If you’re looking for a fruit tree with a sweet but unique flavor, the Flavor King Pluot is for you! This tree’s fruit is a combination of apricots and plums, an enjoyable treat for everyone. With its lovely Japanese plum-like leaves, this tree will liven up your yard or garden year round.
I. Appearance and Characteristics
“Flavor King” pluot is a naturally small tree, reaching a standard size of 15 to 20 feet if left unpruned. Size can be further restrained by regular pruning, suiting it to backyard orchards. The tree is moderately spreading. Required chill hours for fruit production are between 400 and 500 hours. “Flavor King” grows in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 5 through 9. Trees need a pollinator such as other pluots or “Santa Rosa” or “Burgundy” plums.
Being mostly plum, “Flavor King” has a plum-like appearance with dark red-purple skin. Internally, the flesh is red and gold and is sweeter, softer and grainier than a plum. Fruits are juicy and have a fragrant aroma, yet lack the tart flavor many plums have on the skin and near the center of the fruit. “Flavor King” is characterized as having a rich, spicy taste. It is a winner in the Dave Wilson Taste Tests, formal taste tests held by a Modesto nursery. Ripe fruits hold well on the tree, retaining taste and firmness as long as two weeks after the pluots are mature in August.
II. How to Grow and Care
Sunlight and Soil
“Flavor King” has cultural requirements similar to those of plum trees, needing full sun and well-draining soil.
Watering
Water the planted tree well during its first two years with deep regular watering, but be sure not to create soggy soil. Once established, the tree will need less watering. It will still require deep watering during low-rainfall periods.
Fertilizing
Fertilize with a balanced fertilizer during spring and fall. Give the tree a layer of mulch in order to prevent weeds and conserve moisture.
Planting Instructions
Prepare your planting site by digging a hole about twice the volume of your tree pot. If you notice that your soil is very hard, now would be the ideal time to perform a drainage test. You can test your soil drainage by filling the hole with water. If the hole takes more than 2 hours to drain completely then your soil is poor draining and will need to be amended. If your location is heavy in clay soil that drains poorly, consider mounding up above the native soil with compost and mulch and then planting in your well-draining mound. Once the hole has been dug, backfill with a 50/50 mix of compost and native soil so that the tree can sit flush with the native soil level.
Once your hole is prepped, you will want to press the tree pot sides and gently remove the tree from its container. Once removed, gently loosen the sides & bottom of the root mass with your hands. Then place the tree in the planting hole and backfill with more of your 50/50 compost and native soil mix. This mix is important to create a buffer zone of soil that is easy for your tree to root into while also introducing the roots to your native soil.
Now that your new tree is planted, it is time to give the trees a thorough soak. This step is very important to close any air gaps that may have been created while backfilling the tree.
Pruning
The goal here is to have a canopy that is roughly as large as your root mass. By balancing the root mass with the canopy, you will see much less dieback on your branches and a higher success rate with your new tree. If you want the fruiting wood to begin low, smaller trees may be cut back at planting time to a height as low as the knee (15-20 inches). Any remaining side limbs should be cut back to one or two buds.
Larger trees may be cut above existing well-placed low limbs, or they too may be cut back low to force new, lower limbs. If this step is skipped, you will likely see low vigor from the first season, dieback from these long branches, or even complete failure to break dormancy.
Pollination
The Flavor King Pluot requires pollinators such as Dapple Dandy, Santa Rosa Plum, Methley Plum, Burgundy Plum, or Late Santa Rosa Plum trees.
Mulching
Mulching helps retain moisture and stabilizes the soil temperature. Mulch to 3 to 4 inches deep and 3 to 4 feet outside the canopy.
III. Uses and Benefits
“Flavor King” is used primarily a whole fresh fruit eaten when fully ripe. The best option is to have your own tree and pick the fruit when it matures in mid- to late August. Ripen purchased “Flavor King” pluots in a closed paper bag until they are slightly soft and fragrant for best taste. Store extra ripened fruit in the refrigerator up to three days, allowing the pluots to come to room temperature before eating them. Use pluots in pastries, salads, salsas, or serve them grilled, glazed or bruleed.
