Having such a good reputation as easy-care fruit trees I expected few difficulties growing two plum trees in the farm fruit garden. These made a great start after planting five years ago. One year after planting they were blossoming and later producing an impressive amount of fruit for still small trees – exceeding expectations.

Grafting Satsuma To Angelina

Both trees were grafted to a second variety giving a good range of ripening times as well as compatible pollinators. Angelina, a European variety, supported a highly productive Satsuma graft that fruited the following summer.

It was also necessary to support the grafted Satsuma branch with a sturdy pole as there was a clear risk of breaking under the crop load.

PausePlayPrev|Next

My only remaining plum in the fruit garden at 5 years

Strong winds have torn a branch from my plum

A successful bud graft is sprouting

European plum variety Coe’s golden drop showing developing fruits

Ripening Satsuma plums

Upward growing Santa Rosa branch grafted on my plum

This heavily cropped Satsuma limb needed supporting

A large number of Satsuma blossoms on a small branch

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Preserving Original Plum

With such a good start it came as a surprise to find the whole plant had fallen in a strong wind. On closer inspection this plum had a weak point due to an infected wound at ground level resulting in a rotted trunk.

Having broken below the graft, this plum was removed and the site prepared for a new planting. Soon after falling, buds were collected from the damaged tree and grafted onto the remaining plum. Several buds have been successfully grafted meaning the original plum varieties have been preserved.

Plums On My Hobby Farm

The one remaining plum – Coe’s Golden Drop – developed a large framework and will carry the four original plum varieties. This plum suffered damage to several branches in strong winds, but has recovered well. Instead of replacing the lost plum with another, a Red Delicious apple has become the latest addition to the fruit garden.

A good lessons gleaned from growing these plums – however good a plant’s reputation, its performance cannot be assured.