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;