Japanese, European, and American Plums

Chapter 19

Types

• Three types of plums.– Japanese– European– American

• A new plum-aprium hybrid

The three types of plums

• Japanese P. salicina – these are the fresh market type of plums. Processed into baby food or preserves. “Santa Rose”

• They are large, round, and very juicy.

• They have skin colors of several different colors such as red, yellow, green, to a black.

• Flesh is color is normally amber-yellow or red

European plums – P. domestica• These are types of European

plums with a high sugar content that allows them to dry without molding.

• Thus, prunes• These are normally oval shape.• Blue-purple skin color• Have a dry, mealy, yellow-amber

flesh that’s not good for eating fresh.

American - P. americanum, P. angustifolium, P. munsoniana• These are young varieties• Haven’t had much time to breed

for size• Fruit is round in shape• With skin and flesh colors of red

or yellow

hybrid

• Zaiger family bred and named this hybrid ploutsTM

• In fact they are plumcots which are ¾ Japanese plum & ¼ Apricot

• They have the tangy taste of apricots and the high sugar content as well as hairless skin of plums

Cold Tolerance

• Japanese plums and plumcots grow well in zones 6 to 9.

• European plums grow well in zones 5 to 7

• American plums grow well in zones 3 to 5

Production in the US• California produces 94%, about

768 million pounds per year.• Oregon, Washington, Idaho, &

Michigan produce most of the other 6%.

• Japanese plums make up 55% of total production.

• European plums make up 45%, which are almost entirely dried into prunes. (99% of the US market)

• Plumcots & American make up less than 1%.

Tree growth & limiting factors• Small trees that grow 15’ to 20’

tall and wide.• Japanese & plumcots grow

wider, while European plums grow more upright.

• They can grow for 20 to 30 years.

• Japanese & plumcots come into production, 3rd. or 4th. Leaf.

• European & American come into production, 4th. or 5th. Leaf.

Fruiting wood

• Plums bear most fruit on short spurs arising from 2 year old or older wood.

Site Selection & Preparation• Japanese plums & plumcots

need sites similar to that for peaches.

• Few spring frost since they bloom early.

• 500 – 1000 foot elevations are optimal.

• Excellent soil drainage if grafted to peach rootstocks.

• Moderately well drained soil drainage if grafted to plum rootstocks.

Site Selection & Preparation• European plums need sites

similar to apples.• Early frost are not a problem

because they bloom late.• 1500 – 2000 foot elevations are

optimal.• Moderately well drained soil

drainage.

Selecting Rootstocks

Choosing Cultivars

Orchard Design

• Row space• Tree space

Orchard Floor Management

Insects – Codling moth

Shothole borer

Peach twig borer

San Jose ScaleMale Female

KatydidsAdult Nymphs

Diseases – Phytophthora root & Crown rot

Powdery Mildew

Crown gall

Oak root fungus

Brown rot

Weeds