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Harry Pickstone Plum Tree

R220.00

Prunus domestica ‘Harry Pickstone’

Hot climates are not suitable for growing plum trees, they do require cold winter locations.

Plum trees require relatively cold winters. The chill hours are calculated under 7° degrees in winter.

If your plum tree does not receive enough chill hours, its flowers may not open, or they may have only a few flowers that open.

The Harry Pickstone plum is harvested in early January, whereas the skin is a green colour with a touch of red when picked, as it turns dark red after cold storage. The flesh is a yellow colour with a melting texture. It is reasonably sweet and has a cling stone.

Harry Pickstone plum tree is self pollinating but will yield more fruit and a better quality fruit if pollinated by the Leatitia variety.

Scroll down for planting information:

SKU: PLU001-HAR Categories: ,

Position

Plant a plum tree in full sun in a spot that is sheltered from the wind, if possible. It is frost-hardy but cannot tolerate very heavy frost.

Size

Your plum tree can grow to a height of about 5 metres when mature.

Soil Type

Plum trees prefer a soil with a pH that ranges from 5.5 to 6.5. The average garden soil is around 6.5 to 7. Add a bag of acid compost to the hole to reduce the pH.

Watering

After transplanting your tree, water it well and check every second day to ensure the soil is wet. After about a week, reduce your watering to once a week in winter. In hot, dry summers, provide plenty of water.

Mulch

Place a thick layer of pine bark mulch around the tree to help with water retention. This will decompose and maintain the soil acidity. Be careful not to let it touch the trunk, though, as it can cause infection and rot. Mulch your plum tree every 3 to 4 months.

Fertilising

Use our slow-release nitrogen-rich all plant fertiliser. Apply 1 teaspoon every 4-5 months.

Pruning

Pruning increases the fruit yield and makes for a healthier tree. Young plums are generally pruned in early spring before the buds start.  In September, cut back the dry twigs just above a bud. Once your tree is established, it’s important to prune only branches that have not produced fruit in that year. Remove all dead wood and dispose of it. Trim all side shoots to 6 leaves from their parent branch to encourage fruiting next year.

Harvesting

Plums take 3 to 4 months to ripen from the time of the blossoms. They will go from being hard and green to purple and relatively soft. They will stay ripe on the tree for about 2 weeks, after which they’ll be overripe and fall to the ground.

Weight 5 kg
Dimensions 20 × 20 × 150 cm
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