The plum (Prunus) is a stone fruit, elongated or rounded that can be green, red, yellow, or purple. It belongs to the family Rosaceae and is widely cultivated throughout the world. Plum is one of the most important stone fruits, consumed mainly dried and fresh, although a small quantity is used for beverages and canning. Both dried and fresh plums are sometimes used as medicine. Plum is native to China, although it became a commercial fruit in America and Japan. You can grow plum trees from seed, it is quite simple but it takes a lot of care and maintenance. In this article, we’ll discuss how to grow a plum tree from a seed?. the growing plum trees.
Growing Plum Tree from a Seed?
Plum trees grow easily from seed, but it takes a long time. The seeds need a period of chilling called stratification to successfully germinate and sprout. You can plant a plum tree from seed, but there are a few things you need to know first.
Prepare Plum Seed for Cultivation
Save several plum fruit seeds from the fruit after you have eaten them because not all of the seeds are viable. Choose the tastiest seed to plant, since plum seeds often carry on the traits of a parent plant very well. Remove all the pulp on the surface of the seeds and wash them through tap water. The seed inside the shell will dry and shrink away. Moreover, the shell will also crack more easily when dried. After this, crack the shell and remove the seed from it. Take care not to crack too hard. A smashed seed can not be planted. Drop your seed in a glass of water. If the seed sinks, you can germinate it. Moreover, place your seeds overnight in the glass of water that you just filled.
Sprouting the Plum Seeds
Take a plastic or canning jar and fill it more than half with soil or organic compost. After this, wet the soil to moisten it but do not over-wet it. put the seeds inside the plastic bag or canning jar and shake it, so that seeds move deeper into the soil or organic compost. Place the canning jar or plastic bag in the refrigerator to start the stratification process of seeds. This cool, sprouting process germinates the seeds so that they can be planted and grown into a tree. Turn refrigerator about forty degrees Fahrenheit.
Start the seeds in spring after all frost danger has passed. Take An 8-inch container filled with soil or organic compost. Just make sure the container has holes at the bottom. Sow one plum seed in the container at a depth of 2 inches. Set the container outdoors in a bright, sheltered location or indoors near an unshaded window with bright light.
Choose a location for transplanting the seedlings
Select a permanent place in your home or garden to plant the plum trees. It is recommended that plant at least two trees so that cross-pollinating varieties will come to fruition. Prepare the soil for the plantation of your plum. Mix the soil with organic compost to increase its fertility. Choose a frost-free and sunny spot for plantation.
How to Plant the Plum Seedlings?
Plant the sprouted seed or seedlings 2 to 3 inches deep in the soil and water it thoroughly. Keep the soil constantly moist but not soggy. Water the seedling regularly and protect it from digging squirrels or birds by covering the soil with rocks, hardware cloth, or metal screening. however, it is better to start mulching. Space your tree about 20 to 25 feet. After planting, give your tree plenty of water and fertilize it each spring before it leaves. Pruning is necessary for ideal growth. Without proper pruning, some plum trees produce less fruit.
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