plumvarieties

PLUMS

The most popular of the stone fruit, plums need good garden soil, slightly acid to neutral . The flowers are produced early when there is risk of frost damage so avoid frost pockets if possible or grow, fan trained, on a sunny south or west wall. Trees grown this way can easily be covered with fleece or polythene when ever frost threatens.

Plums benefit from as little pruning as possible so make sure they have the space to grow naturally with just a little formative pruning in the early years. Unlike apple and pears, never prune plums (or any other stone fruit) in the dormant winter months as infection can enter the open wounds. Small, formative pruning cuts early in life are far better than larger cuts later on.

Cropping can start in the second year after planting but doesn't really get under way until the trees are 4 to 5 years old and have produced more bud wood

CHOICE OF ROOTSTOCKS

For years St. Julian A was the main "dwarfing" rootstock for plums but this still produced quite vigorous trees- 20 ft. or more.

Pixy is a new dwarfing stock but still manages a 10 -15 ft. tree in the open

Jaspi and Plumina are two new dwarfing stocks that are just beginning to make an appearance

but it is too early to evaluate them at present. Pollinators, where needed, are given

PLUMS The most popular of the stone fruit, plums need good garden soil, slightly acid to neutral . The flowers are produced early when there is risk of frost damage so avoid frost pockets if possible or grow, fan trained, on a sunny south or west wall. Trees grown this way can easily be covered with fleece or polythene when ever frost threatens. Plums benefit from as little pruning as possible so make sure they have the space to grow naturally with just a little formative pruning in the early years. Unlike apple and pears, never prune plums (or any other stone fruit) in the dormant winter months as infection can enter the open wounds. Small, formative pruning cuts early in life are far better than larger cuts later on. Cropping can start in the second year after planting but doesn't really get under way until the trees are 4 to 5 years old and have produced more bud wood *CHOICE OF ROOTSTOCKS* For years St. Julian A was the main "dwarfing" rootstock for plums but this still produced quite vigorous trees- 20 ft. or more. Pixy is a new dwarfing stock but still manages a 10 -15 ft. tree in the open Jaspi and Plumina are two new dwarfing stocks that are just beginning to make an appearance but it is too early to evaluate them at present. Pollinators, where needed, are given
	PIXY For more compact trained trees or larger bushes	St. JULIAN A For larger trained and free standing trees	Watch out for late frosts at blossom time!		usually to order please check normally stocked, Check for availability
Don't forget National Garden Scheme open days at the Trials Garden for pruning and tasting this summer. Pick up a copy of the yellow book from the nursery

VARIETIES GROWN IN THE TRIALS GARDEN
Avalon- Vigorous and slow into cropping but an excellent flavoured dessert plum, partially self fertile. Best on pixy stock (Bristol 1980)				Avalon
Czar- an older variety from 1874. Dark purple skin with yellow flesh. Heavy crops, self fertile and reliable. Good for eating cooking and bottling
Edda- Great dessert plum, blue skin yellow flesh and rich flavour. Use Opal or Victoria for pollinators				Czar
Excalibur- like a large Victoria, excellent quality but shy into cropping. Vigorous so best on pixy. Pollinated by Victoria
Guinevere-heavy cropping and easily managed. Light purple fruit and good eating qualities. Late picking, September to early October. Self fertile
Haganta- New large blue plum from Germany. Late season. Partially self fertile. Just added to the trials garden for evaluation				Excalibur
Jojo- a new promising variety added to the trials garden for evaluation
Jubilee- Excellent flavoured plum, a cross of Victoria and Czar with fruit similar in appearance to Victoria but larger. Strong growing, best on pixy stock. Self fertile				Jojo
Kirke's (Kirke's Blue)- large, dark blue, firm but rich flavoured. August picking. London 1831 Victoria is good for pollination
Marjorie's Seedling- one of the last plums to pick-as late as early October here in some years. good culinary plum and eater with sweet flesh and blue skin. Victoria and many others for pollination. Grown as a large fan on our garden wall
Methley- a Japanese type plum (prunus salicina). Small with red flesh and a sweet, mild flavour. Very refreshing				Jubilee Marjorie's Seedling
Opal- probably the most reliable of garden plums. Sometimes known as early Victoria. Reddish purple fruit, superb flavour. Self fertile. Sweden 1925
Reeves- one of the best flavoured red varieties, similar if not superior to Victoria. Pollinate with Victoria.
Sanctus Hubertus - one of the best cropping early varieties with large, purple blue fruit in early August. Eating or cooking. Any of the above for pollination. Grown as a large fan on our garden wall
Seneca- Picking in September, this is a large oval plum, reddish purple with yellow, sweet flesh. freestone type. New York 1937. added to the trials garden 2009 for evaluation.
Valor- large dual purpose fruit with greenish yellow flesh, very late in the season. To be added to the garden 2010. Any of the above for pollination. Canada 1933				Opal
Victoria- the most widely planted plum to date and the most disease prone unfortunately, though it still manages to crop even when in poor condition. A freestone variety with the familiar oval red fruit. Suitable for dessert, bottling or canning. Sussex 19th century				Reeves
			Victoria	Sanctus Hubertus
				Valor