SOIL |
Accepting of a wide variety of soils, but best with deep, well drained fertile soil. |
PLANTING SITE |
Sunny and sheltered position is best, protected from Spring frosts. Plant 4-5m apart from other trees. |
WATERING |
Water frequently while young then during long dry periods and when the fruit is developing. |
CLIMATE |
European plums are suitable most areas of the country, including the coldest regions. Japanese plums need less Winter chill and need protection from late Spring frosts so can also be grown in warmer, Northern regions. |
GENERAL CARE |
Never prune Plums from March through to July, instead Summer prune to control vigour and shape. |
PESTS & DISEASES |
Diseases like Silver leaf and blast can affect Plums, but with careful cultural practices Plums normally need minimal care. |
FRUIT |
Varieties range in ripening time from mid Summer to early Autumn. |
POLLINATION |
See pollination chart. Need to plant at least one pollinating variety to ensure good fruit production. |
Tree Size |
Height: Up to 6m |
Please note these are recommendations to our best knowledge, but flowering times vary from region to region and from year to year. Also it is important to remember that in most urban areas there is generally no need to plant pollinators as there will be neighbouring trees that will provide cross pollination. 'Most Plum varieties require cross pollination. Use European varieties to pollinate European varieties and Japanese to pollinate Japanese. The guide below details recommended pollination by variety. These recommendations generally provide the best overlap in flowering time, but other varieties with partial overlap can be sufficient.
PLUM POLLINATION GUIDE
VARIETY |
plum type |
Pollinator(s) |
Billington |
Cross |
Self fertile |
Black Amber |
Japanese |
Partially self fertile. Santa Rosa, Satsuma. |
Black Doris |
Cross |
Billington, Duff’s Early Jewel, Elephant Heart, Santa Rosa. |
Burbank |
Japanese |
Partially self fertile. Duff’s Early Jewel, Omega, Sultan. |
Coe’s Golden Drop |
European |
Damson, Reine Claude de Bavay, Italian, Richard’s Early Italian, Stanley. |
Damson |
European |
Self fertile |
Duff’s Early Jewel |
Cross |
Self fertile |
Elephant Heart |
Japanese |
Omega, Santa Rosa, Sultan. |
English Greengage |
European |
Coe’s Golden Drop, Damson, Reine Claude de Bavay, Italian. |
Fortune |
Japanese |
Santa Rosa |
Hawera |
Japanese |
Self fertile |
Omega |
Cross |
Partially self fertile. Billington, Burbank, Duff’s Early Jewel, Elephant Heart, Santa Rosa, Sultan. |
Purple King |
Cross |
Billington, Duff’s Early Jewel, Elephant Heart, Omega, Santa Rosa, Sultan, Wilson’s Early. |
Reine Claude de Bavay |
European |
Self fertile |
Santa Rosa |
Japanese |
Self fertile |
Satsuma |
Japanese |
Partially self fertile. Santa Rosa, Shiro. |
Shiro |
Japanese |
Santa Rosa, Shiro. |
Sultan |
Japanese |
Partially self fertile. Burbank, Elephan Heart, Omega, Santa Rosa, Satsuma. |
Wilson’s Early |
European |
Partially self fertile. Billington, Black Doris, Burbank, Duff’s Early Jewell, Omega, Santa Rosa. |
PRUNE PLUMS |
||
Cacak Fruitful |
European |
Coe’s Golden Drop, Damson, Reine Claude de Bavay, Stanley. |
Italian |
European |
Self fertile |
Richard’s Early Italian |
European |
Coe’s Golden Drop, Damson, Reine Claude de Bavay, Stanley. |
Stanley |
European |
Self fertile
|