Variety traits

Plum Vigor

Prunus L.

Plum vigor determines tree height, canopy volume, and vegetative growth intensity, serving as a key criterion when selecting cultivars and rootstocks for establishing a productive orchard.

In the reference 61 varieties crop Plum, where this is mentioned in the description.

To assess plum vigor, experts evaluate tree height, canopy volume and projection, as well as trunk cross-sectional area. An important operational indicator is the length of annual shoot growth: values of less than 15–30 cm indicate the need for rejuvenation pruning.

Depending on the growth potential, cultivars and cultivar-rootstock combinations are classified as low-vigor (up to 2.5–3 m in height), medium-vigor, and high-vigor. Low-vigor forms allow for the use of high-density planting schemes, whereas high-vigor forms require intensive pruning to prevent overcrowding and branch breakage.

Plum vigor is closely linked to yield management: restricting vegetative growth promotes early entry into fruit bearing. Agrotechnical practices should be adapted to the natural decline in shoot growth, which in most cultivars occurs at the age of 6–7 years.

General information about the subject — on the page Vigor.

Sources8

Varieties of Plum mentioned in the description

Selection based on the description text, not on official evaluation: these data are absent from registers. For specific variety details, please refer to its profile.