Plums in Barnhill
Prunus domestica
Grow plum trees in a sunny, sheltered spot with free-draining soil. Bare-root trees are best planted while dormant, then watered well through the first two summers and pruned only in summer to reduce the risk of silver leaf disease.
Growing Guide
Step-by-step instructions for growing Plum
Planting Calendar
Plant the tree
10 Nov – 20 MarPlant a bare-root tree while it is dormant, around 10th November - 20th March. Set it at the same depth it was grown before, stake it firmly, and keep a wide weed-free circle around the trunk. Water it in thoroughly straight after planting.
Water through establishment
13 Apr – 21 Octevery 10 daysWater deeply from 13th April through 21st October, especially in dry spells. Keep up regular watering for the first two summers, because young trees crop poorly if they dry out. Aim for a good soak every 10 days when rain is lacking.
Thin fruitlets
28 May – 12 JunAfter the natural drop, from 28th May - 12th June, thin congested fruitlets so the remaining plums have room to swell. Leave roughly one fruit every on the branch and remove damaged or badly placed fruit first.
Harvest the fruit
12 Jul – 21 AugPick fruit from 12th July to 21st August when it colours well and comes away with a gentle twist. Harvest over several picks as different fruits ripen, and handle them carefully because ripe plums bruise easily.
Summer prune
12 Jun – 12 JulPrune lightly from 12th June to 12th July in dry weather only. Remove damaged, crossing or overcrowded growth, and avoid winter pruning because stone fruit is prone to silver leaf disease.
Companion Plants
Tap a plant to see why it works (or doesn't) with Plum.
Good companions
Plants to avoid
Why companion planting matters
Companion planting can deter pests, improve pollination, and make better use of space. Some plants confuse pests or attract beneficial insects; others improve soil or offer shade to neighbours that need it.
Suggested Varieties
Popular varieties of Plum to consider
Victoria
A reliable, heavy-cropping dessert plum with large red-purple fruit and yellow flesh.
Czar
An early plum that crops well in many UK gardens and is useful where summers are short.
Marjorie's Seedling
A popular late-season plum with good flavour and a steady crop.
Opal
A sweet, early plum with good flavour and a fairly reliable crop in the UK.
Related Plants
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Brussels Sprouts
Brussels sprouts are a hardy winter brassica (cabbage family) that form sturdy, leafy stems often around 60–90cm tall. They produce edible mini-cabbage buds along the stem from autumn through winter. Thanks to their cold tolerance, sprouts remain productive into late winter, and frost actually improves their sweetness.
Calabrese
Calabrese (broccoli) produces a large central head of tightly-packed green buds, followed by smaller side-shoots after the main head is cut. It’s a cool-season brassica crop. Grow it in full sun with fertile, well-drained soil and keep plants watered during dry spells. Harvest the heads while firm, then leave the stem in the ground to allow side-shoots to develop.
Also in nearby towns
See how Plum timing shifts in other towns with different frost dates.