Feeding plums: care, timing, features of further cultivation

Why do you need to feed plums?

Fertilizing the soil is an important procedure that ensures fruiting and longevity of plums. Feeding depends on the period and variety and is necessary for a good large-fruited harvest. In addition, fertilizers help protect the plant from pest invasion and also serve to improve immunity.

Important! Proper feeding allows the tree to quickly get used to the soil in which it will have to grow.

The appearance of the tree will tell you about the lack of any element:

Potassium deficiency . The foliage turns red-brown and curls at the edges. Young shoots develop slowly.
Low magnesium . The leaves become brown with brown edging and veins.
Lack of phosphorus . Potassium is poorly absorbed, as a result of which the ovaries fall off, the leaves become grayish and fruits of irregular shape are formed.
Lack of nitrogen . The foliage takes on a pale green hue, the ovaries do not develop and fall off. If fruits are formed, they will be small.
Iron deficiency . The upper leaves turn yellow.

All these signs indicate that it is time to apply the appropriate fertilizers.

Caring for plum blossoms

During the flowering period, no work is usually carried out on the tree. At this time, the greatest danger to plum blossoms is return frosts. To protect trees when temperatures drop, smoke piles are lit. This reduces soil heat transfer. In addition to smoke protection, tree watering and crown irrigation are also used. This also prevents flowers from being killed by frost.

Caring for plums after flowering

After flowering, the plum is re-treated against pests by spraying. In addition, after flowering, root fertilizing is done with 40 g of nitrophoska and 30 g of urea, diluting them in a bucket of water. 3 buckets are poured under each tree. This feeding is done only for mature trees.

Fertilizer timing

During the first year after planting, the plum tree does not need special fertilizer. Attention is paid to fertilizing from the second year onwards on an ongoing basis .

A two-year-old tree is still weak, so it needs to be fed with urea . The first time fertilizer is applied in the spring, the second time in mid-summer. Experienced gardeners advise feeding young trees by spraying.

Did you know? Depending on the age of the tree and its care, the yield changes. With adequate maintenance you can get 70

–
100 kg of plums per plant per year.
As soon as the tree begins to bear fruit, the dosage of organic fertilizers is increased.

Organic fertilizers include:

bird droppings;
sawdust;
peat;
manure;
compost.

After adding fertilizer to the soil, it is dug up to a depth of 15–20 cm around the trunk. The annual norm of fertilizers in the second year of growth per 1 sq. m:

10 kg of manure or compost;
25 g urea;
100 g superphosphate;
200 g wood ash;
10 kg of peat.

Important! The amount of fertilizer is increased proportionally - the volume of nitrogen and phosphorus remains the same.
From the third year, fertilizers are applied three times:

in spring, early May;
in summer, early June;
before the onset of autumn, at the end of August.

After the tree begins to bear fruit regularly, the amount of organic fertilizers is increased. For 1 sq. a meter already takes 15 kg of organic matter.

Video: Feeding plums in autumn

An adult tree is fertilized in several approaches:

before flowering;
after flowering;
during fruit ripening;
after harvest.

Closer to autumn, fertilizing is also applied. Only this time they use nitrogenous mixtures and solutions. It is recommended to use ground limestone, which will help regulate the acidity of the soil.

Feeding before flowering

Before flowering, when petals appear on the branches from the buds in the spring, plum, cherry plum and other stone fruit trees are fed with fertilizers containing phosphorus and potassium. Before watering, they are dissolved, since dry granules will dissolve in the ground for a long time. As a result, nutrients will not reach the roots in time.

You will be interested to know: Treatment of currant bushes in the fall from pests and diseases

It is best if spring feeding consists of organic matter and mineral fertilizers.

We recommend making a mixture from an infusion of chicken manure or mullein, adding phosphorus-containing fertilizer Superphosphate and Potassium Sulfate. Or use Nitroammofoska, which contains all the plums and cherry plums necessary for spring feeding.

Feeding option from experienced gardeners:

The mullein infusion takes 2 weeks to prepare. You will need 3 buckets of fresh cow dung and 120 liters of water. If there are few fruit-bearing trees on the site, the dose can be reduced.
When the infusion is ready, mineral fertilizers are added to it.
For a 10 liter bucket of mullein infusion - 2 tablespoons of potassium sulfate and 2 cups of ash.

Young trees are fed with 6 liters of solution, and adults with 20 liters.

Attention! Mullein infusion can be replaced with Urea (1 tbsp per 10 liters of water).

How can you fertilize plums?

Fertilizing involves the application of both organic and mineral fertilizers.

We advise you to read how to make a plum blossom and bear fruit.

The following toppings are suitable for plums:

Compost or rotted manure. They perfectly nourish the plant and improve the soil structure. It becomes loose, air exchange improves. These fertilizers are applied when digging or plowing the soil. The norm is 1 bucket for an adult plum. If the soil is highly acidic, manure is mixed with lime (0.5 kg per tree). It is spread around the tree trunk area, the soil is loosened and watered.

Attention! In autumn, you cannot fertilize plum trees with fresh manure. As it decomposes, it releases heat and gases that can damage the roots.
Bird droppings or pig manure. Perfectly stimulates the growth of green mass. Since they contain a lot of nitrogen, they are not used in the fall.
Wood ash. The most affordable product that is obtained by burning wood. Contains 17 minerals that are responsible for good growth and fruiting. In addition, this fertilizer reduces the acidity level of the soil. For an adult tree you will need 200–300 g of the substance.

Wood ash contains 17 microelements that enrich the soil and nourish plants. In addition, ash normalizes the acid balance, and plums love alkaline soils.
Potassium-containing supplements. They are responsible for removing excess liquid from the branches and trunk. In autumn, fertilize with potassium chloride (100 g per tree). Apply during digging, then water the soil abundantly, or dilute it in a bucket of water and water the soil.

Potassium-containing fertilizers ensure maximum removal of liquid from the trunk and branches, as a result of which the frost resistance of the tree increases
Read also: Bergamot pear: description of the variety, is it really a citrus
Phosphorus fertilizers. They are responsible for the growth and strengthening of the root system, as well as the absorption of sugar and protein. Bone meal is suitable for plums. Dose - 50 g per 1 sq. m. Not used when cultivating plums on sandstone.

Important! When growing plums on sandy soil, phosphorus fertilizers are not applied.
Superphosphates. Contain a high concentration of calcium, potassium, and sulfur. At the same time, the nitrogen content in them is minimal. The norm is 60–70 g for an adult tree. It is recommended to add potassium magnesium simultaneously with such fertilizing. This will ensure the growth of young branches.

Superphosphates belong to highly soluble fertilizers, therefore they are easy to use
Calcium. Essential for strengthening roots. Contained in superphosphates, therefore, when using them, additional drainage is not required.

How to determine what a plum is missing

Plum suffers very painfully from a lack of vital microelements in the soil. And this can be determined by her condition. From a lack of nitrogen, tree leaves become yellow and chlorotic. You can compensate for the lack of this substance and correct the situation by carrying out foliar feeding. A dry mixture of 50 g of urea and 20 g of ammonium nitrate is diluted with a bucket of water. The entire above-ground part of the trees is irrigated with the working solution.

With a lack of potassium, the leaves on the trees turn brown and curl. Magnesium deficiency manifests itself in a similar way, only not the entire leaf blade turns brown, but only its veins and edges. Moreover, a plum may experience a shortage of these two microelements at the same time. To replenish it, add a mixture of dry potassium and magnesium granules to the soil in an amount of 30 g per 1 m2.

Thanks to the great variety of varieties and hybrid forms, plums are grown not only in the south of the country, but also in the middle zone, including the Urals and the Moscow region. The best winter-hardy varieties include Eurasia 21, blue gift, egg blue, early fruit, etc. These are hybrids with increased adaptive properties, high winter hardiness and large fruit. Their feeding pattern is identical to the fertilization pattern for other varieties of plums.

Rules for using fertilizers for plums

Fertilizing for plums includes the following:

Liquid fertilizers . They are introduced into holes at a distance of 60–80 cm from the trunk.
Dry substances . They are introduced during digging, but not near the trunk. After application, the soil is loosened and moistened.
Manure and ash . It is better to use no more often than once every 2-3 years.
Mulch . A good option is peat or compost.
Green manure . Ideal partners would be mustard, winter rye, phacelia, planted in a circle near the trunk and between rows.

Important! On fertile soils, fertilizers should be limited. Excess minerals not only will not help the tree, but can also harm it.

At the beginning of the growing season, in April, the soil around the trunk is dug up, fertilizing it with nitrogen fertilizers. You should dig shallowly, no more than 10 cm, and carefully so as not to damage the roots. In addition, preventive work against diseases and pests is carried out in the spring.

After the tree has flowered, it will require mineral and organic fertilizers. On dry, hot summer days, the plum should be watered generously . At the beginning of autumn, when the fruits are ripe and it is time to harvest, moisture-charging replenishment is carried out.

Advantages of spring feeding of plums

Plum is not very demanding, but for a large harvest you need to follow all the rules of agricultural technology and try to follow the advice of more experienced gardeners. It grows well not only in the Moscow and Leningrad regions, but also in areas of risky farming. You just need to choose the right varieties and try to properly feed the trees, protect them from pests and fungal diseases.

Plums must be fertilized in the spring. Many people believe that this is not necessary, since there was autumn feeding. But this approach is fundamentally wrong.

Fertilizers need to be applied both in autumn and spring. Only in this case can you get an excellent harvest. The advantages of spring feeding include the fact that the tree gets the opportunity to grow and set fruit.

On a note!
The purpose of autumn fertilization is to prepare the plum tree for winter, as well as to saturate it with nutrients for the formation of future buds.

Fertilizer application stages

There are three stages of plum feeding:

Before flowering . The soil is thoroughly loosened, watered and urea and potassium sulfate are added.
During fruit filling . Urea and nitrophoska are used.
At the end of fruiting . Superphosphate and potassium sulfate are used.

Recommended methods of fertilizing

Fertilizing plums in spring and summer differs not only in the composition of fertilizers, but also in the methods of application. There is root and foliar soil treatment.

The root method involves applying useful compounds as close to the roots as possible. Powder or granules are scattered in a circle near the trunk, mixed with soil. When using LCS, it is important to select the correct concentration. Granules are applied in the spring before the leaves bloom. If the period is missed, it is worth leaving the treatment until the fall. Superphosphate and azophosphate are suitable. They will gradually dissolve, releasing useful substances.

The foliar method is suitable for spring work, when the plum urgently needs nutrition. The selected composition is sprayed onto the branches and leaves to increase resistance to disease and give the roots and shoots the maximum necessary nutrition.

Features of additional care

The complex of basic plum care measures includes:

fertilizer;
crown formation;
spraying;
watering;
protection from cold;
pest control;
harvesting;
reproduction.

This list and their sequence depend on the variety and age of the plum. But the main difference is in the pruning methods.

Did you know? The homeland of plums is considered to be China and the Far East. It was from there that the culture spread throughout the world.

The first pruning is carried out while it is still a seedling, since it forms a lot of shoots . The main care consists of modeling frame branches with healthy, strong buds. This event is held in March. In the second half of July, the lateral processes are shortened again, without affecting the rod conductor.

In subsequent years, the formation of the crown is carried out with minimal pruning, aimed at freeing it from dysfunctional shoots . Activities are carried out in the summer. As soon as the tree shows signs of declining growth (crushing fruits, lack of shoots, etc.), rejuvenating pruning should be performed. At the same time, diseased, old branches are cut off. The work is carried out in early spring.

In the fall, you need to carry out sanitary pruning of the crop, cutting off broken, dry, and old branches

Nuances of tree nutrition during the period of ovary and fruiting

Gardeners determine how to feed plums depending on the type of soil and age of the crop. Many gardeners make mistakes that lead to the death of the plant and reduced yield.

Before flowering

Flowering is one of the important stages in the formation of a crop. Before the buds begin to appear, it is necessary to feed the plum with a mixture using manure and water in a ratio of 1:2. The area around the tree is watered with the resulting slurry, and a distance of 30 cm must be taken from the crown.

Before the inflorescences appear, a urea solution is used, which is sprayed on the plant at a rate of 10 liters per tree.

After the flowers fall

After the inflorescences fall off, fertilization is carried out depending on the type of soil and crop variety.

The following features of fertilizer application are distinguished:

Mineral fertilizers are used to reduce diseases. The most commonly used is manganese sulfate, which reduces the risk of spoiled plums and reduces chlorophyll formation. Potassium permanganate can be used as foliar and root fertilizer. To prepare the solution, you need to dilute 3 grams of the substance in a liter of warm water and mix with 10 liters of clean water.
After the flowers fall off, organic fertilizers can be used, chicken manure being the most commonly used.

Root feeding of adult plums in June is carried out using nitrate. Gardeners scatter granules in the area of the root system and dig them up along with the soil. This will saturate the tree with useful substances for a long time.

During the period of fruit ripening

Feeding plums with fertilizers in July and August is very important. When fruits ripen, the tree spends a lot of energy on forming the fruit. Very often during this period the leaves begin to turn yellow, and the tree is exposed to various diseases.

Before applying nutrients, the tree should be carefully inspected for signs of nutrient deficiency. If the first symptoms are present, such as falling leaves, yellowing and falling of unripe fruits, the following measures must be taken:

Use boric alcohol, which improves the taste of fruits and helps restore damaged shoots. To use, you need to dilute 10 grams of acid in 8 liters of water and spray the plant.
July is a hot month, so humus and mulch with peat can be used to replenish nutrients.
Mineral composition - superphosphate can be used, applied to the soil and watered with plenty of water.
Ammonium nitrate - used at a rate of 10 grams per square meter.

When choosing what to fertilize plums and other stone fruit trees in the summer, it is necessary to take into account the type of crop; some species have certain preferences that are recommended to be followed.

After fruiting

The end of plum ripening depends on the variety and occurs in August and September; after the crop has stopped forming the fruit, care must be taken to accumulate strength for the winter period.

To do this you need:

The soil around the tree is dug up and a slurry of manure and water is added.
Using a solution of copper sulfate, diseases and larvae are eliminated. Vitriol can be applied as a root fertilizer to improve soil quality and reduce acidity. Apply 1 gram per square meter of soil.
After the tree sheds its leaves, wood ash and humus are used.

Important. Copper sulfate is used without mixing with other substances, otherwise burns may remain on the shoots

The solution is sprayed or applied to the soil after sunset.

Plum is an unpretentious crop, and regardless of the variety, it requires simple rules of care. However, in the summer, especially for mature trees that grow in one place for a long time, it is necessary to saturate the soil with useful substances, in the absence of which the tree ceases to produce fruit and develop.

Caring for plums in spring: advice from experienced gardeners

Before planting plum seedlings in the spring, experienced gardeners recommend digging up the future planting site in the fall to a depth of at least 0.7 m. This will significantly increase the air content in the soil and improve the survival rate of the seedlings.

The basal shoots produced in excess by the plum must be removed below the soil level. Otherwise, the situation will worsen and there will be even more escapes.

By the way, root shoots can be used as ready-made seedlings. The exception here is grafted plums. If the plum has been grafted, most likely a wild one will grow from the basal shoot. It can also be used as a rootstock, subsequently grafting a cultivated variety onto it.

Spring pruning can be combined with the preparation of cuttings for plum propagation. This will save a lot of time. If the tree is not grafted, cuttings can also be harvested from root shoots.

Basic tips and recommendations for fertilizing the soil

Feeding fruit trees and shrubs works according to the principle - it is better to underfeed a little than to overfeed. This is especially true for young seedlings.

Fertilizers for fruit and berry plants need to be applied at the roots and on the foliage, that is, root and foliar feeding.

As for organic matter, it needs to be added in the warm season. Better in autumn or spring. The poorer the soil, the more often fertilizing is required - at least once a year. For young plants, a gradual increase in substances is desirable. For example - in the first year do not feed, in the second - 1/3 of the required amount, in the third - do not feed, in the fourth - 1/2 of the dosage. And so on.

Potassium is needed by fruit and berry plants depending on the period of development. At the stage of formation of the root system, the application of potassium fertilizers is mandatory.

At the stage of formation and ripening of fruits, nitrogen fertilizers should not be applied, as they promote the growth of branches and leaves, which means there will be insufficient nutrients for the fruits

Nitrogen is best used in a mixture with other trace elements - for example, potassium. The ratio of substances is such that it does not interfere with the ripening of fruits, but at the same time strengthens the plant. And potassium performs the function of feeding trees and shrubs.

Where to apply fertilizer

Feeding of fruit trees is carried out in the area around the trunk circle. To do this, dig a groove across the width of the crown and pour the prepared mixture into it. For mature trees, 2–3 ditches should be dug; for young seedlings with a crown radius of 1–2 m, 1 is sufficient. Potassium fertilizers must be diluted with water.

Organic fertilizers are applied as follows: dig up the tree trunk circle at a distance of 50 cm from the trunk, along the perimeter of the crown. Depth - 40 cm. Apply a ready-made mixture of mineral or organic fertilizers diluted with water. For an adult plant, liquid with nutrients is diluted in containers with water. Approximately 3 – 4 buckets of the mixture are consumed for each tree.

Rules for applying mineral fertilizers

Nitrogen-containing substances must be immediately covered with a layer of soil or watered so that their work takes place directly in the ground at a shallow depth. In open air, nitrogen compounds lose their potency. Depending on the type of soil, you need to fertilize the trees:

on sandy soils in spring or summer during flowering, because the substance is quickly washed into the lower layers of the soil;
on clay ones - in the fall after harvesting.

Nitrogen fertilizers are more effective in combination with potassium and phosphorus. Signs of a lack of nitrogen in the soil are slow growth of young branches and impaired chlorophyll production. The leaves on the trees in the garden will be pale or yellow-green.

It is better to apply phosphorus fertilizers to the soil in the fall, since phosphorus is poorly soluble in water and it takes a long time for plants to absorb it. It is necessary to apply to the depth of the roots with the obligatory sealing with a layer of soil.

On clay soil, fertilizer is applied once a year in autumn or spring. Better - once every three years. If applied together with manure, then the dosage must be reduced so as not to damage the root system.

Phosphorus deficiency can be determined by the color of the foliage - it turns red or purple.

The most commonly used potassium fertilizers are potassium chloride and potassium sulfate. The choice depends on the type of soil. If the reaction is acidic, add potassium chloride. Sulfate is more applicable in greenhouses.

On gray soils, potassium fertilizers are not used, or are applied in minimal doses

Potash substances are used in autumn and spring to ensure frost resistance of trees and shrubs. It should be remembered that not all shrubs grow well in chlorine soils. Therefore, it is necessary to observe the dosage of potassium fertilizers.

Pruning plum in spring

In the spring, before the start of sap flow, the trees are pruned. It is produced for the following purposes:

Formative. This is done during the first 4 years of a tree’s life, forming its crown in one way or another (sparsely tiered, cup-shaped, etc.).
Sanitary. This is done twice a season (the second time after leaf fall). All broken, dry, damaged and diseased branches are removed. At the same time, the crown is thinned and root growth is removed.
Rejuvenating. It is made for old trees to rejuvenate the crown and extend the period of active fruiting of plums.

Proper pruning can significantly extend the life of a tree and protect it from many diseases.