Growing a plum tree from seed can be an interesting hobby and a great way to save money on new fruit trees. The seeds are tiny, so you’ll need to get ready ahead of time. You’ll also want to grow your plum tree in a pot until it is strong enough to handle being planted outdoors permanently. Here are some helpful suggestions on how to grow a plum tree from seed.
How To Grow A Plum Tree From A Seed?
- Plant the seed in a pot filled with small rocks and well-drained soil. Cover the pot with plastic wrap and put it in a warm place. Keep the soil moist but not too wet.
- The plum pit should germinate within 2 to 3 weeks, when you see a little green shoot coming out of the pit, remove the plastic wrap and transplant it in a larger pot or in your garden bed.
- Plum trees are very easy to grow from seeds, they need lots of sun and water to grow well so make sure you water them regularly during dry periods or they will wither up and die.
- If you want to get several plums from one fruit tree, then plant several seeds at one time, this will give you more chances for success because if one doesn’t work then there are still others that will grow into trees.
- Prune your plum tree once a year after it is fully grown and before winter sets in so that it can get enough nutrients from the soil for next year’s growth.
- When your plum tree starts producing fruit take care not to overwater them because this can lead to fungus disease which is fatal for all fruit trees.
- When you decide to prune your plum tree make sure that you cut off all dead limbs as well as all suckers because these are branches that will never bear fruit or flowers.
- Plum trees grow in most parts of the United States, but they are less tolerant to cold temperatures than other fruit trees like apples and pears.
- Plum trees are very easy to grow, they need lots of sun and water to grow well so make sure you water them regularly during dry periods or they will wither up and die.
- Plum trees can be grown as small trees or large bushes depending on the type of plum tree you choose.
What You’ll Need To Grow A Plum Tree From Seed
1. Pots
If you’re starting your trees from seeds, start them in pots. You can also use a seed tray or a peat pot.
2. Soil
Plum trees grow well in soil that is high in organic matter and well drained. A popular choice is to use a combination of equal parts of soil, sand, and compost for your seedling containers.
3. Watering Your Seedlings
Ensure that your plum tree seedlings get enough water to keep them hydrated but not so much that their roots are sitting in water all the time. The soil should be moist at all times but not wet or soggy. It’s best to water when the top 1-2 inches of the soil feel dry instead of watering daily by default as this will encourage shallow root growth and make it more difficult for the tree to adapt when transplanted into a garden bed later on. If you are using self-watering containers then you don’t have to worry about this.
4. Temperature
Plum tree seeds need to be kept at a temperature of around 70 degrees F (21 degrees C) in order to germinate properly. Some people find that they germinate faster when kept slightly warmer, at around 75 degrees F (24 degrees C), but you’ll need to experiment with your own seeds or plants to see what works best for you. If the soil temperature is too low, the seeds can take as long as 3 months to sprout.
5. Light And Dark Periods
Your plum tree seedlings should be exposed to 16 hours of light and 8 hours of darkness each day in order for them to grow properly. You can achieve this by using a timer or just moving your seedling containers closer or further away from a light source each day for 12 hours depending on the season. You don’t need special grow lights either – just a standard fluorescent bulb will do the job! Just remember not to expose your seedlings directly under the bulb as it may scorch their leaves and kill them off! It’s better if they get only indirect sunlight instead so that they don’t get overheated. 6-8 weeks after sprouting, your plum tree seedlings should be big enough and strong enough to move into a garden bed where they can continue growing until transplanting time rolls around again!
Steps For Growing A Plum Tree From Seed
- You will need a container for your plum tree to grow in. The container should be large enough to fit all the seeds you want to plant.
- Fill the container with potting soil and lightly cover the soil with a thin layer of sand or vermiculite. This will help keep your seeds from rotting in wet soil and it will also help retain moisture while they are germinating.
- Place the seeds on top of the soil, approximately 2 inches apart from each other, and then lightly cover them with more potting soil and lightly water them until they are moist, but not soaking wet.
- Place your seed tray in a warm location that receives plenty of indirect sunlight and then mist them daily until they sprout.
- Once they have sprouted, remove any weak plants so that only strong ones remain, and then transplant them into individual pots once they reach 6″ tall using a well-drained potting mix for fruiting trees.
- Place the young plum trees in a warm sunny location and water them regularly until they are about 2 feet tall. At this point, you can plant them in their permanent location.
- Be sure to fertilize your young plum tree with a slow release fertilizer every year, and prune it so that only the healthiest branches remain to ensure that it will grow strong and produce plenty of delicious fruit.
- After one year, you can begin harvesting plums from your young tree, but it takes several years before they produce enough fruit to be worth the effort of growing them from seed.
Final Words
Growing a plum tree from seed can be a fun and rewarding experience. It will take a few years before your tree is large enough to produce fruit, but you’ll have years of beautiful blooms to look forward to in the meantime. If you love the taste of fresh plums, it might be worth growing a plum tree from seed. Depending on the variety, fresh plums can be very pricey at the grocery store. Growing your own will ensure you have plenty of fruit to enjoy. If you follow the tips and instructions above, you’ll have all you need to grow a plum tree from seed with success. You’ll be enjoying delicious, fresh fruit from your own tree in no time.