Growing Plum in Australia: The Complete Guide
Plum is an easy to moderate stone fruit tree to grow, needing full sun with regular, deep watering.
Plum is one of the easy to moderate additions to a home garden, and this article walks through everything behind our one-page printable guide in a bit more depth.
Among the easiest stone fruit
Plums are generally more forgiving than peaches or apricots — lower chill requirements for many varieties and fewer disease issues, making them a solid first stone fruit tree.
How to Plant Plum
Method — plant bare-rooted while dormant. Soil — well-drained, moderately fertile. Timing — plant in winter while dormant.
Keeping It Growing Well
Worth paying attention to:
- Check whether your variety needs a pollinator — some are self-fertile, others aren't.
- Prune in summer rather than winter to reduce disease entry.
- Thin fruit if heavily set.
- Water deeply through fruit development.
Common Problems
Keep these points in mind:
- Fruit fly — net or bag ripening fruit.
- Brown rot — improve airflow, remove affected fruit.
- Aphids — cluster on new growth; hose off.
- Silverleaf — fungal disease entering through winter pruning wounds; prune in summer instead.
Picking and Keeping Your Harvest
Signs — full colour, slight give when gently squeezed. Method — twist gently from the stem. Curing — none needed. Storage — room temperature a few days, or fridge up to 2 weeks.
For the condensed, printable version of everything above, head to the main plum guide page.