Growing plums from seed is a laborious, but very real process. The first thing you should pay attention to is the plum variety. Further, following our recommendations, you can grow a plum without much effort and as soon as possible.
Is it possible to grow a plum from a seed and will it bear fruit?
It is possible to grow a plum from a stone yourself, but you must adhere to certain rules. A healthy tree will bear fruit if the variety of the future tree is correctly selected. It is best to choose local varieties, as others may freeze in such conditions.
If you decide to grow a heat-loving variety from seed, then there is a high probability that a wild game will grow in your summer cottage.
Grade selection
Plum varieties are extremely diverse, but only four are popular in Russia. Relying on the requirements that the plum must have, you can choose the right variety:
- Chinese grade - not so common, has red and yellow fruits.
- Yellow grade - famous for its high yield and aromatic fruits.
- Red grade - It is characterized by high resistance to bad weather and frost.
- Black grade - has a viscous taste and is adapted to low temperature. Due to the elastic pulp, the fruits are able to be stored for a long time.
About other plum varieties popular among summer residents, read here.
Preparatory stage
In order for the process of germination of the plum seed to be carried out successfully, it is necessary to acquire correctly selected fruits. When purchasing plums, it is recommended to pay full attention to the country in which the plant was grown. Imported origin of the plant will interfere with seed germination. This is due to the fact that the climate unusual for plums will impede its adaptation in the new environment. The plant is likely to die.
It is recommended to purchase a ripe and soft fruit in the local market. Thus, the likelihood that the variety will take root will increase several times.
Seed collection
After removing the bone from the fetus, it will need to be thoroughly rinsed in water and remove the pulp fibers. Then shift it to a dry and warm place. It must be allowed to dry thoroughly. This may take several days.
After the plum seed has completely dried, you will need to pull out its core. Special nippers for nuts or ordinary pliers can help in this. Pulling out the core must be extremely careful so as not to damage it.
To make sure that the seed sprouts, there is a little trick. To test for suitability, you will need a mug of warm water. A prolific bone placed in a mug will settle to its bottom. While the empty bone will float to the surface.
Seed germination
The removed nucleolus from the plum bone is placed in a pre-moistened piece of tissue. It is advisable to use a natural fabric, not synthetics. After that, a well-wrapped seed is placed in the refrigerator compartment, or in any other cold place. Cold is a guarantee that prolific seed will germinate.
It is necessary to regularly check a piece of fabric for moisture. Upon drying, you will need to re-moisten it. It will take at least 6 months to germinate the plum seed. For example, if seed germination began in November, then the sprout is most likely to appear in early April.
Seed growing
The biostimulator will help accelerate the process of germination. You can buy it at any garden store. Not only the seed, but also a piece of tissue is regularly treated with a biostimulator. Appearing mold is quite normal. But it is advisable to immediately get rid of it. In this case, a piece of tissue and a seed will need to be thoroughly washed in water.
In order for a healthy and fruiting plant to subsequently grow from a seed, it is advisable to prepare in advance for a subsequent planting. You will definitely need a flower pot. It should be made of clay or ceramic and have an average size. It will not be superfluous to acquire a substrate prepared from such ingredients as garden soil, peat and sand.
Planting in a pot
The process of transplanting plum seed into a flower pot is almost identical to sowing any other plant. At the bottom of the pot, not too large drainage is placed in an even layer. Next, the pre-prepared substrate is poured. It must be well watered. The water should be warm and the soil well moistened.
Plum seed is planted in the middle of the pot to a depth of not more than 5-6 cm. Upon completion of planting, the flower pot is hermetically wrapped in a bag of polyethylene and placed in a warm place. In the presence of good sunny weather, the pot can be exposed to the window.
Greenhouse conditions allow the sprout to germinate already 3-6 days after planting. All these days it is recommended, if necessary, to moisten the soil and remove condensate drops from the surface of the plastic bag.
Transplant to the ground
Experienced gardeners recommend replanting the plum seed in the ground, in which the seedling will subsequently grow. A small number of such soil is placed in a flower pot and mixed with a small amount of humus, in a proportion of ten to one, respectively.
You can also take advantage of the growth stimulants mentioned earlier. It is not recommended to use them in their pure form. It is advisable to dilute a certain amount in warm water and use it as a liquid for watering the seed.
The soil should be kept moist regularly. Otherwise, the seed will dry out before it has sprouted. When the first sprout appears, it is necessary to care for the plum as well as for any other indoor plant: water it on time and periodically loosen the soil.
When and where can I plant?
Plum, as a rule, is located in a small flat area. Thus, the soil under the seedling will be better heated, and the plant will receive a large amount of heat. Also, a tree can be planted near the fence. But it must be the side where more sunlight falls.
If the tree will be planted in a low area, it is recommended to give preference to a small mound, the height of which will be at least 40-50 cm, and a width of 180 to 200 cm. The best time for planting a plum is the early months of spring.
What do you need?
In order to provide the seedling with all the necessary mineral and useful substances that will ensure healthy and active growth, it will be necessary to stock up on some types of fertilizers. For planting plums - this is granular superphosphate, wood ash, high-quality compost and peat.
Mulching (i.e. protecting and improving soil properties) may require manure, hay, or dried grass. Over time, you will definitely need a peg of wood. With the rapid growth of a seedling, it is necessary to take care of its correct direction of growth. For stability and balance, the seedling is neatly attached to a wooden stake.
Soil preparation
The close occurrence of groundwater at the bottom of the planting fossa can complicate good and healthy growth of plum seedlings. Therefore, it is recommended to get rid of this problem with the help of self-made drainage. To do this, beaten brick, expanded clay and any available fabrics are laid evenly on the bottom of the pit.
Nutrient soil from one to two buckets of decayed plant debris, one kilogram of ash and two buckets of warm water is laid on top of home-made drainage. It is worth mentioning that the presence of a high acid content in the soil can complicate the adaptation of plum seedlings to a new place. To prevent this, it is recommended to treat acid soil with dolomite flour before planting. Then pour 5 buckets of warm water.
Landing pit requirements
The preparation of the planting pit for plum seedlings planted in spring should begin in the fall. If the tree is planted in the fall, then the preparation begins 15-20 days before the intended planting. The shape of the pit can be any, but its size has strict recommendations. So, for example, height, width and depth should be no less and no more than 70 cm. When digging, the upper surface of the soil is discarded, and the bottom of the pit loosens well.
Transplant Description
After all the preparatory work with the soil has been carried out, you can proceed with the landing. So that the seedling that has sprouted in a pot can be successfully adapted to the new conditions, and at the same time prepare for the cold before the onset of autumn, it is advisable to transplant it at the end of April:
- The landing pit should be in humus and high-quality compost. Sprinkle a small amount of sand over the top surface.
- Plum sapling is planted together with the soil from the pot in which it sprouted. No fertilizer is required on the upper surface of the soil.
- The soil is rammed before embarkation. Thus, air will not be able to approach the root system. Ignoring this stage, we can allow the drying of the roots.
- If necessary, tie the seedling to a wooden peg.
- The plant is watered abundantly.
Seedling care
The main condition for the quality care of plum seedlings is care for the trunk circle. Its diameter should be at least 2 m. It will be required to regularly remove the weed and make sure that the soil remains a loose texture. This will contribute to better soil ventilation and oxygen saturation.
A systematic watering of the seedling is also necessary. 3-5 times are enough for a season. On dry and hot days it is recommended to double this amount.
As for top dressing, in the first 2-3 years it is practically not required, since top dressing was carried out. Mineral and beneficial substances, the plant will receive from there. And only in the fourth year it is advisable to periodically “feed” the soil with special fertilizers.
Fruiting onset dates
The fruiting of a plant grown from plum seed begins 5-6 years later. Only then can we evaluate the success of the experiment. But in the absence of fruits, the plum tree has an extremely attractive appearance, which in any case will become an adornment of any garden plot.
Vaccinations
There are several types of grafting of plum seedlings:
- splitting;
- soil;
- all known cuttings.
For the first option, it will be necessary to make equal slices, thereby making a cleavage with a depth of about 5 cm. After that, a stalk is inserted into it, and the resulting slices are treated with a garden var. Inoculation with soil is considered the simplest procedure of all presented.
Having made identical cuts on the seedling and on the plant to be grafted, they are combined and processed with the same garden var. A seedling is grafted with a cutlet if the diameter of its branches and the grafted plant are the same.
At your summer cottage, you can grow a plum from a stone without problems, given all our recommendations. Fruiting such a tree will be good if you choose the right variety, as well as provide the necessary care.