Plum (Dwarf) Growing Guide
Prunus domestica
![Plum (Dwarf)]()
Crop Rotation Group
Miscellaneous ●
Soil
Moisture-retentive clay or loam.
Position
Sunny spot, with excellent air circulation.
Frost tolerant
Yes, but it is important to choose varieties known to grow well in your area to reduce risk of losing blooms to spring freezes.
Feeding
Feed with a rich mulch spring, then keep plum trees mulched with wood chips or sawdust.
Companions
Corridors within the orchard that are planted with clovers and other legumes contribute to soil fertility and attract pollinators.
Spacing
Single Plants: 3.50m (11' 5") each way (minimum)
Rows: 3.50m (11' 5") with 3.50m (11' 5") row gap (minimum)
Sow and Plant
Dig a large hole - a wide hole is better than a very deep one - and mulch after planting. You may need to use a tree guard to protect the young tree from animal and insect pests. Young plum trees are at high risk for damage from insects that bore into the main trunk.
Our Garden Planner can produce a personalised calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area.
Notes
Some varieties are self-fertile; otherwise at least one other plum flowering at the same time will be required for pollination. Prune in late winter, before buds begin to swell. Healthy plum trees will bear for ten to fifteen years or more.
Harvesting
Harvest when the fruit feels soft when gently squeezed. As fruit ripens, some fruits will fall from the tree, and others can easily be shaken onto cloths spread on the ground.
Troubleshooting
Plums can be affected by silverleaf disease – prune in dry weather in summer to help avoid infection. In humid climates, plums often develop problems with fungal diseases such as brown rot. Preventive sprays with organic fungicides are often needed to grow good quality plums. In Australia fruit fly are a pest of plums. Place any infested fruit, or fruits that have fallen to the ground, in a sealed plastic bag in the sun for at least 7 days to kill the eggs and larvae. Do not compost infested fruits as this will lead to the fruit flies completing their life cycle and the problem recurring.
Planting and Harvesting Calendar
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Pests which Affect Plum (Dwarf)
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