And so far that tree has been a complete loser… I planted a darling little plum tree (my only plum tree) in 2013 and it still has not produced a single plum. It’s a Toka Plum Tree. And it’s supposed to be self-pollinating and also a great pollinator for other plum trees. What makes this tree even more pathetic is that it’s about twenty-five feet from the beehives and blooms with beautiful white flowers each spring, yet still grows ZERO plums. At least the bees enjoy it’s flowers.
So of course I decided this year I must have a new plum tree. And I did what any good farm girl would do – I bought two of them! And then I also bought two other fruit trees because I simply don’t already have enough things to keep up with on the farm. Ha!
What did I buy?
Let’s start with the Plum Trees. First is a Stanley Plum. Good for making prunes, canning and eating fresh. It’s also a great pollinator. Maybe it’ll snap the Toka Plum tree out of its non-fruiting laziness…
For my second plum tree choice I went with a Santa Rosa Plum. Firm flesh, sweet-tart and also self-pollinating. Between these three plum trees. at least one will eventually produce a plum I would think?
I’m also adding a Sam Houston Peach Tree. I don’t know why. I really only enjoy peaches soaked in rum. And maybe grilled, with rum and butter drizzled on top. But the Farm Boy likes peaches, and I’m sure I can come up with some additional uses for them.
Last, I am trying a new Fig Tree variety that doesn’t really grow in my Zone 6a, but at a minimum Zone 7, it’s pretty close. It’s called Italian Everbearing Fig. That’s because it’ll produce year-round if there isn’t a frost. Because of the climate requirement, I’ll have to keep it in a huge pot and move it into the mudroom during the winter. I’m really excited because Figs are a real (expensive) treat here in the North.
Together, these four new fruit trees will hopefully be a nice little refreshing update to the orchard this year. And maybe the damn Toka Plum will finally make fruit once it has some new tree friends? ~A
