PLUMS

This symbol denotes a disease resistant variety

PLUMS

What a great summer treat to eat a plum straight off the tree – juicy and sweet! Plums have been grown and cultivated for centuries and were even included in the Hanging Garden of Babylon, and are used in all sorts of recipes from fresh in salads and ice creams, to cooked in jams, jellies, chutneys, pastries and sauces.

Plums require full sun, well drained and moderately fertile soil on high ground or ground that is not in a frost pocket to avoid late spring frosts. Japanese plums ( the round juicy type in the grocery stores ) require cross pollination with another variety to ensure better crops unless noted as self-pollinating. European plums ( oval and blue ) are self-pollinating. Set trees out with Orchard Starter Tablets, and in succeeding years fertilize with a complete fruit fertilizer. Bearing begins a 2-3 years. Recommended spacing is 16-18 ft.

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Japanese

AU Producer

Howdy, boy, does this one produce! An Auburn University hybrid (War Eagle!), the tree is a vigorous grower and usually bears a heavy crop in it's second year. The fruit is juicy with excellent sweet flavor great for fresh eating and cooking. Coloring is dark red with red flesh. Resistant to black knot disease. Ripens late June.

Zones 5-8. (700 chill hours)

AU Roadside

Another Auburn Univ. hybrid, with later blooming and profuse flowering, AU Roadside sets heavy crops of excellent dark red quality fruit. The sweet, firm yet juicy red flesh is great for fresh eating cooking and canning. It is highly resistant to black knot, bacterial canker, and bacterial fruit and leaf spot.

Self-pollinating.

Ripens late June. Zones 5-8.

(700 chill hours)

Ruby Queen

Released by our own Dr. Okie at the USDA in Byron, GA, Ruby Queen is a newer reddish-black. The dark red flesh is firm, super sweet and juicy. This variety is also highly recommended for the SE states because it is more tolerant of humid conditions. Ripens mid-late July. Zones 5-8. (450 chill hours.)

AU Rubrum

A Methley hybrid developed at Auburn Univ. for high disease resistance and heavy cropping. The fruit is large with scarlet skin color, and the juicy red flesh has excellent flavor. This long-lived tree flowers profusely and is self-pollinating as well as a pollinator for other varieties. Ripens early to mid July. Zones 6-8. (700 chill hours.)

Black Ruby

A Black Ruby is a newer plum released by Dr. Okie at the USDA Station in Byron, GA. The large round fruit are reddish-black with sweet yellow flesh. A wonderful plum for fresh eating and cooking. This variety is highly recommended for the SE states because it is tolerant of humid conditions. Ripens in early August. Zones 5-9a.

(450 chill hours.)

AU Rosa

This plum is the highest ranked of the AU series of plums in disease resistance to bacterial spot, black knot, scald and brown rot. The firm dark red fruit have a saffron yellow flesh that is juicy with an excellent flavor. Great for fresh eating, cooking and canning. Trees are vigorous and productive. Ripens early July.

Zones 6-8. (700 chill hours.)

European

Stanley

This European variety is often grown mainly for drying, but is also good fresh and canned. The deep purple oblong fruit is freestone with yellow flesh. A self-pollinating variety, it is a heavy bearer and ripens early September. Late blooming for frost protection.

Zones 5-7.

(700 chill hours)