What trees can a small arbor plum tree be grafted onto, and can it be planted in a home courtyard?

Every year in July and August, plum varieties of all kinds come onto the market in abundance, and the various plum trees are also laden with fruit, such as Black Bulu plums, Jiaqingzi plums, Chicken Blood plums, and so on. But do you know what trees a plum tree can be grafted onto? Can it be planted in a home courtyard?

1. Basic facts about the plum tree

1. The plum tree, also called the cherry plum, is a common deciduous small arbor that can grow up to twelve meters tall, with a broad rounded crown; the bark of the plum tree is an uneven grayish brown, while the small branches are yellowish red; the leaves of the plum tree are obovate or long elliptic, rarely oblong-ovate, with serrated edges, and the upper surface is glossy, hairless and dark green; around April each year it produces white flowers, and the fruit colors include green, red, purple and yellow, among others.

2. The plum tree originated in Central Asia and the Xinjiang region of China, and was first widely cultivated as an economic fruit tree. Plum trees are planted most extensively in the southern regions, and China is also the world's largest plum exporting country.

3. The fruit of the plum tree is a fruit used both as medicine and as food. Medicinal plums have a certain therapeutic effect on tendon and bone injuries, bone pain and blood stasis caused by falls, and can treat swelling of the lower abdomen in women, dark spots, high fever in children, toothache, and so on; eating plums regularly has the effects of tonifying the middle and replenishing qi, moistening the intestines and relieving constipation, and nourishing yin and promoting body fluids. But note that unripe plums should not be eaten, and people with poor spleen and stomach should also eat fewer of them. In addition, besides being an economic fruit tree, the plum tree can also be cultivated as a foliage ornamental garden plant.

2. What trees can a plum tree be grafted onto?

1. There are many trees a plum tree can be grafted onto; generally, stone fruit trees that are relatively closely related are all suitable. For example, mountain peach, apricot tree, Japanese apricot tree and sweet cherry tree, among others. The best time for grafting is around July.

2. Before grafting the plum tree, choose vigorous growth for pinching off the growing tip, and the grafted part of the chosen plum tree should preferably be 5-8 cm above the ground; then graft the prepared rootstock such as peach or cherry with the well-prepared plum scion, and after grafting, cover it tightly with a transparent plastic bag and tie it firmly.

3. Water the grafted seedlings at the proper time; when the grafted buds grow to 70-100CM in September, pinch off all the growing tips and stop watering. Generally, a grafted plum seedling can bear fruit in about three years, and the fruiting period can last about fifteen years.

3. Can a plum tree be planted in a home courtyard?

As for whether a plum tree can be planted in a home courtyard and whether it is good to plant one in a courtyard, we need to analyze the specifics.

1. A home courtyard can plant a plum tree: the plum tree is an economic fruit tree, and every year in July and August it will be covered with fruit, which is not only attractive but can also be picked and eaten. In addition, selecting variant purple-leaf plum and black-leaf plum can be planted as foliage ornamental garden plants.

2. A home courtyard should not plant a plum tree: in feng shui terms, the home should have long-lived, evergreen trees. The plum tree does not have a long lifespan, and the plum tree is a deciduous arbor, so falling leaves may mean scattering wealth. Therefore, friends who believe in feng shui can plant pomegranate, peach tree, and so on at home, which carry the meaning of many offspring and blessings and longevity.

In addition, friends who live in the city and like growing potted plants, and who have no courtyard, can also grow a pot of plum bonsai, which is quite nice.