How to Grow Pluot Candy Heart
Wikimedia Commons
Pluot Candy Heart
Prunus × (plum × apricot hybrid)
fruitPluot Candy Heart is a hybrid stone fruit that combines plum and apricot genetics, resulting in a predominantly plum-like fruit with apricot influence. The tree produces medium-sized, heart-shaped fruits with deep red to dark purple skin and exceptionally sweet, candy-like flavor. It's a deciduous tree that blooms in spring with pink-white flowers before fruit development.
When should you plant Pluot Candy Heart in your zone?
Get a personalized planting timeline — when to start seeds, transplant, and harvest — based on your USDA zone and local frost dates. Free to start.
Example Pluot Candy Heart timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
-
Plant Pluot Candy Heart
Around Apr 17Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
-
Tend & protect
Late spring–summerWatering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
-
Harvest Pluot Candy Heart
Around Nov 8≈ 240 days after planting
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Pluot Candy Heart dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Zones 6-8 are ideal; hardy to zone 5b with winter protection; heat-tolerant to zone 9a
Sign up free to see if Pluot Candy Heart grows in your zone — and get a personalized planting timeline.
Get my Pluot Candy Heart timeline →Growth Stages
Dormancy
3-4 monthsLeafless tree in winter with visible branch structure and flower buds along limbs
Prune during dormancy (late December-February) to shape tree and remove crossed branches. Apply dormant oil spray if needed for pest management.
Bloom & Flowering
2-3 weeksPink-white flowers emerge from buds; multiple florets per flower cluster
Protect flowers from frost—avoid pruning after buds swell. Ensure adequate pollinator activity; may require cross-pollination with compatible plum or apricot varieties.
Fruit Set & Early Development
4-6 weeksSmall green fruitlets form behind faded flowers; fruit thinning window occurs
Thin fruits to 4-6 inches apart when they're walnut-sized (late May-June). Remove diseased or damaged fruits. This ensures larger, higher-quality fruit.
Mid-Season Growth
6-8 weeksFruits grow rapidly, reaching full size; foliage is dense and green
Maintain consistent watering; mulch around base. Monitor for pests and diseases. Support heavy fruit branches with props if needed.
Ripening & Harvest
2-3 weeksFruit develops full dark red to purple color; firm but slight give when squeezed; extremely fragrant
Harvest fully ripe fruit when it yields slightly to gentle pressure. Pick in morning after dew dries. Ripe fruit peaks in sugar content for 3-5 days.
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
-
Handpick early morning; use pheromone traps away from tree; neem oil for young beetles
-
Thin fruit aggressively; apply spinosad or pyrethrin at petal fall; remove dropped fruit immediately
-
Net trees in late summer; remove infested fruit; maintain sanitation
-
Thin fruit to improve air circulation; remove mummified fruit; apply sulfur or fungicide at bloom and pre-harvest
-
Prune out knotted branches; avoid wounding tree; improve air drainage
Uses
Fresh eating and desserts
CulinaryPluot Candy Hearts are prized for fresh eating due to their exceptional sweetness and candy-like flavor. Perfect for desserts, fruit salads, jams, and baking. [source]
Preserves and canning
CulinaryHigh natural pectin content makes these fruits ideal for jellies and preserves. Their natural sweetness reduces required added sugar. [source]
Pollinator support
WildlifePink-white spring flowers provide early-season nectar and pollen for honeybees and native pollinators, supporting ecosystem health. [source]
Ornamental landscaping
HouseholdThe tree offers spring flower beauty and summer edible fruit, making it both productive and visually appealing in home landscapes. [source]
Nutritional benefits
MedicinalStone fruits are rich in antioxidants, vitamin C, and fiber. Pluots provide digestive benefits and support immune health. [source]
This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.
Harvest Tips
Pluot Candy Hearts ripen late summer to early fall (August-September in most zones). Harvest when fruit yields slightly to gentle hand pressure and skin is uniformly dark red to black with a waxy bloom. Fruit does not ripen further off-tree, so harvest only fully mature fruit. Peak flavor and sweetness occurs 1-2 days after full color development. Pick in morning and handle gently to avoid bruising.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Pluots were developed in the 1980s by Floyd Zaiger, a renowned plant breeder, creating a fruit that is genetically 75% plum and 25% apricot, resulting in plum-like appearance with enhanced sweetness.
- 🌱 The 'Candy Heart' variety earned its name from its exceptionally high sugar content and distinctly sweet, candy-like flavor profile that resembles dessert more than typical fruit.
- 🌱 Pluot trees are mostly self-infertile and benefit from cross-pollination with certain plum or apricot varieties, making pollinator activity and companion plantings particularly important for fruit production.
Gardening Terms
New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:
Join 30,000 gardeners planning their gardens with LizPlants.
Get your personalized Pluot Candy Heart planting timeline
Tell us your zip code and we'll calculate exactly when to start Pluot Candy Heart seeds, transplant seedlings, and harvest — based on your USDA zone and local frost dates. Includes calendar reminders and printable task lists. Free to start.
Get my Pluot Candy Heart timeline →