Plum
Botanical Name – Prunus salicina L
Family – Rosaceae
Rubio, Parsons, California Blue and Giant
Hale, Gaviota, Santa Rosa, Satsuma and Abundance. (June – July)
Shiro, Formosa, Kelsey and Satsuma. Hale has to be planted along with other varieties
to enhance pollination and fruit set (July – August).
Soil –
Deep well drained loamy soils are best. Depth of soil should be atleast 1.5 m and red lateritic soil with good drainage is ideal. The soil pH should be around 5.8 to 6.2 and rich in organic matter. It can be grown above 1200 m elevation.
Climate –
Plums usually require more cooling (chilling :300 to 1,000 hr) than peach fruit and almond. These are generally grown in the mid and low hill regions. Warm summers and cool winters are best suitable for plum cultivation.
One year old budded plants may be planted during June – July or December with a
spacing of 4 x 4 m in pits of 60 cm x 60 cm x 60 cm in size.
Planting Season
June – November.
Application of Fertilizers
Apply FYM 30 kg and 500 g of N and 1 kg in each of P and K for bearing tree during
October – Novembe
The growing points are tipped at a height of 50 – 60 cm to allow the side shoots to
develop. Train to open centre system. Prune the trees during December – January. Dried,
dead, diseased, water shoots and criss-cross branches are removed.
Pests
1) Fruit fly-
Set up methyl eugenol 1 % trap with malathion 50 EC 1 ml/l.
Neem oil 30ml/l.
25 – 30 kg / tree / year.
