Detailed Explanation of Red-Fleshed Plum Cultivation Techniques and Management Key Points

The red-fleshed plum is a very delicious fruit with a balanced sweet-and-sour taste; its flesh is bright red, and the part near the pit is purplish red. It is mainly produced in Zhuji, Dongyang and other places in Zhejiang, and is one of the main cultivars of plums in southern China. So, what are the red-fleshed plum cultivation techniques?

1. Site Selection

Choose a site with ample sunlight, deep soil, loose texture, sufficient water and good drainage, on neutral to slightly acidic sandy loam. For the terrain, choose terraced fields or gentle slopes; a rounded hill is best.

2. Planting Time

Planting can be done from leaf fall until before bud break. Fruit growers in the south have the experience that “autumn planting roots first, spring planting sprouts first.” Although the plum tree has already lost its leaves in autumn, the soil temperature is still high, so after planting the roots can heal and produce new roots in the same year, which helps them sprout and grow in time the following year.

3. Planting Density

Spacing between plants 2-2.5 m, between rows 3-4 m, about 70 plants per mu.

4. Planting Method

The planting hole is 1 m wide and 0.8 m deep. After the planting hole is dug, take out the soil inside, fill in topsoil (that is, one layer of soil, one layer of straw and mixed manure; 10 kg of weeds mixed with 1 kg of phosphate fertilizer to make mixed manure), then backfill with the original soil up to ground level, place a qualified grafted seedling in the center of the hole with the roots spread out, pile on fine soil, tread it firm with the foot, shape it into a basin, and water thoroughly to settle the roots.

5. Pruning Techniques

When the trunk grows to 50 to 60 cm, the trunk can be headed; remove the buds on the trunk below 30 cm. When the new shoots have grown to about 2 cm, select 4 to 5 new shoots with a relatively wide angle and vigorous growth as the main branches, so as to facilitate their vigorous development.

6. Fertilizer and Water Management

Before planting, the soil must be deeply plowed and improved to ensure sufficient base fertilizer, and the holes should be expanded the following year, which also helps the growth of new roots. Proper intercropping can also be done, but avoid planting tall crops. A method combining growing grass with clean cultivation can be adopted to let it grow naturally and prevent water loss. At the key periods when it needs water and fertilizer, remove the surrounding weeds, which can resolve the conflict of competition, conserve water and fertilizer, and provide suitable nutrients for them.

7. Pest and Disease Control

The key lies in prevention. In winter, eliminate insect eggs, and apply a vegetable mixture to the base of the main trunk of the Crisp Red Plum. In spring, use a 500-800 times dilution of trichlorfon powder or a 500 times dilution of zinc sulfur phosphorus to spray the trunk of the Crisp Red Plum and the surrounding ground, to prevent pests from entering the trunk.

Finally, note that during harvest, try to retain the fruit bloom, as this allows the fruit to be stored longer.