I'm trying to get a number of fruit trees started (even though the garden is not quite ready for them) to save a year's growing time. Rather than just going to the Pound Shop and buying whatever they have Going Cheap I've been researching varieties (for example: I don't want to grow a Brown Turkey Fig just because it is ubiquitous, so I have chosen variety based on flavour and then I am planning to provide the conditions it needs). Anyways, I stumbled over Pluot which is a 75:25 cross between Plum / Apricot, and Aprium which is the other way round - 75:25 in favour of Apricot / Plum. I didn't find much that persuaded me that they were the best thing since sliced bread but they do sound interesting. Newspaper articles refer to their improved flavour - in particularly, as they are early season ripening, compared to early season ripening plums. It seems that in California there are loads of varieties available, but over here just one or two. So given only a couple of varieties I want to plant the best variety, for flavour, but don't seem to be able to find a comparative article - only Marketing Hype :( Anyone got any input that would help please? In particular the whole business of "Self Fertile". Whilst they are typically stated as being self fertile I think that is hugely overstated for fruit trees, and that they need a pollination partner (of a different variety). Self Fertile, to me, typically means they produce masses of pollen and thus by the law of averages fertilise enough of their own to yield a reasonable crop- or they hold their fruit and don't drop it, so less "wasted". Whereas I think that cross pollination gives better yields, bigger fruit and better taste. Pluot seems to flower incredibly early (so risk of frost, thus I am planning to pot-grow them, although they grow to be a fairly large plant). Japanese cherry seems to be the only suitably early pollination partner - so am I going to need to grow one of them too? Or should I juts plan an early maturing Plum and call it quits? Wikipedia definition: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pluot Suppliers: Blackmoor Nurseries (2yr 10L Aprium Cot'n'Candy £28.00, Pluot Purple Candy £28.00 ) http://www.blackmoor.co.uk/category/616 Pomona Fruits (Size?? Aprium 'Cot 'n' Candy' £34.95 Pluot 'Flavor Supreme' £31.45) http://www.pomonafruits.co.uk/fruit-trees-bare-root/pluot-trees
I've never heard of them so not much help. My only thought is that it is maybe just a novelty and maybe you would be better going an for early maturing Plum.
I wondered about these as Jacques Briant were hyping them up over the last couple of years. Decided against and went for greengages and normal apricot varieties chosen for flavour. http://www.agroforestry.co.uk/plantorders.html This site might be of interest for info, although Spring orders are finished now.
I did ask on another forum too and some people said they had grown one every year, or two, and they had died every year ... or two! which isn't very auspicious :( and of course no feedback on the fruit taste etc. Someone posted that they tasted really good (dunno where they got the fruit from, might even have been a supermarket I suppose) However, they seem to be popular in California and lots of varieties to choose from. If they are prone to snuffing it them maybe if I bring them in for the winter that would help. Yes, my thoughts too. Someone else posted that they had put in a Japanese Cherry (or early Plum maybe, I've forgotten) as a pollination partner, the Pluot snuffed it but the Japanese Cherry tasted really nice So looks like this is a "stand up and volunteer" ... "and then report back" mission, eh?!!
I planted one this Jan. I cannot remember which one - and 4 plums and 2 apricots and a bunch of stuff. The flea market has poor quality dry rooted trees for 5 for $20 and I became addicted to buying them - if you ever watched the Wilson pruning video (I cannot post a link because I am too new - it will not allow it) Google extreme pruning Wilson and watch the youtube video - that is what I am planning. Full sized fruit trees kept to the size of a four seating table! If these basically rootless, picked long before selling, $4, trees survive I will tell you how it worked in two years. Also - and I believe it absolutely - Wilson says a small dry rooted tree put right into the soil will out perform a much larger potted tree planted into the soil at the same time - within in three years, and then forever - because the roots never get pot bound damage but grow right how they are meant to. (good quality dry rooted handled quickly)
Typical woman ... blame the man! Us men need no such excuse - "Couldn't afford not to have it" does for us
