Canada plum (prunus nigra)

Interesting. The handful I have seem to have plenty of vigor at least in their first year (2-3 ft of growth average). I wonder if the Americana rootstock helped or this particular population is more vigorous?

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Keep us updated! Good to know the Juliet took a graft :+1:

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I think the location I had both the Canada plum trees planted in was probably affecting their growth rate. They were going on three years in sandy soil by my beach, (where it is also very windy). Both plum trees had put on minimal growth in their entire time in the ground since they’d arrived as small sub two foot bare root trees.

After getting tired of their lack of growth I moved both of the Canada plum trees this winter. I put them both into large 30 gallon + containers with good potting soil. After transplanting them, I moved them to a sheltered location where the wind is far less. Finally this year they put on a decent amount of growth. It could have been solely the relocation that was responsible for the improved growth, or they may have simply finally hit the age where they started to hit their stride. I’m pretty sure I have read complaints from others on the forum that it was very frustrating how long it took for their Canada plums to size up so that they could be of use as a pollinizer for their hybrid plums.

Lousy location, or simply slow to grow, who’s to say? At least they have finally started to flower and size up, so I’m happy about that.

I spent the afternoon today debudding the top of one of the trees that had sufficient growth and directly transfered the buds via chip budding to a bunch of larger plum trees to help with my plum trees that need better pollination. I may just keep these Canada plum trees in their containers and then move them into the area with the hybrid plums that require their pollen when they are in bloom.

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