertile plum varieties (photos, descriptions, care tips)
A selection of the best self-fertile varieties of plums for growing in the Moscow region and the middle lane.
The fertilizer pledged during planting will be enough for the first two years, but starting from the third, it will already have to be fed. This is not done every year, but with an interval of 2-3 years, depending on the condition of the soil and the tree itself.
The plum is fertilized not at the root, but in the holes or groove dug at a distance of 60-80 cm from the tree trunk.
In the spring, after the garden wakes up, 2 tablespoons are added to the plum tree trunk circle. urea and potassium sulfate per 10 liters of water. After the plum has faded, a second feeding is carried out with 3 tbsp. nitrophosphate for 10 liters of water.
During the formation of the fruits, the plum can be poured with a solution of chicken manure (1:20), and in the fall, spray it over the foliage with potassium sulfate and superphosphate, 2 tablespoons each. fertilizers per 10 liters of water.
The bulk of plum roots are located at a depth of 40 cm, that is, in that layer of soil that dries out easily. From a lack of moisture, the plum can shed flowers and ovaries, so you need to make sure that the soil in the near-stem circle is always moistened, but not flooded.
On average, a young tree needs 5 buckets of water at a time, and during the formation of fruits, this volume increases by a third.
Young plums grow very quickly and therefore need annual pruning. It is held 2 times a year: forming in spring and sanitary in autumn.
After pruning the plum, all the cuts are treated with garden pitch.
The first formative pruning of plums is carried out one year after planting. Depending on the type of crown chosen, some of the branches are removed, all tops and sometimes the central conductor is cut off.
Correct pruning of plums - tips for beginners (diagrams, photos, videos)
Here's how to prune a plum in spring, summer and autumn.
To improve the wintering of plants and reduce the drying out of the soil, mulching the plum tree trunk circle will help. If after planting you covered it with peat, then after 2 years you can repeat the process, or surround the roots of the tree with bark (chips) within a radius of 1 m.
Which mulch to use for different crops?
The yield and beauty of flowering plants often depend on what they are mulched with.
The same will work and mulch from freshly cut grass or straw, however, for the winter the roots of the tree will have to be protected from rodents.
Plums usually endure winters, especially in the middle lane. But since their roots are located quite close to the surface, it is advisable to protect the garden from severe frosts, damping off and rodents.
To do this, in late autumn, wrap the root collar of the plum with sphagnum moss, and as soon as snow appears, trample it around the tree. If for some reason you didn't mulch the trunk circle in the spring, be sure to do it in the fall, but choose rough materials that mice won't like.
Do not forget to whitewash the plum after the onset of stable freezing temperatures - young trees with delicate bark often suffer from frost cracks. Wrapping the barrel with paper or covering material will also help cope with sunburn.
Plum is famous for its abundance of root growth and its firmness. Of course, if you want to propagate plums, then these offspring will come in handy. But if the number of trees in the garden suits you completely, then you need to get rid of the overgrowth in a timely manner. It wastes food and moisture, robbing the tree of strength and reducing its fruiting.
You cannot get rid of the overgrowth simply by cutting - it will "sprout" over and over again. It is better to spray it with a 10% urea solution 2-3 times in sunny weather. The shoots will "burn out", and new ones will cease to appear over time.
Many insect pests prefer plums to other crops and actively eat leaves, buds, flowers and fruits. They are usually discovered quite late, so one or even several crops can be lost unknowingly.
Most dangerous pests plums and fight against them
Description and photos of insects that can leave a gardener without a plum crop.
For preventive purposes, plums are treated in a leafless state (in early spring and late autumn) with 3% Bordeaux liquid and 5% urea solution.
If pests have already appeared in your garden, plums need to be sprayed with insecticides 3-4 times per season: before bud break, during the period when leaves appear, before flowering and before fruit ripens. Fufanon, Karate, Karbofos, Aktara, Mospilan, Calypso preparations are well suited for these purposes.
If the young plum grown by you turned out to be insufficiently productive or gives unpalatable fruits, you can change its varietal qualities by grafting. It is important to remember that plums are not grafted on all crops, but only on plums, cherry plums and apricots.
In addition, plum trees age very quickly, so it makes no sense to vaccinate on a plant over 10 years old.
Everything you need to know about plum grafting
Plum grafting is within your power. See for yourself!
Plum grafting is carried out at any time of the year, but autumn is the most risky and often destroys the tree.
Plum care seems difficult only at first glance. Once you master the basic techniques and rules, the trees in your garden will delight you. lush bloom and a bountiful harvest for many years.
Plum is a very healthy and tasty fruit. But in order to get a high-quality and plentiful harvest, you need to try, since the plum requires proper care. In this article, you will learn when you need to plant seedlings so that they take root, as well as when you should plant this tree in your garden plot.
The first thing to know when growing a plum is the timing of its planting. Getting the right time to land is half the battle. It is necessary to plant a plum in the spring. And this should be done early. At the same time, you can plant a seedling in the fall. This is done approximately 1.5-2 months before the soil freezes.
Also, the time when you can and should plant a tree is determined by the climatic conditions of the place of growth. In the middle lane, it is recommended to plant plums in the spring, but autumn is more suitable for the southern regions. Also, small variations in planting timing are possible, based on the type of tree.
But still the best time to plant plum saplings experienced gardeners consider spring. It is in the spring that the survival rate of seedlings is maximum. The best period for planting is considered to be the end of April (the 20th) and before the beginning of May (the first 10 days). When the seedlings are planted in spring, their roots fall into the heated soil. As a result, the aboveground part of the young tree develops normally. In addition, the plum becomes resistant to conditions winter period growth.
The most important aspect to consider is the choice of a high-quality and viable seedling. If you choose the right seedling, then the planting will be effective, and in the future you will get a high-quality and abundant harvest of delicious plums. As you know, you need to plant a plum only with high-quality planting material. A good seedling can be selected based on the following selection criteria:
Such seedlings can not only be planted in spring in suitable place your personal plot, but also later transplant into a new one. When choosing planting material, you should know that plums can be:
Also trees can be:
In order to properly plant or transplant a plum, you need to know certain nuances. Tips for planting and caring for a tree include the following aspects:
If the seedlings were purchased in the fall, they should be dug for the winter in a trench specially dug for this. In it, trees are laid at an angle and sprinkled with earth on top. Young trees need to be covered with earth for about half of the bole. For our country, in most cases, podzolic soils are characteristic. Therefore, in this situation, it is necessary to carry out the liming procedure in order to obtain a strong and healthy tree in the end, as well as a high-quality and tasty harvest.
Correct liming can be done according to the following scheme:
In addition, before planting, in the presence of loamy and podzolic soils, pre-planting soil fertilization is carried out. The following fertilizers should be applied here:
The fertilization scheme changes somewhat in the presence of peaty soils. In this situation, pre-planting fertilization includes the introduction of:
In the presence of edible chernozems, this scheme involves the introduction of:
In this amount, fertilizer should be applied to one pit.
Many gardeners recommend planting with two people. This will allow you to achieve a better planting, since one person will keep the seedling in an even position, and the second will cover it with fertile soil. Taking into account the above tips, you can plant a plum according to all the rules.
After the plum has been planted, it is important to take proper care of it. The most important thing is to create the necessary water regime. The water regime for plums in the post-planting period looks like this:
After watering, the land around the plant is mulched, sprinkled with peat chips and fertilized. You can also sprinkle fallen leaves on the ground.
Fertilization is also a prerequisite for maintenance. Top dressing scheme:
In addition, after disembarkation, it is necessary to organize the crown pruning procedure by about 1/3. Be sure to cut the lower branches with a greater grip than the upper ones. Leave extensions on the shoot up to 20-30 cm above the upper lateral branch.
As you can see, planting and caring for a plum is not difficult. Here, you just need to follow the recommendations listed above, and everything will work out for you as it should.
It would seem that planting a plum is a very simple and easy process. However, it has its own subtleties and tricks, the observance of which will help you grow a healthy and fertile tree.
