Plum Trees
Plums are amongst the easiest fruits to grow in domestic gardens. The trees are very hardy, but like many fruits, the blossom can be damaged by late frosts.
If your garden is in a frost pocket, choose a more frost resistant variety or fleece the tree at night. Plums prefer sunny, sheltered sites and moisture-retentive (but not waterlogged) soils.
Victoria
Victoria is by far the most popular of all the plums - great quality and quantity of fruit but it can be disease prone; susceptible to canker so may be short-lived. AGM.
Late Aug
Pick
Yes
C3
Self-fertile?
Poll. Gp.
Eat
Eat/cook
Jubilee
A superb eating plum, strong growing, best on a Pixy rootstock.
Similar to Victoria.
Mid Aug
Pick
Yes
C3
Self-fertile?
Poll. Gp.
Eat
Eat/cook
Apple
Damson
Plum
Pear
Cherry
Gage
Czar
A dark purple plum with sweet yellow flesh. Heavy crops, always reliable.
We find it does well in Scotland. AGM. Recommended.
Eat/cook
Pick
Self-fertile?
Poll. Gp.
Eat/cook
Early Aug
Yes
C3
Marjories Seedling
Produces large good quality purple fruit and good crop; late picking. Resistant to canker and silver leaf.
Good for northern UK. AGM. Recommended.
Eat/cook
Pick
Self-fertile?
Poll. Gp.
Eat/cook
Late Sept
Yes
C5
Opal
The 'early' Victoria, red-purple fruit with a superb flavour. Some resistance to canker.
Good for northern UK. Recommended.
Eat/cook
Pick
Self-fertile?
Poll. Gp.
Eat
Late July
Yes
C3
Notes
Trees are supplied bare rooted during their dormant season (usually from mid-November to the end of March depending on the weather). It is recommended that bare root trees are planted within a day or two of arrival but they may be stored for longer in a cool place or 'heeled' in to a mound or pot of compost until you are ready for planting. Don't allow the roots to dry out or freeze - wrap in hessian or other insulating material if necessary. Soak the roots before planting and water in well.
AGM - The Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit (AGM) helps home gardeners make informed choices about plants. It is only awarded to a plant that meets the following criteria:
- Outstanding excellence for ordinary garden decoration or use
- Good constitution
- Does not require highly specialist growing conditions or care
- Not particularly susceptible to any pest or disease
Rootstocks
Very vigorous (Ultimate height ~4m) – Brompton
Semi-vigorous (Ultimate height 3 – 3.5m) –SJA
Semi-dwarf (Ultimate 2.5 – 3m) –Pixy, VVA-1
Specification
Maiden (mdn) – 1 yr old tree 1 to 2m in height; may be feathered depending on variety and root
Bush (bush) – well-formed head on a clean stem, 2 years old
Half Standard (hst) – Clear stem of 1m supporting a well branched head, 2-3 years old
Standard (std) - Clear stem of 1.75m supporting a well branched head, 2-3 years old
Pollination
All plums are self-fertile.
Let us help you make the most of your garden!
Bennybeg Plant Centre
Muthill Road, Crieff, Perthshire, PH7 4HN
Tel. 01764 656345
Bennybeg Plant Centre is an independent garden centre near
Crieff, Perthshire, run by people who are passionate about plants.
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