Plum
Plums are wonderful as fresh snacks, and also make for a great inclusion in jams or jellies! There’s three main groups of Plums: European, which are self fruiting; Japanese, which are usually softer and juicier; and Damson, which are more tart!
How to Grow Plum
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Pests
Diseases
Beneficial Critters
Growing from Seed
Plums are not typically grown from seed.
Planting Considerations
Not all plum trees are self-fertile, so be aware of this in case you will need to plant 2 trees.
Feeding
Fertilize once per year, early in the growing season. Don’t fertilize after fruit production begins, because the fertilizer will promote growth of other parts of the tree.
Harvesting
Around 5 weeks after the tree blooms, thin out the fruit so that there are higher quality fruits to harvest. There should be a couple of inches between fruits once you’re done!
Storage
Plums don’t stay fresh long after harvesting; you can refrigerate them for about a week. Japanese plums are so soft that they tend to be eaten fresh, but European plums are firmer and can be easily preserved in a jelly or canned!
Pruning
Pruning is important to keep your tree healthy and producing fruit. Prune your young trees in early spring, or adult trees in midsummer.
