"Growing Plums "

Growing plums is an easy way to provide your family with at least one of their five-a-day, although home grown plums are irresistible and it's likely that everyone will come back for seconds!

Growing any woody shrub or tree from seed will take years before the tree fruits.

Generally most growers will prefer to start their fruit growing with ready-grown trees, usually at least two years old, and available from most reputable garden centres.

*************************************

Thompson and Morgan supply a range of plum trees. Have a look at the mouth-watering pictures on this page:
Growing plums with Thompson & Morgan UK



and in the US, Nature Hills is a popular supplier of trees and fruit trees. This link takes you to their plum page Growing plums in the US

*************************************
Growing plums - planting: Fruit trees are usually grafted, so care should be taken to plant the tree with the grafted part above the ground.

Check on the planting recommendations that come with your tree when you buy it. Also, make sure you buy a self-pollinating variety if you are only planting one fruit tree.

A standard plum tree will grow to 25-30ft high, so don't plant one of these in a small back garden. There are many half size varieties and small types that you can train into a fan shape up against a fence or just kept small to suit your space. Orchard space isn't needed for growing plums!

Plums flower early in the year and shouldn't be planted in a frost pocket or a draughty area. Choose a warm, sunny spot where possible.

Dig a hole large enough for the root structure and plant carefully. Add a stake about 6inches (15cm) from the main stem Don't add fertilizer at this point in case it 'burns' the roots. Firm down the soil with your heel and water well after planting. Tie the stem to the stake every 12inches (30cm.) or so. Tie firmly but not too tight. These ties should be removed when the stem grows bigger.

Trees should be pruned after the fruit has finished to deter 'silver leaf' disease which can destroy the tree's fruiting ability, and possibly kill off the whole tree if not treated in time. Pruning will depend on the type of tree you are growing, but generally, prune to keep the shape you want, and double check on manufacturer's growing recommendations.

Growing plums - Fruit: Some years plum trees produce too much fruit literally for their own good. Thin out the fruits early in the season by removing any damaged or diseased ones, then thin out again later to make room for the others to swell and ripen to full maturity. Pick when they fall off the branch easily.

Happy Gardening!

Grow Your Own Groceries: Producing your own food is not only rewarding but - in times of economic and environmental changes - increasingly a must! Nature provides everything the human body requires to thrive, and cultivating some of those natural products in your own back garden will not only produce the best food on the planet for you and your loved ones, it is also economical, environmentally friendly and more fun than shopping.

You'll also find gardening advice as well as some ideas on planning a herb garden. Order it now direct from the publisher... Herb Gardening

http://www.flower-and-garden-tips.com/growingplums.html