How to Grow a Pluot

A Pluot tree is actually a trademark of the Plumcot, a cross of the apricot and plum. Both names are now often used interchangeably. Both the apricot and plum are in the prunus family and they have been hybridized to set fruit with the best qualities of both fruits. You can grow these trees in your own garden just as easily as you can the plum or the apricot.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Many West Coast people are familiar with members of the Plumcot family, but they are not so well known elsewhere. These fruits are sweeter and have a finer texture than plums. If you like plums you will probably adore these. And if you don't like plums, these will probably change your mind!

2. These trees were naturally cross-pollinated over the years and were trademarked in 1989 by Zaiger Genetics in Modesto, California. Most of the crop is still grown in the central valley of California. There are many varieties of the Plumcot or Pluot. Some would be the Crimson Sweet,Flavor Delight, Dapple Dandy, Tropical Plumana, Early Dapple, Flavor Jewel, Sweet Treat, Flavor Grenade, Flavor Queen, Flavor Rich and Red Ray. Although Pluots and Plumcots grow well in California, varieties are being successfully grown all over the country and should grow fine in most areas of all 50 states. Your tree will be self-fertile, but any trees grown from pits are not likely to come true and chances are your self-planted variety will produce an inferior fruit at best.

3. Rich in vitamin A and vitamin C, these fruits seem to be closer to the plum in texture and flavor, but they are sweet and some have yellow or apricot coloring. Since they tend to be a little more expensive to buy -- if you can find them -- they are a great choice to grow in your own garden.

4. Like so many other fruit trees, the Pluots or Plumcots offer showy flower displays in the spring, remarkably tasty fruit in the summer, and colorful leaf change in the autumn.

5. Most Pluots have a minimum requirement of from 500 to 800 hours of chilling. Chilling is the dormant rest requirement for a tree to set fruit successfully. There are a number of different ways to calculate this, the simplest being to figure an hour of chilling for every hour of temperatures under 45'F during the autumn and winter months.

6. Select a location to grow your Pluot or Plumcot tree in full sun. Dig the hole wider than than deep, but make sure the roots fit easily into the depth of the hole. If the soil is dry in the bottom of the hole, water it so the water will seep deep down under the roots of the newly planted tree. Stake it for the first year or two if you live in a windy area.

7. Back fill your hole with soil (mix in amendments now if your soil need them). Tamp in the soil and leave a depression like a moat around the outer edges of the hole to collect water and allow it to soak in slowly. As the tree develops it is more important to water deeply than frequently to have a healthy growth.

8. Trim your Pluot tree to a vase shaped form. Pluots and Plumcots are in a group called the 'stone' fruits -- fruits with big pits. All these trees do best trained with no central branches. The idea is to let the sun shine into the center of the tree to ripen the fruit from the interior as well as the exterior. Shape your tree a little more each year for the first 3 - 5 years so it will grow in and reduce future maintenance as the tree matures.

9. Feed your trees with fruit tree fertilizer (or mix your own fertilizers) in the early spring, early summer and late summer. Always under-fertilize rather than risking too much and burning roots. Water deeply so the water reaches below the bottom of the root system. Let the soil dry on the top few inches before watering.

10. You may need to net your tree with plastic netting to protect from the wildlife that will love the gift of fruit. I have discovered that most wild critters have not been educated on the concept of 'sharing' and can decimate a crop of fruit in a remarkably short time! And this is one fruit tree you won't want to be sharing with wildlife at all!

Resources

• Gates & Croft Horticultural Design ideas and info

[GreenGardenChic]

on 11/30/2008 Pluots are so tasty, now I just have to find a tree or 3.

[bossypants]

on 11/28/2008 I couldn't resist reading this article after seeing the title. What thorough and specific information! I sure wish I could grow one, now! (Too bad they don't like the snow!!!) ;) Thanks for the information!

[JasneJ]

on 11/28/2008 Excellent advice, it's on my "wanted" tree list.