Overview

Introducing the magnificent flavor queen pluot tree, a hybrid fruit tree that combines the best characteristics of plums and apricots. This live plant offers a unique and highly sought-after fruit-growing experience for home gardeners. The ‘Flavor Queen’ variety is renowned for its exceptional taste, producing greenish-yellow skinned fruits with a vibrant amber flesh. Each bite delivers a sugary, candy-like sweetness that is both refreshing and satisfying. Originating from the innovative work of Floyd Zaiger, pluots are a testament to modern fruit breeding, offering robust growth and delicious yields. This particular specimen arrives as a healthy, thriving 2-foot tall plant, carefully cultivated and ready for planting in your orchard or garden, shipped securely in a 3-gallon pot.

The pluot fruit tree is a fantastic addition for anyone looking to expand their edible landscape. It provides not only a bountiful harvest of delectable fruit but also ornamental value with its attractive foliage and seasonal blooms. Growing pluots is a rewarding endeavor, allowing you to enjoy fresh, tree-ripened fruit directly from your backyard. With proper care, your ‘Flavor Queen’ will become a cherished part of your garden for many years to come.

Key Benefits

The ‘Flavor Queen’ Pluot offers a multitude of advantages for the home gardener, making it an excellent choice for both novice and experienced growers:

• Exceptional Flavor Profile: Enjoy intensely sweet, candy-like fruits with a perfect balance of plum and apricot notes. The amber flesh is juicy and incredibly flavorful, making it a favorite for fresh eating. The unique taste of the flavor queen pluot tree is truly unparalleled.
• Bountiful Harvests: Once established, this tree is known for its prolific fruiting, providing a generous supply of delicious pluots each season. You’ll have plenty to share with family and friends.
• Attractive Ornamental Value: Beyond its fruit, the ‘Flavor Queen’ offers beautiful spring blossoms that add visual appeal to your landscape, followed by lush green foliage throughout the growing season.
• Versatile Culinary Use: While perfect for fresh eating, the fruits are also excellent for jams, jellies, pies, tarts, and drying. The sweet flavor holds up well in various culinary applications.
• Self-Fertile (with benefits from cross-pollination): While many pluots benefit from cross-pollination, ‘Flavor Queen’ can produce fruit on its own, though yields may be enhanced by planting another compatible plum or pluot variety nearby.
• Garden Freshness: Experience the joy of picking your own tree-ripened pluots, ensuring the freshest and most flavorful fruit possible, free from store-bought preservatives.
• Long-Term Investment: A well-cared-for pluot fruit tree can provide delicious harvests for decades, offering a sustainable source of fresh fruit for your household.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

To ensure your flavor queen pluot tree thrives and produces abundant, delicious fruit, proper care is essential. Pluots generally prefer a location with full sun exposure, meaning at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day. Adequate sunlight is crucial for fruit development and sweetness. When planting, choose a spot with well-draining soil. Pluots are not tolerant of soggy conditions, which can lead to root rot. A slightly acidic to neutral soil pH (6.0-7.0) is ideal. Amend heavy clay soils with organic matter to improve drainage, or sandy soils to enhance water retention.

Watering should be consistent, especially during the tree’s establishment period and throughout the fruit development stage. Deep watering, allowing the water to penetrate several inches into the soil, is more beneficial than frequent shallow watering. Reduce watering frequency as the tree matures and during dormant periods. Fertilize your pluot fruit tree annually in early spring before new growth begins, using a balanced fruit tree fertilizer. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for application rates. Pruning is important for maintaining tree shape, promoting air circulation, and enhancing fruit production. Prune in late winter or early spring while the tree is dormant, removing any dead, diseased, or crossing branches.

The ‘Flavor Queen’ Pluot is generally hardy in USDA zones 6-9, though specific microclimates can influence its performance. Protect young trees from extreme winter cold in marginal zones. Common pests include aphids and fruit worms, which can often be managed with organic pest control methods or appropriate horticultural sprays. Diseases such as brown rot can be mitigated with good air circulation and timely fungicide applications if necessary. Understanding the nuances of pluot care guide will ensure a healthy and productive tree.

Size & Details

This offering is for one live flavor queen pluot tree, measuring approximately 2 feet tall from the base of the root ball to the top of the plant. It is shipped in a robust 3-gallon nursery pot, providing a well-established root system ready for transplanting. Pluots are known for their moderate growth rate, typically reaching a mature height of 15-20 feet with a similar spread, though they can be kept smaller with proper pruning. The tree will begin to bear fruit within 2-4 years of planting, with increasing yields as it matures. The ‘Flavor Queen’ typically ripens in mid-summer, offering a delightful harvest season. This pluot size is ideal for immediate planting and robust establishment in your garden.

The plant you receive is a living organism and its exact dimensions may vary slightly. However, rest assured that it is a healthy, actively growing specimen chosen for its vigor. The 3-gallon pot ensures that the root system is well-developed, minimizing transplant shock and setting the tree up for success in its new environment. Provide adequate space for its mature size to allow for optimal growth and fruit production.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big does this pluot tree get? A: The flavor queen pluot tree typically reaches a mature height of 15-20 feet and a similar spread. However, with regular pruning, you can maintain it at a more manageable size suitable for smaller gardens or espalier training.
• Q: What size pot does it come in? A: This pluot tree is shipped in a sturdy 3-gallon nursery pot, ensuring a well-developed root system and a healthy start for your new plant. This pot size is ideal for safe transit and direct planting.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: The ‘Flavor Queen’ Pluot is an outdoor fruit tree. It requires specific chill hours during winter to produce fruit and thrives in full sun conditions in garden settings. It is not suitable for long-term indoor cultivation.
• Q: How much sunlight does it need? A: This pluot fruit tree needs full sun exposure, meaning at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day. Ample sunlight is crucial for fruit development, flavor, and overall tree health.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? A: Pluots are considered moderately easy to care for. They require consistent watering, annual fertilization, and regular pruning to maintain health and maximize fruit production. Following a good pluot care guide will ensure success.
• Q: What condition will it arrive in? A: Your pluot tree will arrive as a healthy, live plant, approximately 2 feet tall, securely packaged in its 3-gallon pot with soil. We take great care to ensure it reaches you in excellent condition, ready for planting.
• Q: Can I use pluots in cooking? A: Absolutely! While delicious fresh, pluots are also excellent for a variety of culinary uses. Their sugary sweetness makes them perfect for jams, jellies, pies, tarts, crumbles, and even drying for a healthy snack.
• Q: How long until it blooms and produces fruit? A: A young flavor queen pluot tree typically begins to bloom and produce fruit within 2-4 years after planting. Fruit production will increase as the tree matures and establishes itself in your garden.
• Q: When is the best time to plant this pluot tree? A: The best time to plant your pluot tree is in early spring or fall, allowing the roots to establish before extreme summer heat or winter cold. Ensure the ground is not frozen when planting.
• Q: Will it survive winter in my zone? A: The ‘Flavor Queen’ Pluot is generally hardy in USDA Zones 6-9. If you are in a colder zone, consider providing winter protection for young trees or growing it in a large container that can be moved indoors during severe cold. Understanding your local climate and pluot size at maturity is key.