How to Plant Wild Plum Seeds
Wild plum trees are very easy to grow from seeds. Cold hardy in USDA Zones 3 to 8, the seeds of these tough, hardy trees fare best if you simply leave them alone and allow nature to take its course. They don't need your help. It's best to plant several seeds for every one wild plum tree that you wish to grow, because pits tend to have a low germination rate. When choosing a permanent location for your tree, consider that it will attain a mature height of 15 to 25 feet, and its roots will sucker vigorously. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Pick wild plums when they've turned dark purple. Fruit typically begins ripening in June or July. Enjoy the tasty treats and reserve the single seeds produced by each. Wash the pits under running water and rub them vigorously to remove any remaining fruit particles. Set them on several paper towels and place in a cool, dry spot for about two weeks to air dry.
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2
Seal the plum pits in a plastic bag with a handful of moist sphagnum moss and refrigerate for about 90 days. Check the package once weekly and dampen the sphagnum slightly if it begins to dry out. Stratification in this manner will reduce natural seed germination time from two years to one.
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3
Choose a location for your wild plum seeds in late fall. A well-drained spot in full or part sun is best. Cultivate the planting site to a depth of 10 to 12 inches.
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4
Plant the pits before the first hard freeze. If they split and develop a root prior to that time, get them into the ground right away. Plant seeds 3 to 4 inches deep, and space them about 24 to 36 inches apart. Cover the area with hardware cloth to keep squirrels from digging the pits up.
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5
Water the planting area just enough to evenly moisten the soil, then leave it alone until seedlings emerge in the spring.
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6
Mulch seedlings with compost in the spring, taking care to leave about 4 to 6 inches of space between their trunks and the mulch to prevent rot. Keep the soil surface evenly moist throughout the growing season. No fertilizer is needed.
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Transplant seedlings to their permanent locations early in their second spring.
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