The Hardy Plum Tree That You Can Grow In Colder Climates

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Bananas, mangos, and several other stars of the supermarket produce aisle grow in the tropics, but there are plenty of scrumptious fruits you can grow in colder climates. Alderman plums (Prunus salicina) are a prime example. The trees that bear these sweet red orbs thrive in USDA hardiness zone 3, which includes the northernmost parts of Minnesota, North Dakota, and Montana, plus much of Alaska. They're also happy as far south as zone 8. In general, plums are easy enough for beginners to grow and are ideal fruit trees for front yards.

Alderman was developed by scientists at the University of Minnesota, so it acclimatized itself to Gopher State temperatures. This long-neglected hybrid grabbed attention in the 1980s when someone noticed how pretty the plum trees in a university worker's yard were. As it turns out, their fruit — a cross between a Japanese plum and an American plum — was also delicious. Before long, this cultivar, which used to be called "MN416," was being sold under the name of a prominent university horticulturalist.

In general, Alderman will deliver hefty yields as long as it cross-pollinates with another Japanese-American plum or a native American or Canadian plum (Prunus americana or Prunus nigra, respectively). Potential pollination partners include 'Superior' and 'Toka.' Harvesting 100 pounds of plums from this tree each August is not only possible but probable, plus the tree will sometimes fruit during its first year in the ground. Alderman is also a manageable size, which makes it a popular choice among home gardeners. Since it typically grows 10 to 15 feet tall and 12 feet wide, it will fit into a fairly tight landscape.

Your Alderman plum should thrive if you prune it at the right time and tend to its hydration needs. Live somewhere that experiences lots of wintertime freezing and thawing? Give your tree some season-specific support as well. No matter where you live, plant the tree in full sun for maximum fruit yields.

It's best to prune Alderman early in the spring, before its buds form. Also snip off root suckers that pop up in the summer. In April, spread compost over where the roots are likely to be unless the tree has grown more than a foot in the past year. This delivers nutrients that help the tree stay healthy and set fruit. It also increases the soil's capacity to hold extra water during droughts and drain excess water after heavy rains. Be sure to water your plum tree thoroughly during the driest parts of the summer. When winter's approaching, outfit your tree with a paper or plastic trunk protector, which can prevent its truck from splitting. Vecacosic weather-resistant paper tree trunk wrap is one of many options.

If you're growing an Alderman plum in USDA hardiness zone 3 or 4, both of which have harsh winters and spring frost, your tree may fail to fruit some years. When frost claims too many flowers, it will also claim that summer's plums. Don't despair if this happens: Even if the tree takes a fruiting vacation, it brings other benefits to your yard. For instance, it's a great start to a pollinator garden. Butterflies love its fragrant white blossoms, and it's an important host for Eastern Tiger Swallowtail caterpillars.