Cherry Plum 'Ruby' Info Learn About Ruby Cherry Plum Care

How do you take care of a cherry plum tree?

Cherry plum care is just like care for any cherry or plum tree. They prefer sandy soils and should be watered in times of drought. Many varieties of cherry plum require a nearby cherry or plum tree for pollination in order to bear fruit.

How long does it take for a cherry plum tree to grow?

The trees generally begin bearing fruit four to six years after planting. Plums also need winter chill, pruning and the right climate to produce a good yield.

How do you take care of a plum tree?

How to Care for Plum Trees

Be sure to water the young trees heavily every week during the first growing season to help promote growth. Then, water regularly. ...
If rain is lacking, water your tree well into mid-October to give it plenty of moisture through the winter months.

What is cherry plum good for?

The cherry plum trees' fruits are edible and contain a good source of nutrition value that have potassium, calcium, phosphate, vitamin B and C, that are great for the body's metabolism and nervous system. It can also be cooked and used for delicious pies, jams, tarts, etc.

Are cherry plums poisonous?

The seeds (also known as stones, pits, or kernels) of stone fruits like apricots, cherries, plums, and peaches do contain a compound called amygdalin, which breaks down into hydrogen cyanide when ingested. And, yes, hydrogen cyanide is definitely a poison. ... "Still, ingestion should be avoided.

How do you prune cherry plum trees?

Experts recommend pruning young Myrobalan cherry plum trees in early spring and mature trees in late spring to early summer. When trimming a cherry plum, remove any suckers growing from the rootstock. You should also remove any crossing or rubbing branches, and dead or damaged branches.

Do cherry trees bear fruit every year?

No, cherry trees do not produce fruit every year. Young cherry trees take several years to mature enough to produce fruit. There are two basic types of cherry trees: sweet cherries and sour cherries (also called tart or pie cherries).

What month do cherry trees produce fruit?

Cherry harvest time can occur as early as May in warm climates, but trees planted in these areas are more likely to produce deformed or doubled fruit. In cooler areas, the cherry harvest occurs mostly during June, though it may continue through early July for late-bearing varieties.

Do plum trees produce fruit every year?

Do Plum Trees Produce Fruit Every Year? No, plum trees do not produce fruit every year. Most plum trees will need 3 to 6 years after planting before they grow to maturity and start producing fruit. Dwarf varieties may start producing fruit 1 year sooner than standard varieties of plum trees.

What is the best fertilizer for plum trees?

For newly planted plums, fertilize in the early spring by broadcasting one cup of 10-10-10 fertilizer over an area that is roughly three feet across. In mid-May and mid-July, apply a ½ cup of calcium nitrate or ammonium nitrate evenly over an area about two feet in diameter.

What diseases affect plum trees?

PLUM TREE PESTS AND DISEASES

PLUM SAWFLY. The picture above shows the damage done to plums by the plum sawfly (Hoplocampa flava). ...
PLUM TREE LEAF CURL. ...
APHIDS. ...
PINK MAGGOTS INSIDE PLUMS. ...
PIGEONS. ...
BROWN ROT OF PLUM TREES. ...
WINTER MOTH. ...
SCALE INSECTS.

How long do plum trees live?

The average lifespan for cultivated plum trees is 10 to 15 years, according to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center's website.

Can I eat cherry plum?

While Cherry plums may be eaten fresh, they are considered a benchmark cooking plum, most often prepared as a sweet preserve, peppery chutney or even a sort of plum fruit leather. ... Cherry plums are also good in baked applications such as pies, cakes and crumbles.

Are cherry plums poisonous to dogs?

Everyone loves a good fruit tree. However, some species of fruit trees, particularly apple/crabapple, apricot, cherry, peach, and plum can be toxic to dogs, cats, and horses. The stems, leaves, and seeds all contain a chemical that once ingested, is metabolized into cyanide.

Do you refrigerate cherry plums?

The flavor is sweet-tart; the sweetness of cherry balanced quickly by the plum's natural astringency. ... Plums should always be refrigerated and will keep for about a week depending on ripeness.

What happens if you eat a cherry pit?

The dangerous chemical found in the seeds of stone fruits is called amygdalin. Poisoning can occur when the pit and seed are crushed or chewed before swallowing, releasing the amygdalin. Amygdalin is then converted by the body to cyanide.

Can cherry pits kill you?

A single cherry yields roughly 0.17 grams of lethal cyanide per gram of seed, so depending on the size of the kernel, ingesting just one or two freshly crushed pits can lead to death.

How do I identify a cherry plum tree?

The shape of the flower buds will help you tell the difference. Plum trees have round buds, cherry tree buds are oval. If each bud is separately attached to the tree by a short thin stem, it's a plum tree. If small clusters of blossoms grow from each flower bud, it's a cherry tree.

Do plums fruit on new wood?

Plum trees do not require as precise pruning as apples and pears, but still benefit from initial training and the thinning of old wood to ensure they produce as much fruit as possible.

How do you shape plum trees?

Plum trees are best pruned in a vase format to get a short trunk with three or four major branches to come off of the trunk at a 45-degree angle. This allows plenty of light and air into the tree. Always use sterilized and sharp pruning shears when you trim.

How do you prune an overgrown plum tree?

The basic principles are:

If significant pruning is required spread it over two or three years.
Remove dead, damaged and diseased branches (the three Ds) first. ...
Prune away any crossing branches. ...
Thin out the centre of the tree. ...
When pruning at this stage, try to maintain the "balance" of the tree.