How to Grow Plum
Plum At a Glance
Difficulty
Moderate
Category
Tree Fruit
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Frost Tolerance
Frost Hardy
Cold Hardiness
Survives to -29°C
Plant Family
Rosaceae
Growing Season
Cool Season
Plant Lifecycle
Perennial
How to Start It
★ Recommended for beginners
Plant a grafted tree (a named variety joined onto sturdy roots) in early spring while it is still leafless, about 4 weeks before your last frost. Read the label: some plums fruit on their own, while others need a different plum variety nearby to make fruit. Plant it 4 m from other trees, at the same depth it grew, and stake it for the first few years.
Plum trees start fruiting about 3 years after planting, and in cold regions the hardy plums bred for cold climates handle hard winters best. Prune them in summer, never in winter, because a disease called silver leaf gets in through cuts made in cold, wet weather.
When To Start
Plum likes cool weather. Sow it in early spring, as soon as the ground can be worked.
We do not have exact sowing dates for this one yet.
When should you plant Plum?
Your planting dates depend on your local climate. Sign up and add your location to unlock personalized dates.
Your Plum Planting Window
Start planting
May 15, 2026
Last chance
Sep 10, 2026
Your Plum Calendar
Set your location to turn these into exact dates and reminders.
Plant your plum tree while it is still leafless
30 days before your last frost
Prune your plum tree now, on a dry summer day
90 days after your last frost· every year
Look for ripe plums: well coloured and slightly soft
120 days after your last frost· every year
Water your new plum plants well while they settle in. Deep and slow is best.
About 1 days after you plant it
Your plum tree is in the ground, well done! Water it deeply once a week so the roots reach down into the soil.
About 30 days after you plant it
How is your plum tree settling in? Keep a ring of mulch around the base, away from the trunk, to hold in moisture.
About 90 days after you plant it
The Journey Ahead
Plum's Lifecycle
Seedling
Mature Plant
Seed Production
Step 1
Prepare Your Space
400 cm
Plant Spacing
500 cm
Row Spacing
Vertical Growing
Yes: Fan.
Succession Planting
No.
Good Companions
Bad Companions
Step 2
Planting & Sprouting
Growing Tips
- 1Plant plums in full sun, in a spot sheltered from wind, because they flower early and late frost can hurt the blossoms.
- 2Mix compost into the planting hole, and spread a ring of compost and mulch around the tree each spring, kept a hand's width from the trunk.
- 3Water deeply every week for the first two summers, and in dry spells after that.
- 4Prune only in summer on a dry day, never in winter, to keep disease out of the cuts.
- 5Thin a heavy crop so the fruit hang about 10 cm apart, and throw away any shrivelled fruit left on the tree, which carries rot over to next year.
- 6Plum leaves, stems and pits are toxic to pets, so keep dogs from chewing fallen fruit and twigs.
Seedling Phase
Step 3
Growth & Maturity
450 cm
Mature Height
400 cm
Mature Width
Pests to Watch For
Diseases to Watch For
Mature Plant
Step 4
Harvesting
Harvest Window
21 days
When to Pick
Pick when fully coloured and softening, with a dusty bloom; eat soon
How to Harvest
- 1Pick plums when they are fully coloured, slightly soft, and come off with a gentle twist.
- 2A powdery white coating on the skin is natural and a good sign they are ripe.
- 3The fruit ripens over a couple of weeks, so pick the tree every few days.
- 4Ripe plums keep only a few days on the counter or about a week in the fridge.
- 5Turn extra plums into jam, or halve, pit and freeze them.
Step 5
Saving Seeds
Seed Production
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