Plum & Prune Trees

Harry Pickstone Plum Tree

The Reliable Heavy-Hitter: A classic South African favourite named after a pioneer of the fruit industry. It is an exceptionally vigorous grower and a very heavy producer.

Fruit Profile: Large, heart-shaped fruit with a dark red-to-purple skin and sweet, juicy yellow flesh. It has a mild, pleasant flavour that everyone loves.

Requirements:

Space: A fast grower that needs room to spread; perfect for a medium-to-large garden.

Pollination: Benefits significantly from having a Pioneer or Santa Rosa nearby.

Care: Use our CFT Liquid Fertilizer (R80) in early spring to support its massive crop.

Souvenir Plum Tree

The Gourmet Dessert Plum: A high-quality variety prized for its unique, slightly spicy-sweet flavour profile. It is often the first to disappear from the fruit bowl!

Fruit Profile: Large, elongated fruit with a beautiful dark purple skin and succulent, deep red flesh.

Requirements:

Sun: Needs full sun to develop the deep red interior colour and high sugar levels.

Soil: Thrives in our Triple Mix Farm Soil (R50); ensure the planting hole is well-drained.

Thinning: If the tree overproduces, thin the fruit in November to ensure the remaining plums grow to their full size.

Pioneer Plum Tree

The Early Harvest Star: One of the best "early" plums, ripening well before the mid-summer heat. It is incredibly hardy and resistant to many common plum ailments.

Fruit Profile: Round, medium-sized fruit with a bright red skin and yellow-to-pink flesh. It is very juicy and refreshing.

Requirements:

Pollination: A fantastic universal pollinator that helps other plums in your garden produce more fruit.

Climate: Highly adaptable to Gqeberha’s coastal conditions.

Mulch: Keep the roots cool with our Bark Chip Mulch (R55) to prevent fruit drop during dry spells.

Laetitia Plum Tree

The Late-Season Beauty: If you want to extend your harvest into late summer, the Laetitia is a must-have. It ripens later than most, providing fresh fruit when others have finished.

Fruit Profile: Large, round fruit with a striking bright red skin covered in tiny gold dots. The flesh is firm, sweet, and intensely flavoured.

Requirements:

Storage: Known for its exceptional shelf life; these plums stay firm and fresh for weeks after picking.

Yield: Very prolific; ensure you have sturdy branches through proper winter pruning.

Songold Plum Tree

The Golden Queen: A world-famous South African variety. It is the "gold standard" for yellow plums, known for its incredible sweetness and size.

Fruit Profile: Large, oval fruit with a beautiful golden-yellow skin that develops a slight red blush when fully ripe. The flesh is translucent yellow, melting, and honey-sweet.

Requirements:

Harvest: Ripens in mid-to-late January.

Care: Needs consistent watering during the fruit-filling stage (December).

Soil: Responds well to the extra nutrients in our Potting Soil Farm Mix (R40).

Van Der Merwe Prune Tree

The Drying & Baking Specialist: While plums are mostly for fresh eating, the Van Der Merwe Prune is a specialized variety with a higher sugar content and firmer flesh, specifically used for drying into prunes or for use in traditional tarts and desserts.

Fruit Profile: Medium-sized, oval-shaped fruit with a dark purple, almost black skin and firm, sweet, greenish-yellow flesh. The pit pulls away easily from the flesh (freestone).

Requirements:

Versatility: Can be eaten fresh, but the flavour intensifies beautifully when dried or cooked.

Hardiness: A very tough and resilient tree that handles the PE wind with ease.

Harvest: Pick when the fruit is slightly soft to the touch for maximum sweetness.