ISHS Acta Horticulturae 734: VIII International Symposium on Plum and Prune Genetics, Breeding and Pomology
PLUM PRODUCTION IN NORWAY |
| Author: | L. Sekse |
| Keywords: | Prunus domestica L., plum, Norway, history, cultivars, soil, climate |
| Abstract:
Plum growing has long traditions in Norway, dating back to the period of the West-European middle age. Fruits, among them plums, were originally grown in the gardens of monasteries established in Scandinavia in the period from 1100-1500. Plums became an important fruit in many districts from late in the XVIIIth century, and reached more than one million trees around World War II. Hardanger is the main fruit growing district of Norway. The growers run small family operated farms of 2-5 hectares where most of the labour is carried out by the family members. They grow the four fruit species sweet cherries, plums, pears and apples to employ workers during a long harvesting season. The Norwegian plum production totals 1000 tons, some more in a good cropping year, of which all is sold for fresh consumption. It has had a small increase over the last years and is now the second in size of the Norwegian fruit crops in regard of tons. The main plum growing areas along the west coast of Norway benefits strongly from the mild Gulf stream in the Atlantic Ocean; without it, fruit growing would not be possible at latitudes 58 – 62°N. It protects from winter frosts, and a late flowering period makes blossom frost very rare. Shortage of water in early summer occurs, but is compensated for with irrigation; snow and lakes in the mountains provide abundance of water in most districts. Fruit orchards are established mainly on landslip soils and moraines which are warm with good drainage. The two main plum cultivars grown over the last decades are ‘Opal’ and ‘Victoria’, and St. Julien A is the predominating rootstock in use to plums. The traditional plum tree grown in Norway is a spindle shaped tree, spaced 2 x 4.5 m or 1.75 x 4 m depending on the cultivar. The fruit districts of western Norway are important tourist destinations, and the tourist industry has a turnover counting many times that of fruit production. The fruit growing is an important part of the total marketing of this region as a tourist destination. In this respect, fruit production in Norway is important beyond the value of the crop itself. | |
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