PLUM

Plum plants are extensively oriented, limited, as well as require minimum care compared to almost all fruits plants. Plum is full of Vitamin A, B, (Thiamine), riboflavin along with nutrients such as calcium, phosphorus as well as iron. The properly merged acidity with sugar is beneficial in the processing of jams as well as squashes. The dry plums are best known prunes. The prunes possess excellent Ayurveda remedial significance. Liquid made from the prunes is beneficial in treating jaundice as well as summer bite.

Plum develops on an array of soils, deep fertile as well as properly drained, loamy land with a pH of 5.5-6.5. The land must be clear of hard pan, water logging as well as extreme salts.

Frontier: Fruit is heavy than Santa rosa variety and large in size, peel is deep purplish red in color, sweet, tasty, hard, fragrant, easily get separated from kernels, good storage and matures in end week of June, high yield, grows straight.

Red Beaut: Fruit is medium in shape, globe shaped, red and attractive skin, yellow flesh, sweet and aromatic and sticky in nature with kernel, fruit matures in end week of May, medium size and bears limited fruits.

Teruel: Fruit is medium to large in size, yellow in color, slightly reddish, yellow flesh, sweet, good fragrance, sticked with kernel, matures in second week of July, medium size and gives high yield.   

Other state varieties:

Alubokhara: - The plant is erect and also dispersing. The berries are of bigger in dimension compared to other cultivars. The yield is significantly less compared to kala Amritsari. The epicarp is yellowish in shade with reddish patches. Pulp is luscious and sweetened.

Satluj Purple: - This is a self-unfruitful cultivar also needs Kala Amritsari as being pollinizer. Kala Amritsari plum needs to be established like alternating plant in other rows for attaining decent fruits. The berry is of average in dimensions that weigh 25-30g. The epicarp is dense as well as mesocarp yellowish tinted firm body. The berries are generally consumed fresh. It ripens in initial May as well as produce 35-40 Kg of fruits per tree.

Kala Amritsari: - It is best favored cultivar of plains. Berries are of average dimension, rounded oblate. The epicarp on ripening changes darkish purple. The mesocarp is yellowish in tint with succulent pulp. Fruits are minor acidic in flavor. Berry ripens in 2nd half of May. The fruits are renowned for producing Jam as well as squash.

Titron: - This variety is a self-fruitful cultivar however the yield raises in case Alucha variety is utilized as a pollinizer. Titron variety is not bigger than kala Amritsari. The berry size is not as big as Satluj Purple as well as kala Amritsari. The epicarp is thin compared to kala Amritsari. The flesh is yellow-colored as well as little juicy. Fruits produce 30-35 Kg/ tree.

Kataruchak: - The cultivar was founded in small town Kataruchak of Gurdaspur region in Punjab. The fruits trade overpriced compared to those Kala Amritsari, because of the availability of white bloom on the flesh of fruit. The berry is large in dimensions, heart designed as well as purplish in shade. It ripens soon after kala Amritsari. Fruits produce 45-50 kg/tree. Berry is perfect for jam as well as squash preparation.
 

Time of sowing
Planting is done in first fortnight of January.

Spacing
The ideal spacing of plum plant is 15cm X 30cm. The tree should be planted 6m X 6m apart from row and between plants.

Method of sowing
Direct sowing of seedlings.
 

Seed Rate
The plum seed accommodate 110 tree/acre.
 

Nutrient Requirement (gm/tree)

For the cultivation of plum there is large amount fertilizer required in heavy soil. 60gm Urea (30gm Nitrogen), 6kg farm yard manure, 60gm potash (36gm K₂O), 15gm P₂O₅. After 6th year the dose rate is increased. In case of zinc deficiency take spray 3kg of zinc sulphate.

Recommendation of Diuron with terbacil 1.2kg/acre or Simazine 1.6kg/acre is done pre-emergence. In post emergence apply glyphosate@320ml/acre is good to control weed.

Plums are irregular rooted as well as rapid maturing thus requires adequate moisture throughout developing period. Time period of irrigation might rely on numerous aspects like soil variety, weather as well as type of major fruit trees. Regular irrigation at per week timeframe could be utilized in April, May as well as June. Hardly any irrigation is provided at complete blossom phase and ripening phase is provided to prevent flower. Throughout rainy climate no irrigation is needed. The timeframe might rise to twenty days in September, October as well as November.

Plums could be propagated efficiently on peach, plum with apricot rootstocks. For light ground area usage of peach rootstock is advisable, while for heavy garden soil, plum Kabul Green Gage cuttings and apricot rootstocks provide good outcome. Planted cuttings of Kala Amritsari is helpful straight away without budding. To do this stem-cuttings are ready in the 1st week of December and after callusing around 30 days it is raised in area from 15cm x 30cm in January.

Leaf-curl plum aphids: - Leaves and young shoots are twisted and stunted. Tiny, sticky insects are present.

Control: - Carefully timed sprays of horticultural oil will kill these aphids as they hatch. Or, apply neem when aphids are seen on leaves.

• Pest and their control:

Plum curculios (weevil): - Small crescent shaped scars on fruit, which drop easily.

Control: - Pick up fallen fruits frequently. Once petals start to fall, each day spread a sheet below the tree and hit the tree trunk with a padded stick; collect and destroy the curculios that fall onto the sheet. Continue for 3 week.

Black knot (fungus): - Smoky black knots (galls) on twigs and limbs, which range in size from 1 to 30cm.

Control: - Plant resistant cultivars, such as ‘president’ and ‘shiro’. Prune off galls. Make sure to cut at least 10cm below swellings.

• Disease and their control:

Brown rot (fungus): - Fruits have brown powdery masses. Fruits shrivel and form ‘mummies’.

Control: - Keep trees well pruned to encourage air circulation. Remove and destroy dropped fruit. Spray with sulfur at pre-blossom stage repeat when shucks split, then weekly for 2 week.

The maturity of plum fruit varies depending on the different types of variety. Plum must ripen fully on tree. The ripe fruit are used in several pickings and are packed with proper care.

Due to highly perishable character of plum it needs to be packed properly and are stored in proper temperature as they are chilling sensitive.