Performance of Nine European Plum Cultivars on Two Rootstocks in East-Central Ontario

Abstract

Nine plum ( Prunus domesticaL.) cultivars were assessed over a 10-year period for growth, yield, fruit weight, bloom, petal fall and fruit harvest dates and cold temperature injury. The highest yields were obtained from 'Veeblue' and 'Vision'. 'Veeblue' had a higher yield efficiency and a lower cold temperature injury rating compared to 'Vision'. Cropping inconsistency encountered over the period of this trial would make commercial plum production in the east-central region of Ontario marginal. Cold temperatures during the winter of 1993-94 resulted in considerable injury to the trees. With the exception of 'Veeblue', the other cultivars tested from the breeding program at the Horticultural Research Institute of Ontario, Vineland Station, Ontario, suffered more cold temperature injury than did 'Italian' and 'Stanley'. Trees grown on 'Brompton' ( P. domesticaL.) rootstock were about 20% smaller compared to trees on 'Myrobalan B' ( P. cerasiferaEhrh.).