Plums
Plums are the most popular stone fruit and they are the easiest to grow.
Plums come in all shapes and sizes. They have a smooth textured flesh which
depending on variety varies in colour from red to purple and green to yellow.
There are dessert and culinary varieties. Dessert varieties can be eaten
straight from the tree, these are sweet and succulent, the culinary varieties
are firmer and less sweet.
Plums are early flowering so they require protection from frost. The best
flavoured plums are the ones grown on a south or west facing position. Grow in
moderately fertile, moist, well-drained neutral to slightly acidic soils.
Rootstocks
Rootstocks in order of their vigour are outlined below: -
Pixy - Dwarf. An ideal
rootstock for the smaller garden. It needs to be grown in fertile and weed-free
soil. It will reach a height of 2.4-3m. Trees grown on this rootstock will bear
fruit within 3 years. Use for dwarf bushes, dwarf pyramids, and small fans.
St. Julian A - Semi-Vigorous.
A good rootstock for most soils. Trees grown on this rootstock will reach a
height of 3-3.5m. Trees grown on this rootstock will bear fruit within 4-5
years. Use for bushes, half-standards, and fans.
Varieties
Plums are available as bare-root one-year-maidens from November to March.
Trained forms of plums are available in 12 litre pots all-year-round.
Plum 'Avalon'
Dessert. Large round-oval fruit which has golden skin which is mostly covered
with a red flush and deeper red dots and russet dots. The yellow flesh is
moderately juicy, fairly sweet and of good flavour. Good quality dessert plum.
Its season of use is mid-August. Flowering Group 2 (Bristol 1980)
Bare Root Trees
One Year Maiden Pixy £22.50 each Available
to Order for Supply in Late November 2013
One Year Maiden SJA £20.25 each
Plum 'Belle de Louvain'
Dessert/Cooker. Very large oval fruit which has dull purplish-red skin when
ripe and is covered with a thick, blue bloom. The greenish yellow flesh is
moderately juicy, has a firm texture and is sweet. Its season of use is
mid-August. Flowering Group 3 (Belgium 1845) Self Fertile.
Plum 'Blaisdon Red'
Dessert/Cooker. Medium sized oval fruit which has claret red skin. The
greenish flesh is hard and very acid. Its season of use is early August.
Flowering Group 3 (Gloucestershire) Self Fertile
Containerised Trees
Two Year Bush SJA £36.30 each
Plum 'Blue Tit'
Dessert/Cooker. Medium sized round-opal fruits which have dark blue skin
which is covered with a thick, light blue bloom. The yellow flesh is moderately
juicy and of good flavour and quality. Its season of use is mid-August.
Flowering Group 2 (Bedford 1938) Self Fertile
One Year Maiden SJA £20.25 each Available
to Order for Supply in Late November 2013
Plum 'Czar'
Dessert/Cooker. Medium sized round-oval fruit which has dark red to blue skin
with a light blue bloom. The yellowish-green flesh is tender with a pleasant
acid flavour. Its season of use is early August. Flowering Group 3
(Hertfordshire 1871) Self Fertile.
Bare Root Trees
One Year Maiden SJA £20.25 each Available
to Order for Supply in Late November 2013
Containerised Trees
Two Year Bush Pixy £38.50 each
Plum 'Edda'
Dessert. Blue skin. The yellow flesh has a fine rich flavour. Its season of
use is late August. Flowering Group 2 (Norway 1950)
Plum 'Excalibur'
Dessert. Very large fruit which has pale yellow skin which is mostly covered
with a red-orange flush and dots if exposed to the sun with a light, pale blue
bloom. The pale yellow flesh is moderately juicy and sweet with an excellent
texture and flavour. Its season of use is August. Flowering Group 2 (Bristol
1980)
Bare Root Trees
One Year Maiden Pixy £22.50 each
Plum 'Giant Prune'
Dessert. Very large oval fruits which have vermilion-red skin with is covered
with fine purple bloom. The green flesh is coarse, not the best dessert quality
but reliable in exposed areas and cooks well. Its season of use is early
September. Flowering Group 3 (USA 1893) Self Fertile
Plum 'Gordon Castle'
Dessert. Large fruit which has greenish yellow skin. The flesh is rather
firm, sweet, with an excellent flavour. Its season of use is early September.
Flowering Group 3 (Scotland) Self Fertile
Plum 'Guinevere'
Dessert. Large heavy cropping fruits. Good shelf life when stored in a
fridge. Its season of use is late September. Flowering Group 3 (Kent 2000) Self
Fertile
Bare Root Trees
One Year Maiden SJA £20.25 each Available
to Order for Supply in Late November 2013
Plum 'Haganta'
Dessert. Large fruit which has blue skin. The flesh is strongly scented with
an excellent flavour. Disease resistant. Keeps well. Its season of use is
September. Flowering Group 3 (Germany)
Bare Root Trees
One Year Maiden Pixy £24.25 each
Plum 'Herman'
Dessert. Medium sized fruits which have reddish blue turning to blue-black
skin which are covered by thick, pale blue bloom. The golden flesh has an
improved flavour of Czar. Its season of use is mid-July. Flowering Group 2
(Sweden 1970) Self Fertile
Plum 'Heron'
Dessert. Medium to large sized round fruits which have mottled blue skin with
patches of purple and some red lines. The flesh is is firm and juicy. Its season
of use is mid-August. Flowering Group 2 (Raised by Rivers 1875)
Plum 'Jubilee'
Dessert. Similar to Victoria but larger and picks one week earlier. Superb
eating quality. Its season of use is mid-August. Flowering Group 3 (Sweden 1985)
Self Fertile
Bare Root Trees
One Year Maiden Pixy £22.50 each Available
to Order for Supply in Late November 2013
One Year Maiden SJA £20.25 each Available
to Order for Supply in Late November 2013
Plum 'Kirke's'
Dessert. Large round fruits which have dark purple skin which is covered in
blue bloom. The greenish yellow flesh is firm, juicy, and very richly flavoured.
Its season of use is early September. Flowering Group 3. (London 19th Century)
Bare Root Trees
One Year Maiden SJA £20.25 each Available
to Order for Supply in Late November 2013
Plum 'Laxton's Cropper'
Dessert/Cooker. Medium sized oval fruits which dark blue, black when fully
ripe skin which is covered by thick, light blue bloom. The greenish yellow flesh
is moderately juicy and of good flavour. Its season of use is early September.
Flowering Group 3 (Bedford 1906) Self Fertile
Bare Root Trees
One Year Maiden SJA £20.25 each Available
to Order for Supply in Late November 2013
Plum 'Mallard'
Dessert. Medium sized, oval to oblong shaped fruits which have red skin and
are covered in bloom. Good quality flesh. Its season of use is mid-August.
Flowering Group 2. (Sawbridgeworth 1885)
Bare Root Trees
One Year Maiden SJA £20.25 each Available
to Order for Supply in Late November 2013
Plum ‘Marjories Seedling’
Dessert/Cooker. The latest picking plum. Large oval fruits which has purple
skin which is covered with blue bloom. The yellow flesh is firm, juicy, and
moderately sweet. Its season of use is late September. Good cropper. (Berkshire
1912) Flowering Group 5. Self Fertile.
Bare Root Trees
One Year Maiden Pixy £22.50 each Available
to Order for Supply in Late November 2013
One Year Maiden SJA £20.25 each Available
to Order for Supply in Late November 2013
Two Year Bush Pixy £26.50 each Order now
for November 2012
Plum 'Methley'
Dessert. This variety is one of the finest Japanese plums. Medium sized,
rounded fruit with a red skin. The red flesh is juicy and sweet with a mild
flavour. Its season of use is early August. Flowering Group 1. Self Fertile
Bare Root Trees
One Year Maiden SJA £20.25 each Available
to Order for Supply in Late November 2013
Containerised Trees
Two Year Bush (SJA) £36.30 each
Plum ‘Opal’
Dessert. Medium sized fruit which has orange-red to mauve skin which is
covered in pale bloom with russet dots and some small russet patches. The golden
yellow flesh has a superb flavour. One of the most reliable garden plums. Its
season of use is late July. (Sweden 1925) Flowering Group 3. Self Fertile
Bare Root Trees
One Year Maiden Pixy £22.50 each
Two Year Bush SJA £24.50 each
Two Year 1/2 Standard SJA £27.50 each
Plum 'Purple Pershore'
Dessert/Cooker. Very large oval fruits which have purple, almost black skin,
with light coloured bloom. The yellow flesh is firm, not very juicy or sweet but
good flavour for cooking and preserving. Its season of use is late August.
Flowering Group 3 (Worcestershire) Self Fertile
Plum 'Queens Crown'
Dessert/Cooker. Very large roundish oval fruits which have dark red skin with
numerous small yellow dots and a light blue bloom. The golden yellow flesh is
firm, sweet and full of flavour. Its season of use is late August. Flowering
Group 3
Plum 'River's Early Prolific'
Dessert. Small round fruits which have purple skin which is covered in
lavender bloom. The golden yellow flesh is rather firm. juicy, sweet and of good
flavour. Its season of use is late July. Flowering Group 2 (Herfordshire 1820)
Self Fertile
Plum 'Sanctus Hubertus'
Dessert. Large oval fruits which have dark red skin with thick, blue bloom
and some small brown russet patches and dots. The yellow flesh has a good
flavour and is quite rich. One of the best croppers. Its season of use is late
July. Flowering Group 3 (Belgium 1966) Self Fertile
Bare Root Trees
One Year Maiden SJA £20.25 each Available
to Order for Supply in Late November 2013
Plum 'Seneca'
Dessert. Large oval fruits which have reddish purple skin. The yellow flesh
is very sweet. Its season of use is early September. Flowering Group 3 (USA
1937)
Plum 'Thames Cross'
Dessert/Cooker. Very large long and oval shaped fruits which have yellow
skin. The flesh is sweet, juicy, with a good flavour. Its season of use is early
September. Flowering Group 3. (Bristol 1938)
Bare Root Trees
One Year Maiden SJA £20.25 each Available
to Order for Supply in Late November 2013
Plum ‘Valor’
Dessert/Cooker. Large fruit which has dark red skin. Has greenish coloured
flesh. Its season of use is mid-September. (Canada 1968) Flowering Group 3. Self
Fertile
Bare Root Trees
One Year Maiden Pixy £22.50 each Available
to Order for Supply in Late November 2013
Plum ‘Victoria’
Dessert. Large oval fruits which has bright red skin and its covered in pale
blue bloom. The pinkish flesh is firm, juicy, somewhat sweet and subacid.
Disease prone but very tolerable considering the quality and quantity. Its
season of use is late August. (Sussex 19th Century) Flowering Group 3. Self
Fertile
Bare Root Trees
One Year Maiden Pixy £22.50 each
One Year Maiden SJA £20.25 each
Two Year Bush Pixy £26.50 each
Two Year Bush SJA £24.50 each
Two Year 1/2 Standard SJA £27.50 each
Plum 'Violetta'
Dessert. Blue skin. The yellow flesh is sweetly flavoured. A compact grower
bearing heavy crops. Its season of use is mid-August. Flowering Group 3. (Sweden
1990) Self Fertile
Plum 'Warwickshire Drooper'
Dessert/Cooker. Medium to large egg shaped fruits which have primrose yellow
skin which is spotted and speckled with brownish-red, with grey bloom. The
yellow flesh is excellent for cooking. Its season of use is mid-August.
Flowering Group 2 (Worcestershire/Gloucestershire pre 1920's) Self Fertile
Plum 'Yellow Pershore'
Dessert/Cooker. A medium sized oval shaped fruit which has canary yellow
skin. The yellow flesh is very firm, dry, a high quality cooking plum. Its
season of use is mid-August. Flowering Group 2 (Worcestershire 19th Century)
Self Fertile
