Plum trees called dwarf plum trees, generally reach heights of 5 to 7 feet. They are suitable for anglers with small yards. Dwarf plum trees develop bigger since they are grafted onto dwarf tree rootstock. There aren’t any reliable rootstocks for dwarf plum trees, so some plum trees that are mini wind up growing taller than desirable. However, pruning can keep plum trees into 10 feet or more shorter.
Varieties
Both main plum species are European plums (Prunus domestica) and Japanese plums (Prunus salicina) Both kinds can be grafted onto dwarf rootstock. Japanese plums are less sweet than European plums and bloom earlier than European plums. Japanese plums are self-sterile, meaning they require pollination to produce fruit. Therefore, gardeners who develop plums need to plant two kinds of plums near each other for pollination to occur. Some European varieties, such as”Cassleman” and”Santa Rosa,” are self-fertile and do not need additional plum trees nearby to produce fruit.
Climate
Winters which remain above -20 degrees Fahrenheit, or United States Department of Agriculture hardiness zones above and 5 are generally required by plums. The local climate will affect what time plums ripen. For instance, some plum varieties will ripen in early August in hot inland climates and through late August in locations that are more temperate. A local nursery should be able to give information on the crop time of different plum varieties.
Growing Conditions
Miniature fruit trees prefer soil and areas. They want soils with lots of nutrients and moisture in a relatively small area, since dwarf plums have origins that are smaller than regular plum varieties. It is best not to plant dwarf fruit trees alongside massive shrubs, which can consume all of the soil nutrients and moisture or other large trees.
Plum Tree Care
Young plum trees will need irrigation and some summer fertilization. Older dwarf trees particularly tend to need fertilization, even if planted in fertile soils. Soil tests at university or a nursery can give recommendations to use on plum trees. Alternatively, gardeners can fertilize plums with manure or one oz of urea once per month from April through July, which makes sure to water from the fertilizer. Miniature plums which are 5 to 10 years old do well with 1.5 to 5 pounds of a 10-10-10 fertilizer. Older trees require 5 to 10 pound applications of compost. It is also valuable to prune about 20% of their tree’s growth to allow light to achieve all of the leaves.