Selwyn_Times: March 20, 2024

Selwyn Times Wednesday March 20 2024
26
GARDENING
Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
Plum trees need a pollinator
THERE’S A reason polyanthus
is one of the top selling plants
year after year. In fact, there are a
couple of reasons.
Polyanthus is very easy to plant
and grows just about anywhere –
as long as there’s some sun.
But we think the secret behind
it’s popularity, comes down to the
fantastic, bright colours it comes in
– particularly at a time like winter
when there isn’t so much colour in
the garden.
This pretty and popular plant
come in a range of hues like pink,
blue and red and looks great in
hanging baskets or borders.
You can grow polyanthus in pots
but they also look good planted
FRESH: Plums are popular with children but watch out the birds don’t get them first.
PLUMS ARE so easy to grow and,
when planted with the correct
pollinator, will fruit heavily after
only a few years.
Plums have become more
popular in the past few years with
home gardeners growing more of
their own fruit.
Plum trees grow between 3-4m
high depending on the variety
chosen and how they are pruned.
The three main types flower and
fruit differently. The European
plum, Prunus domestica, flowers
in late September on spurs.
European plums generally have
smaller, rounder oval fruit which
need pollinating. The japanese
plum, Prunus salicinas, flowers in
early September on last season’s
new wood. It has large, often
pointed fruit. The cherry plums,
which are Prunus cerasifera, are a
cross between the European and
Japanese plums. They flower in
late winter.
Plums prefer a sunny spot with
good drainage. Spring frosts can
be a problem if the plant is flowering
at the time. Water the plant
well during dry periods, fertilise
in early and late spring.
Plums are vigorous growers so
should be pruned for shape and
to keep control of the plant. Thin
out large lateral growths, remove
diseased dead branches; thin the
tree out to allow light in to promote
spur formation.
Pruning should be done after
harvest to prevent disease. Brown
rot is the main disease that affects
plums, along with the odd insect.
Birds are also a pest.
Spray with copper and oil three
times in winter, then with mavrik
or carbaryl and copper monthly
while the tree is in leaf. Watch out
for birds as they love plums too.
around potted citrus trees.
Once you’ve got your seedlings
you need to find a spot to grow
them. If you’re planting outside,
make sure the soil is well-drained,
then dig over and add some
compost.
If you’re potting your
polyanthus, use potting mix to
ensure they have the best kick-start
to their growth.
In around four to six weeks
you should have these tight, low,
compact and colourful plants
brightening up your home and
garden.
Pick off the dead flowers to
encourage more flowering and
watch out for slugs.
Most plum trees need a
pollinator to ensure fruit set.
Even self-fertile plants will benefit
from a companion plant. Some
varieties pollinate lots of other
varieties.
You can even buy trees with
pollinators on them. Two or three
varieties are grafted on to a tree so
you get two to three types of plum
on the one tree, which saves room
and the plums get pollinated
properly.
Plums taste best when they are
picked ripe from the tree, some
cherry plums and plum santa rosa
are the only self-fertile varieties
available.
Here are some popular varieties.
Cherry plums black doris –
great all purpose, medium-sized,
TOP-SELLER: Polyanthus grow anywhere there is sun.
black-purple skinned, deep red
sweet juicy fruit. Billington or
omega helps with pollination.
Billington – Cross between
sultan and the japanese plum.
Ripens early December-January
and has medium-sized, redskinned,
red flesh, juicy fruit.
Omega – Red flesh with greenred
speckled skin. This plum is
juicy, sweet and self-fertile. A
good all-round plum.
Japanese plums – These plums
are heavier croppers and more
vigorous growing.
Burbank – Has heavy crops of
red fruit with yellow flesh. It is
self-fertile.
Elephant heart – Is a large plum
with reddish-purple skin and
sweet red flesh. Its pollinator is
santa rosa.
Santa Rosa – Is a large, deep
purple plum with pink-yellow
flesh. It is self-fertile and has
sweet fruit.
Sultan – Is a popular variety
with large red fruit covering the
tree. Its pollinator is omega.
Satsuma – Has large, round,
dark red fruit and is pollinated by
santa rosa.
Greengage – Is a popular plum
producing greenish-yellow fruit
in February. It is pollinated by
other European plums.
Fortune –Is a large plum with
amazing taste.
Add some colour to your garden for winter
Making your great outdoors greater
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