The influence of growing system and spacing on yield of some plum cultivars

Experimental planting was set up in Cacak (Serbia), on 252 m alt., in the Autumn 1997. It was planted with virus-free plants of cvs Cacanska Lepotica, Cacanska Rodna, Cacanska Najbolja and Stanley on myrobalan rootstock, all plants having premature branches. Interrow spacing was 4 m, and intrarow spacing ranged from 0.7-1.7 m. Spindle tree system and V-spindle tree system, 15 deg angled to the vertical (in which case a support was set up for maintainence of the aberration) were employed. Yields obtained in Cacanska Lepotica and Stanley prove not only potentials for possibility of plum growing but also that high cropping, coupled with high fruit quality, is obtainable under this system. With yield amounting to 40 t/ha with late spring frosts, it is realistic to expect markedly higher yields under normal ecological conditions.