Plums

All the varieties we have will produce well in the entire Houston area, including Galveston, The Woodlands, inner-city Houston, etc.

Care of Plum Trees  

Pruning: Plum trees need to be pruned to get sunlight onto all branches. Thus it is important to develop a modified central-leader scaffold well spaced around the trunk horizontally and vertically with upward-sloping limbs 45° to 60° from horizontal. This builds a strong infrastructure for holding the fruit and helps give sunlight access to lower limbs. Removing crossing branches or preventing them will get sun to the branches too. In addition, removing or heading back interior branches that go up vertically from the scaffold will increase light penetration. Finally, trees (not bushes) will produce little if any fruit on branches growing downward. These downward hangers should be removed.

Planting: Plant the bare root tree as soon as possible and it is very important to never let the roots get dried out before planting. The tree needs to be planted 8' to 10' from the nearest tree. They can be planted closer, but there will be very little room between trees, for the limb spread on plums is about 5' - 6'. Never plant the tree where water stands for more than a few hours after a rain, and select a mostly sunny spot. Dig a hole that is wide and deep enough to accommodate the root system. Spread the roots out. The graft, where the tree was grafted onto a hardy disease resistant variety, should be a couple of inches above the soil when you finish planting. Use existing soil only – no amendments. Water in well, and water every day for a few days unless it rains

Production: It may take 4 to 5 years to get good production on a plum, but it is worth the wait.

Pests: Plum fruit can be infested with Plum Curculio. Check for a small half-moon cut on the fruit, and pull off those fruit. Dispose of the fruit. Most of these nectarines are very early producing and will likely avoid Plum Curculio, so it might not be a problem, but be diligent in pulling off fruit that is infected.

Varieties of Plums for the Houston Area Climate

Beauty Plum Sweet, flavorful plum, more widely adapted than Santa Rosa. Productive in coastal climates. Reddish-purple skin, fully ripe fruit has red flesh. Ripens late May. Self-fruitful. Excellent pollinator. 250 chill hours.

2-in-1 plum A tree upon which 2 varieties of plums have been grafted; all excellent varieties for our climate.  If you only have room for one plum tree, this is a good choice.

Gulf Blaze Released six years ago with Gulf Beauty; blooms approximately March 1; light red skin, yellow flesh; production scattered over five to six weeks; excellent disease resistance; very good fresh eating; 250 chill hours. Pollinate with Gulf Beauty, Beauty or Gulf Rose.

Gulf Beauty Very early production; large fruit; bright red skin; yellow flesh; very disease resistant; excellent production over a four to five week period; super quality; 250 Chill hours. Self fruitful.

Santa Rosa The Santa Rosa plum tree busting with delicious dark red flesh!  Sets a big crop of purple-red clingstone fruits.  It is self fertile.

Burgundy Plum This Japanese-type plum is rated at 150 to 300 chill hours. Burgundy’s maroon colored skin and deep red wine colored flesh have always been rated high for visual appeal and its sweet mild flavor has it scoring high in taste tests on a regular basis. Burgundy has no tartness and is self-fruitful. It’s also considered to be one of the best cross pollinators for other Japanese plums.

Mariposa Plum Large, sweet, juicy, firm, delicious. Small pit, nearly freestone. A blood plum with dark red flesh and mottled maroon over green skin. It has an egg shaped fruit. Use fresh or cooked. Ripens in late August. Pollinated with Beauty or Burgundy. Ripens in June. 250-350 chill hours.

Robusto Aside from being a pollinator for all the other plums in this sale, it is an excellent plum on its own. Tough and disease resistant, bronze-red skin and sweet red flesh. Self-fruitful.