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Strange though it may seem, a whole series of crosses between plums and apricots, and even peaches, have now been developed. The original hybrid is the “plumcot”, which is ½ plum and ½ apricot. This hybrid was then used to create further crosses in the late 20th century by Floyd Zaiger in the US. One such complex cross now available in the UK, is the “Pluot” whose parentage is ¾ plum and ¼ apricot.

Pluots (this is a registered trade name), are stated by their supplier to be known for their high sugar content, thus their sweetness, and also intense flavour. The fruit is of a medium to large size, to have a reddish-purple smooth skin like a plum and very sweet red flesh. It is claimed that pluots will produce fruit ready to harvest in mid-August, in 3 to 5 years. They should be planted in a sunny sheltered position. It is claimed to be a naturally small tree.

There is some doubt at the moment as to how they will do in the North of the UK.

I am now trialing Pluot Flavour King in the North of the UK and will let you know in 2 or 3 years the result of the trial.

Pluots are certainly hardy in Glasgow having sailed through the hardest Winter and Spring in living memory. They must also be the earliest stone fruit to flower and come into leaf. In Glasgow, they were flowering at the same time as Blackthorn and two  weeks before the plums. If frost is forecast, consider covering overnight with fleece to prevent frost damage to the flowers.

As pluots appear to be only partially self-fertile, a plum flowering at the same time would aid pollination of the pluot, but there is likely to be very little overlap of the flowering period for pluot and plum.

Apriums

While I have not heard of these trees being on sale in the UK, they are also known as “interspecific” hybrids, being crosses between related but different types of fruit. An aprium is a hybrid being 75% apricot and 25% plum. Apparently, it looks and tastes like an apricot with a touch of plum flavour, and was developed Floyd Zaiger in California.

PLUOT,  PLUM   X   APRICOT  (Interspecific  cross)