Unlike apples and pears, plums don't need a lot of regular pruning once the shape has been established. We hope you now have all the information you need to prune your plum trees successfully and enjoy delicious fruit for many years to come. £22.95. times, Need more criteria? These plants will have a lot more details displayed including an image. Plums trees are easy to grow, and with a little care and attention, produce bumper crops of juicy fruit. £22.95. The most important thing to remember about pruning a plum tree is timing. Genus Prunus can be deciduous or evergreen trees or shrubs with showy flowers in spring, and often good autumn foliage colour. Plum 'Opal' Plum 'Opal' Prunus domestica 'Opal' *Prices include VAT. Some have edible fruit in autumn, and a few species have ornamental bark Details 'Opal' is a reliably fruiting, dessert gage to 2.5-4m in height depending upon the rootstock. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place. Column trees may have the side laterals cut back to 2-3 bleaves in late summer, the leader may be cut back at this time also. Prunus Domestica Opal, more commonly known as the Opal Plum Tree, is a dependable fruiting edible plum tree, compact in size. The most important thing to remember about pruning a plum tree is timing. Remove any lower branches. Plum Opal Received the Award of Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society. Also convenient for low ... 2-years convenient for making an espalier, before pruning and after pruning. Join Keep a weed-free area of at least 60cm radius around trunk. Size and shape of Opal plum trees for sale below. Medium ... With this maiden form you can make a 2-year bush-tree or spindle tree. They are extremely early cropping and in a good year you can look forward to the first fruit being ready at the end of July. Rosaceae, Genus The Walnut Tree Co. offer a fine selection of fruit trees to compliment any garden. Irrigate in dry periods. Prunus domestica 'Opal' Other names. Divided into 3 groups these lists, linked below, are maintained by a team of RHS staff and are reviewed annually. The following varieties will pollinate this plum tree. The Essential Guide to Growing Victoria Plum Trees is here! Our Botanical team are working hard to increase the number of plants with detailed information. The aim is to keep the tree size within the available space. Choose another variety Pollination of Opal plum trees Your Opal plum tree is in flowering group 3.It is self-fertile and does not need a pollination partner, but fruiting will usually be improved if there is a compatible partner of a different variety nearby. Pruning of Plums and Cherries Due to the risk of silver leaf in plums gages damsons and cherries always prune in early spring to mid-summer. Some have edible fruit in autumn, and a few species have ornamental bark, Details 'Opal' is a reliably fruiting, dessert gage to 2.5-4m in height depending upon the rootstock. A division of BVG Group Ltd. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Vegetable Seeds, Never prune plum trees in winter as they're more susceptible to disease then, An award winning plum variety with good frost resistance. Join the RHS today and support our charitable work, Keep track of your plants with reminders & care tips – all to help you grow successfully, For the latest on RHS Shows in 2020 and 2021, read more, RHS members get free access to RHS Gardens, Free entry to RHS members at selected times », Reduced prices on RHS Garden courses and workshops, General enquiries 222879/SC038262, If you enter just a plant name, you will see results from the old RHS Plant Finder and Selector databases. Plums are pruned in early spring or mid-summer to avoid infection by silver leaf disease. suppliers. Organic Farleigh Damson Tree. Flowers early, so at risk from spring frosts, Propagation Low Maintenance • In the second year, choose the best shoots, between three and five, and remove any others. Size between Shropshire Prune and Merryweather £ 39.60 – £ 42.00 Select options Opal is a lovely plum to eat; the tree begins to crop quite early in life.It ripens by mid-August and the fruit is of good size. If you are pruning an old, overgrown tree the pruning should be light and happen over a period of several years to prevent the tree from responding by … Organic Sanctus Hubertus Plum Tree. Plum "Anna Späth" is a late prune. Plums: pruning. • In the second year, cut back the previous year’s growth on the main branches by a third, and remove any upright shoots at the top of the tree. The rootstock used with largely determine the vigour of the tree, Suggested planting locations and garden types • In the third year, cut back the previous year’s growth on the main branches by a third and remove any upright shoots at the top of the tree. Pinch out strong-growing side shoots (grown this year) to 6 leaves from their parent branch - this will encourage fruit next year. Flowers white in early spring, green fruits in early August, All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. In fact, if you don’t thin them out, your plum tree may crop so heavily that the branches snap under their own weight! • Remove any diseased, dead or damaged growth, and take out any branches that cross to maintain a clear and open framework. Bush plum trees will grow 3.6-4.6m (12-15ft) in height and spread. Choose a sunny, sheltered spot. Try an advanced search, RHS Registered Charity no. Straight after planting, remove the lowest laterals and prune the … Here’s how and when to prune your plum trees. Your tree should have one central leader and several strong side shoots. Care should be taken when pruning plum trees to avoid winter pruning as this leaves plums prone to silver leaf disease. An excellent Plum to eat fresh, but it is also useful for jams and fruit crumbles. Specifically for Opal plum trees we would suggest the following pruning regime which will be better suited to their known weaknesses: Pay special attention to thinning the fruits in mid June 2017. £22.95. May be affected by silver leaf, bacterial canker, blossom wilt and fruit by brown rot. Range of organic plum trees and damson trees including culinary and dessert plum varieties. RHS members can get exclusive individual advice from the RHS Gardening Advice team. 2.5-4 metres, Ultimate spread However, getting the final shape for a free-standing bush plum usually takes two or three years, depending on what type of tree you plant. If you select any attributes with or without a plant name, you will see a much narrower selection of results taken only from the old RHS Plant Selector database. Opal has a long ripening period 12-14 days so you do not get a glut of Plums all in one go. 1-3 years on average to produce fruit (depending on root stock). Plum trees do not require as precise pruning as apples and pears, but still benefit from initial training and the thinning of old wood to ensure they produce as much fruit as possible. They’re susceptible to silver leaf disease, which enters through pruning wounds. Plum 'Opal' Genus. For the chance to be featured, share your plant pictures with uson Instagram by using the hashtag #YourTMGarden. Does best with a pollinator, however it is partially self-fertile.This variety was raised in Sweden and therefore it is suitable for the North.. Read an article on plum, greengage and damson pollination, with a pollination compatibility chart. Don't forget to include tree … To lessen the risk, always use sharp secateurs or a pruning saw to get a clean cut, and never prune your plum during winter – wait until early spring or mid-summer. Variety or Cultivar 'Opal' _ 'Opal' is a compact, deciduous fruit tree with white flowers in spring followed by small, red-flushed, yellow to deep purple fruit with yellow flesh ready for harvest in mid- to late summer. Excellent for ordinary use in appropriate conditions. All rights reserved. Never in the winter like apples and pears between each plum. This makes Opal plum care much easier. • In the first year, cut back the leader or central stem to just above the top branch. £22.95. Virtually all of the features of the old searches are still available and in addition we have added several new features to create a more comprehensive and user friendly search experience. • Don’t prune any side branches unless they are crossing or growing inwards. Although prized for the dessert fruit it produces, this cultivar is also highly decorative, especially during the flowering season. We have combined these two powerful search tools into a single Find a Plant service searching over 250,000 plant records. Organic Shropshire Prune. Suitable for all training forms. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets, MoistureMoist but well-drained, Well-drained, Ultimate height Established plum trees should be pruned in June and the pruning is restricted to new growth not bearing fruit this year. The time to prune back your Damson Tree Amanda is during the summer months of July/August as this period will cut down  the risk of infection from Silver Leaf … Mon – Fri | 9am – 5pm, Join the RHS today and support our charity. This will reduce the weight of the fruit produced and help to stop branches breaking under the … How to Prune Plum Trees: 11 Steps (with Pictures) - wikiHow Prunus 'Opal', Family How to prune a plum tree To lessen the risk, always use sharp secateurs or a pruning saw to get a clean cut, and never prune your plum during winter – wait until early spring or mid-summer. ... Organic Opal Plum Tree. Thin Mirabelle de Nancy trees when the fruit is about the size of a penny, allowing at least 5 inches (13 cm.) They are: This plant will provide nectar and pollen for bees and the many other types of pollinating insects. In the first spring after planting, select 3 or 4 well spaced branches on a clear trunk of at least 75cm (29"), and shorten them by two thirds. AGM plants have been through a rigorous trial and assessment programme. Plum trees can be prone to silver leaf disease if pruned in winter, so cut them back in summer to encourage the development of bushy growth, which stops them becoming too large and unmanageable.. Find out how to prune your plum tree, below. Trees are available from late November to late April. *Your 20% discount only applies to plants, bulbs and seeds.© 2020 Thompson & Morgan. They’re susceptible to silver leaf disease, which enters through pruning wounds. This will reduce the weight of the fruit produced and help to stop branches breaking under the weight of excessive fruit. This should leave a strong framework. All basic pruning requirements completed before delivery. This bush-trained tree can be used for making an fruit espalier. Fortunately, Opal plum trees are very resistant to plum tree diseases. To ensure rapid establishment, plum trees are supplied bare-rooted and will be 1.2-1.5m (4-5ft) high on despatch. Plum Maiden trees are 1 - 1.5 years old when sold, with 3 - 3.5 year old roots grafted on, all other Plum bare root are 2 - 2.5 year old trees with 4 year old roots (arguably a 4 year old tree). It is important to prune your plum tree for the first few years after planting to ensure a healthy, balanced shape. Shorten the selected shoots by half by pruning to an outward-facing bud. Thin fruits if necessary. 5-10 years, Cultivation It is included in an evolving list of plants carefully researched and chosen by RHS experts. 020 3176 5800 Remove water sprouts as they pop up throughout the season. Prunus domestica Opal produces bite-sized dessert plums that are deliciously sweet and that unusually have a great colour range, from sunshine yellow to deep purple, often on the same fruit.They have pale yellow flesh with a signature Greengage flavour. Keep an eye on your plum tree once fruit begins to appear, thinning it out if necessary to avoid the branches breaking under the weight of a heavy crop. Propagate by chip budding or grafting onto a clonal rootstock. Prunus Prunus. 2.5-4 metres, Time to ultimate height Search by plant name, key attributes or both to find plant details and a list of Feed and water plum trees during particularly dry periods. The Classic German ‘Hauszwetsche’ sweet prune for traditional plum cake and fresh eating. Expect to do some plum tree pruning , however, to build a strong frame for the fruit. • Once the shape is established, pull up any suckers that appear from the rootstock and rub off any buds that appear on the trunk. Alternatively, plant a feathered maiden – a tree that already has strong side shoots from the main stem. Plum trees can be wayward in shape, so branches may need tying down, rising up or trimming back during the growing season. Prune plum trees as needed in early spring or mid-summer. An unfeathered maiden – a single stem without side shoots, will take the longest. There should be three or four shoots below and they need cutting back by about half to an outward-facing bud. Walnut Fruit Trees Provided as bare rooted, two-year-old plants, 1m to 1.5m in height. Bespoke Products. You should now have a framework of around eight branches. Architectural Cottage & Informal Garden, Pruning Regular pruning required according to tree form - see pruning plums and fan-trained trees: pruning established fans, Pests Can get aphids, caterpillars, fruit tree red spider mite, brown scale, plum moth and bullfinches, Diseases the RHS today and get 12 months for the price of 9, Other common names RHS Garden Hyde Hall Spring and Orchid Show, Free entry to RHS members at selected Prunus can be deciduous or evergreen trees or shrubs with showy flowers in spring, and often good autumn foliage colour. Botanical name. Opal Plum Trees. • In the first year, cut back an unfeathered maiden’s single stem to a bud that’s around 75cm above ground, making sure there are at least three or four good buds below it. plum 'Opal', Synonyms The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. Older trees should have dead or disease wood cut out whilst dormant and can be rejuvenated by selective harder pruning to promote new growth. Thinning will improve fruit quality and prevent limbs from breaking due to excessive weight. Plum 'Opal' Prunus domestica 'Opal' Details. Pruning Opal Plum Trees. Specifically for Avalon plum trees we would suggest the following pruning regime which will be better suited to their known weaknesses: Pay special attention to thinning the fruits in mid June 2017. For low... 2-years convenient for low... 2-years convenient for making an fruit.! Breaking due to excessive weight applies to plants, 1m to 1.5m in height and spread, RHS charity. 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