How to Grow and Raise Plum Seedlings from Seed? Detailed Methods and Steps

SummaryPlum planting requires selecting plum seedlings with excellent varieties, complete root systems, and no pests or diseases, and planting them in plots with breathable, deep, well-drained soil. The planted varieties must not be a single variety; different varieties with the same flowering period can be selected as pollinator trees. Base fertilizer can include slow-release farmyard manure, and topdressing can include nitrogen fertilizer, phosphorus fertilizer, potassium fertilizer, etc. Plums need sufficient water at every stage, and irrigation should be carried out before bud break, during the young fruit expansion period, and during the new shoot growth period, while pest and disease prevention and control work should also be done well.

1. Selecting Seedlings

There are many varieties of plum trees, but plum seedlings with pure variety, complete root systems, robust and plump growth, and no pests or diseases should be selected for planting.

2. Selecting Soil

Plum trees have strong adaptability to soil. As long as the soil layer is relatively deep and fertile, they can be planted in any type of soil. They have relatively high requirements for air and soil humidity and are not tolerant of waterlogging. If orchard drainage is poor, it will lead to root rot, poor growth, and susceptibility to various diseases. Therefore, it is necessary to choose plots with loose soil, good aeration, deep soil, good drainage, and a low groundwater table for planting.

3. Timely Field Planting

Plum trees need to be planted before the buds sprout. The planted varieties should not be a single variety; different varieties with the same flowering period can be planted as pollinator trees.

4. Reasonable Fertilization

1. The base fertilizer for plum trees is mainly slow-release farmyard manure, such as stable manure, compost, green manure, fallen leaves, crop straw, etc. Fertilization can be chosen in autumn, and each mature plum tree can be given 50-100 kg of farmyard manure.

2. Pre-flowering topdressing can be carried out in early April when plum trees sprout, with 0.5-1 kg of quick-acting nitrogen fertilizer per tree, or 25 kg of decomposed human manure and urine.

3. Post-flowering topdressing for plum trees helps reduce physiological fruit drop. It can be chosen from late May to mid-June, with 0.5 kg of quick-acting nitrogen-potassium fertilizer per tree.

4. After physiological fruit drop and before the rapid fruit expansion period, from late June to mid-August, 0.5-1 kg of quick-acting nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium compound fertilizer can be applied per tree.

5. From the beginning of fruit coloring to harvest, phosphorus fertilizer and potassium fertilizer can be applied as topdressing, and quick-acting nitrogen fertilizer can also be sprayed on the leaves at a concentration of 0.2-0.3%, which can be done together with pesticide spraying.

5. Drainage and Irrigation

Plum trees need sufficient water at every phenological stage throughout the year. Irrigation is needed before bud break, during the young fruit expansion period, and during the new shoot growth period. Before winter, 1 irrigation of freezing water is needed. Plum trees are relatively afraid of waterlogging, so the orchard needs a drainage system to avoid waterlogging damage.

6. Pest and Disease Control

1. Red spot disease: Before the plum tree flowers and when the leaf buds unfold, spray 1:2:200 Bordeaux mixture. At the same time, remove diseased fruits and diseased leaves from the orchard and destroy them together by fire.

2. Gummosis: Strengthen orchard drainage, apply more organic fertilizer, improve the disease resistance of plum trees, and promptly control pests and diseases on branches and trunks. Use a knife to scrape off the gumming areas, then apply 5 degrees Baume lime-sulfur mixture, and finally apply white lead oil protective agent.

3. Aphids: In spring, before the damaged leaves curl, spray 40% dimethoate emulsifiable concentrate at 2000 times dilution, or 2.5% kung fu emulsifiable concentrate at 4000 times dilution. During the growing season, use 7 parts 40% dimethoate emulsifiable concentrate stock solution and add 3 parts water, apply the solution with a brush around the main trunk in a band about 6 cm wide, and wrap it with paper strips.

4. Oriental fruit moth: Generally, turn over the tree basin in autumn or spring to promptly destroy the overwintering sites of larvae, which helps reduce the overwintering population. During the peak hatching period of oriental fruit moth larvae, spray 40% triazophos emulsifiable concentrate at 1000 times dilution, or 5% lambda-cyhalothrin emulsifiable concentrate at 2000-4000 times dilution for control.