RESEARCH &
EDUCATION
CENTERS (REC)
Stone Fruit Planting and Maintenance:
plums on tree
Peaches, nectarines, plums, apricots, and cherries are all closely related members of the Prunus genus. They are commonly referred to as stone fruits because their seeds are enclosed by large and hard (stony) pits (endocarps).
Most stone fruits are native to warmer climates of the world and therefore are very susceptible to injury from low winter temperatures. In addition, they bloom earlier in the spring than pome fruits, and the flowers frequently suffer damage from spring frost. Because of this, the backyard culture of stone fruits has unique challenges: