AllotMe
GROWING GUIDES
Plums
Fruit
Moderate
Planting Schedule
Month by month
Sow Indoors
Sow Outdoors
Plant Out
Harvest
Sow Seeds Indoors
Not grown from seed. Buy grafted trees on appropriate rootstock.
Outdoors
Plant bare-root trees from November to March. Container-grown trees any time. Choose a sunny, sheltered spot protected from spring frosts.
Harvest
Pick when fruit is fully coloured, slightly soft, and comes away from the branch with a gentle twist. Most varieties ripen August to September.
Month by month
Sow Indoors
Sow Outdoors
Plant Out
Harvest
How to Sow
- Buy trees on 'Pixy' rootstock for small gardens (reaches 2.5-3m) or 'St Julien A' for average spaces
- Plant in a sunny, sheltered position — plums flower early and frost can destroy the blossom
- Dig a large hole and add compost
- Plant at the same depth as the nursery mark, with the graft union above soil
- Stake firmly and water well
Plant Care
- Water well in the first 2-3 years and during dry spells when fruit is forming
- Mulch annually in spring with well-rotted compost
- Prune in summer only (June-August) to avoid silver leaf disease — never prune in winter
- Thin heavy crops in June to prevent branches snapping and to improve fruit size
- Watch for plum moth and brown rot
AllotMe’s Tips
- 'Victoria' is the most famous UK plum variety — self-fertile, reliable, and delicious for eating fresh, cooking, and jam-making
- Plums can be trained as fans against a south-facing wall — brilliant for small gardens and provides shelter from frost
- A glut of plums makes outstanding jam, chutney, or plum gin — don't let them go to waste!
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