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Plum Tree
Prunus domestica
Heavy croppers that need thinning to stop branches breaking.
Sun
Full sun
Water
Weekly first 2 years
Soil
Well-drained loam, pH 6.0–7.0
Spacing
3–5 m apart
Days to harvest
1st fruit year 3–4
Hardiness
Zones 4–9
Seasonal Calendar
S
S
H
H
H
S
S
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Sow Harvest
The method
- 1
Choose self-fertile
Varieties like 'Victoria' fruit alone — easiest for small gardens.
- 2
Prune only in summer
Winter pruning invites silver leaf disease. Prune in June/July.
- 3
Thin heavy crops
Thin fruit to 8 cm apart in June — otherwise branches snap under the load.
- 4
Harvest ripe
A ripe plum parts easily; a bit of squish is normal.
Common problems
Silver leaf
Prune only in warm dry summer. Cut infected branches back to clean wood.
Wasps
Pick as soon as ripe; hang wasp traps if bad.
Good neighbors
ChiveGarlicFoxglove
Field tips
- “Damsons are tougher and self-fertile — perfect for cold gardens.”
- “Freeze halved and stoned; use straight from frozen in cakes and jam.”