The first time I showed our ‘neighbor’ Krista these, she had this confused look, on her face that simply said ‘what the heck?’ LOL. If you have ever wondered what you get when you mix plums and apricots, I have now have your answer. Having said that, are you ready to learn how to grow pluots?
This is a cold climate fruit tree, so it will only do well anywhere warmer than zone 9. When planting them, you should at least have 2 trees within 50 feet of each other. The reason being that the fruits are not able to self pollinate, they require another one for cross pollination to occur. It doesn’t have to be a plout tree though, even a Japanese plum tree will get the job done.
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Here’s What You’ll Need:
- young pluot trees or pits
- organic fertilizer
- mulch
- tree guards, cages, fencing or deer bag
- pruning shears
Hopefully your orchard has well drained soil, that has a pH between 6.0 to 7.0. I am assuming that sun exposure will not be an issue, as full sun is ideal. Just after the last frost, you can dig your planting holes about 18 inches deep and at least 12 feet apart. No additional fertilizer or manure is needed at planting, just make sure the bud union remains above ground.
Water immediately after planting and at least once a week with about 3 to 4 gallons of water. Fertilizer can be applied a month after planting, as well as a nice layer of mulch around the base of the plant. Keep an eye out for bacterial canker, bacterial leaf spot, black knot, crown gall, scab, Japanese beetles, leafhoppers, lygus bugs, spider mites and thrips. Within 3 to 4 years, the tree will start fruiting and you can harvest them in mid Summer.
You can get more information on the Burpee blog, here…
You can watch the video below on Pluot and Aprium For Backyard Gardeners – Planting Fruit Trees …
You can watch the video below on Produce Beat: The Many Varieties of Pluots…
You can watch the video below on How to Grow a Pluot Tree From the Pit…
