Trees should be watered regularly during the growing season to aid with fruit development. This allows fruits to become larger and prevents the tree from reducing production the following year. Aim to have 1 fruit every 15–20 cm (6–7 in). When the tree is bearing fruit, it is important to thin the fruits to prevent the tree from over-bearing. Plums should be pruned annually, including the year of planting and are best trained to an open center. Plums are pollinated by honeybees and it can be beneficial to maintain bee hives in orchards. Most plum varieties are self fruitful but cross pollination may be required for fruit set. If planting multiple trees they should be spaced 2.0–2.5 m (6.6–8.2 ft) apart. It is usually possible to identify this from changes in the color of the bark.
Backfill the hole so that the tree is planted to its original planting depth ensuring that the bud union is above the soil line. Plant bare root trees in a pre-dug hole which is slightly wider than the root ball. Plum trees should be planted in full sun. Plum rootstocks are commonly used but plum may also be grafted onto peach, Japanese apricot and almond rootstocks. Plum trees are propagated vegetatively to maintain the desirable genetic characteristic of the parent. Trees will grow optimally in soils with a pH between 5.5 and 6.5
It can be beneficial to plant the trees on elevated land to allow cold air to drain away. Plum trees grow best in well-draining sandy loams in areas that receive full sun but can will grow in a variety of soils as long as water does not sit on the surface after heavy rainfall. The trees also have a chilling requirement to break dormancy. Plums grow best in areas with warm summers and require a summer temperature between 20 and 30☌ (68-86☏) for the fruit to mature.
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