Feeding plums in spring: what and when to feed plums during flowering and fruiting, choosing fertilizers for plums

Features of plum care in spring

The plum tree grows well on clay or loamy soil, which is rich in mineral and organic fertilizers. In order for a plant to have full growth, develop properly and bear fruit, it needs nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus and magnesium.

One of the means that should be used to fertilize plums is potassium magnesia. It contains a lot of magnesium.

Initially, it is necessary to nourish the soil before planting seedlings in the ground. Place eggshells, mixed soil from the garden, peat, humus and minerals into the dug hole. We are talking about urea, superphosphate and potassium sulfate.

It is also important to take into account that plums do not take root well in acidic soil, so in order to deoxidize it, you need to add lime or dolomite flour. Place it in the hole before planting the seedling. After this, mulch the tree with loose organic components, a layer of which is 5 cm. Further feeding will be needed only after a year.

It is necessary to fertilize the plum tree in the spring, since during this period it goes through important phases of its development: the formation of buds and their growth, ovaries. The growing season also occurs at this time of year. Therefore, it is not surprising that it is important to nourish the plant with macro and microelements.

In addition, there are rules for the procedure:

pour liquid fertilizers into holes that need to be dug in advance 60-80 cm from the trunk;
dig up the dry fertilizer along with the soil, and then water it;
add manure and ash every 2-3 years;
Only peat and compost are suitable for mulching;
Green manure will also not harm plums. Their role is played by rye, mustard;
Feed rich soil half as often as infertile soil.

By following these rules, you can properly fertilize the plum tree and not harm it. But tree care does not end only with fertilizing - watering is also important.

Gardeners determine its need by the level of precipitation that occurs in the spring. Approximately one plant requires 40 liters of water.

You should not overuse the procedure, because in a wetland the tree will not take root and may even die.

Features of additional care

The complex of basic plum care measures includes:

fertilizer;
crown formation;
spraying;
watering;
protection from cold;
pest control;
harvesting;
reproduction.

This list and their sequence depend on the variety and age of the plum. But the main difference is in the pruning methods.

Did you know? The homeland of plums is considered to be China and the Far East. It was from there that the culture spread throughout the world.

The first pruning is carried out while it is still a seedling, since it forms a lot of shoots . The main care consists of modeling frame branches with healthy, strong buds. This event is held in March. In the second half of July, the lateral processes are shortened again, without affecting the rod conductor.

In subsequent years, the formation of the crown is carried out with minimal pruning, aimed at freeing it from dysfunctional shoots . Activities are carried out in the summer. As soon as the tree shows signs of declining growth (crushing fruits, lack of shoots, etc.), rejuvenating pruning should be performed. At the same time, diseased, old branches are cut off. The work is carried out in early spring.

In the fall, you need to carry out sanitary pruning of the crop, cutting off broken, dry, and old branches

Fertilizer application periods

In the first year after planting, nitrogen fertilizers are not needed for plums in the spring. This is due to the fact that the root system is not developed, so this element is not absorbed. If there is an excess of nitrogen, the roots will grow by autumn. As a result, the plant will give the wrong reaction to this and produce many young shoots that will die in winter. In addition, the crop spent a lot of effort and nutritional components on their formation, so in winter it will be weakened and vulnerable. It is better to feed the plum in the spring with a mixture of phosphorus and potassium, thanks to which the wood will form earlier.

In spring, a two-year-old tree is sensitive to nitrogen-containing fertilizers. This time is ideal for foliar feeding with Ideal or a mixture of urea and water. Spraying should be carried out between the 1st and 7th of the first summer month. This approach will strengthen the plum’s immune system, which will increase resistance to disease.

Analysis of fertilizers for growing plums on various types of soil

Fertilizing plums in spring depends on the type of soil on which the tree grows. If the site has clay soil, it is recommended to add peat, lime, and sand. A little more is required for sandy soils: adding humus, peat, mulching and growing green manure.

Sandy loam soil is characterized by the addition of organic matter. In addition, mulching and green manure plants are necessary. Swampy areas need fertilizer. To do this, add clay flour. You will also need manure, compost, additives containing phosphorus, potassium. It is recommended to fertilize calcareous soil periodically. Feed with organic matter, potassium chloride. The soil is also mulched.

How to understand what a plum needs

Beginner gardeners often do not know what kind of feeding plum trees need in the spring. But their experienced colleagues advise paying attention to the external condition of the tree, since with a deficiency of certain macro and microelements, it sheds ovaries, fruits, and changes the color and size of foliage.

Element	Signs of Deficiency
Nitrogen	The leaves become smaller and turn yellow, the ovaries and fruits fall off before they have time to ripen, the bark turns red, young shoots grow poorly
Phosphorus	Vegetation and ripening of the crop occurs later, the branches and root system grow poorly, the leaves have a red and purple color, they fall off early
Potassium	Leaves fade and curl
Magnesium	The fruits fall unripe, the foliage becomes faded and falls off
Copper	The leaves are affected by chlorosis, the tops of the shoots die, the buds on the sides come to life
Iron	The leaves lose their color and begin to fall off early. The cream becomes smaller, and the branches die off from above
Calcium	The formation of seeds and tree growth slows down, the tops of the shoots die, the foliage and ovaries fall off
Zinc	The leaves become small, the young branches become thin, the flesh turns brown

If you carefully examine the culture, these signs will immediately catch your eye and solving the problem will not be difficult.

How to determine what is missing in a plum

It is recommended to choose a place for growing plums that is well-lit and drained. The plant prefers moist soil, dry and liquid fertilizers. The most useful microelements for plum growth are nitrogen, potassium, and calcium. Also for normal development it is necessary to feed, including boron, magnesium, iron.

It is not difficult to determine that plum fertilizer is required. You just need to carefully examine the tree. The lack of one or another element immediately affects the appearance of the plant:

If the plum grows poorly and the fruits have a gray tint, the tree does not have enough phosphorus.
Lightened leaves and fallen foliage ahead of time indicate a lack of nitrogen.
A lack of potassium affects the color of the leaves, they become brown and curl. Young shoots begin to grow very slowly.
The edges and veins of leaves turn brown due to magnesium deficiency.

Thus, you can easily determine what exactly the plant lacks and quickly correct the situation.

Classification of fertilizers for plums

Among the available preparations for feeding plum trees, you can use both mineral and organic products. Some people prefer folk remedies. In any case, when choosing the optimal product, you need to pay attention to the type of soil, its structure and saturation with useful components.

Mineral

This type of feeding is mainly used in the fall. Products from this category help the plant survive the winter and increase resistance to disease. Commonly used fertilizers of mineral origin:

superphosphate is a simple chemical containing phosphorus. It is often added to the soil along with water;
ammonium nitrate – contains nitrogen, which stimulates the development of young shoots;
potassium sulfate – suitable for all stone fruits;
dolomite flour - promotes plum growth and is necessary to increase yield;
calcium nitrate – protects the tree from calcium deficiency;
Kemira-Lux is a complex product containing potassium, phosphorus and nitrogen;
potassium magnesium – fertilizing with potassium and magnesium;
Iron chelate – prevents chlorosis caused by iron deficiency;
magnesium nitrate – contains nitrogen and magnesium.

The application of mineral fertilizers should take into account the age of the plant and the phase of its development.

The use of these funds should take into account the age of the crop.

Organic

Organic matter is needed to increase the productivity of plums. But in addition to knowing what to add, you need to do it correctly. For example:

Chicken droppings. To obtain fertilizing, you need to dilute 0.5 kg of the substance in 6 liters of water and leave it in a warm place. As soon as the solution has fermented, you can water the tree trunk circle. But moisten the soil before the procedure.
Mullein. Dilute it in a ratio of 1:10 and leave to ferment. Then water the plum.
Nettle infusion. Fill 2/3 of the bucket with nettles without seeds, add water and leave for a week. Before use, dilute with a small amount of clean water.
Manure. Dilute 1 kg of substance in 10 liters of liquid. Apply fertilizer at the rate of 2 liters per plant. Can also be used dry. To do this, you need to mix 10 kg of manure with 200 g of wood ash, 60 g of superphosphate, 20 g of urea and 20 g of potassium salt. Add the resulting product to the ground, and then dig up the top layer. The resulting product is enough to feed 1 m² of area with a tree.
Ash. It can also be used dry or as a solution. In the first case, it should be brought into a ditch dug in advance to a depth of 15 cm, and sprinkled with earth on top. For an adult crop you will need 2 kg. If using a solution, mix the ash with water. Pour the mixture into the prepared groove. One plum will require 1 liter of solution.

Gardeners love organics due to their large amount of nutrients. In addition, they can restore the soil for the full development of the crop and its fruiting.

Feeding plums in spring during flowering

In spring, organic and mineral fertilizers are used for plums. The rate of their application and type directly depend on the age of the tree.

Feeding young plums

The next year after planting, the plum tree does not need additional nutrition, since the hole is filled with a substrate rich in micro- and macroelements. Nitrogen is not used at this stage: the root system is still poorly developed, therefore, with increased shoot growth, the tree becomes weakened by wintering. In the agroclimatic conditions of the middle zone, such a specimen will die or be severely damaged by frost and winter wind.

Feeding a two-year-old plum

But with the arrival of next spring, before flowering begins, the soil should be enriched with nitrogen using a urea solution - 20 g of the product per bucket of water. The method of feeding is foliar using a fine sprayer.

At the end of May it is also recommended to use nitroammophoska. Feeding is prepared from 40 g of fertilizer and 10 liters of water. First, the area around the trunk is loosened, watered abundantly, and then a liquid nutrient mixture is added. The consumption rate is 30 liters per copy.

Feeding a three-year-old plum tree

When the crop gains strength and is ready for intensive fruiting, in the spring it should be fertilized with organic matter - a solution of mullein or bird droppings. They promote the growth of root mass. The working fluid is prepared in a ratio of 1:10. Consumption rate – 40-50 l for wood.

In May, it is better to add 20 g of superphosphate and half the amount of potassium sulfate. Products must be diluted in water. The areas around the drain trunks are spilled with a working solution at the rate of 3 buckets for one specimen.

A blooming plum should not be fed: all manipulations are carried out during the budding period.

Nitrogen-containing agrochemicals can be applied during the swelling phase of the buds, but this can cause later fruiting: the plant’s energy is directed to the intensive development of the crown and underground part.

Methods of fertilizing

Spring fertilizing of a plum tree can be divided not only by the type of fertilizer used, but also by the method it is carried out. So there are two methods: root and foliar.

Root

This type involves feeding into the soil near the root system. When choosing to apply fertilizer at the root, you should also consider how to do it. In liquid form, it is important to maintain the correct concentration. In powder form or granular form, the fertilizer should be scattered under the tree, mixing a little with the soil.

Granular fertilizer in the spring is needed before the leaves bloom. If you don’t have time, it’s better to postpone the procedure until the fall. For this, azophosphate and superphosphate are used, which, as they dissolve, will nourish the plum throughout the growing season.

To get a good harvest, fertilize in this way up to three times a year.

Foliar

This scheme is ideal for the spring season, when it is important to quickly deliver nutritional components to the plum. This will only take two days.

When foliar feeding, the preparations should be sprayed on the foliage and branches of the plant. Thanks to this approach, the tree will become resistant to disease, and the shoots and root system will receive the necessary components. This will have a positive effect on fruiting. Fertilizer should be applied at the root in the spring or during the growing season.

Basic principles of feeding a plum tree

Intensive growth of plum is observed on clay and loamy soils with a good fertile layer. If the soil is acidic, liming will help reduce the acidity. Fertilizers should be used to maintain high fertility.

Fertilizer application during planting and replanting

Enriching the soil before planting is the key to normal tree development and significant yields. When the planting hole is dug, a substrate is prepared from peat, humus and the top layer of extracted soil, taken in equal parts. Superphosphate, urea and potassium sulfate are added to it by the handful.

A seedling is lowered into the hole, after which the hole is filled with soil mixture. The soil around the plum is trampled down and watered moderately.

Feeding mature trees

Fruit-bearing trees need intensive nutrition, which consists of several stages:

Before the formation of inflorescences begins , nitrogen preparations must be included in the first feeding.
During the period of fruit ripening , complex products demonstrate good results.
After harvesting , organic matter and phosphorus-potassium agrochemicals are applied.
Before the onset of cold weather , superphosphate and potassium magnesium are placed in the area around the central shoot to strengthen the immune system.

During the last feeding of the tree, chelated iron can be applied to prevent chlorosis.

What to consider when applying fertilizers

When using fertilizers, it is important to take into account not only the time of year, but also the age of the crop and what elements are contained in the soil.

When planting seedlings

Tree planting mainly occurs in spring and autumn. Planting early in the season will give the best results because the plant has the necessary time to take root and become stronger for future cold weather.

To help the seedling, it needs to be fed. To do this, use the following operating algorithm: add to the prepared planting hole:

ash – 1 tbsp.;
superphosphate – 200 g;
ammonium nitrate – 3 tbsp;
potassium sulfate – 3 tbsp.

These components can be mixed with soil that will cover the roots. Ash can be replaced with dolomite flour. If the land is infertile and poor, then you will need to add compost and peat.

The use of these substances should be based on their content in the soil.

If planting occurs in the fall, then ammonium nitrate is not needed. It is important to plant 45-60 days before the first frost.

Feeding young trees

A year after planting, the trees should be fertilized with preparations or components containing nitrogen before the first harvest. The foliage should be sprayed with urea diluted according to the following scheme: 20 g of substance per 5 liters of liquid. A solution of urea will also work.

The second fertilization should be carried out from June 1 to June 10 after the plum blossoms. To do this, you will need nitrophoska at the rate of 30 g per 10 liters of water.

The last feeding of the young crop should be in August. It requires 15 g of sulfate and superphosphate. Combine this mixture with 70 g of ash and pour into a bucket of liquid. Apply this solution to the soil. One tree needs about 25 liters of water.

Fertilizing a mature tree

After 3-5 years the first harvest will appear. An adult crop needs more nutrition for full growth and healthy fruits.

Before the growing season, fertilizing with aquarin is necessary - a complex fertilizer. It is diluted at the rate of 20 g per bucket of liquid. It is also suitable for the period after flowering.

Over the next years, per 1 m² of plot you will need:

compost – 10 kg;
urea – 20-30 g;
superphosphate – 50-60 g; potassium sulfate – 20-25 g.

This amount of components is enough for an adult plum to last for the flowering period.

The nutritional pattern for trees that produce crops is as follows:

Fertilizer must be introduced for the first time before the growing season. To do this, use a solution of 30 g of urea per 10 liters of water along with potassium sulfate. Before using the product, moisten and loosen the soil. One tree requires no more than 20 liters of liquid fertilizer.
The second procedure should be at the cream ripening stage. To prepare the fertilizer, dissolve 40 g of nitroammophoska and 30 g of urea in a bucket of liquid. Apply 30 liters of the resulting mixture per crop.
The last feeding is necessary after harvesting the fruits. To do this, use a solution of 30 g of potassium sulfate and 40 g of superphosphate dissolved in 10 liters of water. One plum will require 2 buckets of the resulting mixture.

During the autumn digging of the garden, potassium magnesium should be added to the soil along with fertilizers that contain phosphorus. In this case, fertilizing is needed in dry form.

Feeding a fruiting plum

An adult tree that produces high yields is fed in 3 stages:

Spring feeding before flowering is carried out with a mixture of 40 g of urea and 10 liters of water. One tree is fed with 3 buckets of working solution. Once every 3 years, you can use rotted manure, which is laid out around the trunk. It must rot well, otherwise the result of the vital activity of microorganisms will be the formation of ammonia.
When pouring fruits under digging, which ensures loose soil and a good level of aeration, add 60 g of superphosphate, 20 g of potassium sulfate and a handful of urea. After application, the enriched area is spilled with water.
After harvesting the fruits, a phosphorus-potassium complex is laid under the tree. You can use nitroammophoska - 30-40 g.

Nuances of tree nutrition during the period of ovary and fruiting

To feed a plum, it is necessary to take into account its age and period of development. But many make mistakes that can lead to the death of a culture.

Before flowering

Vegetation is one of the most important stages in obtaining fruits. Before budding, you need to use a mixture of 1 part manure and 2 parts water. Water the area around the plum with the resulting liquid, moving 30 cm away from the crown.

Before the inflorescences appear, it is important to use a urea solution. Spray the crop with it at the rate of 10 liters per plant.

After the flowers fall

After the inflorescences fall, fertilizers are used taking into account the type of soil and plum variety. Features of feeding:

mineral fertilizers will help reduce the risk of developing the disease;
Chicken manure is often used as organic matter.

Root feeding in the first month of summer is done using saltpeter. The granules should be scattered in the root area and dug into the soil. Thanks to this, the plum will receive useful components for a long period.

Fruit ripening

In mid and late summer, fertilizer is also necessary, since the tree loses a lot of strength and nutrients to ripen the fruits. Therefore, it is often possible at this time to see crops with yellow foliage or affected by diseases.

Before applying fertilizer, it is important to inspect your plum tree for signs of nutritional deficiency. If the first symptoms appear, measures should be taken immediately.

If you decide to use copper sulfate, then you cannot mix it with other substances to avoid burns on the branches.

In the fall, you also need to feed the plum to strengthen it and help it form new buds in the spring.

Recommendations for competent feeding of plums from professionals

The types of fertilizing directly depend on the type of soil, the condition of the tree, its age and the period of application. Experienced gardeners recommend fertilizing in the fall. Phosphorus and potassium additives are incorporated into the soil during digging.

In the spring, plums require fertilizers that increase resistance to diseases and increase fruiting. It is possible to grow a healthy garden; it will not be difficult if you follow the rules. Well-chosen fertilizers and timely feeding of plums will in the future please gardeners with a large harvest.

What is best for yellow plum varieties?

Increasingly, yellow fruits can be found in gardens. They are a hybrid of plum and cherry plum. In spring, care for this variety is as follows:

feeding;
irrigation;
foliar fertilizer;
other types of procedures, no different from other varieties.

Experienced gardeners recommend using complex mineral fertilizers for yellow fruits, and organic fertilizers once every 2-3 years.

Feeding mature trees

An adult tree is fed with urea and potassium sulfate even before it begins to bloom. 2 tablespoons of each product per bucket of water. Urea and nitrophoska are used after flowering, when the fruits begin to fill. For one bucket of water, 3 tablespoons of nitrophoska and 2 tablespoons of urea are enough.

The next feeding is foliar. A superphosphate solution is suitable for spraying. Take 2 tablespoons of fertilizer per bucket of water. Potassium sulfate is also used for these spruce trees.

What to do to increase productivity

When growing fruit trees, you want to get a rich harvest of fruits. Plum is no exception to this rule. To increase yield in spring you need:

use yeast tincture. To do this, dissolve 20 substances in 1 liter of warm water, add 1 tsp. sugar and leave for 7 days. Then stir the resulting mixture in a bucket of liquid and fertilize the trees;
add eggshell powder to the tree trunk circle;
spray the plant with 1 tsp. honey dissolved in 1 liter of liquid. This will help attract bees;
After the snow melts, cover the sprayed bark.

When performing such activities, it will be possible to collect a lot of fruits.

How to increase productivity

To realize the main goal - obtaining a high yield, gardeners resort to a variety of tricks. Along with conventional fertilizers, they introduce special “feed” designed to increase productivity.

An increase in yield is observed after fertilizing:

Yeast. 20 g of yeast are diluted in 1 liter of water. After a week, the infusion is diluted in a bucket of water and poured under the root.
Bread crusts. 1/3 of the bucket is filled with crusts and filled with water. The soaked bread is left to steep for a week. A bucket of crust infusion is diluted with water 1:3 and poured under the root. To enhance the effect, add whey - 200-300 g.
Eggshell. It is added to deoxidize and enrich the soil with calcium. The shells are first crushed and then scattered under the tree.

Fertilizer for different regions

There is an opinion that fertilizing plum trees differs depending on the region of growth. In fact, fertilizing may differ depending on the type of soil in which the crop grows.

Due to the fact that in the Urals, Siberia, the Moscow region and other areas of the country the soil is different, the care will be different. The substances used and the elements introduced also change: poor soil must be nourished, and acidic soil must be deoxidized. Therefore, we need to pay attention to this factor, and not to the region.

Feeding seedlings

The seedlings do not need additional feeding. When they are planted in the holes, additives necessary for growth and development are added, which nourish the young plants for a long time.

To provide the seedlings with the necessary nutrients during planting, add the following substances to the soil:

Humus - 1 bucket;
Peat – 1 bucket;
Granulated superphosphate – 250-300 g;
Wood ash (dolomite flour, fluff lime) – 0.5 kg.

Gardener mistakes

Gardeners often make mistakes when growing plums precisely at the stage of feeding them. First of all, they abuse fertilizers, which has a bad effect on the tree: its condition and yield. To avoid such situations, it is important to always follow the instructions and not exceed the permissible dosage.

Another mistake is using expired fertilizers. To get the desired result, the products must be fresh.

Feeding plum trees in the spring is not difficult. You just need to choose the right fertilizer, adhere to the procedure algorithm and adhere to the recommendations of specialists.

How can you fertilize plums?

Fertilizing involves the application of both organic and mineral fertilizers.

We advise you to read how to make a plum blossom and bear fruit.

The following toppings are suitable for plums:

Compost or rotted manure. They perfectly nourish the plant and improve the soil structure. It becomes loose, air exchange improves. These fertilizers are applied when digging or plowing the soil. The norm is 1 bucket for an adult plum. If the soil is highly acidic, manure is mixed with lime (0.5 kg per tree). It is spread around the tree trunk area, the soil is loosened and watered.
Attention! In autumn, you cannot fertilize plum trees with fresh manure. As it decomposes, it releases heat and gases that can damage the roots.
Bird droppings or pig manure . Perfectly stimulates the growth of green mass. Since they contain a lot of nitrogen, they are not used in the fall.
Wood ash. The most affordable product that is obtained by burning wood. Contains 17 minerals that are responsible for good growth and fruiting. In addition, this fertilizer reduces the acidity level of the soil. For an adult tree you will need 200–300 g of the substance.
Wood ash contains 17 microelements that enrich the soil and nourish plants. In addition, ash normalizes the acid balance, and plums love alkaline soils.
Potassium-containing supplements. They are responsible for removing excess liquid from the branches and trunk. In autumn, fertilize with potassium chloride (100 g per tree). Apply during digging, then water the soil abundantly, or dilute it in a bucket of water and water the soil.
Potassium-containing fertilizers ensure maximum removal of liquid from the trunk and branches, as a result of which the frost resistance of the tree increases
Phosphorus fertilizers. They are responsible for the growth and strengthening of the root system, as well as the absorption of sugar and protein. Bone meal is suitable for plums. Dose - 50 g per 1 sq. m. Not used when cultivating plums on sandstone.
Important! When growing plums on sandy soil, phosphorus fertilizers are not applied.
Superphosphates. Contain a high concentration of calcium, potassium, and sulfur. At the same time, the nitrogen content in them is minimal. The norm is 60–70 g for an adult tree. It is recommended to add potassium magnesium simultaneously with such fertilizing. This will ensure the growth of young branches.
Superphosphates belong to highly soluble fertilizers, therefore they are easy to use
Calcium . Essential for strengthening roots. Contained in superphosphates, therefore, when using them, additional drainage is not required.

Features of spring feeding

In the spring, add nitrogen, potassium and magnesium to the soil. These three substances are necessary for the growth of green mass, shoot development, flowering and fruiting. You can use organic or mineral fertilizers. When choosing the latter, give preference to granular products. If you missed the deadlines for fertilizing, add minerals already during flowering. Use liquid fertilizers, but follow the dosage.

Concentrates can be harmful to the tree if used in large doses. Pour them not into the root, but into previously prepared holes at a distance of 0.5 m from the trunk.

In the spring, feed the plant with 2% ammonium nitrate concentrate, 0.5% urea, compost, manure, chicken manure, humate or potassium sulfate, dolomite flour, potassium magnesium, superphosphate, nitrophoska.

Apply fertilizers in two ways - into the soil or spray on the leaves. The latter method is used for express nutrition, when there is an urgent need to compensate for the deficiency of substances.

What to feed in early spring

As soon as the daytime air temperature rises above zero degrees every day and the snow begins to actively melt, it is time to fertilize the plums and cherry plums around the tree trunk. In early spring, when the buds are swelling and the trees have already been pruned, they need fertilizers that contain a lot of nitrogen. Potassium and phosphorus must also be present.

Mineral fertilizers can be bought at the store or prepared yourself.

Ready-made fertilizers from the store

Urea and ammonium nitrate contain a lot of nitrogen. It is recommended to use them at air temperatures above +10 degrees.

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Please note that Urea is better suited for feeding cherry plums, plums and other stone fruits. Especially if the soil on the site is slightly acidic.

To feed garden trees with ammonium nitrate in the spring, take 0.75 g of potassium carbonate per 1 gram of granules. This option is for acidic soils. Potassium carbonate does not need to be added to soil with a normal pH level.

Ready-made fertilizers should be used strictly according to the instructions supplied with them.

Feeding recipes from experienced gardeners

We offer you a folk recipe for fertilizer, which contains all the useful substances necessary for spring fertilizing of cherry plums and plums. You need to prepare it a few days before watering the trees in the garden:

Fill a 200 liter barrel halfway with water and leave for several days. It is very good if the days are sunny. The water should warm up.
After two or three days, pour 6 liters of wood ash into a bucket. Fill it with 7 liters of boiling water and leave for 5-6 hours. Pour the infusion into a barrel.
Pour 400 g of potassium sulfate granules into a bucket, which must be dissolved in warm water and poured into a barrel.
Fill the barrel with water to the top. Using a long stick or other convenient device, thoroughly stir the mixture.

In three hours the feeding will be ready. Before use, stir it well again. You can simply scoop with a watering can or bucket and water the tree trunks of stone fruit trees:

one young plum or cherry plum tree is fed with 15-20 liters;
Each adult tree will need 40 liters of fertilizer.

Attention! If the soil is still frozen, make several punctures around the perimeter. The puncture depth should be about 20 cm. Pour the solution into them. This way the nutrients will get to the roots faster.

How to determine macro- or micronutrient deficiency

Before drawing up a calendar for fertilizing plums, you need to carefully study the condition of the plant and find out whether this type of procedure is necessary. Deficiency of macro- and microelements in stone fruit is manifested as follows:

the leaves on the tree acquire a gray tint with a brown edging;
rusty spots appear on the leaves;
the tree does not produce young shoots;
the fruits are damaged and fall off before they are ripe;
the leaves curl into a tube;
falling of leaves and inflorescences;
small size fruits.

It is important to know how to feed plums during the ripening of the fruits without harm or reducing the taste of the fruit.

How often to water a plum tree

Plum is a rather moisture-loving plant. However, precipitation is usually sufficient for her. Watering may only be required during dry periods. This can be determined by the curling of the leaves and drying of the fruits, as the tree reflexively tries to reduce the area of evaporation and reduce moisture loss.

When to water a plum tree in spring

In spring, air humidity is quite high, so watering the plum tree is not required. An exception is made only during drought, then at the end of May, abundant watering should be done for each tree to stimulate fruit set and shoot growth.

Is it possible to water a blossoming plum tree?

There is no need to water a blooming plum tree. High humidity during this period negatively affects flower pollination.

How to water a plum tree in summer

During the summer, 3-4 waterings of plum trees are done. The amount may vary depending on the weather; in rainy summers, watering may not be needed at all. If atmospheric moisture is clearly not enough, watering is done approximately once every 2–3 weeks. 5–8 buckets are poured under each tree, depending on its age. During fruiting, the plum should be watered with caution; too much water can lead to cracking of the fruit.

Watering plums in the summer after fruiting

After harvesting, plums are watered only during dry periods. The last time this is done is after the leaves have fallen, this is the so-called moisture-charging watering. After this, watering the trees completely stops.