Pluot / Aprium / Plumcot

[Kristen]

In another thread

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ml#post1221856

fishpond said:

1 x Pluot

I've been considering one of those (and an Aprium too) but I'm not sure about pollination. I suspect its going to need an early flowering Japanese plum as a pollination partner, and I have no idea if I would actually use that for anything other than pollination.


Apriums I guess will be easier to pollinate (other than timing) as any Apricot should do.

Yeah, I know they are "self fertile", but to me that means hardly any fruit, small in size, and inferior in flavour (compared to cross pollinated)

Also not too sure about growing in a container? My intention was to do that, and bring it in for the winter / spring as it is so early flowering. Happy to hand pollinate (well ... I *think* I am!! - not sure how big a job it would actually be!). But ... they do grow into fairly substantial plants, and I wonder if a container is actually going to be sensible? (I currently lift plants, for winter storage, in pots that take an engine crane to get them out of the ground and a pump-up pallet trolley to shift them indoors, so I'm not too worried about "large" provided that "large" is not "huge"!).

[fishpond]

Best thing to do would be to ring/email guys at Blackmoor on Monday---talk to the experts.

[fishpond]

" in pots that take an engine crane to get them out of the ground and a pump-up pallet trolley to shift them indoors"
Seriously have you ever considered a different property with a bigger garden?

[Kristen]

Seriously have you ever considered a different property with a bigger garden?

Hahaha ... Errmmm ... "no" - far too much work here as it is!

[Kristen]

Best thing to do would be to ring/email guys at Blackmoor on Monday---talk to the experts.

Good point, although I would be very interested to hear from anyone who has got one.

[yummersetter]

I planted my first pluot about seven years ago, and put in a japanese plum (Satsuma) to pollinate it. The pluot died and I got a replacement from the suppliers. The second pluot died too, but in the meantime the Japanese plum has grown to fifteen ft. and given us excellent early crops of delicious plums for the last four years. Though it flowers early it seems quite hardy. Meanwhile elsewhere in the orchard I've planted apriums, pluots and plumcots, alongside another three Japanese plums, european plums and apricots. The hybrids seem to need sheltered warm places, I've lost about five. They've also taken a while to get really growing, so its quite exciting that this year all the funny plums are intending to flower - after so long I'm looking forward to eating some. I became interested in them after visiting Farmers' Markets in Northern California where a lot of different varieties were on sale.

[fishpond]

Hahaha ... Errmmm ... "no" - far too much work here as it is!

Just quickly looked at your blog, that garden makes mine look like a postage stamp, STUNNING.
I will read it all later when I have a bit more time.