So, I’ve had 3 pluots for about 7 years now. They were nice trees and looked healthy, got about 12-14 feet tall. About the last 5 springs they were loaded with flowers, but not once did they ever set a fruit. Not even a tiny fruitlet. I’m not sure if this had to do with my regular crazy spring weather with heat waves followed by frost, or if it was a pollination issue. But anyway, out of nowhere this year they got hit horribly with black knot. I had never seen this disease ever in the last 7 years, and now it was so bad I had to practically cut all the tree off in the spring. The stumps started growing new branches, but on closer inspection this fall I see a small amount more black knot on 2 of them just below where I cut. I think I’m done with pluots, they are unproductive and disease magnets for me.
My question is, what, if anything, could I graft them to? From doing research on this forum I like sound of Lavina plum, but I’m not sure if I could graft that onto a pluot. The details of what can graft onto a pluot are kind of murky. Does anyone have any suggestions or experience with this?
I’ve never grafted stonefruit before. In fact I’ve only ever done 3 grafts so far. 1 pawpaw and 2 persimmon. All 3 seem to have been successful so far (knock on wood)
You can graft plums or peaches. All should work. Ironic as my pluots grow great here in Michigan. Better than most plums. Some plums do grow well here and others not so much.
I only had black knot on Flavor Supreme. No plums. Once I cut out the infection it never came back.
Funny how location matters so much in the degree of success with these stone fruits.
You did not provide your location. While your profile lists 6a, that could mean very different local climates and disease pressures in different places around America. Perhaps people could offer you better grafting suggestions if they knew your growing location.
It should be visible in my profile. Southeast Michigan. I have had some plums that never set fruit or only a few. All are six years old or older. I would look for local growers in your area for advice. I left those non producing
grafts in my trees as I get around 500 plums already and don’t really need more. I dry many of them. I way prefer the pluots. Although I do like a lot of the Burbank plums.
I have only ever had pluots from a grocery store, but I to prefer them to the plums I’ve had. But I figure if I can get plums at all that’s better than getting nothing.
Most pluot types have been unreliable here in the last few years also. I’m in S. NY state. There is probably a good reason Adams County Nursery has stopped selling them. Production of some J. plum types has also been spotty in the last few years after bearing consistently for a stretch, including Elephant Heart.
I have had good success with Flavor Grenade grafts on trees planted just south of my location with customers raving about the quality of the fruit, so I’m not giving up on them yet at all. Maybe just as orchard trees on my own land.
In our climate, I generally don’t like citation as a rootstock for pluots. They seem better suited to grow on Myro here. It is also important to avoid the varieties that are susceptible to bacterial spot, especially on my sheltered land where moisture lingers.