How to grow stone plums at home?

Content

Plum is one of the first fruit trees cultivated by man. And this is not surprising, because the branchy graceful tree has rich green foliage. In early spring, it shakes with beautiful flowers and allows you to enjoy an exquisite aroma. Truly, the plum is the decoration of any area. Do I need to talk about delicious fruits?

Every gardener tries by all means to plant this tree in his area. And only a few know how to grow a plum from a stone. Let's consider how such a process takes place.

What caused the interest?

Surprisingly, many summer residents are wondering how to grow a plum from a stone. Why are they interested in this particular tree?

This desire is due to several reasons:

Plum easily adapts to our climate. However, she is not "capricious". Even minimal care is enough for an amazing tree to delight you with a delicious and bountiful harvest.
In addition, it should be said about the benefits of fruits for the human body. The concentration of nutrients in the plum is quite high. According to their content, the tree takes an honorable second place, second only to raspberries.
Plum is widely used in a wide variety of dishes. Juicy fruits form the basis of excellent sauces. Delicious desserts are prepared from them. Plums are used to make stewed fruit, jellies, juices, and jams. In addition, delicious fruit is one of the favorite treats of children.

Such factors make people look for ways to grow a plum from a stone.

Varieties of wood

If you are serious about growing a pitted plum (the photo shows a beautiful tree that you can get), there are a few things to consider.

One of them is choosing the right variety. The tree from which you take the seed must necessarily grow in your climate zone. Only in this case the seedling will be able to please you with wonderful fruits.

If the parent tree grows in warm climates, then it is difficult to count on the success of the venture. Most often, a "wild" grows out of such planting material. But even if this does not happen, the plum will "freeze". This means that you will not see a wonderful bountiful harvest. Therefore, we will consider which varieties are better to use so that a stone plum appears in your garden.

The following varieties can be grown in the middle lane:

"Belorusskaya";
"Minsk";
"Vitebsk Late";
"The Volga beauty".

In a sharply continental climate and arid regions, varieties will take root perfectly:

"Egg blue";
"Morning";
"Eurasia".

For warm areas, the following types are suitable:

"Kuban comet";
"Victoria";
"Crooman".

Is it possible to grow a plum from a stone?

This is a question often asked by novice gardeners. Sometimes experienced specialists face this dilemma as well.After all, from time to time there is a desire to plant a completely different variety from those that are on the site.

Initially, we note that there are 3 ways to get a tree:

Reproduction by green cuttings.
Use of shoots of roots.
You can grow a plum from a stone.

The last method is of the greatest interest. However, before considering this method, you should learn about some of the features:

The planting process is quite laborious. It will require a lot of patience from you.
Not every seed-grown tree will bear fruit.
Sometimes plums taste different from their "parent".

However, don't be in a hurry to despair. Is it possible to grow a stone plum with excellent characteristics? Experienced breeders say yes. After all, it is from the seeds that new varieties are derived. And, perhaps, you will be the second Michurin.

Several recommendations

As you can see, a stone drain may well appear on your site. Even novice gardeners can grow a tree at home.

You just need to heed the advice of experienced specialists:

Planting material should be taken from ripe juicy plums.
It is best to take a few seeds. Since in the first year, some seedlings may not withstand frost and die.
It is recommended to plant the seedling initially at home - in a pot. And only in the fall, transfer it to open ground. Such conditions will ensure that the seedling is more likely to take root and begin to bear fruit.

Preparatory stage

Now let's look at how to grow a plum from a stone. Initially, the planting material must be prepared.

This procedure is as follows:

Each bone should be wrapped in a damp cloth.
Place these seeds in a cool place. Use a cellar or basement. Excellent conditions can be provided even in an ordinary refrigerator. The wrapped seeds are placed on shelves or in drawers for vegetables. The lower the temperature, the more chances that the planting material will sprout. This is how the necessary stratification process is performed. Or, in other words, natural cold treatment, which allows the plant to start the growth mechanism.
The fabric in which you wrapped the bones should be constantly damp. In no case should it dry out. Therefore, it must be periodically moisturized.
In this state, the planting material should be stored for about six months. Typically, this is the period from October to March.
For better germination, special stimulants can be used. Fertilizers are excellent for such a procedure: "Ecosil", "Epin", "Zircon". Both "clothes" and a bone are poured with a stimulant. Use fertilizers as directed.
Make sure that the bones do not grow moldy. If you notice such a process, you need to get rid of it right away. To do this, unfold the bone and rinse it. It is recommended to use warm water, but not hot.
You can use another method. According to him, they use not fabric, but river coarse sand or sawdust. The selected material is poured into a box, in which holes are pre-drilled for water drainage. Bones are placed in such a "soil". The boxes are taken out to a cold place. Do not forget about watering. Plum is very much in need of moisture.

Planting in a pot

Having considered the initial stage, which makes it possible to understand how to grow a plum from a stone, let's move on to the next.

Now your planting material needs such activities:

Around February-March, you will notice a change in the condition of the "seeds". The bones will swell, their protective cover will crack. This is evidence that the preparatory phase was carried out correctly.
These bones are ready for planting. However, do not rush to plant them in open ground. It is recommended to germinate seedlings at home.An ordinary flower pot is suitable for these purposes.
The seeds are planted in moist soil. Be sure to provide care for the seedling during germination. Plum needs watering, feeding. Be sure to monitor the condition of the seedling and remove pests in a timely manner.

It should be noted that the tree does not need special conditions. If you provide him with the same care as any houseplant, then the plum will quickly please with its sprouts.

Transfer to the ground

If you have provided proper care for the growing plants, then by the fall, medium-sized seedlings will form from your seeds. They can already be planted on the site.

Dig a small hole. It is recommended to add compost and sand to it. A future tree is planted in such soil.

Insist that the growing process will take approximately 4 years. And the tree will please the fruit only after 5-6 years. Initially, the plums will be small enough. However, year after year, their size will increase.

The second option for growing a seedling

If you are confused by such a long process, it can be significantly accelerated.

Consider another method of how to grow a stone plum at home:

Prepare the soil first. You will need equal parts of perlite and sand. They must be mixed. By the way, perlite is a natural volcanic rock that has a beneficial effect on plant growth.
Now let's get to the bone. Take a hammer and hit it. However, calculate the strength correctly. The bone should crack slightly, and not turn into fragments. This process disrupts the sleep that the seed is in. And, therefore, the time has come for the seed to germinate.
Plant the cracked seed in the prepared soil to a depth of 6 to 9 cm.
The soil must be constantly moistened. However, do not fill it. Since the plum will not withstand abundant moisture.
It is recommended to place the container or container with the planted bone in a cool place. But keep in mind that frosts are completely contraindicated for the plant. You can store the container in the garage if it is not warming up. Alternatively, place the container in the refrigerator.
After a few weeks, transplant the seed into organic soil. Such seedlings should grow for 1 year.

Site selection

When thinking about how to grow a tree from a plum stone, it is necessary to take into account several more important points:

It is best to plant the seedling on a small hill. Plum is a sunshine lover. Therefore, to get a great harvest, provide it with a bright area.
It is recommended to plant trees along the fence. Like many plants, plums do not like drafts. It is along the fence or shed that it is easier to find windless places.
Northern areas are preferred for plums. Since it is on them that the snow lingers longer.

Required soil

Now let's talk about soil.

Gardeners, explaining how to grow a plum from a stone, are advised to adhere to the rules:

The tree grows best in moisture-rich soil. Therefore, if your area is prone to drought, be sure to provide timely watering.
Plum loves light loamy soil, which contains lime and calcium.
Clay should be added to soil that is overly enriched with sand. This will create the necessary soil for the plum.
Heavy clay soil is diluted with sand and peat.
Acid soil is extremely difficult to tolerate plums. In such conditions, the tree begins to ache and wither. Therefore, with increased acidity, fertilizers should be added to the soil: chalk, dolomite flour, wood ash, fluff lime.
In order for the plum to take root, it is recommended to add rotted manure or compost during planting. As a rule, 1-2 buckets of such fertilizer are applied.
Eggshells are very useful for the tree. It should be poured into the bottom of the hole. Such feeding will provide the plum with the calcium necessary for the development.

Third landing method

Experienced gardeners do not use lengthy preparatory steps.They plant the seeds directly into the open ground.

However, the seed needs to be protected with this approach. Therefore, mouse poison is spread around the planting. After all, rodents are very fond of sprouted seeds.

Unfortunately, it is impossible to predict the weather conditions. And, therefore, there is no guarantee that seedlings will appear in the spring. Sometimes the first shoots sprout from the seeds after 1.5 years.

Grow from seed a healthy and fruiting plum is possible. It is a fun process with many details that determine the success of the event.

It is important to choose the right planting material. and properly prepare it for planting, mimicking the natural conditions of development as much as possible.

How can you grow a plum at home: the necessary steps

Selection of planting material

It is important to immediately determine for yourselfthat planting a stone of your favorite plum and growing a fruit tree with similar fruits is difficult. This is possible only with vegetative reproduction.

The reason for this is cross-pollination by insects, during which pollen of different varieties is mixed. This changes the genetics of the fetus and the bone.

Often such planting materials give the most unexpected results. Instead of a cultivated plant, a gardener can grow a wild plum with sour and unsuitable fruits in the country. In some cases, fruiting is completely absent.

The varieties and hybrids of plum species differ in the necessary qualities:

Ussuriyskaya;
Canadian;
Chinese.

For growing plums, seeds of ripe fruits, trees adapted to local climatic conditions are selected from the stone

If the purpose of planting a seed is to grow a frost-resistant scion for thermophilic crops, you can plant a stone of any zoned plum variety.

Only when the fruits are fully ripe, a full-fledged embryo is formed in the seed, on which the germination and strength of the plant in the future depends. therefore seeds of ripe fruits are selected for planting, trees adapted to local climatic conditions.

It is better to select a few seeds, so you can guarantee maximum germination and choose a strong seedling for planting in open ground.

How to germinate a seed: stratification

An important stage in the propagation of stone plums is stratification... This is the keeping of the planting material in cold and humid conditions, which allows the seed to germinate, provokes the growth of the embryo and the subsequent rupture of the shell for its access to light.

As a substrate for stratification, you can choose:

shredded moss;
sawdust;
coarse river sand;
perlite;
low-lying peat.

Stratification - keeping the planting material in cold and humid conditions, which allows the seed to germinate

After choosing the substrate, it is moistened and treated with a solution from potassium permanganate and water (5 g / 1 l). The moisture content inside the substrate must be at least 60%.

You can squeeze it in your hand to test it. If everything is normal, a small amount of moisture will be released, and the substrate will retain its shape.

Before placing in the substrate, the bones are kept in water for 3 days.filling them in half the height.

During this period, it is necessary to change the water every day and turn the bones. When the seeds are completely immersed in water, oxygen access to the embryo is disrupted, which can lead to its death.

Soaking promotes swelling of the membranes and washes out inhibitors - substances that delay the germination of embryos.

In the tank for stratification, it is necessary to make side holes for air exchange, this will prevent the appearance of fungal diseases. For the same purpose, the bones are placed at a distance from each other. The surface is covered with polyethylene or glass.

Correct stratification - maintaining a certain temperature for periods. These are the stages:

Warming up... Excerpt of seeds in the substrate for 15 days at a temperature of + 15 ° - + 20 ° C.It is optimal to place the container in any warm place.
Cooling... The temperature drops to + 1 ° - + 5 ° С. This period lasts 60-80 days. The container with bones is removed to the lower shelf of the refrigerator.
Pre-sowing... The temperature is lowered to 0 ° -1 ° C for 20-35 days. The container can be stored in a cold basement. The level of germination strongly depends on the observance of this stage.

In this period it is necessary to control moisture... When mold appears, the substrate is sprayed with a 3% potassium permanganate solution.

The readiness of the bone for planting can be judged on the cracked shell. It is important to plant it as quickly as possible in a comfortable place of temporary development.

Growing a seedling

To plant seeds for seedlings, you need prepare a convenient pot with a diameter of at least 20 cm. The containers are disinfected with a 3% formalin solution.

At the bottom, a drainage layer of expanded clay or broken brick with a layer of 3-5 cm is required, a thin layer of coarse sand and charcoal is laid on top. This ensures the drainage of excess moisture and aeration of the roots.

An ideal soil mixture is a combination of components that create all the conditions for a favorable development for the roots of seedlings. This is an optimal air exchange, moisture content and balance of microelements, which together suppress the growth of fungi and mold.

These properties are possessed by a substrate of components mixed in equal parts:

humus;
leafy earth or peat;
vermiculite.

0.5 part of calcined river sand or perlite is added to the soil mixture.

The substrate is placed in a pot and watered abundantly. The bone is placed in the center of the container., deepening by 5 cm. After that, the pot must be wrapped in polyethylene. This creates a mild greenhouse environment and the sprout will emerge within 45 days.

For the correct development of the seedling at home, it is necessary to maintain optimal conditions for lighting, watering, feeding

During this period, the container must be ventilated every day, lifting the covering material. Moistening is carried out with a spray bottle every other day.

For the correct development of the seedling at home, it is necessary to maintain optimal conditions:

Lighting... The container is placed on a well-lit windowsill without direct sunlight on the seedling. The ideal option is the southwest direction. In darkened rooms, it is advisable to install fluorescent lamps or enhance the reflection of sunlight by side mirrors.
Microclimate... The optimum temperature for the seedling is + 20- + 25 ° С. It is important to monitor the humidity of the air. In dry rooms, the air around the pot should be sprayed more often.
Watering... Abundant but rare. It is enough to moisturize twice a week. The water should be at room temperature and must be settled. A tray of water can be placed under the pot until the substrate is completely saturated with moisture.
Top dressing... From the moment the first shoots appear until the end of the growing season, it is necessary to make three additional fertilizing with nitrogenous fertilizers. To do this, you can use a solution of ammonium nitrate and water (30 g / 10 l). Approximate consumption per plant is 100 ml.
Picking... In the period from the cotyledon state to the appearance of two true leaves, you need to pinch 1/3 of the root length. This activates the formation of a strong and branched root system. After that, the seedling is planted in a new nutrient substrate, watered abundantly and shaded.

So that a wild culture does not grow from a seedling, it is transplanted into a new soil mixture and into a wider container every three months. A young tree can be transplanted into open ground one year after planting the seed.

Pre-hardening... A week before planting, the seedling is kept in the fresh air for 3-5 hours every day.

Transplanting a seedling into open ground

Ideal for planting plums a well-lit area with a gentle slope facing south or southwest.In such an area, there is good aeration and stable heating of the soil.

On a low-lying area, you will need to form a hill 50 cm high and a base width of 100 cm.

Groundwater should be below 3 m, otherwise anaerobic conditions are created for the roots, which lead to rot and impede full development.

A plum sapling can be transplanted into open ground one year after planting the seed

Preparing a site for a future tree

If a seedling transplant is planned for the spring, the plot for the fruit tree is prepared in the fall.

For autumn planting, this must be done in early summer.... During this time, the soil will settle, structure, and complex compounds of minerals will take easily digestible forms.

The site must be dug up 35 cm and fertilized per 1 m2:

manure or compost 6 kg;
superphosphate 60 g;
potassium salt 30 g.

After that, a planting pit is formed, on the quality of which the first 2 years of development of the seedling depend. The optimum depth of the pit is 60 cm, and the diameter is 80-100 cm. To minimize the strong shrinkage of the soil, the pit walls are formed vertical.

The upper part of the soil removed from the pit is deposited separately; it will be needed to form the substrate. At a distance of 30 cm from the center of the pit, a stake is inserted, a seedling will be tied to it.

Soil mixture for filling the hole:

manure 2 buckets;
river sand 2 buckets;
superphosphate 30 g;
potassium sulfate 20 g

The rest is complemented by deposited sod land. At high acidity, 300 g of limestone is added to the soil.

How to plant a seedling correctly

At the bottom of the landing pit form a hill from the prepared soil mixture. During the placement of the seedling, it is necessary to spread all the roots over the surface of the substrate. Bends in the upward direction should be avoided.

By adjusting the height of the location, you need to focus on the root collar, it should be 5 cm above the soil level... This prevents its subsequent deepening under the influence of shrinkage.

When planting a plum seedling, you need to focus on the root collar, it should be 5 cm above the soil level

When falling asleep plum roots it is important to prevent the formation of voids... To do this, it is necessary to periodically shake the stem of the seedling.

After planting, the surface of the soil is compacted, the seedling is watered abundantly and tied to the stake with soft material. The trunk circle is mulched with sawdust or peat.

Care after landing in the country

In the first two years of development of a young plum, fertilizers are not needed.... For proper nutrition of the tree, there are enough elements that are introduced into the planting pit. The trunk circle must be kept in a constantly loose state, removing all weeds.

Young trees react especially painfully to damage to the bark. Therefore, it is not necessary to allow friction between the barrel and the stake.

It is important to monitor the appearance of overgrowth at the level of the trunk or from the roots. Excess shoots take away a lot of nutrients and the ability of the seedling to develop fully, so they are immediately cut out.

Young trees are especially attractive to caterpillars and aphids. Their activity is strongly reflected in the growth of the seedling. In case of moderate damage, the plum can be washed with an ash-and-soap solution.

If the defeat of the seedling is large-scale, you need to apply chemicals: "Karbofos", "Actellik", "Aktara".

The seedling needs provide regular hydration... Water must penetrate up to 40 cm deep. The frequency of watering must be adjusted based on climatic conditions. It is important not to allow severe drying out, to which the plum reacts very painfully.

A young plum requires care: watering, protection from insects, preparation for winter

Young plums must be carefully prepared for the first winter.... A layer of mulch is laid at least 30 cm. All branches of the seedling are grouped and tightly fixed to the stake.

Until December you need wrap the plum stem with warm and breathable material... This will prevent the appearance of frost cracks - cracks that appear under the influence of temperature changes. Additionally, the seedling will warm up by pulling up the snow.

Young trees are attractive to rodents, which are especially activated in the winter season in search of food. To protect the seedling, it is covered with spruce branches from all sides. Additionally, they are treated with a mixture of mullein and clay (1: 1), the pungent smell of which repels pests.

Plums planted from a stone begin to bear fruit 5-6 years after planting. Fruiting and the quality of the fruit also depends on the attentive attitude to the tree during all periods of its development.

Therefore, it is important to follow all the rules of care, periodically carry out preventive work and inspect the tree, the appearance of which always signals internal problems.

Since ancient times, people have admired nature. He brought a piece of the living flora to his site for further care of it. The article is devoted to the topical issue of growing plums from seeds. The main methods of planting from a bone, planting them in the ground and features of caring for them will be revealed.

Gardeners love this culture, as the plum is unpretentious and grows well in a wide variety of areas. But it should be remembered that in order to get a good harvest of fruits, the soil must have high fertility, so it must be moistened.

Reproduction of plums with brushes

It is customary to propagate plums by cuttings, but nowadays they are increasingly practicing growing these trees from seeds.

You need to take a ripe plum and separate the pit. Then rinse thoroughly and remove the remaining pulp. After this stage, the bone is dried on a windowsill or in any sunny place. The bone will dry out in a couple of days, after which you need to remove the core from it.

Note: for planting, you should only use ripe, ripe fruits of plums from trees that grow in your area.

We carefully take it out and check for suitability for growing in the following way: we place the nucleolus in a container with water, if it sinks to the bottom, it means it is fertile.

Germination of kernels

In the autumn period, fill the dense container with fertile, moist compost. Before planting, you should loosen the soil well and distribute the prepared plum seeds in it.

After that, the seeds must be refrigerated. Please note that the temperature regime must be up to + 4 ° C. This process is called stratification - keeping seeds at a specific temperature to speed up their germination. In this state, they should stay up to half a year. Some gardeners in February place the seeds in a container of wet sand and place them in the lower sections of the refrigerator.

When the nucleoli from the seeds of the plum begin to hatch, they are planted in a pot of soil and put on the windowsill. The seed thus prepared is planted in May.

Planting directly into the ground

Plum seeds can be planted directly into the ground. Sow in the soil in autumn, and expect the first shoots in early summer. It is only necessary to dig up and transplant plums to their final habitat when the first two leaves appear.

The seedling is planted a year after the emergence of the sprout. If you have grown several seedlings, you need to place them not tightly to each other.

Note: you need to plant young trees in one row - due to this, the plants are well pollinated.

Before planting the plant in the soil, you need to make holes, sprinkle thoroughly with fertilizer and mix with sand.

Good to know: some gardeners plant plums under a currant bush, since the soil there is loose: there will always be a sufficient amount of moisture and direct sunlight will not get there.

The plum is moved into the prepared hole along with a lump of soil. Thus, there is no risk of root damage. You should tamp the ground a little, insert stakes, tie a small tree.

Important tips and tricks

To grow a healthy tree from a stone, you should follow these tips and tricks:

choose seeds only from ripe fruits;

plum seed must be checked for fertility;

maintain the temperature regime during stratification;

remove bad sprouts carefully so as not to harm the roots of the remaining plums;

Weak plants should be carefully cut, not plucked.

It doesn't take too much effort to sprout pitted plums. This requires a lot of desire and a little patience!

From this video you can learn how to properly dig up plum saplings:

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3 Parts: Collecting the Seed, Germinating the Seed, Growing the Seed

Plum is a stone fruit garden plant, the seeds of which are in dense stones surrounded by juicy fruit pulp. You can get plum seeds simply by purchasing the variety you want and then subjecting the seeds to a process called "stratification." After germination, the plant can be planted in the ground or grown in a special container.

Part 1 Seed collection

Buy ripe plums from the market. Choose varieties grown in your area or in an area with a similar climate. In this case, you will know that this variety can grow in your climatic conditions. It is best not to take early ripening varieties, since the seeds in such plums have hardly had time to develop to the desired stage.
Eat the juicy pulp. For growing, choose the fruit that tastes best to you, as the grown plums are more likely to inherit the tastes of the parent plant.
Try not to leave any pulp on the bone, its surface should be completely clean.
Place the pit on a windowsill for a few days to dry.
The seed inside the seed will dry out and shrink, making it easier to store. In addition, the shell of the bone will dry out, and it will be easier for you to open it.
Take a small nutcracker.
Place the bone horizontally between the two ends of the forceps. Gently crush the bone.
- Be careful not to squeeze the bone too hard. If you crush a seed, it will become unusable.
You should be left with an almond seed. It is this that you will need to germinate and grow a plum tree from it.
Pour in a glass of water.
Put a seed in it. If the seed is drowned, you can germinate it. If the seed floats on top, you will need to keep splitting the seeds until you find a viable seed.

Part 2 Germinating the seed

Soak the seeds in a glass of water overnight. The water should be at room temperature.
Fill a plastic bag or glass jar with fertile compost. Water the soil sparingly. The soil should be moist, but not excessively.
Place a seed or several seeds in the soil and close the bag or jar tightly. Shake the soil container to sink the seeds deeper into the loose soil.
Set the refrigerator to about 4 degrees Celsius. Place the seed jar or bag in the refrigerator to begin the stratification process. This process of low-temperature seed germination promotes seed germination and can then grow into a mature plum tree.

Part 3 Growing Seeds

Choose a spot in your garden where you plan to plant a plum tree. It is recommended that at least two plum trees grow on the plot so that the cross-pollinated varieties can bear fruit.
Find a place where the plant is free from frost. Choose a relatively sheltered place where you can mulch the soil and cover it with a covering material that will protect the plant from frost. Frost can kill your young plum trees. Choose a location that provides plants with ample sunlight.
Prepare enough well-drained soil and compost before planting. The addition of soil provides good drainage properties.
You can also grow a plum tree in a large pot and transplant it outdoors at a later date if you are not sure exactly where you want to plant the tree. To do this, you need a large pot with holes to drain excess water.
When the seed forms healthy white roots in a jar or plastic bag, you can transfer it to the soil. Be careful not to damage the roots when replanting the seedling.
Dig a small hole slightly deeper than the root. Form a slight rise of soil in the center of the fossa. Place the seed on this raised area and gently spread the roots around.
Cover the planted seed with soil.
The distance between trees should be between 6 and 7.5 meters.
Water and protect your plum tree planting site. Keep the soil dry and water it deep enough. Your plum tree should start bearing fruit by the third to fifth year after planting.

Tips

Some plum varieties do not need to be grown in a group of two or more trees as they do not require cross-pollination. Do your research before planting to see if the variety you choose needs to grow multiple plants at the same time.

What do you need

Ripe plums of zoned varieties
Glass of water
Nutcracker
Compost
A plastic bag or jar that can be closed with a lid
Water
Refrigerator
The soil
Shovel
Large pot with good drainage properties

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Date of publication:Growing at home