Plums are a diverse group of species. The commercially important plum trees are medium-sized, usually pruned to 5–6 metres (16–20 ft) height. The tree is of medium hardiness. Without pruning, the trees can reach 12 metres (39 ft) in height and spread across 10 metres (33 ft).
What is the difference between a damson and a plum?
Both species grow to a height and width of about 25 feet and produce white spring flowers. Japanese plum tree fruit can be green, purple, red or yellow. Mexican plum tree fruit is red or purple.
What to do with too many plums, Part 1?
The species varies widely depending on local circumstances. An individual plant can be from 3 feet to 25 feet tall and wide, but they usually form thickets, which can spread much farther ...
What type fruit is similar to a plum?
Plums are a diverse group of species. The commercially important plum trees are medium-sized, usually pruned to 5–6 metres (16–20 ft) height. The tree is of medium hardiness. Without pruning, the trees can reach 12 metres (39 ft) in height and spread across 10 metres (33 ft).
How wide does a plum tree grow to be?
Planting Plums Zones. Although you can find plums that will grow in a variety of ranges, plums generally do well in zones 3-10. Sun Requirements. Plums need a location in full sun, with …
How big do plums grow?
What is the average size of a plum?
How do you know when plums are ready to pick?
What is the largest plum?
How big is a small plum?
How big do dwarf plum trees get?
Why do plums fall off tree before ripe?
How long do plums take to fruit?
Should plums be refrigerated?
What is a small plum like fruit?
What plums are sweetest?
What is a small plum called?
How big do plums get?
The species varies widely depending on local circumstances. An individual plant can be from 3 feet to 25 feet tall and wide, but they usually form thickets, which can spread much farther. Chickasaw plum or sandhill plum (Prunus angustifolia, USDA zones 5 through 9) is a larger native plum that can grow to 35 feet.
What is the most common flowering plum tree?
Flowering plums are more tolerant of drought and poor soil than many other flowering trees. The Purpleleaf plum (Prunus cerasifera, USDA zones 5 through 8) is the most common flowering plum. This rounded tree grows 25 feet tall and 25 feet wide. It produces pink and white flowers in early spring. American plum and Chickasaw plum varieties are also used as flowering trees.
What is a plum tree?
Garden Ideas. By Lynn Doxon. The plum is one of the oldest cultivated trees in the world. There are more than 140 varieties of plum sold in the United States. They can be used for hedges and barrier plantings as well as fruit or ornamental shade trees. Most varieties are grown for their fruit or flowers.
Which is sweeter, Asian or European plum?
The Asian plum is slightly more upright in shape than the European plum. Asian plums, which grow in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 6 through 9, are sweeter and used for fresh eating and dishes like plum sauce.
Do plum trees live long?
Most varieties are grown for their fruit or flowers. They are not very long lived trees, although thickets can live almost indefinitely by producing new shoots and spreading outward. Most plums tend to be as wide as they are tall.
Is plum a shrub?
A number of other plum species exist; many of these are thicket-forming shrub species with thorn-like spurs. Others are hybrids of tree species. Apricots are closely related to plums and there is more of a continuum of species from plums to apricots rather than distinct differences. For example, Prunus mume is called both Chinese plum and Japanese apricot.
How tall do plum trees grow?
Plums are a diverse group of species. The commercially important plum trees are medium-sized, usually pruned to 5–6 metres (16–20 ft) height. The tree is of medium hardiness. Without pruning, the trees can reach 12 metres (39 ft) in height and spread across 10 metres (33 ft). They blossom in different months in different parts of the world; for example, in about January in Taiwan and early April in the United Kingdom.
Where are plums grown?
A large number of plums, of the Damson variety, are also grown in Hungary, where they are called szilva and are used to make lekvar (a plum paste jam), palinka (traditional fruit brandy), plum dumplings, and other foods. In Romania, 80% of the plum production is used to create a similar brandy, called țuică.
What is plum juice?
It is juicy and can be eaten fresh or used in jam -making or other recipes. Plum juice can be fermented into plum wine. In central England, a cider-like alcoholic beverage known as plum jerkum is made from plums. Dried, salted plums are used as a snack, sometimes known as saladito or salao.
Why are my plums not edible?
If the weather is too dry, the plums will not develop past a certain stage, but will fall from the tree while still tiny, green buds, and if it is unseasonably wet or if the plums are not harvested as soon as they are ripe, the fruit may develop a fungal condition called brown rot. Brown rot is not toxic, and some affected areas can be cut out of the fruit, but unless the rot is caught immediately, the fruit will no longer be edible. Plum is used as a food plant by the larvae of some Lepidoptera, including November moth, willow beauty and short-cloaked moth.
What is a Japanese plum?
Japanese or Chinese plums are large and juicy with a long shelf life, and therefore dominate the fresh fruit market. They are usually clingstone and not suitable for making prunes. They are cultivars of Prunus salicina or its hybrids. The cultivars developed in the US are mostly hybrids of P. salicina with P. simonii and P. cerasifera. Although these cultivars are often called Japanese plums, two of the three parents ( P. salicina and P. simonii) originated from China and one ( P. cerasifera) from Eurasia.
What is a plum?
A plum is a fruit of some species in Prunus subg. Prunus. Mature plum fruits may have a dusty-white waxy coating that gives them a glaucous appearance. This is an epicuticular wax coating and is known as "wax bloom". Dried plums are called prunes, which have a dark, wrinkled appearance. Plum flowers.
What is the difference between a plum and a drupe?
The fruit's peel is smooth, with a natural waxy surface that adheres to the flesh. The plum is a drupe, meaning its fleshy fruit surrounds a single hard seed.
How big do Methley plums grow?
Dwarf sizes grow to 8 – 10 feet. Methley has medium-sized fruits with juicy red flesh making them great for fresh eating. It does well in zones 6-9. Shiro Plum – Shiro plums are a beautiful yellow color which looks lovely next to their olive green leaves. They are highly productive but sensitive to cold.
What is the color of plum trees?
As well as being an excellent pollinator, the American plum is a beautiful landscaping tree with showy white flowers in spring and deep red fall foliage.
Why do you plant lavender around plum trees?
Planting lavender around your plum trees can help protect them from plum moths and other worm pests which eat on the fruit. Growing plums with comfrey is also smart. The long tap root brings up needed nutrients from the soil and makes them available for your plum. The flowers also attract pollinators.
Why do European plum trees need to be pruned?
Pruning stimulates your tree to grow and helps shape your tree to benefit fruit production. European plums are an upright tree and use the central leader method of pruning. A central leader will have one strong trunk up the center and be in the shape of a pyramid. Prune to encourage lateral branches off the sides.
How much sun do plums need?
Plums need a location in full sun, with about 6-8 hours of direct light per day.
What are plums called?
Like peaches and apricots, plums are stone fruits – also known as drupes. They’re delightful fresh off the tree, used in savory recipes, or baked into desserts.
What causes plums to drop off the tree?
This brownish grey, small beetle causes a lot of damage. Adults lay eggs inside the plum. When the eggs hatch they tunnel into the fruit. This often causes the plums to drop off the tree prematurely.
How big do plum trees get?
Their overall size may also need to be considered. Most plum trees will reach 16 feet (5 m.) at maturity or 14 feet (4 m.) if they are a dwarf variety.
What group of plums are best for growing?
When learning how to grow a plum tree, you should know that plums can belong to one of three groups: European, Japanese, or Damson. Which group is best for you depends on your growing region and personal preference. Many of the European varieties are self-fruiting, which means that you only need to plant one tree in order to get fruit.
What are plums good for?
Image by Olgaorly. Plums are a delectable addition to any home garden. Growing plum trees is not only rewarding but also extremely tasty. Plums are excellent fresh but also make a wonderful jam or jelly. Keep reading for more information on how to grow a plum tree in your garden.
What is the best soil for plum trees?
Growing Conditions for Plums. Growing plum trees is not too difficult as long as you give them what they need. Plums require full sun and well-drained, sandy soil in order to thrive. They prefer a soil with a pH that ranges from 5.5 to 6.5.
Do you have to test your soil before planting plums?
It is always a good idea to have your soil tested before planting any fruit tree to be sure that they pH is appropriate. You should also work the appropriate amendments into your soil before planting. When learning how to grow a plum tree, you should know that plums can belong to one of three groups: European, Japanese, or Damson.
How big is a plum?
Depending on the variety of plum, a single plum measures between 0.7” and 2.7” (2 – 7 cm). Plums are usually categorized into Japanese plums ( Prunus salicina) and European plums ( Prunus domestica ). Japanese varieties tend to be oval- or heart-shaped and come in yellow, black, or red varieties.
How many plums are there?
There are around 40 species of plums, and a single plum tree can yield around 100 lbs. (45 kg) of medium-sized fruits. Plums are a type of stone fruit that can have oval or round shape. They can have black, purple, red, or yellow colored skin.
What are plums and apricots?
These fruits have the shape of apricot but the skin color and sweet taste of plums. Apriums —These drupes have more apricot than plum and have fuzzy skin similar to apricots.
Why are plums so popular?
One of the reasons why this type of plum is a popular variety for eating fresh is that it’ s a freestone variety. You can bite into the sweet flavorsome flesh and the stone comes away fairly easily. Most Japanese black plums are clingstone varieties.
What is a plum tree?
Plums are delicious fruits that grow on trees and are classified in the genus Prunus. Plum fruits are a type of drupe because they have a stone in the middle that’s surrounded by soft, sweet or tart flesh. There are around 40 species of plums, and a single plum tree can yield around 100 lbs. (45 kg) of medium-sized fruits.
What are some fruits that can be crossed with plums?
Growers can cross these types of fruits to create new types of deliciously sweet stone fruits. Plumcots, apriums, and pluots are all naturally developed fruits that combine varieties of plums and apricots. Here’s a brief description of these plum hybrids:
What is the most popular plum?
Moyer plums are a common purple plum and one of the most popular varieties. These are extremely sweet plums that have dark burgundy to purple skin and juicy yellow-orange to amber flesh. This plum variety is considered one of the best European plums for its shape and taste.
When are plums best?
Plums can be available year-round, but they are at their best between May until September. In the stores, look for fresh fruits featuring rich color and may still have a slight whitish "bloom" on their surface, an indication of a fresh harvest.
What is the antioxidant strength of plums?
The total antioxidant strength of plums measured in terms of ORAC (Oxygen radical absorbance capacity) is 6259 µmol TE/100 g. Fresh berries are a modest source of vitamin-C which is also a powerful natural antioxidant.
How long can you keep plums in the refrigerator?
Slightly hard, but mature plums can be kept at room temperature until they completely ripen. Once ready, place them in the refrigerator, but should be brought back to room temperature just before eating them, which brings out their rich, natural flavor. Store dry plums ( prunes) at room temperature for a few days.
How to wash plums before using?
Wash plums in cold running water just before using. Fresh ripe plum can be enjoyed as is, with its peel.
What are plums used for?
Here are some serving tips: 1 Plum sections can be a great addition to salads. 2 The fruits are being used in the preparation of pie, desserts, jams, and jellies. 3 They can also be used in a variety of recipes and are usually baked or poached. 4 Dried plums, in general, known as prunes, can be added to muffins, cakes, ice-creams, etc., as in other dry fruits like raisins, apricots, and figs.
What color is a Reine Claude plum?
Internally, its pulp is sweet, juicy, succulent and varies widely from creamy yellow (mirabelle), crimson, light-blue or light-green (greengages or Reine claude plums) in color depending upon the cultivar type.
When do plum trees bear berries?
Several cultivars of plums are grown all over the world which differ in their color, size and growth characteristics. Generally, each variety of the plum tree bears numerous, almost same sized berries between May and September months.
What is the difference between Chickasaw plums and Mexican plums?
You may find that they have many similarities to the Mexican plum . The Mexican and Chickasaw plums have a similar growing habitat , but you will be much more pleased with the flavor and yield of Chickasaw plums.
Why are plum trees good for the environment?
Being drought-tolerant, the trees are helpful to maintain soil in dry areas prone to topsoil erosion from wind and other natural elements. Humans are not the only lovers of plums, so they will also bring birds, deer, and squirrels to your yard. The trees are also popular with nesting birds.
What is a chickasaw plum?
Chickasaw plums are an easy-to-grow, small native plum that yields bountiful crops of tasty fruit. Read on to learn more about the history and uses as well as growing tips to get your little plum orchard off to a great start.
How tall do female trees grow?
Female gardener planting a new tree outside. This tree’s growth ranges from an almost shrub-like 4 feet tall all the way up to 25 feet tall. Four and 25 feet are outliers, and most nursery stock you get will end up being between 8 and 12 feet.
Do chickasaw plums pollinate?
Chickasaw plums are considered self-pollinating, but the tree will bear more plentiful yields when within 50 feet of another plum tree. They are considered excellent pollinators that produce large amounts of pollen.
Is chickasaw plum healthy?
Health Benefits of Chickasaw Plums. Wild plums like Chickasaw plums do not have significantly better nutrition than widely available commercial varieties. You will find that wild plums have very high amounts of Vitamins A and C, and like all plums, good amounts of fiber. Both the plum fruit and tree have health benefits;
Who gave the plums their name?
Botanist William Bartram gave the fruit its English name after the Chickasaw Indian tribe, whom he observed harvesting and eating the plums during his travels in 1773. His book, Travels, seems to be the first English-written publication naming what we now know to be the Chickasaw plum, and details many of his observations of the natural world from his exploration in the southeastern United States and his learning from the native peoples.
How many pounds of plum seed per pound?
In 100 pounds of fruit of wild plum there is an average of 19 pounds of seed. Cleaned seeds per pound averages 870. A matured wild plum tree can produce approximately 100 to 150 pounds of fruit (19-28.5 pounds of seeds).
What is a wild plum?
Wild plum Prunus americana is one of the first shrubs to bloom in woodlands. Its showy white flowers appear before the leaves have unfolded and while woods are mostly bare of foliage. Wild Plum is a shrub or small tree 3-8 m (3-24 ft) tall, and are usually forming thickets. The small branches are sometimes spiny.
Why is plum important for wildlife?
Wild plum is an excellent species for wildlife food and habitat, effective in erosion control because their roots hold the soil, windbreak plantings, landscape and beautification. Plum thickets often furnish valuable protective shelter. The fruit is eaten by many species of birds, including bobwhite quail.
How does wild plum spread?
Wild plum can spread by seed but mainly by underground roots. It does not seem to spread from its original plantings and when it does spread by seed, the rate is not alarming. Wild plum is cross-pollinated.
How to propagate wild plums?
If planted in rows where equipment can be used, allow enough room to mow or cultivate for weed control. According to ‘Shrubs and Woody Vines of Missouri’, wild plum can propagate by root sprouts to form tickets or a small tree to 20 feet with spreading more or less hanging branches. Space plants eight feet within rows and 16 feet between rows for farmstead and feedlot windbreak plantings. Wild plum can tolerate a wide range of soil types from sandy soils to poorly drained soils. Best conditions are a well-drained soil, sunny site for fruit production; however wild plum can tolerate shade. Flowering occurs from March-May and fruit ripens from August to September. The plant has fruit every year and branches can be pruned or cut back to increase production. Propagation from Seed: Harvest the fruit in the summer when ripe (the fruit turns dark purple), usually in late August. Remove the pulp or fruit from the seed. Seeds can be extracted by maceration and recovered by flotation. Natural germination predominately occurs in the first or second year after seedfall. Sow the seed in early fall, it is important to sow early enough so seeds can prechill before seedbeds freeze. Seedlings reach suitable size for transplanting in one to two years. Cold stratifying up to 6 months in a moist environment can break seed dormancy.
When do sage trees ripen?
Flowering occurs from March-May and fruit ripens from August to September. The plant has fruit every year and branches can be pruned or cut back to increase production. Propagation from Seed: Harvest the fruit in the summer when ripe (the fruit turns dark purple), usually in late August.
What does a European plum look like?
So exactly what is a European plum? What does it look like and how does it taste? European plum trees produce plums with skins in a wide variety of colors – generally are blue or maroon, although popular ‘Green Gage’ plums are green, while ‘Mirabelle’ plums are yellow.
What are the different types of plums?
Plums come in three distinct types, European, Japanese and American species. What is a European plum? European plum trees ( Prunus domestica) are an ancient, domesticated species of fruit tree. These plum trees produce the best-known cultivated plums and the most widely distributed.
How much sun do European plums need?
When you are beginning European plum growing, remember to plant your trees in a sunny site. They need many hours of direct sun a day to fruit.
When do plum trees bloom?
European plum trees grow well in the western U.S. They bloom in late winter or early spring.
Can European plum trees produce fruit?
European Plum Growing. According to European plum facts, these fruit trees are self-fertile . This means that they produce fruit even without a nearby plum tree of a different but compatible species. However, you may get better yields if you do have compatible European plum trees in the neighborhood.
Is a plum sweet?
Most European plums are quite sweet but some are even sweeter. Prunes are one of the various types of European plums. They are plums that have a high enough sugar content to allow growers to dry the plums in the sun without fermenting.
