Pluots Tree Fruits Gardening: A Step-by-Step Guide

Introduced in 1989, pluots are a sweet hybrid fruit derived from crossing plums with apricots. These colorful fruits offer gardeners the chance to grow unique stone fruits with excellent flavor. When paired with other fruit trees like plums, apricots, peaches and nectarines, pluot trees make an excellent addition to any home orchard or edible garden. This guide covers everything needed for pluot fruit tree gardening.

Why Grow Pluots and Other Fruit Trees

Growing your own stone fruit trees provides many rewards:

Access to Tree-Ripened Fruit

• Harvest pluots, plums, apricots and more at perfect ripeness for superior flavor and sweetness straight from your backyard. This makes for delicious snacking and recipes.
• Enjoy premium taste and texture since you control precisely when fruits are picked based on ripeness indicators.
• Experience a wider range of flavors and aromatic compounds only developed in tree-ripened fruits.

Greater Selection and Diversity

• Choose from hundreds of stone fruit cultivars with unique aromas, colors and tastes far beyond what’s available at the store.
• Mix popular selections like Santa Rosa plums with heirlooms like Green Gage for more diversity.
• Satisfy personal preferences and needs by intentionally selecting fruits based on flavor profiles, harvest times, growth habits, and other traits.

Environmental Benefits

• Growing fruit trees organically helps support biodiversity by providing food sources and habitats for birds, beneficial insects, and small animals.
• Eliminates plastic packaging waste from store-bought fruits.
• Reduces your carbon footprint substantially by eliminating long-distance shipping of fruit.

Ongoing Cost Savings

• Fruit trees require an initial investment and regular care but yield abundant harvests year after year once established.
• After accounting for time and effort, growing your own can save significantly compared to buying all stone fruit for a household.
• Preserve abundant harvests at optimal ripeness through canning, freezing and drying for year-round enjoyment of homegrown goodness.

Selecting the Best Site

When choosing where to plant stone fruit trees, opt for a space with:

Full Sunlight

• Fruit trees need at least 6 hours of direct sun daily during the growing season for ample fruit production.
• Insufficient light leads to reduced flowering, poor fruit set, increased disease issues, and greater winter damage.

Well-Drained Soil

• Stone fruits require neutral to slightly acidic soil ranging from pH 6.0-6.5.
• The area should have loose, loamy soil to a depth of 3+ feet to allow for root development and drainage.
• Improve dense or heavy clay soils by amending with compost or other organic material before planting.

Adequate Air Flow

• Choose open sites with good air movement versus low areas or tight spaces between existing buildings or trees.
• Allow 15-20 feet between fruit trees to prevent overcrowding once they reach mature size. Proper spacing allows air to circulate freely minimizing pest and disease issues.

Accessibility for Care and Harvesting

• Consider proximity to a water source and how easily the area allows for pruning, netting, harvesting and other tasks.
• Position trees where falling fruit won’t cause damage or become inaccessible.
• Avoid planting under utility lines or other structures that could impede maintenance.

Enough Room to Accommodate Mature Tree Size

• Standard fruit trees can grow 15-20 feet tall and wide at maturity.
• Dwarf varieties reach 8-10 feet tall and wide but yield less overall.
• Take into account the space needed for trees to develop to full size without becoming crowded.

Gradual Slopes for Cold Air Drainage

• Choose sites on a subtle slope where cold, dense air can drain away from trees, helping avoid spring frost damage.
• Avoid planting in low areas or at the bottom of steep inclines where frost accumulates.

Choosing Varieties

Select cultivars suited for your climate’s growing zone, soil and available space. Also factor in:

Ripening Times

• Stagger harvests by selecting early, mid and late-season varieties.
• Extend enjoyment of favorites by choosing multiple cultivars with similar characteristics that ripen at different points.

Disease Resistance Traits

• Lost both time and money replanting trees lost to issues like bacterial canker, brown rot and root-knot nematodes.
• Seek out resistant or tolerant varieties suitable for your region.

Intended Use

• Some cultivars excel for eating fresh while others are better for cooking, canning, drying or making fruit leather.
• Consider personal preferences for appearance, texture, sweetness, tartness and intended purpose.

Pollination Needs

• Most stone fruits perform best with cross-pollination from a different compatible variety flowering at the same time.
• Or support pollinators by intermixing early and late bloomers.

Mature Size

• Standard trees become large, reaching up to 20 feet tall and wide.
• More compact dwarfs max out around 8-10 feet tall and wide.
• Factor in space constraints and desired yield.

Check with local nurseries or extension offices for recommendations on regional performers. Space multiple trees 15-20 feet apart for good air flow.

Preparing for Planting

To prep the planting area:

• Loosen native soil to a 12 inch depth using a rototiller or digging fork to ease root establishment.
• Incorporate 2-3 inches of aged compost or rotted manure to improve fertility and moisture retention.
• Eliminate any perennial weed roots that could compete with trees.
• Water the soil 1-2 days before planting to improve workability and reduce transplant shock.

When planting bare root trees in early spring, ensure the roots stay evenly moist and handle carefully to prevent damage. Container trees can be planted anytime soils have sufficiently warmed.

Planting Steps

1. Dig a hole wide and deep enough to accommodate the root system without crowding or bending.
2. Place the tree at proper depth so the root flare sits level with the soil surface.
3. Backfill the hole with native soil, watering periodically to eliminate air pockets.
4. Form a basin around the base to help retain water near establishing roots.
5. Protect the trunk from rodents over winter with hardware cloth guards.
6. Stake dwarfs the first year only to secure roots. Standards may need permanent bracing.

Providing Ongoing Care

For healthy fruit trees:

Adequate Water

• Water deeply and consistently during dry periods, applying 10-15 gallons weekly.
• Avoid frequent, light watering that only dampens upper layers of soil. This encourages shallow rooting.
• Lay organically-based mulch like shredded leaves or bark around trees to help retain soil moisture and moderate soil temperature.

Annual Fertilization

• Fertilize mature trees 1-2 times per year in early spring and after harvest using organic options like compost tea, fish emulsion, aged manure or bone meal.
• Younger trees benefit from a second midsummer feeding to stimulate growth.
• Apply any soil amendments in a large ring starting several feet out from the trunk to align with the tree’s expanding root zone.

Routine Pruning

• Prune annually during dormancy to shape trees, improve structure and maximize fruit yields.
• Remove inward facing branches, dense vertical shoots, diseased wood and any crossing or damaged limbs.
• For mature trees, pruning every other year is sufficient to maintain form and productivity.

Pest Monitoring and Control

• Check trees routinely during the growing season for common stone fruit pests like aphids, mites, borers and Japanese beetles.
• At first signs, use organic sprays like insecticidal soap, neem oil or spinosad to control populations.
• For persistent issues, introduce beneficial predators or parasites that provide natural pest control.

Harvest Support

• Install sturdy trellising between taller trees to support limb weight when loaded with maturing fruit.
• For dwarf varieties, place trellises when planting to avoid damaging shallow root systems later on.
• Optional netting over trees just before ripening helps protect tender fruit from birds and squirrels.

Additionally, apply 2-3 inches of organic mulch around the base of trees to conserve moisture and reduce weeds. Replenish as needed.

Determining Ripeness and Harvesting

Unlike other stone fruits, pluots show little color change when ripe, so taste offers the best gauge of readiness. Gently squeeze to check for slight softness signaling sweet, juicy pluots perfect for picking.
When harvesting stone fruits:

• Lift and gently twist fruit from the stem to avoid limb damage.
• Use care not to bruise delicate flesh when handling and transferring harvested fruit.
• Move picked fruit out of direct sunlight promptly to preserve freshness and shelf life.

Storage

Store freshly picked pluots and other stone fruits in cool, dark conditions around 40-50° Fahrenheit. Enjoy as soon as possible for premium flavor and texture. Or preserve abundant harvests at peak ripeness through:

• Freezing – Excellent for retaining flavor and texture for use in baked goods. Slice firm, unblemished fruit; coat in ascorbic acid to prevent browning; drain briefly then transfer to an airtight container or freezer bags.
• Canning – Provides convenience while capturing seasonal goodness. Prepare syrups and sterilize jars; boil pluots briefly then add to jars, allowing proper headspace before sealing.
• Drying – Removes moisture allowing fruit to be stored long term. Arrange pretreated slices on trays then dry using a food dehydrator, oven, or solar methods until pliable and chewy.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Even with proper care, stone fruit trees can sometimes encounter problems. Being able to accurately diagnose and address issues quickly helps minimize impacts.

Common Stone Fruit Pests

• Aphids – Small soft-bodied insects that cluster on new growth sucking plant sap. Treat with horticultural oils or insecticidal soap.
• Plum Curculio – Snout beetle larvae that bore into fruit. Adults leave crescent-shaped scars on skin. Hand pick beetles. Use fruit protection bags.
• Oriental Fruit Moth – Larvae burrow and feed inside ripening stone fruits. Employ pheromone traps, eliminate alternate hosts, or use Bt or Spinosad sprays.
• Brown Rot – Fungal disease encouraged by humidity and moisture. Causes blossom wilt, fruit rotting. Improve airflow. Remove infected fruit. Use fungicidal sprays.

Quick identification followed by organic treatments can help get infestations under control before they significantly impact the harvest.

Environmental Issues

• Insufficient Chill Hours – Lack of adequate winter chill needed to set fruit buds properly shows as reduced flowering and small or misshapen fruits. Select low/no-chill cultivars.
• Early Frost Damage – Plum and apricot blossoms damaged by late spring frosts won’t set fruit. Choose less vulnerable varieties. Utilize frost blankets or wind machines if risk is high.
• Sunburn – Fruit excessively exposed to sunlight may develop dry, brown depressed lesions. Position more susceptible varieties in partial shade. Utilize protective netting.
• Wind Damage – Shaking of maturing fruit or abrasion from blowing debris leads to splitting and surface scarring. Provide wind barriers. Allow extra spacing between trees.

While some climatic factors remain beyond control, actions like site selection, variety choices, and protective measures can help avoid issues.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do my fruit trees have flowers but very little fruit?

Lack of cross-pollination, late spring frosts, heavy rains during pollination, or drought conditions could be preventing adequate fruit set. Also, check for pest damage to blossoms. Ensure proper spacing for air circulation and use floating row covers to protect blossoms if issues persist.

What causes misshapen fruit with brown depressed patches?

This damage results from sunburn which occurs when developing stone fruits are excessively exposed to intense sunlight. Providing afternoon shade using protective netting should help prevent symptoms from forming.

How can I get my fruit trees to bear fruit earlier?

Most stone fruit trees naturally begin fruiting 2-4 years after planting. To hasten harvests, choose genetically dwarfed trees which start bearing at just 1-2 years old. You can also summer prune young trees during the first 2 years to encourage earlier flowering and fruiting. But this will ultimately limit mature tree size.

What is the white coating on the bark and branches?

This white fungal growth is peach tree borers which block sap flow, reducing vigor. Carefully scrape off the coating to allow healing. Improve airflow through proper spacing and pruning. Fertilize trees to support recovery. Prevent future infestations with beneficial nematodes.
Addressing common fruit tree issues promptly helps minimize impacts to the harvest. But selecting suitable varieties and providing attentive care offers the best means of prevention.

Growing Your Own Superior Stone Fruits

Growing your own pluots, plums, apricots, peaches and nectarines promises a lifetime of homegrown goodness unmatched by store offerings in terms of flavor, diversity and harvest flexibility. With intelligent variety selection for your climate and proper annual care focused on soil, nutrients and pruning, these trees offer an abundant bounty. And preserving part of each summer’s generous harvest allows enjoyment of tree-ripened flavor all year round. Start planning your backyard orchard or edible oasis today!