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Beach plums begin fruiting
from the third to the fifth year in the orchard. The small stature
of the species allows easy picking. |
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Site Evaluation and Preparation
Choose a site with good drainage for your beach plum planting. When
digging several feet down the soil should not have a rotten egg
smell or standing water. Clear brush; remove dead wood including
stumps and roots from the soil. The planting should receive full
sun. Destroy any persistent perennial weeds before planting.
Take soil samples and submit them to a soil testing service specifying
that plums are your crop. Indicate that you want pre-plant lime
and fertilizer recommendations for plums.
Orchard Design
Because beach plum is shrubby and smaller than other stone fruits,
we recommend close plant spacing. This design requires a large number
of small plants and will produce a hedgerow system reminiscent of
highbush blueberry production. Plant one- to two-year-old bare root
or container grown beach plums. A minimum spacing of 5 feet between
plants in a row with 12 feet between rows is recommended (figure
1). A 3 to 5 foot long in-row weed-free strip with a grassy alley
between rows will provide adequate groundcover and protection from
weed competition. Wider spaced larger plants are also an option.
It is important to keep the in-row strip weed free. Weeds will
compete with beach plum for water and nutrients. Mulch, herbicide
or hand hoeing can be used for weed control. If irrigation is desired
we recommend a drip or micro-sprinkler irrigation system as a water
conserving measure.
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