How to grow Plum in Australia
Plant in full sun in fertile, well drained soil with shelter from strong wind at blossom time. Water deeply while fruit is swelling and keep moisture even to prevent splitting.
At a glance
- Difficulty: Intermediate
- Sun: Full sun
- Water: 12 litres a week, watered every 3 days
- Spacing: 400 cm
- Time to harvest: 1095 days (about 3 years)
- Time to germinate: 1 days
- Soil pH: 6 to 7
- Frost tolerance: Frost hardy
When to sow by region
| Region | When to sow | Regional note |
|---|---|---|
| South East Queensland | June to August | |
| Northern Rivers NSW | June to August | |
| Sydney & Coastal NSW | June to August | |
| Melbourne & Victoria | June to August | |
| Adelaide & SA | June to August | |
| Perth & WA | June to August | |
| Tasmania | June to August | Plant bare-root Jun to Aug. Reliable and heavy cropping in the cold. |
| Canberra & ACT | June to August | |
| North Queensland | Not suited | Not viable. Needs winter chill coastal North QLD never gets. |
| Darwin & Top End | Not suited | Not viable. Stone fruit need winter chill. Darwin has none. |
Varieties
- Satsuma
- Santa Rosa
- Greengage
- Mariposa
Companion planting
Good companions
Avoid planting near
Harvest and storage
Harvest tip
Ripe when fully coloured, slightly soft to gentle pressure and easily parting from the tree. Lift and twist gently to pick, taking care not to bruise the soft flesh.
Storage
Bench until ripe, then fridge for up to 1 week. Freeze halved for months.