Cultivation of Beach Plums for Commercial Fruit Production

Coonamessett farm is cooperating with Barnstable County Extension and Cornell University to examine the potential of commercially cultivating beach plums, Prunus maritima. This entailed an extensive literature search on the beach plum covering all aspects of its propagation and culture and producing a practical manual based on the results. A small scale propagation program for beach plums has been set up at Coonamessett farm. Seeds and root cuttings from the most promising wild plants found on Cape Cod are being cultured. Several test plantings on Cape Cod farms have been established. We are also developing a marketing program for graded quality beach plum products.