My pluot experience was sad. I had a 3-in-1 grafted tree. Graft 1 failed the first year. Graft 2 the second year. And the whole tree died the third year.
Re: plums in general. I have three Japanese plums - Shiro, Elephant Heart, Santa Rosa. Adding mason bees to my orchard has improved the fruit set on these early bloomers. I should have a bumper crop this year - peak bloom at the same time as a stretch of warm weather to wake up the bees. Even if it rains now, the mason bees will continue foraging and pollinating.
I've also noticed that European plums in general tend to do better as they bloom later. My Japanese plums are in full bloom right now, while my Blue Damson has barely had any bud swell. That would explain why Brooks (a European variety) does well here... and why pluots don't, as they're usually hybrids of Japanese plums.
Wonderful feedback. I'll be profiling plums, both asian and european, soon, and will make sure to include your feedback.
I have Methley asian plum in its full glory at this time. At first I didn't think I liked the flavor of this tree, until I learned that all asian plums have bitter/acidic skin. Once I learned to eat around the skin, methley became a gem for me. It fruits heavily every year. Tastes a bit like watermelon to me. I like the flavor way better than Toka and Shiro, which I've tried a few times from various growers.
As to euro plums - I am just now getting going on trying them here. I have Brooks, French prune/plum, and Nichols in the ground. Howard's Miracle and Imperial Epineuse on order from HOEC to pick up in May. :)
My pluot experience was sad. I had a 3-in-1 grafted tree. Graft 1 failed the first year. Graft 2 the second year. And the whole tree died the third year.
Re: plums in general. I have three Japanese plums - Shiro, Elephant Heart, Santa Rosa. Adding mason bees to my orchard has improved the fruit set on these early bloomers. I should have a bumper crop this year - peak bloom at the same time as a stretch of warm weather to wake up the bees. Even if it rains now, the mason bees will continue foraging and pollinating.
I've also noticed that European plums in general tend to do better as they bloom later. My Japanese plums are in full bloom right now, while my Blue Damson has barely had any bud swell. That would explain why Brooks (a European variety) does well here... and why pluots don't, as they're usually hybrids of Japanese plums.
Wonderful feedback. I'll be profiling plums, both asian and european, soon, and will make sure to include your feedback.
I have Methley asian plum in its full glory at this time. At first I didn't think I liked the flavor of this tree, until I learned that all asian plums have bitter/acidic skin. Once I learned to eat around the skin, methley became a gem for me. It fruits heavily every year. Tastes a bit like watermelon to me. I like the flavor way better than Toka and Shiro, which I've tried a few times from various growers.
As to euro plums - I am just now getting going on trying them here. I have Brooks, French prune/plum, and Nichols in the ground. Howard's Miracle and Imperial Epineuse on order from HOEC to pick up in May. :)