Blog by Brenda Altman
Climate change is real. Every year, my pluot (plum apricot) tree starts flowering earlier and earlier. Here it is flowering in the second week of February!
Luther Burbank pioneered the development of hybrid plums and apricots. In the late 19th century, crossing an apricot and a plum created the plumcot. His Luther Burbank Plumcot is a 50% plum and 50% apricot. Burbank was trying to create a hardy hybrid version for growing in California. Luther’s research was refined by Floyd Zaiger in 1980. Pluot is a trademark, and “plumcot” is a generic term for any plum-apricot hybrid.
Pluots are not genetically engineered. They require pollination with another pluot tree or are hand-pollinated. A pluot is roughly 75% plum and 25% apricot. At any farmers’ market, you may find various varieties. Taste them all and appreciate the subtle differences. I have seen pluots in stores for sale at 50 cents each. You can pick pluots when they turn purple from red. If you wait too long, they get soft and mushy.
Pluots require another tree to pollinate them. My tree has another smaller tree growing right next to it. In about two to three months, there will be hundreds of purple pluots to harvest. Pluots require a cold period called “chill hours,” which differs by variety. A sustained period of 45 degrees is required to bloom and fruit.
You can grow your own pluot trees. Find out how many consecutive chill hours you have in winter. Taste a number of pluots and pick some varieties you prefer. Check the chill hour requirements. Next, find out the pollination requirements. Consult nursery staff on growing requirements. Find out how long it will take for the tree to produce fruit. Sit back and be patient. You will be spectacularly rewarded!
Here is a clever tool that eliminates the need for a ladder to harvest pluots.
Further reading;
UC ANR “Pluots for the Home Orchard” July 28, 2023
Pluots
Info@Specialty produce.com
Burbank Plumcot-TREES OF ANTIQUITY
https:www.treesofantiquity.com
Banner photo: "Scenes from the Walnut Creek Farmers Marker" by John-Morgan is licensed under CC BY 2.0.