HORTICULTURE
HORTICULTURE
There are about 1000 acres of plums in Michigan. Oceana County is the foremost plum county in Michigan with over 200 acres. Berrien and Van Buren counties rank second and fourth. Plums are a crop in decline in Michigan. A majority of the crop is processed into baby food or canned. There is a local market for fresh fruit and fresh plums are shipped to other states. There are a wide variety of plums grown in Michigan with variety trials at the Northwest Horticultural Station.
Stanley is the most popular plum in Michigan
The Michigan Plum Advisory Board has Information and Recipes for Plums.
Plum Insect Pests:
Trunk Borers such as American plum borer, lesser peach tree borer and peach tree borer have become major pests attacking the trunk and limbs and significantly reducing tree health.Green Fruitworm is often a problem on young green fruit.
Green Peach Aphid will also attack plums, curling their leaves early in the season.
Plum Curculio are often seen first on plums, their distinctive half moon egg laying scar are often the first clue that this insect is laying eggs.
Oriental Fruit Moth can attack plums.
Apple Maggot will attack plums as they ripen.
White Apple Leaf Hoppers are a problem late in the season. Stippling of the leaves is an indication of their presence.
MSUE Bulletins:
Recognizing Black Knot in Plums (E-1330) is an old bulletin but still applicable to this problem disease.
Fertilizing Fruit Crops - MSUE Bulletin (E-852) has general information on fertilizing plums.
