Stanley Plum (2024)

Plum Stanley Prune (Prunus)

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Stanley Plum (1)

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5-8

Stanley Plum

Plum Stanley Prune (Prunus)

Product Description

Fall Color Yellow

Flower Color White

Fruit Color Blue, Purple

Mature Plant Size (H x W) 8-12' x 8-12'

Stanley Plum produces medium-sized, dark blue fruit with a yellow-green, firm, sweet flesh. This tree's fruit is semi-freestone, meaning the flesh separates from the stone. The plums are good for fresh eating, baking, canning, jelly, and drying. This fruit tree blooms in May.

  • Stanley Plum (3) Mature Plant Size (H x W): 8-12' x 8-12'

Key features

  • Walnut Toxicity Resistant
  • Edible to People

Planting Care

Planting & Care for Edible Plants – Plums

Preparation
  • Even though plum trees don’t need fertilizer when planted. Once they’re established, fruit production requires regular fertilizing all year long.
  • Most plum trees need cross-pollination to produce fruit. Make sure you plant more than one variety when planting.
  • There are three categories of plum trees: European, Japanese, and American Hybrids. European - work in most regions across theU.S. Japanese - flourish where peach trees flourish. Lastly, American hybrids that work well in regions where neither European nor Japanese typesflourish.
  • Plant plum trees in well-drained, moderately fertile soil in full sun. Avoid planting in low areas where frost may settle, this will damage yourtrees.
Opening Plant Material
  • Bare Root-Cut open the bundle (top and roots are tied) and separate all the plants. Soak roots in buckets of water until planted. Each plant type will be labeled separately for identification. Do not expose the roots to sun. They should never dry out. Keep roots covered. All bare-root plants must be trimmed when planted.
  • Containers- Completely saturate all container plants by putting in a larger container of water until stops bubbling, remove. Now ready to plant. Dig a hole no deeper than the depth of the container and 6" or more, making sure it’s wider on the sides.
Planting Bare Root
  • Plant Bare root in fall. A good indicator if you can still plant is if the ground is still workable you’re good to go. If a hard frost is expected be sure to hold off on planting.
  • Dig a hole at least 6" wider and the same depth as the root mass. The crown or graft of the plant should be slightly higher than ground level where it was grown at the nursery.
  • Trim off the broken roots and branches.
  • Spread the roots and fill halfway with soil, then water until soil settles completely saturating the soil and planting pit.
  • Re-adjust plant and fill the hole with the rest of the soil.
  • Back fill the balance of the soil and water well.
  • See our link below “Handling & Planting Guidelines” for illustrations on planting.
Planting containers
  • Slide plant from pot by tapping on the bottom of the pot.
  • With shovel or knife trim bottom 2" off of the root ball for plants in plastic containers.
  • Rotate the plant to the proper position. Never lift or move plants by the tops.
  • Place the root ball in the hole.
  • Notice where the base of the trunk flairs out from the tree. This is called the root flair. This root flair should show when the tree is planted. If necessary, add soil under the ball so the root flair is exposed.
  • Backfill the hole with soil, making sure the top of the root ball is visible and slightly higher than the soil around it.
  • Firm the soil around the plant. Water well to settle soil around the root ball.
Pruning – After Planting
  • Bare Root-Prune ALL bare root plants to reduce transplant shock and ensure success. Pruning should occur either before or as soon after planting as possible. All pruning should be done with a sharp pruning shears.
  • Containers- Although it is not essential for containers to be pruned after planting, a light pruning for shape, to remove any broken branches from shipping, or to thin out a heavily branched plant will help in the transplanting process and in the appearance of your new planting.
Pruning - Through-out the Season
  • Thinning plum trees is important to prevent branches breaking under the weight of the trees. If branches do break, prune them back into the undamaged wood, ideally cutting back to a natural fork to avoid leavingstubs.
  • Prune early spring or mid-summer to avoid infection. The best time for pruning is usually spring for young trees and mid-summer for establishedones.
  • DoNOTprune in the fall or winter injury or infection mayoccur.
  • Each of the three different varieties require different pruning, be sure to do your research before pruning your variety.
Harvesting
  • Plums have the best flavor when left to ripen on the tree. You can tell when plums are ripe by applying gentle pressure with your fingers. If the skin of the fruit feels soft, then it is ready to bepicked.
  • Plums should come off the tree easily when you’re using only a slighttwist.
  • Unfortunately, the fruit does not store for long, so they must be eaten or preserved right away.
Watering - After Planting
  • Plants typically take approximately 6 weeks to establish new roots in your soil. During this period, water plants as often as every 2-4 days at the start and at least a minimum of once per week. Beyond the 6 week establishment period, water once per week, unless rains occur.
  • Stick your finger into the soil around 3” to check soil moisture.
Watering - Through-out the Season
  • After the first season, plants should only be watered during extended periods without rain.
  • How do you know if your plants need water? The easiest way to tell is to touch the soil around the roots. If it is moist, there is no need to water. If it is dry, give it a good soaking with the hose end (no nozzle) watering the soil only, not the leaves.
  • Stick your finger into the soil around 3” to check soil moisture.

Planting & Handling Help

Download our Planting and Handling Guide below to plan for a successful arrival and install of your plants. Be sure to water all plants as soon as they arrive and every day until you’re ready to plant. Keep any bare root bundles in a shady, cool spot with the roots covered at all times.

Stanley Plum (4) Stanley Plum (5)

Learn More

Watch our videos on handling bare root plants, how your order is prepared for shipment and more.

Stanley Plum (6) Stanley Plum (7)

Plant Sizing

What is the difference between Containers, Grow Bags, Bare Root, and Balled & Burlap (B&B)?

Shipping Times

Stanley Plum (8) Stanley Plum (9)

Our FedEx and local shipping times depend on two factors, one is by the region and the second is the type of product being shipped. For example, small fruits are only shipped in spring, but majority of our perennials are shipped from spring until fall. Keep in mind the dates below act as a general guide. Due to unpredictable weather, staffing, inventory and industry demands these timelines can change. Therefore, we cannot guarantee any of these times.

Shipping Dates by Region*

Northern Cold Region: April 22nd - November 7th

Northern Region: April 15th - November 7th

Middle Region: April 1st - November 7th

Southern Region: March 15th - November 7th

Local Delivery (small radius from Waterloo, WI): April 22nd - November 7th

Shipping Dates by Season*

Spring Shipping: Region Start Date (above) - May

Fall Shipping: September - November

Due to unpredictable weather, these times may vary. Some varieties are exceptions due to heat and plant health reasons. Enter your shipping zip code at the top of this page and be sure to check the shipping information on each product before you add it to your cart. If the product is too large or restricted in your state, you will not be able to checkout with that item in your cart.

Stanley Plum (2024)

FAQs

Are Stanley plums good eating? ›

Stanley Plum produces medium-sized, dark blue fruit with a yellow-green, firm, sweet flesh. This tree's fruit is semi-freestone, meaning the flesh separates from the stone. The plums are good for fresh eating, baking, canning, jelly, and drying.

When to pick Stanley plums? ›

In California and the Bay Area, plums ripen between the end of May through August depending on the specific variety, weather, and microclimate.

How do you take care of a Stanley plum tree? ›

#ProPlantTips For Care

Your Stanley will love full sun and well-drained soil. You should water it weekly when it is young, but remember to give it an extra drink or two when it is hot and dry.

How far apart do you plant Stanley plums? ›

Recommended Spacing

We recommend spacing these trees 18 - 20' apart to ensure room for growth.

Are Stanley plums the same as Italian plums? ›

A medium to large freestone plum, 'Stanley' is excellent for eating fresh, cooking, or canning. Italian plums are similar to 'Stanley'. These large, freestone purple plums are very sweet, perfect for drying, eating fresh, or canning. 'Seneca' is a high-quality European plum that looks promising for the home gardener.

How big does a Stanley plum get? ›

The mature size of the tree depends on the version you choose, standard or dwarf. Height: 18-20 ft. or 8-10 ft. Width: 18-20 ft. or 8-10 ft.

How do you ripen Stanley plums? ›

Stanley plums are naturally sweet-tart, but as they soften, they tend to sweeten too. To prepare your plums for eating or processing, set the plums you want to ripen on the counter. If you would like to ripen only a few at a time, put the rest in the fridge while they're still firm. They'll keep better that way.

Should fresh picked plums be refrigerated? ›

Whole plums should be stored at room temperature until ripened. Once ripe, the plums can be kept whole in a bowl in the refrigerator and covered with Glad® Press n' Seal wrap. Or, to store cut plums, remove pits and cut fruit into chunks or wedges of desired size.

Can you overwater a plum tree? ›

Soil saturated with water can suffocate and drown a tree since the oxygen-rich air pockets are flooded. Root rot, fungus or too much water can kill a tree's roots and slowly starve the rest of the tree. Some signs that a tree is getting too much water include: Wilting or yellowing leaves.

How often do plums need to be watered? ›

Water For Plum Tree

Be sure to soak the entire root system deeply, once every two to four weeks. This ensures that the soil is saturated down to the root line, but also has time to dry out a bit. For best growth and production, plum trees should receive at least one inch of water a week.

How do you dry Stanley plums? ›

How to Dehydrate Plums
  1. Wash plums and remove pits and stems.
  2. Cut plums into the segment that you prefer.
  3. Place with the skin down on dehydrator trays.
  4. Dry at 135°F / 57°C for 10-18+ hours.
  5. Test for doneness when cool.
  6. Condition.
  7. Store in an airtight container.
Jul 29, 2023

What month do you plant plums? ›

Plums
Plant nameZonePlant seedlings/transplants outdoors (spring/fall)
Plums5aMarch 15-April 1
Plums5bMarch 15-April 1
Plums6aMarch 15-April 1
Plums6bMarch 15-April 1
14 more rows

Does it take 2 plum trees to produce fruit? ›

Some varieties of plum are partially self-fertile. However, planting two or more varieties will ensure that trees consistently bear fruit. Fruit trees that require cross pollination by another variety are self-unfruitful.

Are Stanley plums sweet? ›

Juicy, sweet, and delicious, the plums have a rich flavor and are perfect for eating, canning, or making jelly.

Are there any plums you can't eat? ›

Now, just because all members of the plum family are edible, doesn't mean they're all delicious! Some, especially the smaller ones, are very sour and bitter and are best left for the wine-makers or for the birds. In this blog, I'll be showing you how to identify a tree as a member of the plum family.

What are the sweetest plums to eat? ›

Mirabelle plums are the sweetest of all plum varieties. The small fruit with a slight reddish blush is popular for making eau-de-vie in France. Red plum varieties have bright red skin. Some, like the Santa Rosa, have amber flesh, while others, like Simcas, have bright red flesh that matches the skins.

How can you tell if a plum is good to eat? ›

Check the color.

Plums should also have a deep, even color, whichever variety they are. A light color means they aren't ready and any glimpse of green means the fruit was picked too early.

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