Problems With Growing Plums. Part 2

2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38

We continue our conversation about the problems of growing plums

Getting Started - Part 1.

Another problem when growing plums can be the very early start of the growing season. Sometimes, immediately after the snow melts, the buds can swell. Therefore, flower stalks will appear quite quickly, buds will open, and the tree itself will bloom. This early flowering occurs due to the availability of nutrient reserves both in the roots and in the wood of the aboveground bark. Due to early flowering, plants may have difficulties with nutrition, because flowering is considered a busy period of a plant's life. Therefore, in the fall, the tree needs to absorb a lot of nutrients from the moist soil. At the same time, excessive moisture in the soil can increase the heating of the bark, so this should not be allowed in any case.

This very early start of the growing season can lead to another problem associated with pollination and fertilization of flowers. It should be noted that the pollen will be heavy and moist. There won't be enough wind to transfer pollen to flowers, and pollen carriers will be required. This role is most often taken on by bees. However, when the plum blooms on cool spring days, the bees do not fly at that time, therefore pollination will not occur. This will result in the falling off of the ovary of the fetus. It would seem that there were already all the prerequisites for a decent harvest, but it will not work to get the fruits. Even though the plum has endured the winter well and flowering has begun, due to the absence of insects, pollination does not occur.

Another difficulty will be the fact that pollination can only occur with strictly defined varieties. The optimal solution would be to have several trees of different varieties, which will make pollination more productive.

Timely control of plum pests and diseases is also very important. It will be best to use preventive measures so that such problems do not arise on your site at all. The so-called green apple aphid can cause great harm to the plum. Young shoots can literally be completely covered with colonies of this pest, which will suck the juice from the plant. The result of which can be the cessation of shoot growth and the absence of buds in the leaf axils. This aphid can completely rob you of your crop. When ants are already running along the branches, this is sure evidence of a very significant and massive infection.

It is very important to pay due attention to the selection of plum varieties: you should choose the one that has the most optimal resistance to the conditions that you can offer the tree in your garden. Not the best solution would be to choose a variety of plums, based solely on your own taste preferences in relation to the fruit.

Useful properties of plums

It should be noted that the fruits of the plum help in the regulation of the digestive tract. On fasting days, plums can be used to get rid of excess weight. As for dry plum fruits, they are also quite useful.

The plum has a high sucrose content, so these fruits should be consumed with caution for those with diabetes. In addition, the fruits contain carotene, a whole range of vitamins and minerals, pectin, magnesium, chromium and phosphorus. As for iron, its content is found in greater quantities only in figs, peaches and grapes. Potassium is very important for human health, regardless of age. That is why the plum seems to be such a valuable fruit.

Plum is also used in cosmetics: a mask made from fruit pulp can have a rejuvenating effect and significantly reduce the greasiness of the skin. An infusion of plum leaves can also have the same effect.

Of course, many people are attracted not so much by the beneficial properties of the plum as by its bright taste. And complexes of vitamins and some healing properties will only be a pleasant addition.