Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: blackhobbescat on October 15, 2007, 16:45

Title: plum trees
Post by: blackhobbescat on October 15, 2007, 16:45

I have some self seeded plum saplings growing on our plot (already have two fully grown trees).  Do you think they would be easy to get up for other people to have.  They are between 4 and 5 foot high.

Title: plum trees
Post by: WG. on October 15, 2007, 16:48

Most commercially-available fruit trees are grafted onto a different rootstock.  Self-seeded saplings would not breed true to the habit of the parent plant.

For instance, you might find that you get a much larger tree which takes longer to bear any fruit.

Title: plum trees
Post by: blackhobbescat on October 15, 2007, 16:52

These plum trees are pretty old, the allotments have been there for 100 years, and the plum trees can be found throughout the hedgerows surrounding the allotment site.  Do you think these too will have been grafted?

Title: plum trees
Post by: WG. on October 15, 2007, 16:56

Quote from: "blackhobbescat"

Do you think these too will have been grafted?

Probably not.  Will be a struggle uprooting a 4-5ft tree but give it a try.  I'd be tempted to look for smaller saplings.

Title: plum trees
Post by: gobs on October 15, 2007, 17:14

A lot of plums and greengages on our site are originally from seed. You stand a good chance in your environment of not having them grafted. :)