Feed the trees once they begin to fruit with 1 oz. No fertilization is needed for the first two to three years. An organic mulch can be used to suppress weed growth. Once your transplant has been planted, prune tree care should include maintaining an area at least 4 feet (1 m.) out from the plant free of weeds. Multiple Italian prune plum tree plantings should be spaced 12 feet (3.5 m.) apart. Fill in around the plant with a mix of mulch or peat moss amended soil and water in well. Then situate the new tree in the hole so it is equidistant from all sides. Remove the tree from the container and examine the roots for any damage which should be pruned away. Dig the hole a bit deeper and wider than the tree’s root ball and place a handful of bone meal in the bottom. The general rule for Italian prune tree planting is to set the tree early in the spring, although if fall conditions are mild and the soil moist, planting may occur in autumn.Ĭhoose a site for planting, avoiding any low-lying areas that may be susceptible to pooling water and freezing.

When growing prune trees, select a one or two year old from the nursery with at least four to five well-spaced branches and a healthy root system. Early Italian prune plum trees mature around 15 days ahead of Italian prune trees, making it a good choice for regions prone to early frost that may damage ripening fruit. Italian prune tree plantings are ready for harvest in early September. However, their fruit has a much higher sugar content, making it preferable for drying with the pit inside without the risk of fermenting. Prune trees produce five years after planting just as plum trees. They are self-fertile, winter hardy, and the luscious fruit can be eaten fresh, dried, or canned. Italian prunes can be kept as dwarf trees around 10-12 feet (3-3.5 m.) through careful pruning, a very manageable size. Thinking about growing prune trees, hmm? Italian prune plum trees ( Prunus domestica) are an excellent choice of plum varietal to grow.

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