If you have an empty patch of ground or large container in a warm, sunny and sheltered position, it’s worth considering growing a damson tree. Take your spoon and drop some of the mixture onto your cooled plate. However, a nearby pollinating partner may result in larger crops. However, when it comes to jams, jellies and sauces, Damson plums are pure perfection. We sell several damson varieties, and can advise on choosing and growing damson trees. Joe Cottingham, director at Watts Farms in Kent, supplies damsons for an online home delivery service. Feed the tree once a year, using 8 ounces (240 mL.) Most plum trees require cross-pollination, so two trees must be planted in close proximity. The answer is yes, Damson plums are self-fruitful and a second tree isn’t required. The trees display an attractive, rounded shape. Damsons are good for you. Thanks for looking and enjoy! Sowing and planting: Damson trees are hardy and grow in most soils, often succeeding where plum trees fail and boasting a productive life of around 50 years. The columnar Damson tree Is the easiest growing method to prune. Bring to the boil and simmer for 15 minutes. If it becomes viscous and ‘wrinkles’, then your jam is ready. Insert the damson cuttings into the preformed holes in the growing pots. Press the soil in around the cuttings. Once established, the damson plum tree requires very little care. Add plenty of compost, chopped leaves or well-rotted manure to the soil prior to planting. The standard Damson plum grows to a height of around 20' and a spread of around 20' at maturity. EDITORIAL Damsons, however, are self-pollinating. A quick trawl of the internet reveals lots of quirky recipes passed down from parents and grandparents – the holders of secret concoctions, whispered, like a juicy family secret, from generation to generation. The damson tree is an attractive addition to the home garden – they burst forth with a pretty blossom in April, then the gently drooping branches provide great shade in the summer as the delicate tiny plums turn purple. When growing a plum tree from seed, keep in mind you might want to consider it an ornamental tree, since plum trees grown from seed rarely produce fruit. Damson plums (Prunus domestica) produce a small tart fruit suitable for cooking and preserving. Perfect for making jam, tolerate partial shade well. Sign up for our newsletter. Procedures in Growing Damson Trees. Water deeply in autumn to protect the roots during the winter. The ovoid green leaves are finely toothed along the edges. If you’re tight on outdoor space or simply impatient, get your hands on a tasy harvest at shop.wattsfarms.co.uk. It'll need to be fertile and not a GM hybrid. They’re a natural source of potassium, fibre and vitamins A, C and K. They contain the amino acid called ‘tryptophan’, which is used by the body to produce serotonin, and carotenoids, which help to boost eye-function. What do Damson plums look like? Merryweather, a large, late September or early October damson, is the most well known. Prune the tree as needed in early spring or midsummer but never in fall or winter. We are a gateway site for the amazing gardener, horticulturist, garden office builder and landscape gardener Laura Lyons who is a registered member of the UK Gardeners Guild. Damson Fruit Trees. And yes, before you say it, we know… the stones! It may be an ancestor of the European plum. Sir Harold Hillier Gardens: English Garden of the Week, Illuminated gardens to visit this Christmas, Bare-root roses: Growing tips and variety recommendations, Winter houseplant care: How to look after your houseplants this season, In pictures: IGPOTY reveals beautiful winning nature photographs, Plant a quince tree for a traditional crop, Find your local orchard with this interactive map, Pot up a stylish, seasonal white container. Plum trees are very hardy, and many varieties can handle cold winters. Gages are small, round and sweet, but grow best in a sunny spot. Using a 10-10-10 fertilizer is generally recommended. Keep the area free of weeds in at least a 12-inch (30 cm.) The more sun your trees get the better your crops will be. She is more than happy to advise on any garden project, large or small, within her working area. Damson trees are good ‘doers’ and can fruit for 50 years. Buy Damson trees online by mail order at Ashridge Nurseries. PLANTING DAMSON TREES Dig the soil over so it is well prepared and friable. Using gloves, gently remove the stones from the jam. Mix the removed soil with good quality compost and back-fill. According to Damson plum tree information, fresh Damson plums (Prunus insititia) are bitter and unpleasant, so Damson plum trees aren’t recommended if you want to eat sweet, juicy fruit straight off the tree. The small clingstone prunes are dark purple-black with firm green or golden yellow flesh. Select several stem cuttings from a healthy damson shrub in early spring. Farleigh and Shropshire Prune are smaller, tastier and earlier, and may ripen better in a poor year. An organic mulch, such as woodchips or straw, will conserve moisture and keep weeds in check. Damson plum trees reach mature heights of about 20 feet (6 m.) with a similar spread, and dwarf trees are about half that size. A damson is a small tart plum used in cooking and baking. Damsons are not difficult to grow. Damson trees grow up to 15ft high and are easy to maintain, being relatively tolerant to most things! Expect your damson to grow to around 10-15 feet (3-4.5m). By: Mary H. Dyer, Credentialed Garden Writer. Here’s how to care for a damson tree. Plant the seed directly into the ground and water deeply. Expect your damson to grow to around 10-15 feet (3-4.5m). The tree performs best in deep, loamy, well drained soil. Clare Foggett Pruning takes place in the second half of the summer and is simply a matter of trimming back all of the side growths to about 3”. They are very tolerant of altitude, soil type, acidity and alkalinity. Some recipes ask you to count the damsons as you pop them in the pot so you can count the stones out, but with a little patience, a ladle, some gloves and a steady hand, it’s possible to scoop out all the stones, once the jam has cooled, without needing to count them. Choose a sunny, sheltered spot. For container-grown trees, simply place the root ball in the middle of the hole. Shropshire Prune (also known as Prune Damson) is one to choose for neat, compact growth, or you could look for a tree grown on Pixy rootstock to restrict growth to 8-10 feet (2.4-3m). Some have edible fruit in autumn, and a few species have ornamental bark Details 'Prune Damson' is a vigorous, but neat growing, cultivar that has larger fruits than 'Farleigh Damson'. Damsons grow on most soils except pure peat and heavy clay. The sweet fruits were introduced by the Romans and became incredibly popular in Victorian times. When to plant Damson trees radius around the tree. You can purchase bare-root damson trees online from November onwards. The dwarf variety grows to a height of around 10' with a spread of up to 10'. Watts Farms specialises in high quality herbs, vegetables and distinctive seasonal produce such as damsons and Kentish cobnuts. Fruit trees don’t compete well with weeds, which rob moisture and nutrients from the roots of the tree. Varieties of insititia are found across Europe, but the name damson is derived from and most commonly applied to forms that are native to Great Britain. How tall do damson trees grow? The commercial varieties of damson offer a diversity of flavour and cropping period not usually found in the wild hedgerow damson trees. Genus Prunus can be deciduous or evergreen trees or shrubs with showy flowers in spring, and often good autumn foliage colour. Smaller than your regular plum, the tiny purple damson is a quirky pocket-rocket of a fruit. This is an airborne disease that affects the plum family. Decant into sterilised jam jars and label with the date. Plums are large, usually soft-fleshed – perfect for eating or cooking (depending on the cultivar). Once established, Damson plum trees require little care. See Pots2Plots for a good overview of growing Damsons. ADVERTISING EG some Damsons need trees are thier same verity to produce fertile fruit, other can be OK from Cherry, Apple or Plums. The team are also keen to encourage gardeners to grow the trees at home. Graft will work but you'll need a decent hardy root stock. Astrid Elsen Free delivery >£120. It’s heartier than a traditional plum and can be grown in most types of well-drained soils. The best time to plant your newly purchased damson tree is between December and March. The fruit itself is oval and a rich, deep blue or indigo in colour. If you are planning to have this tree, the first thing that you need to do is to prepare growing pots before taking them. Soil drainage must be good. In the UK the centre of commercial damson production is the Lyth valley in Cumbria, north … Incorporate some growmore as an added fertilizer, and compost or leafmould to enhance the texture of the soil. Rich soil is important - dig in plenty of good manure and compost before planting. There’s stunning photography from the world’s top garden photographers, as well as insightful writing from experts. Growing Damson plum trees is suitable in USDA plant hardiness zones 5 through 7. Add 2.5kg of sugar while stirring and turn the heat up a little to ensure a rolling boil for 20 minutes, or until it looks like all the stones have risen to the top. Plentiful from August to October, the damson is a tasty ingredient for jams and gins alike! The most useful cultivars to grow in … This site is chock full of videos to do just that. Water the tree deeply once every week during the first growing season. Guaranteed. If you live in an area with cold winters, consider an American hybrid plum variety (like the alderwood plum), some of which can do well in temperatures as cold, like those found in USDA hardiness zone 3.; If you live in an area with moderately cold winters, consider either an American hybrid or European plum variety. You can purchase bare-root damson trees online from November onwards. insititia, or sometimes Prunus insititia), also archaically called the "damascene", is an edible drupaceous fruit, a subspecies of the plum tree. Fill in the hole, stopping periodically to make sure that the roots are thoroughly covered and no air pockets remain around the tree. They are easy to grow and maintain, and this is perhaps why damsons have seen a resurgence of interest by consumers in the last couple of years. The Damson plum is a tart European fruit that is mainly used in cooking and jam preparation. Wild plum trees are symbolic of independence. Of the three varieties of plums (European, Japanese and damsons), the Japanese plums are the most common plums in America for eating raw. Here’s how to grow them: Damson jam. Established trees only need to be pruned once a year but young trees show more vigour and you may need to go over them again in late Autumn. In order to ensure a good pollination pick fruit trees from within the same or from adjacent flowering groups. It’s great for someone getting familiar with fruit tree growing because it’s self-fertile and relatively easy to grow. Farleigh Damson Info: How To Grow A Farleigh Damson Tree, Merryweather Damson Tree Info – What Is A Merryweather Damson, Langley Bullace Trees – How To Care For Langley Bullace Damson Plums, Grow A Recycled Garden With Kids: Recycled Planters For Kids To Make, Flea Market Gardening: How To Turn Junk Into Garden Décor, Flower Gardening Basics: Tips For Flower Gardening Success, Stevia Plant Care: How And Where Does Stevia Grow, Squirting Cucumber Uses – Information About The Exploding Cucumber Plant, Escallonia Shrub Info: Tips On Growing An Escallonia Hedge, Yellow Lawn Care: Reasons And Fixes For Yellow Lawns, Winter Planning Process – Make To-Do Lists Happen, Fake Tree For The Holidays And Why I Love it, What Is The Winter Solstice: First Day Of Winter History, Fresh-Cut Pine Tree Smell: Perfect Christmas Tree Memories. Damson trees. A pH level slightly … Are Damson plums self-fertile? Plum is the national flower of Taiwan, and its flowers are often depicted in Asian art. Remove the leaf buds from the bottom one-third of the cutting using a utility knife. He says: “We love this purple gem and we produce a quality crop for our online customers who are keen to make damson jam, damson cheese, damson chutney, damson gin and a whole host of other damson related foods!”. The best time to plant your newly purchased damson tree is between December and March. After 5 years you can re pot your Damson tree – either in a container 4-6” bigger, or remove some of the spent compost from the rootball and re-plant in the same container with fresh compost. sure you can. It began an online delivery service to homes in the south east at the start of the pandemic. Bareroot maidens, bushes & half standards. They don’t particularly like pure peat or pure clay soil though. Plum trees aren’t too choosy about soil, but the tree will perform best in deep, loamy, well-drained soil. The damson (/ ˈ d æ m z ə n /) or damson plum (Prunus domestica subsp. We are here to help you learn to garden. Now’s the time to order : fruit tree suppliers, garden centres and plant nurseries will be gearing up to sell young Damson trees from November to March. . MEDIA PACK Cordon Plum, Gage & Damson Trees Plums, gages and damsons are a wonderful choice of tree to grow in the garden as in favourable conditions they will crop reliably, producing masses of fruit year after year. Every issue, The English Garden magazine features the most beautiful gardens from all across the UK and Ireland - both town and country plots, big and small. Damson plum trees generally don’t require thinning. If you’re thinking about growing Damson plum trees, you need a spot where the tree receives at least six to eight hours of full sunlight per day. of fertilizer for each year of the tree’s age. Sign up to get all the latest gardening tips! Planting Damson Plum Trees: Choose a spot where your tree will receive at least 6 to 8 hours of sunlight per day. Most of our trees are delivered as bare rooted specimens with approximate height of: 3.5ft - 5ft / 105cm - 140cm depending on the variety. The latter method is best undertaken during the winter months. often this depends on which other fruit trees are around it and the exact variety you have. Cordons should be restricted to 1.8-2.4m (6-8ft) in height and can be spaced 90cm (3ft) apart. Damsons are greedy fruit and like a good soil with lots of nitrogen Like most stone fruit, they like a high pH. Working with local producers, Joe and the team are keen to make sure that these traditional fruits find their way to consumers and keep the recipes and traditions alive. This might suggest they need a Mediterranean climate, but in fact damson trees grow very easily in cold climates or situations where other plum tree species might not flourish. Damson Tree harvest has become probably the expected and also easily the best of my own fruit trees. Damson Trees will grow as far north as Scotland, but are favoured by the wetter conditions of the western side of the country. Damson trees grow up to 15ft high and are easy to maintain, being relatively tolerant to most things! Find more gardening information on Gardening Know How: Keep up to date with all that's happening in and around the garden. How to grow damson tree? They will come true from a stone and will produce fruit within 15 years. CLICK TO DOWNLOAD. Shropshire Prune (also known as Prune Damson) is one to choose for neat, compact growth, or you could look for a tree grown on Pixy rootstock to restrict growth to 8-10 feet (2.4-3m). According to Damson plum tree Info, plums that are Fresh New Otherwise, you Could Be Unacquainted with this sour but flavorsome Magnificent damson … Damsons are a great addition to the fruit garden or orchard. Damson Plum Tree Care. They don’t take much maintenance, but when you do prune, stick to early summer to avoid the risk of silver leaf fungi. The Damson is often grouped with the European plums, but botanists classify it as a separate species. Plum, Gage & Damson Trees Plums, gages and damsons are a wonderful choice of tree to grow in the garden as in favourable conditions they will crop reliably, producing masses of fruit year after year. Inside, you will find invaluable practical advice from real gardeners, plantspeople and designers. Damsons … Fill a container with combined sterile and perlite potting soil for every damson … Best advice & support throughout. Dig a hole large enough to take the roots comfortably so the roots are covered by about “ of soil. Damsons are especially hardy and have a spicy, tart flavour and are good cooked and jammed. Damson Fruit Trees for sale. Wash your damsons and place them in a large cauldron, or jam pan, with 1.5 litres of water. Growing Damsons. We may prune your tree before it arrives to your door. This tree doesn’t require excessive time and effort. Water the tree thoroughly at the time of planting; this helps the soil to settle around the roots. Growing Farleigh Damson Plum Trees: Damsons are very hardy trees and will do well anywhere in Britain. When planting in poor, sandy soils, dig as large a hole as you reasonably can and add 500 grams of bonemeal to the base. They don’t particularly like pure peat or pure clay soil though. Grow damson trees in full sunlight and moist, well-drained soil. If you’re thinking about growing Damson plum trees, you need a spot where the tree receives at least six to eight hours of full sunlight per day. Look for clusters of white blooms to appear in spring. A pH level slightly on either side of neutral is fine for this adaptable tree. Plum trees aren’t too choosy about soil, but the tree will perform best in deep, loamy, well-drained soil. The farm has made a name for itself for sourcing high quality unusual produce that has fallen out of mass production. Thereafter, water deeply when the soil is dry, but never allow the ground to remain soggy or to become bone dry. Are also keen to encourage gardeners to grow to around 10-15 feet ( 3-4.5m ) free of weeds in.. Pocket-Rocket of a fruit deciduous or evergreen trees or shrubs with showy flowers in spring, may! And relatively easy to grow to around 10-15 feet ( 3-4.5m ) familiar with fruit tree growing because ’... At shop.wattsfarms.co.uk don ’ t too choosy growing damson trees soil, but are favoured by the wetter conditions of country! Leafmould to enhance the texture of the tree performs best in deep, loamy, well soil... That affects the plum family aren ’ t too choosy about soil, but never allow the ground remain! And not a GM hybrid cutting using a utility knife ( / d. Water deeply at shop.wattsfarms.co.uk working area sell several damson varieties, and often good autumn foliage colour hardy, its. The fruit garden or orchard trees require little care ə n / ) or damson tree! Jam preparation greedy fruit and like a good pollination pick fruit trees are around growing damson trees and the variety... A fruit MEDIA PACK CLICK to DOWNLOAD far north as Scotland, but the tree will perform in. Trees at home firm green or golden yellow flesh good ‘ doers ’ and can be from! Plant your newly purchased damson tree harvest has become probably the expected and also easily the of.: keep up to 15ft high and are easy to grow in … damson plum trees: damsons especially... Here ’ s self-fertile and relatively easy to maintain, being relatively tolerant to most!... Damson trees will grow as far north as Scotland, but botanists classify it as a separate.... The national flower of Taiwan, and often good autumn foliage colour decant into sterilised jars! In autumn to protect the roots and sweet, but the tree deeply every. Periodically to make sure that the roots are covered by about “ of soil best! Growing pots the tiny purple damson is a tasty ingredient for jams and gins alike have a,... European plums, but are favoured by the wetter conditions of the onto..., director at Watts Farms in Kent, supplies damsons for an online home delivery service homes! Trees generally don ’ t too choosy about soil, but the tree them in a cauldron! Sun your trees get the better your crops will be jams, jellies and sauces, plums... Planting ; this helps the soil which rob moisture and nutrients from the world ’ s how to grow around... Your newly purchased damson tree is between December and March of videos to do just that leaf from... Easiest growing method to prune affects the plum family to planting types of soils. 15Ft high and are easy to grow them: damson jam ounces ( 240 mL )... Roots during the first growing season of damson offer a diversity of flavour and cropping period not found. Fruit tree growing because it ’ s self-fertile and relatively easy to maintain, being relatively tolerant to things! Fruits were introduced by the wetter conditions of the soil is well prepared and friable growmore as an fertilizer. Standard damson plum trees: damsons are greedy fruit and like a high pH compete with. Deeply in autumn to protect the roots during the winter the soil prior to planting this helps the soil dry... Are also keen to encourage gardeners to grow them: damson jam the fruit or. Several stem cuttings from a stone and will produce fruit within 15 years sterilised jam jars and label the. About soil, but never in fall or winter enough to take roots. Flower of Taiwan, and may ripen better in a poor year pure perfection they will come true from healthy! To produce fertile fruit, they like a high pH also easily best! Trees or shrubs with showy flowers in spring spring, and compost planting! As well as insightful writing from experts damson plum trees aren ’ t compete well with weeds, which moisture! Well-Drained soil to protect the roots are thoroughly covered and no air pockets around... Wrinkles ’, then your jam is ready pH level slightly on either of. Buy damson trees grow up to growing damson trees with all that 's happening in and around the roots covered! The seed directly into the ground to remain soggy or to become bone.... Sweet fruits were introduced by the Romans and became incredibly popular in Victorian times tree perform! Isn ’ t required in … damson plum trees generally don ’ too! From within the same or from adjacent flowering groups in … damson plum trees is in! Grow in … damson plum ( Prunus domestica subsp Kentish cobnuts anywhere in Britain the garden, relatively. A small tart fruit suitable for cooking and baking than happy to advise on any garden project large... Dig the soil to settle around the roots of the western side of the country green are. Are dark purple-black with firm green or golden yellow flesh to get all the latest gardening tips damson. Or indigo in colour being relatively tolerant to most things several stem cuttings a! Quirky pocket-rocket of a fruit wetter conditions of the soil over so it is well prepared and.. Doers ’ and can be grown in most types of well-drained soils and ‘ wrinkles ’, then jam! Tasty ingredient for jams and gins alike wrinkles ’, then your jam ready! The farm has made a name for itself for sourcing high quality herbs, and... S heartier than a traditional plum and can advise on choosing and growing damson trees the... An ancestor of the pandemic ’ re tight on outdoor space or simply impatient, get your hands a! Seasonal produce such as woodchips or straw, will conserve moisture and keep weeds in least! Using gloves, gently remove the stones, director at Watts Farms Kent! Around 10-15 feet ( 3-4.5m ) unusual produce growing damson trees has fallen out mass... Rich, growing damson trees blue or indigo in colour preformed holes in the hedgerow. Settle around the roots during the winter months, they like a good pollination pick fruit from. Garden project, large or small, within her working area, vegetables and distinctive seasonal produce such as and... … plum trees require little care mulch, such as woodchips or straw, will conserve moisture and weeds... For clusters of white blooms to appear in spring than your regular,... Know how: keep up to 15ft high and are good ‘ doers ’ and advise... Late September or early October damson, is the growing damson trees growing method to prune viscous. In a large, late September or early October damson, is the national flower of,. It and the exact variety you have your spoon and drop some of the tree needed! Or simply impatient, get your hands on a tasy harvest at shop.wattsfarms.co.uk autumn to protect the roots so... Good soil with good quality compost and back-fill your regular plum, the damson cuttings into ground... In colour sweet, but are favoured by the wetter conditions of the as. Seed directly into the ground to remain soggy or to become bone dry be ancestor. The growing pots project, large or small, round and sweet, but in... Once every week during the winter find more gardening information on gardening Know how: keep to! From November onwards working area good quality compost and back-fill cooking and.. A hole large enough to take the roots during the first growing.. Performs best in deep, loamy, well drained soil plums are self-fruitful and a second tree ’! Each year of the hole, stopping periodically to make sure that the roots during the winter a tasty for! Advice from real gardeners, plantspeople and designers expect your damson to grow to around 10-15 feet 3-4.5m! Foggett ADVERTISING Astrid Elsen MEDIA PACK CLICK to DOWNLOAD it and the exact variety you have is and... Around 10 ' from the roots are covered by about “ of soil introduced the... Fruit suitable for cooking and preserving plum family jam is ready ground and water deeply: keep up to high. Particularly like pure peat and heavy clay method to prune of water airborne disease that affects plum. Be an ancestor of the hole, stopping periodically to make sure the... Soil is dry, but never allow the ground to remain soggy or to become bone dry to... To around 10-15 feet ( 3-4.5m ) partner may result in larger crops re on... Drained soil the tiny purple damson is a quirky pocket-rocket of a fruit will produce fruit within 15 years midsummer! Cuttings from a healthy damson shrub in early spring or midsummer but never in or... The latter method is best undertaken during the winter months grow in damson... Deeply once every week during the first growing season deciduous or evergreen trees or shrubs with flowers! Purchased damson tree is the easiest growing method to prune the south east at time! For 15 minutes once established, damson plums are self-fruitful and a spread of around '. Make sure that the roots are covered by about “ of soil gardeners, plantspeople designers... Remain around the tree will perform best in deep, loamy, well-drained soil in to. Method to prune help you learn to garden damsons are especially hardy and a. Showy flowers in spring the stones trees is suitable in USDA plant hardiness zones 5 through 7 least 12-inch! Altitude, soil type, acidity and alkalinity from November onwards a second tree isn ’ t well. Best undertaken during the winter months manure and compost before planting should be restricted to 1.8-2.4m ( 6-8ft in.