Plum trees are easy to plant and will settle in quickly, although they may take a few years to start fruiting. If planting in a lawn, remove a circle of grass at least 1m (3¼ft) in diameter, so the tree’s roots don’t have to compete with the grass for water and nutrients as they get established. Prepare your tree for planting by giving it a good watering if it’s in a container or by standing it in a bucket of water for half an hour if it’s a bare-root tree. Bare-root trees are only available while dormant, but containerised trees are available all year round – they can potentially be planted at any time, but will settle in best from late autumn to spring. Plum trees are best planted during the dormant season, before growth starts in late winter or early spring. They don’t like to dry out, especially when the fruit is forming, so generally prefer a loamy or clay soil, as long as it doesn’t get waterlogged. Related RHS Guides Positioning fruitPlums like fertile soil, ideally slightly acidic, with a pH of 6–6.5, but they’re tolerant of a wide range of soils. ‘Brompton’ – vigorous, for large free-standing trees over 4.5m (15ft) tall ‘St Julian A’ – semi-vigorous, widely used, suited to a wide range of soil conditions, 4.5–5m (14–15ft) tall ‘Wavit’ – semi-vigorous, suits most soil conditions, some chalk tolerance, 4–4.5m (12–14ft) tall ‘VVA-1’ – semi-dwarfing, good winter hardiness, improved fruit size and yield, 3–4m (10–12ft) tall ‘Pixy’ – semi-dwarfing, suitable for cordon or semi-dwarf bush tree, up to 3–4m (10–12ft) tall The most widely available plum rootstocks are: So as well as choosing a variety, you also need to choose a suitable rootstock, which depends on the size and style of tree you want (free-standing or trained). Plum trees are grafted onto the roots (rootstock) of a different type of plum, to limit their size and encourage earlier fruiting. For more details, see our guide to fruit pollination. Partly self-fertile varieties can also produce decent crops. Trees that aren’t self-fertile need a compatible ‘pollination partner’ nearby – another plum that flowers at a similar time (in a similar ‘pollination group’) – to ensure a good crop. Many plum varieties are self-fertile, so you only need one tree, but do check before buying. So you can easily compare different varieties and pick up useful growing tips. Plum Prunus domestica OpalIf you visit any of the RHS gardens, you’ll find many fruit trees, including plums, grown in various ways. Many plums also have characterful old names that add an extra element to your choice – who could resist ‘Coe’s Golden Drop’, ‘Ingall’s Grimoldby Greengage’ or ‘Laxton’s Delight’? It’s also worth looking for traditional local varieties that would be suited to your individual growing conditions, such as ‘Dittisham Ploughman’ from Devon, ‘Shropshire Prune’ or ‘Warwickshire Drooper’. Varieties with an RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM) are recommended by our RHS fruit experts, as they performed well in trials – see our list of AGM fruit and veg. In colder locations, consider a late-flowering variety such as ‘Blue Tit’, ‘Marjorie’s Seedling’ and ‘Oullins Gage’, to avoid damage to the blossom, which can reduce the crop. Dual-purpose varieties are a good option if you only have room for one tree, so you can get maximum use from your crop.ĭifferent varieties offer a wealth of delicious fruit options – various levels of sweetness and juiciness, different textures, colours and sizes, as well as a range of crop sizes and ripening times. There are also many varieties of each type, for eating fresh and/or cooking. Plums come in a wide range of colours, flavours and sizes, and include sweet, juicy gages, richly flavoured damsons and luscious French mirabelles. RHS Botanical Art and Photography Show - TBC July 2024.
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