How to feed plums in summer, rules and timing of fertilization

Growing crops requires proper care, this includes fertilizing and watering plums in the summer. Such actions contribute to the harvest and rapid development of the plant. Proper application of fertilizers will keep the crop healthy and the fruit with good taste.

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.

What do you feed a fruit tree with?

A fruit tree requires careful application of fertilizers during the flowering period; you also need to know how to feed the plum and its fruits. It is necessary to feed the plant in several stages so that the crop can consume all the necessary components.

Mineral fertilizers for plums

The use of mineral supplements is most often used in the fall. Fertilizer allows you to endure the winter and develop immunity to diseases. Mineral supplements include:

• superphosphate - can be of several types and is most often added to the soil along with liquid;
• potassium sulfate - used for all types of stone fruit trees;
• dolomite flour - increases tree development and yield.

Feeding plums with minerals in summer and autumn takes into account the age of the tree.

Organic matter

Among organic fertilizers, a large number of substances can be used, such as:

• wood ash - reduces acidity in the soil and increases resistance to diseases;
• bone meal - used to feed the tree in the summer, reduces the risk of putrefactive formations and improves nutrition of the root system;
• compost - is used most often and can be used in summer and autumn, contains all the necessary elements for the development of culture.

Organic fertilizers contain a large amount of nutritional components and can restore the soil for normal development and fruiting of the tree.

Folk remedies

Many gardeners use traditional methods of feeding plants, among which it is necessary to highlight:

• yeast tincture - used for root feeding, activates the growth of new shoots;
• lime - plum loves alkaline soil, so the use of the substance reduces acidity;
• bread tincture - bread crumbs are infused for several hours, the resulting composition is mixed with water in a ratio of 1:3 and the plant is watered;
• boric acid - eliminates diseases and promotes fruit development;
• humus - used in the fall to strengthen roots.

When choosing traditional methods of fertilizing, it is necessary to take into account the type of soil; in some cases, the use of substances that oxidize the soil can be harmful.

Fertilizer application methods

Depending on the problem and the period of use of fertilizers, fertilizing can be carried out using several methods.

Foliar feeding

Fertilizer is sprayed on the leaves and shoots of the tree. This fertilizer helps eliminate crop diseases, and also saturates the shoots and buds with useful components, which increases fruiting. The foliar application method can be used in the spring or during the flowering period of the crop.

Root feeding

It involves introducing useful components directly into the soil in the root area. To obtain a harvest, it is necessary to fertilize the plum tree up to 3 times a year, at different times of the year. Fertilizers are dissolved in water and watered on the tree.

Mandatory requirements for fertilization

The use of fertilizers for plums requires compliance with certain rules, which include:

• it is necessary to fertilize with liquid substances at a distance of 40-50 cm from the trunk;
• dry useful components are added during the process of digging the soil, after which the area where the root is located must be watered abundantly;
• manure is applied twice a year, the substance is dissolved in water;
• different types of fertilizers are added at intervals of at least 1 month.

It is necessary to fertilize early in the morning or after sunset to prevent burns.

Feeding calendar by season

Fertilizer application must be done at a certain period of the year for the roots to fully consume all useful components.

Feeding seedlings up to one year

In the first year after planting, the seedlings are not fed. Since the seedling has not completely taken root, and the presence of fertilizers in large quantities can be harmful to the crop.

When the culture is not developing, the following types of substances can be used:

• potash;
• urea;
• phosphate.

When planting a seedling, humus or peat is used, which is mixed with the soil and used to cover the root hole.

Feeding plums under 3 years of age

The plum is fed depending on the period; the following methods of adding nutrients are distinguished:

• Fertilizer application in early May. A urea solution is used and the tree is sprayed with it.
• The second application of fertilizer occurs in June. A solution of nitrophoska is used (3 g per liter of water).
• At the end of summer, it is necessary to apply phosphate fertilizers using the root method.

Summer is a suitable period for the development of a young tree using special additives.

Fertilizers for an adult tree

To increase the plum yield, it is necessary to maintain a fertilizer application calendar. The following methods are distinguished:

• Spring is a suitable period for adding mineral components. Fertilizing plums in spring is done using urea. For one tree, mix 30 grams of the substance and 10 liters of water, applied by the root method.
• Fruit ripening also requires the use of additives. A solution of nitroammophosphate and urea is used in equal proportions (30 grams each), mixed with 10 liters of water. Using the solution, you need to water the tree.
• The last feeding is in autumn. Potassium sulfate and superphosphate are used, which are mixed 30 grams in a bucket of water and the plant is watered after the harvest has passed.

Feeding an adult plum in summer can prevent a large number of diseases and increase the root's resistance to low temperatures.

Nuances of tree nutrition during the period of ovary and fruiting

Gardeners determine how to feed plums depending on the type of soil and age of the crop. Many gardeners make mistakes that lead to the death of the plant and reduced yield.

Before flowering

Flowering is one of the important stages in the formation of a crop. Before the buds begin to appear, it is necessary to feed the plum with a mixture using manure and water in a ratio of 1:2. The area around the tree is watered with the resulting slurry, and a distance of 30 cm must be taken from the crown.

Before the inflorescences appear, a urea solution is used, which is sprayed on the plant at a rate of 10 liters per tree.

After the flowers fall

After the inflorescences fall off, fertilization is carried out depending on the type of soil and crop variety.

The following features of fertilizer application are distinguished:

• Mineral fertilizers are used to reduce diseases. The most commonly used is manganese sulfate, which reduces the risk of spoiled plums and reduces chlorophyll formation. Potassium permanganate can be used as foliar and root fertilizer. To prepare the solution, you need to dilute 3 grams of the substance in a liter of warm water and mix with 10 liters of clean water.
• After the flowers fall off, organic fertilizers can be used, chicken manure being the most commonly used.

Root feeding of adult plums in June is carried out using nitrate. Gardeners scatter granules in the area of ​​the root system and dig them up along with the soil. This will saturate the tree with useful substances for a long time.

During the period of fruit ripening

Feeding plums with fertilizers in July and August is very important. When fruits ripen, the tree spends a lot of energy on forming the fruit. Very often during this period the leaves begin to turn yellow, and the tree is exposed to various diseases.

Before applying nutrients, the tree should be carefully inspected for signs of nutrient deficiency. If the first symptoms are present, such as falling leaves, yellowing and falling of unripe fruits, the following measures must be taken:

• Use boric alcohol, which improves the taste of fruits and helps restore damaged shoots. To use, you need to dilute 10 grams of acid in 8 liters of water and spray the plant.
• July is a hot month, so humus and mulch with peat can be used to replenish nutrients.
• Mineral composition - superphosphate can be used, applied to the soil and watered with plenty of water.
• Ammonium nitrate - used at a rate of 10 grams per square meter.

When choosing what to fertilize plums and other stone fruit trees in the summer, it is necessary to take into account the type of crop; some species have certain preferences that are recommended to be observed.

After fruiting

The end of plum ripening depends on the variety and occurs in August and September; after the crop has stopped forming the fruit, care must be taken to accumulate strength for the winter period.

To do this you need:

• The soil around the tree is dug up and a slurry of manure and water is added.
• Using a solution of copper sulfate, diseases and larvae are eliminated. Vitriol can be applied as a root fertilizer to improve soil quality and reduce acidity. Apply 1 gram per square meter of soil.
• After the tree sheds its leaves, wood ash and humus are used.

Important. Copper sulfate is used without mixing with other substances, otherwise burns may remain on the shoots. The solution is sprayed or applied to the soil after sunset.

Autumn fertilizing is a mandatory procedure that strengthens the crop and promotes the formation of new buds in the next season.

Plum is an unpretentious crop, and regardless of the variety, it requires simple rules of care. However, in the summer, especially for mature trees that grow in one place for a long time, it is necessary to saturate the soil with useful substances, in the absence of which the tree ceases to produce fruit and develop.