Plums are a wonderful and delicious fruit that can be grown from seed. Like most fruits, Plums require cross-pollination to produce plums on the tree. If you purchase an already blossoming plum tree or two different varieties of plum trees near each other, they will eventually grow together and produce the desired fruit.
If you are looking to save some money, or if you’re not able to find a pre-existing plum tree nearby, you can also grow plums from seed. Plum trees take anywhere from 2 to 5 years to produce fruit, so be patient! This article will discuss the steps on how to grow plums from seed and the steps involved in doing so.
What You Need to Grow Plums from Seed?
Plum trees are one of the most popular types of fruit trees because they grow easily and produce a large number of delicious plums. In order to grow your own plum tree, you will need to meet the following requirements:
Plum Seeds
Start by planting the plum seeds in the soil. The best time to plant the seeds is in late winter or early spring. Plum seeds should be planted about ½ inch deep and spaced about 4 to 6 inches apart.
Potting Soil
Keep the soil moist but not too wet. You want the soil to be slightly damp but not soggy. Water the planted seeds with a spray bottle or by sprinkling them with water from above.
Pot or Container
Once the plum seedlings grow, transplant them into individual containers or pots using potting soil. If you would like, you can even plant the entire pot or container of seedlings directly into the ground in your yard.
Water
Keep the soil moist throughout the summer months, when your plums will form their fruit. When winter comes, allow the plant to go dormant for a period (usually 10–12 weeks). You can begin watering them again when you see new plum tree growth sprouting.
The Steps Involved on How to Grow Plums from Seed
It is important to know that growing plums from seed can be a long-term project. It’s important to remain patient and continue on the right path in order for your trees to grow healthy and produce fruit. There are a few steps you need to follow in order to grow plums from seed.
Collect Ripe Fruit
The first step is to collect ripe fruit from a plum tree. The fruit will be soft and dark when it is ready to pick. It’s important that you only use the ripest fruit for the seed-propagation process, as they can use the other fruit for eating or making jam.
Cut The Fruit in Half
The next step is to cut the fruit in half. Remove the seed from within the fruit by rinsing it with water or scratching it between your fingers until all the flesh is removed. Inspect the seed for any signs of insect damage. If there are plum pits, crevices, and other problems with the seed, you should not use it.
Place The Seeds in A Glass Jar
After rinsing the seed, place them in a glass jar with water. We should fill the jar about ¾ of the way with water, and there should be enough to cover the seeds but not drown them. Keep this jar near sunlight or under other warm conditions so that bacteria can flourish. This will speed up the germination process and produce healthier seedlings.
Check on your seeds daily for mold or fungus growing around the top edge of your container. If you see any signs of this taking place, remove the rotten fruit immediately, as it can affect all of your other plums too!
You may notice small white roots forming at each end of your seed after a few days. Once this happens, the seed is ready to be planted.
Remove The Seeds from The Water
Once the white roots have grown about ¼ inch, it’s time to remove the seeds from the water and plant them in the soil.
Plant The Seeds in Soil
The best time to plant the seeds is in late winter or early spring. Plum seeds should be planted about ½ inch deep and spaced about 4 to 6 inches apart. Keep the soil moist but not too wet. You want the soil to be slightly damp but not soggy. Water the planted seeds with a spray bottle or sprinkle them with water from above.
Watch Seedlings Grow!
Once the plum seedlings grow, transplant them into individual containers or pots using potting soil. If you would like, you can even plant the entire pot or container of seedlings directly into the ground in your yard.
Keep Soil Moist Throughout Summer Months
Keep the soil moist throughout the summer months, when your plums will form their fruit. When winter comes, allow the plant to go dormant for a period (usually 10–12 weeks). You can begin watering them again when you see new growth sprouting.
Water Plums When They Sprout
When the weather warms, your plums will begin growing again. Once you notice fresh growth on your fruit trees, you can begin watering them again. The best time of day to water is in the morning or evening when there has been a cool-down period from the heat of the sun. If you’re using drip irrigation systems for your garden, make sure that the soil is only moist and not too wet.
Harvest Ripe Plums!
It takes some time for these trees to form their fruit and even more time before it can become ripe for picking and eating! But once it’s all said and done, you will enjoy your own homegrown plums! And when the time comes, make sure you share them with everyone else.
Tips for Planting And Caring for Your Plum Tree
- Plums love full sun and should be planted in an area that gets at least six hours of sunlight per day.
- If you don’t have a lot of space in your yard, consider growing your plum tree in a container. Just make sure the container is large enough to accommodate the tree’s mature size.
- Water the plum tree regularly, making sure the soil is moist (but not wet) at all times.
- Compost your plum tree with a balanced fertilizer once a year in the springtime.
- Prune your plum tree annually in late winter or early spring to remove any dead or damaged branches. This will help keep the tree healthy and ensure that all the energy produced by the tree goes into growing fruit instead of unnecessary branches.
The Importance Of Cross-Pollination For Plum Growth
One important note to remember when growing plums is that they need to be cross-pollinated to produce fruit. This means that you need at least two plum trees of different varieties for them to pollinate each other. If you only have one plum tree, it will still produce fruit, but it will not be as plentiful or as big of a variety.
FAQ’s
What are The Best Types Of Plums to Grow From Seed?
For fruit production, you should probably choose a type of plum that is not self-pollinating. This means that you will need to plant at least two different plums for them to cross-pollinate each other and produce fruit.
What Are Some Signs of Disease in Plum Trees?
Dark or light spots on the leaves or fruit that eventually turn brown and result in loss of healthy foliage can identify Infectious diseases (blight, leaf spot). Prune out infected branches during dry weather to prevent the spread of infection by pests like insects and fungi.
What are Some Common Pests That Attack Plum Trees?
Aphids, scale insects, codling moth larvae, and Japanese beetles can all be harmful to plum trees.
Is There Any Difference Between a Plum And a Cherry?
Yeah, cherries are usually red or black, whereas plums can be red, purple, green, orange, yellow, or brown, depending on the type.
Summary
Growing plums from seed is a great way to enjoy your own fruit, but it requires some attention. When planting the tree in pots or containers, make sure that they have enough space and are planted where there’s plenty of sunlight.
Be sure to water them regularly when the trees produce their fruit during the summer months. And if you’re looking for a variety not self-pollinating, be sure to plant at least two different types so that they can cross-pollinate each other!
