JD Van Deventer's Kwekery/Nursery
Cultivar; Songold
Clone Number; SG 382
Origin; ARC Infruitec, 1970
Royalties/ Levies; not enough data
Yield; good
Fruit use; fresh
Type; cling stone
Shelf-life; good for 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; 400 to 600
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 plums, it needs a pollinator
Successful test-crosses; Laetitia, Santa Rosa and Casselman
Bloom time; September
Harvest time; February
Vigor; 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; normal
General notes; requires excessive pollination.