Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
nurseries rate Japanese plums suitable for USDA Zones 4 to 9, most vari-
eties are far better adapted to Zones 6 to 8 and grow best on sites free of
spring frosts. Recently, varieties have been developed in Florida and Georgia
for low-chilling (150 to 400 hours, Zone 9) and medium-chilling (400 to 700
hours) regions. Some of the newer selections have also proven to be quite
disease resistant and well adapted to humid eastern North America. These
varieties offer great opportunities for organic plum growers.
Japanese plums have been hybridized with various plum species native to
North America to produce very cold-hardy selections for the northern Un-
ited States and southern Canada, as well as low-chilling, disease-resistant
varieties for the southeastern United Sates. Suggested Japanese plum and
North American Plums
Various North American plum species are cultivated on small, local scales.
American plum
(
Prunus americana
) is a cold-hardy species native from the
east coast of the United States to the Rocky Mountains and from Florida
to Montana. The crop is cultivated as far north as southcentral Canada and
proved hardy in my northern Idaho trials. The trees are rather slow to come
into production and are typically self-unfruitful. American plum fruits have
tough yellow to orange skins and yellow flesh. Named varieties include 'De
Soto', 'Hawkeye', 'Wyant', 'Weaver', and 'Terry'. Plant two varieties together
for cross-pollination.
Canada or black plum
(
Prunus nigra
) is a cold-hardy species native to
Canada from New Brunswick to southeastern Manitoba. 'Cheney' is the best-
known variety of this crop and is cultivated from the central Mississippi Val-
ley into southern Canada.
Hortulan or wild plum
(
Prunus hortulana
) is native to the central United
States from Texas to Nebraska and eastward to Maryland and Virginia, ex-
