Plum (Prunus domestica)
2 sources cited · Verified
The short answer
- Plant
- Early November to mid February
- Site
- 6+ hours of sun, soil pH 6–6.5
- Biggest risk
- Silver leaf
In the UK, plums go in the ground early November to mid February.
Plums (Prunus domestica) — Deciduous tree, 5-10 years to full maturity.
Timing is the decision that matters most in the UK: sowing early November, and that same window applies across all 4 regions covered here.
Core growing advice on this page is checked against named horticultural sources — see References.
Regional Planting Calendar
| Region | Sow |
|---|---|
| Southern England | early November to mid February |
| Midlands | early November to mid February |
| Northern England | early November to mid February |
| Scotland | early November to mid February |
Southern England - detail & sources
RHS gives no seasonal sowing window (plums are planted as grafted trees, not sown) -- planted bare-root in the dormant season, roughly November to February. Applied as one UK-wide window across all four sub-regions, matching the convention used for Apple and Pear.
Midlands - detail & sources
RHS gives no seasonal sowing window (plums are planted as grafted trees, not sown) -- planted bare-root in the dormant season, roughly November to February. Applied as one UK-wide window across all four sub-regions, matching the convention used for Apple and Pear.
Northern England - detail & sources
RHS gives no seasonal sowing window (plums are planted as grafted trees, not sown) -- planted bare-root in the dormant season, roughly November to February. Applied as one UK-wide window across all four sub-regions, matching the convention used for Apple and Pear.
Scotland - detail & sources
RHS gives no seasonal sowing window (plums are planted as grafted trees, not sown) -- planted bare-root in the dormant season, roughly November to February. Applied as one UK-wide window across all four sub-regions, matching the convention used for Apple and Pear.
Quick Facts
At a Glance
Soil & Growing Conditions
Growth Stages
Harvest & Storage
Diseases
Pests
Plum Photo Gallery
References
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Full sun (6+ hrs). Soil high in organic matter, good drainage, moist conditions. USDA zones 4a-9b. Height/width 10-20ft. Propagate by grafting, root cutting or seed. White blossom in spring before leaves; fruit (blue/black drupes, 2-3in) matures in September, eaten fresh, cooked, or dried as prunes. Pests: codling moth (primary), webworms, mites, borers, plum curculio, American plum borer. Diseases: viral, fungal and bacterial diseases generally; powdery mildew, rusts, brown rot. Latest-blooming of the Prunus fruits, making it well suited to northern climates. Fruit/foliage reported toxic to dogs, horses and cats.
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Moist but well-drained or well-drained soil, loam or sand, acid or neutral, ideally pH 6-6.5. Full sun, sheltered, south/west-facing. Hardiness H5. Height/spread 2.5-4m, 5-10 years to maturity. Propagate by chip budding or grafting -- stones do not produce parent-identical trees. Fruit matures late summer/early autumn. Pests: plum aphid, caterpillars, fruit tree red spider mite, brown scale, plum moth, bullfinches. Diseases: peach leaf curl, silver leaf, bacterial canker, blossom wilt, honey fungus; RHS flags it as a high-risk host for Xylella fastidiosa, a notifiable quarantine bacterium not currently established in the UK. Native to the Transcaucasus/northern Iran region and GB/Ireland. Family Rosaceae.
2 independent sources are cited for this crop. Where they disagree - soil pH is the clearest case - every figure is preserved rather than averaged into false precision.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I sow plums in the UK?
In Southern England, from early November. In Scotland, wait until early November. Treat these as a guide rather than a fixed date — the governing rule is to sow only once frost risk has passed and temperatures are reliably warm enough.
When do I sow plums?
Sow early November to mid February.
What soil pH do plums need?
A pH of about 6–6.5. That span reflects genuine variation between the authorities we cite rather than a single agreed figure — the References section lists each source's exact range.
What problems affect plums?
Our data links 7 diseases and 9 pests to this crop. See the sections above for each one and how to manage it.
Plan next season before the problems start
Most of the advice on this page comes down to timing and spacing — sowing at the right moment, rotating beds, and giving plants enough airflow. The UK Garden Planner lays your plot out month by month so those decisions are already made before the season starts.
Get the UK Garden Planner →Instant PDF download · Written for UK growing conditions
Last verified 2026-09-03
Where To Go From Here
Take this crop from reading into a written plan for your own beds.
Plan the next step
Use the printable SoilCommander planner for your region to turn this guide into sowing dates, bed layouts and weekly garden tasks.