JD Van Deventer's Kwekery/Nursery

Cultivar; Laetitia 

Clone Number;  LT 558                                                                        

Origin; ARC Infruitec, 1985

Royalties/ Levies; R 3.16

Yield; very good

Fruit use; fresh

Type; semi-free stone

Shelf-life; good, 4 weeks at duel temperature

Water requirements; water to a depth of 609mm every 14-21 days 

Sun requirements; 6 to 8 hours per day

Chill hours; 200 to 400

Pruning; prune in early spring or summer on a dry day to prevent water-borne pathogens from infecting your trees. Prune only when absolutely necessary- such as to remove dead branches, diseased sections and to shape the tree in it's initial years. Apply a pruning paint to help seal the cut.

soil requirements; a well-draining soil type with a pH of 6 to 7 is best. Sandy or clay soils must be avoided at all costs.

Soil depth; at least 600mm is recommended

Fertiliser requirements; be careful not to over fertilise young trees. Plums less than 3 years old should be given minimal fertiliser. Trees older than 3 years can be given fertiliser after bud break. 10-10-10 fertilisers and zinc foliar sprays are best.

Pollination requirements; Like most plum varieties, it needs a pollinator.

Successful test-crosses; Laetitia, Songold, Laroda,, Angeleno

Bloom time; September

Harvest time; January to February

Vigour;  strong

Size and shape; semi-upright

Tree age;  will start fruiting around year 3 to 5.

Average life span;  plums have a short life span in colder regions, but generally live for 15- 25 productive years depending on the rootstock used.

Susceptibility to pests and diseases; resistant to Xanthomas spot, but sensitive to Monilinia laxa

General notes;