Okay, so I’ve been wanting to grow an elephant heart plum tree for a while now. I finally got around to it, and let me tell you, it’s been quite the journey!
First off, I went and got myself a young tree from the local nursery. It wasn’t exactly cheap, but hey, I was excited. Made sure the tree looked healthy with good green leaves, no weird spots or anything. I picked a spot in my backyard that gets plenty of sun. That’s super important, apparently. These plum trees love their sunshine.

Next, I dug a big hole. Like, way bigger than the pot the tree came in. I mixed in some compost with the soil I took out. I also added some fertilizer for fruit trees, gotta give it a good start, right? I carefully took the tree out of its pot, loosened up the roots a bit, and placed it in the hole. I filled it back up with the soil mix, making sure the tree was straight and steady.
Watered it real good after planting. I read somewhere that you gotta water it deep to help the roots settle in. Now comes the waiting game. I kept watering it regularly, especially during those hot, dry days. I also added some mulch around the base to help keep the soil moist and stop weeds from growing like crazy.
After a while, I started to see new growth! Little leaves popping out. That’s when I knew I was doing something right. But it wasn’t all smooth sailing. I noticed some aphids on the leaves, those little buggers. I sprayed them off with a hose and then used some insecticidal soap to keep them away. Gotta be vigilant, you know?
The tree kept growing, and I kept taking care of it. I even pruned it a bit during the winter, just like the instructions said. It was kinda scary cutting off branches, but I figured it would help the tree grow stronger.
Finally, after a few years, it bloomed! I was ecstatic, the flowers are white and pink, it’s really beautiful, and smells good! These beautiful white flowers appeared all over the tree. It was a sight to behold. And you know what came next? Plums! Big, juicy, heart-shaped plums with this amazing dark red color. I picked one when it felt just ripe enough, and it was delicious. The taste is a little bit sour, but it’s really juicy, so I like it.
- Getting the tree and planting it was the first big step.
- Watering and feeding it regularly was crucial, especially in the beginning.
- Dealing with pests and pruning was a bit of a learning curve, but it all worked out.
- Seeing it bloom and then getting to eat those delicious plums was so rewarding!
It’s been a lot of work, but totally worth it. There’s just something special about growing your own fruit. So that is my story, hope you like it.