Growing plum from the stone/seed

Di Taylor · February 12, 2011

There is a a plum tree at my work, it has the most beautiful fruit on it, sort of green inside and black skinned. Can I save the stones and try and grow from seed - will this work? If so are there some tricks I need to be aware of?

Mark0820 · February 12, 2011

It can be done for peaches, nectarines and apricots, so I would guess it could be done for a plum. Here is an article in Mother Earth News for starting peaches, nectarines and apricots from seed. After reading the article, I tried it with peaches and it worked.

http://www.motherearthnews.com/Organ...uit-Trees.aspx

DanishGardener · February 12, 2011

Yes, you can grow them from seeds, but you will most likely end up with more or less useless plants, with very variable fruit quality. Plum trees don't grow true from seeds unless we are talking about wild species. They are normally grafted to a rootstock (I use mirabelle because they grow in the wild here and are very common).

mjc · February 12, 2011

The stone fruits are much more likely to produce similar fruit to the parent than pome fruits. Now, that said, the wild types of plums are much more likely to 'breed true' than the cultivated ones (as has been mentioned), but the 'pure' types (European and Asian) are also quite likely to produce decent fruit. With the 'prune' types being even more likely than the other ones. It's the hybrids that throw really variable fruit...especially when you get what amounts to a three way mix (Asian or European parent on one side and the wild American x Asian or European one the other).

Now, grafting isn't that difficult and you can graft on to wild plum or even another stone fruit (apricot/cherry are most common). Also plums can be 'rooted'...but it is usually done by layering as opposed to taking a cutting and rooting that.

Tom C zone 4/5 · February 12, 2011

Based on my trials plum tends to come closer to true to type than say apple.

A trueism of any woody plant grow out is to plant freshly cleaned seeds to pot and let chill over a winter. Seed will not germinate till following spring.

In most cases dried tree seeds, is dead tree seeds. freezing (as in freezer) is not the same as cold stratification.

For more detailed instructions let me reccomend Mike Dirr's "Manual of Woody Landscape Plants".

Di Taylor · February 13, 2011

Thanks for the advice everyone, sounds like it's worth a try - nothing ventured nothing gained. Thanks for the link Mark0820 that answered the other questions I had about seed collection and storage.

salix · February 13, 2011

Assuming one had permission, is it possible to root a cutting of the desired tree?

Tom C zone 4/5 · February 13, 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by salix

Assuming one had permission, is it possible to root a cutting of the desired tree?

I expect you'll have slightly better luck with an airlayer when propagating prunus.

mensplace · February 26, 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by salix

Assuming one had permission, is it possible to root a cutting of the desired tree?

As simple as it is to graft fruit trees, that is the preferred route. Generally, from plums you can dig up one of the seedling sprouts that grow around the base of plums to use as the stock, but be sure to get one that has some roots and get that started growing first. It is, in most states, it is late for grafting this year. However, in June you could bud from the desired variety onto some rooted stock. Most fruit trees other than the softer wooded varities such as fig and berries are rather difficult to root without proper atmosphere and equipment. grafting would yield a far stronger root system.

Medbury Gardens · March 5, 2011

Do you have any spare seeds Di so i can try some as well,all my plum trees have been grown from seed and have done well.

Di Taylor · March 6, 2011

am carrying about 6 plum stones round in my handbag at the moment but obviously due to current events won't be doing anything with them, maybe I should mail them all to you and you could do something with them and then I could get one from you later when they are little plants and when I am back in my house?

Medbury Gardens · March 6, 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by Di Taylor

am carrying about 6 plum stones round in my handbag at the moment but obviously due to current events won't be doing anything with them, maybe I should mail them all to you and you could do something with them and then I could get one from you later when they are little plants and when I am back in my house?

If you want to Di i would be happy to

February 12, 2011	#1
Di Taylor Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Christchurch - New Zealand Posts: 33	Growing plum from the stone/seed There is a a plum tree at my work, it has the most beautiful fruit on it, sort of green inside and black skinned. Can I save the stones and try and grow from seed - will this work? If so are there some tricks I need to be aware of?

February 12, 2011	#5
Tom C zone 4/5 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: SE Ohio Posts: 253	Based on my trials plum tends to come closer to true to type than say apple. A trueism of any woody plant grow out is to plant freshly cleaned seeds to pot and let chill over a winter. Seed will not germinate till following spring. In most cases dried tree seeds, is dead tree seeds. freezing (as in freezer) is not the same as cold stratification. For more detailed instructions let me reccomend Mike Dirr's "Manual of Woody Landscape Plants". __________________ Beyond the mountains, there are more mountains.

February 12, 2011	#2
Mark0820 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Cincinnati Posts: 907	It can be done for peaches, nectarines and apricots, so I would guess it could be done for a plum. Here is an article in Mother Earth News for starting peaches, nectarines and apricots from seed. After reading the article, I tried it with peaches and it worked. http://www.motherearthnews.com/Organ...uit-Trees.aspx

February 12, 2011	#3
DanishGardener Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Denmark Posts: 328	Yes, you can grow them from seeds, but you will most likely end up with more or less useless plants, with very variable fruit quality. Plum trees don't grow true from seeds unless we are talking about wild species. They are normally grafted to a rootstock (I use mirabelle because they grow in the wild here and are very common).

February 12, 2011	#4
mjc Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: WV Posts: 603	The stone fruits are much more likely to produce similar fruit to the parent than pome fruits. Now, that said, the wild types of plums are much more likely to 'breed true' than the cultivated ones (as has been mentioned), but the 'pure' types (European and Asian) are also quite likely to produce decent fruit. With the 'prune' types being even more likely than the other ones. It's the hybrids that throw really variable fruit...especially when you get what amounts to a three way mix (Asian or European parent on one side and the wild American x Asian or European one the other). Now, grafting isn't that difficult and you can graft on to wild plum or even another stone fruit (apricot/cherry are most common). Also plums can be 'rooted'...but it is usually done by layering as opposed to taking a cutting and rooting that.

February 13, 2011	#6
Di Taylor Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Christchurch - New Zealand Posts: 33	Thanks for the advice everyone, sounds like it's worth a try - nothing ventured nothing gained. Thanks for the link Mark0820 that answered the other questions I had about seed collection and storage.

February 13, 2011	#7
salix Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: north central B.C. Posts: 2,310	Assuming one had permission, is it possible to root a cutting of the desired tree?

March 5, 2011	#10
Medbury Gardens Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Medbury, New Zealand Posts: 1,881	Do you have any spare seeds Di so i can try some as well,all my plum trees have been grown from seed and have done well.

March 6, 2011	#11
Di Taylor Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Christchurch - New Zealand Posts: 33	am carrying about 6 plum stones round in my handbag at the moment but obviously due to current events won't be doing anything with them, maybe I should mail them all to you and you could do something with them and then I could get one from you later when they are little plants and when I am back in my house?