The plants are the least hardy of the various kinds of plum, although selected varieties are grown in the milder northern regions. Its flesh is rich, dense and crisp. Its fruit is very sweet, red skinned and yellow flesh that … Friars are a dessert plum, good eaten out of hand. Most plums… When fully ripe, the Friar is a deep black in color. Long-time favorite plum in California. Only 2-3% of European plums* are sold as “sugar plums” for fresh markets, and the rest are dried as prunes (Day and Buchner 2012). Most plum varieties are self- incompatible (the flowers cannot receive pollen on its own to produce fruit) and require appropriate pollinators for rel… A plum is a fruit of the subgenus Prunus of the genus Prunus. Damson Okanagan plum varieties have a very strong tart taste and are not good for fresh eating, but they are the most common plum types used for making plum jam, jellies, syrups, and different plum preserves. Also known as Prunus salicina, Japanese plums … Maria Finn July 3, 2012. Approximate ripening dates (for the Fresno, California area), chilling requirements and patent information are listed for each variety along with any special traits. European plums tend to be small, and most varieties are egg-shaped. is so superior to all others that it could be called "best," many excellent plum varieties are available to a home orchardist. Plan the perfect garden with our interactive tool →, Agricultural Issues Center; University of California; Japanese plums, 2006, California Plums; California Dried Plum Board, 2011, Library for Farming; Science in Farming; Plum varieties, United States Department of Agriculture; ARS Kearneysville; Specialty Crop Breeding. The Mirabelle is a small European-type plum. Plum Tree Cultivars. Both varieties are suited for USDA zones 5 through 9. Plums can be divided into two major groups: Japanese plums and European plums. It has purple skin with juicy yellow-orange to amber flesh. Fruit Report. According to the University of California Davis, approximately 250 varieties of plums grow here. Most plum trees thrive in loamy, well-drained soils that receive partial to full sun. Plum trees in this category come from Asian origins, rather than European, ... We are passionate about growing the best trees and love the Heritage Fruit Tree and Dwarf Fruit Tree varieties. The following is a list of plum and plum-hybrid varieties recommended for growing in the Santa Cruz and Monterey Bay areas by various members of the Monterey Bay Chapter of the California Rare Fruit Growers, along with their approximate ripening dates. Dried plums, or prunes, are made from the varieties that are richest in sugar and solids. Good in milder climates, the Burgundy Plum tree has fruit that is sweet with little or no tartness and a pleasing, mild flavor. It’s important to choose a type of plum that will work with your location. Tree fruit varieties offered by Dave Wilson Nursery are selected for their appearance, firmness, good shipping characteristics and desirable flesh quality. A plum is a fruit of the subgenus Prunus of the genus Prunus. Japanese Plums . “Out of California, some varieties did not have good pollination at bloom time,” says Ken Barbic Sr. of The Fresh Connection LLC in ... North America sees tight plum supplies. Considered one of the finest dessert plum varieties, they were original imported into England from France in 1724 by Sir William Gage, their namesake. According to the University of California Davis, approximately 250 varieties of plums grow here. These varieties are divided into two main categories: Japanese and European. The Friar is an older but still popular black plum. California produces over 90 percent of all plums grown in the United States. When ripe, these plums … Most Japanese plums are suitable for Georgia because they have been bred locally for better climate adaptation, improved tree health, and primary production in Southeastern states (Table 1).The choice of varieties for Georgia gardens dependson several factors. in the shoots having terminal bud and solitary side buds (not clustered), the flowers in groups of one to five together on short stems, and the fruit having a groove running down one side and a smooth stone (or pit). Flowering Plum Trees. They can also be stewed and used in pies, tarts, and ice creams. The subgenus is distinguished from other subgenera (peaches, cherries, bird cherries, etc.) Stalking the Wild Plum in Northern California. Table 9.1. Space plums only 8-12 ft apart for good pollination prospects. Some varieties recommended by WSU Extension for the maritime climate of western Washington are Shiro, Methley, Early Laxton, Mirabelle, and Stanley. Skip to Content Site Map Enter Search Terms Give Fruit Report. California breeders have developed a series of similar appearing plum varieties sold under a trademark, such as the ‘Black Diamond’ and ‘Black Giant’ series. One of the most popular varieties in California, the Satsuma Plum tree yields large, oval fruit that ripens in early August. Plum trees. They are easy to grow. Customers can come back to the store and buy a similar looking piece of fruit, … It occupies 98 percent of the total dried-plum acreage in the state. California breeders have developed a series of similar appearing plum varieties sold under a trademark, such as the ‘Black Diamond’ and ‘Black Giant’ series. The flesh is beet red. The Best Plum Tree. A grafted combination of two Plum varieties, the 2-in-1 Cherry Plum… interplanted with pollenizing varieties. Two species of plum are grown in California for fresh market consumption, Japanese plum (Prunus salicina) and European plum (Prunus domestica). The Damson's origin is the Black Sea area. These varieties are divided into two main categories: Japanese and European. Plum trees are one of the best-adapted fruit tree species for almost anywhere in California. There are two different kinds of plums: Japanese, Prunus salicina, and European, Prunus domestica. Prunus Posted by Toni. The Mirabelle is also a favorite in California. First introduced in 1919 by Luther Burbank, the Inca Plum tree produces a heart-shaped fruit that elegantly tapers toward the tip. Plum trees get relatively large and require 12–18 ft. spacing. Widely adapted, reliably prolific, more compact, and less demanding than most fruit trees, plums are a natural choice for the home grower. The flesh is rather dry and very sweet. The small fruit with a slight reddish blush is popular for making eau-de-vie in France. Photographs by Marla Aufmuth, for Gardenista. The Japanese plum, probably originating in China, was introduced into the United States in 1870. She was a feature writer for the "Lomita News" and served in the editorial department of "The Desert Sun" in Palm Springs, Calif. DeVaney holds a Bachelor of Arts in journalism from California State University Long Beach. Their mottled maroon-over-green skin and dark, meaty flesh make for a sweet, mild treat that has no tartness and is excellent for making jam. Our fruit trees are shipped to Melbourne, Adelaide, Sydney and most Australian states and towns. Typically harvested in August, plums prefer a warm but dry climate, but need winter’s chill (trees exposed to … Mirabelle plums are the sweetest of all plum varieties. in the shoots having terminal bud and solitary side buds (not clustered), the flowers in groups of one to five together on short stems, and the fruit having a groove … Taste Test Winner: varieties that have made the highest overall scores at Dave Wilson Nursery fruit tastings. The Improved French is currently the most popular prune-plum of California growers. Early plum production was centered in the Santa Clara Valley, but shifted to the San Joaquin Valley in the 1960s with improvements in irrigation [4]. They were the size of cherries, but it was too late in the summer for cherry season. All Rights Reserved. The fruit is more pointed at the apex than that of the common European plum, and its varieties are yellow or light red but never purplish-blue. Copyright Leaf Group Ltd. // Leaf Group Lifestyle. The flesh is creamy yellow and fairly firm, the pit is small. Lydecker – The Lydecker is a new variety of plum harvested the first week of September. John encourages potential plum growers to do their homework and find out which varieties best suit their tastebuds and climates. You will be delighted by the beauty of this plum with its amber flesh and ribbons of red! The Green Gage Plum tree, also known as the “Jefferson Plum,” produces medium-sized, greenish-yellow fruit that is notably sweet and juicy. One day while hiking in a wooded area, I noticed little red fruits scattered on the ground. Plum trees do quite well in most Southern California growing regions, with the exception of the immediate coastal and low desert areas. The University of California, the USDA, and private breeders like John Garabedian and Floyd Zaiger have all contributed to popular plum varieties in California (Okie and Ramming 1999). When the tart fruit is married with sugar, it produces the sweet-tart taste Eastern Europeans are famous for, and damsons are the only plum to use for slivovitz making. This attractive, good-tasting plum ripens in mid to second part of September. Damsons plum. Both are round, firm-fle… Other yellow plums include the Early Golden -- an extremely sweet and juicy variety -- the Golden Nectar and the Mirabelle. 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