How to grow Plum

Where to plant

Plant plums in full sun in deep, well-drained soil, from sandy loam to sandy clay loam. Avoid low frost pockets, as plums bloom early, and in the Southeast avoid ground where root-knot nematodes have been a problem.

Match the plum to your winter. Japanese plums include low-chill varieties for Florida, the Gulf Coast and Southern California. European plums need colder winters. In the coldest areas, grow hardy hybrid or native plums.

• North and Central Florida: plant bare-root in January or February. Choose UF low-chill varieties such as Gulfbeauty, Gulfgold, Gulfruby or Gulfrose, and plant two for pollination.
• South Florida and Hawaii lowlands: too little winter chill for plums.
• Gulf South, Texas and the Desert Southwest: plant bare-root in January or February. Low-chill Japanese plums such as Methley suit much of the region; Santa Rosa suits the desert.
• Southern California: plant bare-root in January or February. Choose low-chill varieties such as Santa Rosa or Beauty. Northern California: plant from November to February.
• Mid-South, Mid-Atlantic and Southern Plains: plant while dormant in late winter or early spring. Japanese plums such as Methley and AU varieties suit the Southeast; European plums need the colder areas.
• Pacific Northwest, Northeast, Midwest and Mountain West: plant bare-root in early spring as soon as the soil can be worked. European plums and hardy hybrids do well; fall planting of stone fruit is not recommended.
• Northern Plains and Alaska: choose very hardy hybrid or native plums such as Pembina, Toka or Superior, and plant two varieties for pollination.

Choosing a variety

• Japanese plums are juicy, often red or yellow, and mostly need a second Japanese variety for pollination. Methley and AU Amber are partly self-fruitful. Popular Southeastern varieties include Methley, AU Rubrum, AU Producer, Black Ruby and Ruby Sweet.
• European plums, such as Stanley, Italian prune and damsons, are denser and sweeter for drying and baking, need colder winters, and pollinate only with other European plums. Some are self-fruitful.
• Hardy hybrids such as Pembina, Toka and Superior, and native American plums, suit the coldest regions.
• Japanese and European plums cannot pollinate each other, so plant two varieties of the same type that bloom at the same time.

How to plant

1. Plant bare-root trees while dormant, setting the graft union above the soil.
2. Do not put fertilizer in the planting hole or feed right after planting; wait at least six weeks.
3. Water in well and mulch a wide circle, keeping the mulch off the trunk.
4. Cut back the young tree after planting to start an open-center or vase shape.

Watering and feeding

Water young trees deeply through their first summers, and water mature trees during dry spells while fruit is developing.

Clemson HGIC suggests feeding newly planted trees lightly in early spring, then twice a year from the second year, in March and again in early summer, spreading fertilizer under the whole canopy rather than near the trunk.

Pruning and care through the year

• Prune while dormant, favoring outward-growing branches to spread the plum's upright form so light reaches the center of the tree and fruiting spurs.
• In humid areas, light summer pruning improves air flow and reduces brown rot.
• Thin heavy crops when fruit is small, leaving fruit a few inches apart, to improve size and prevent broken limbs.
• Net trees as fruit colors if birds are a problem.

Harvesting

Plums develop a powdery bloom on the skin as they ripen, soften slightly and pull free with a gentle twist. Japanese plums can be picked a few days before fully ripe and finished in a cool room; European plums are best left to ripen on the tree. Pick over several passes, as fruit ripens over a couple of weeks.

A mature tree may yield 2 to 3 bushels a year. Ripe plums keep about a week in the fridge and freeze well halved and pitted.

Using it

Eat plums fresh, bake them in tarts and crumbles, or make jam, sauces and chutneys. European prune plums are the best for drying.