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Plums

Complete care guide for premium tropical seedling. Follow these instructions for optimal growth and maximum yield.

Complete Care Guide

Detailed care instructions for growing your Plums seedling successfully

Watering

Plums require well distributed rainfall of about 800-1200 mm per year. However, they do not tolerate waterlogging making proper drainage essential. Just like other plants, plums need supplementary irrigation during the dry seasons especially during the flowering and fruit development stages. Regular watering during growing season.

Sunlight

Full sun (6+ hours).

Soil Requirements

Well-drained loam. When preparing to plant your plum trees, dig holes measuring 2ft by 2ft by 2ft and then mix the topsoil with compost or well-decomposed manure before refilling the hole. Proper drainage is essential as plums do not tolerate waterlogging.

Temperature

Plum requires temperatures between 18 and 25 degrees Celsius. They need a cool period to encourage flowering. Cool to moderate (10-25°C).

Fertilizer

NPK 10-5-5.

Spacing

We recommend a spacing of 5m between your plum trees and by 5m between the rows to allow enough room for growth and ease of management.

Time to Fruit

Plums take about 3 years from planting to begin fruiting.

Pest & Disease Management

Pests:

•Aphids (sap sucking insects that cause leaf curling, stunted growth, and transmit viral diseases)
•Fruit flies (lay eggs inside the fruit, leading to maggot-infested plums)
•Plum Curculio (bores into the fruit to lay eggs causing premature fruit drop)
•Scale insects (attach themselves to plant branches and suck sap, weakening the tree and causing branches to dry up)

Diseases:

•Brown rot (fungal disease that causes fruit rot, blossom blight, and cankers on branches, best control is pruning and removing infected parts, applying fungicides and ensuring proper air circulation)
•Black Knot (fungal disease that causes black, swollen galls on the branches, leading to dieback)
•Bacterial spot (causes small, water-soaked lesions on leaves, fruit, and twigs leading to defoliation and fruit blemishes)

Varieties:

•Santa Rosa
•Satsuma
•Shiro
•Cherry plum
•Harry Pickstone.

Pruning:

•Pruning your plums is very important as it will help you get rid of the dead or diseased branches
•encourage air circulation and will also shape your plant in a way that allows sunlight penetration. The best time to prune your plum trees will definitely be during their dormant season
•ideally June or July. Plums are stone fruits that belong to the genus Prunus
•which also includes peaches
•cherries and almonds. They are known for their juicy flesh and smooth
•often colourful skin
•ranging from red and purple to yellow and green.

Growing Timeline

Phase 1

Planting

Prepare soil, plant seedling, water thoroughly

Phase 2

Establishment

Regular watering, fertilizer application

Phase 3

Growth

Pruning, maintenance, pest management

Phase 4

Fruiting

Harvest and ongoing maintenance

Common Issues & Solutions

Water Stress

Ensure consistent watering, especially during dry periods. Use mulch to retain soil moisture. Install drip irrigation for efficient water delivery. Water deeply but less frequently.

Aphid Infestation

Spray with neem oil or insecticidal soap. Introduce beneficial insects like ladybugs. Remove affected leaves and maintain good air circulation. Control ants that protect aphids.

Scale Insects

Use horticultural oil or neem oil during dormant season. Prune heavily infested branches. Maintain plant health to reduce susceptibility. Scrape off scales manually for small infestations.

Canker Disease

Prune affected branches below canker. Apply copper-based fungicides. Maintain tree health and avoid mechanical damage. Disinfect pruning tools between cuts.

Quick Reference

Min Temperature

10°C

Ideal Sunlight

6+ hrs

Water Frequency

Regular

Soil pH

6.0-7.0

Ready to start growing?

Order this premium Plums seedling today and begin your agricultural success story

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