Plums have been prolific again this year. I’ve filled four draws of the freezer so far!
If you’re looking for a recipe to use up your plums I can highly recommend this one! It’s so quick and easy to rustle up. No pastry to roll out, you just whip up the milk and creme fraiche mixture, pour it into a large dish, and pop the halved plums on top! Such a simple recipe to follow and the taste is quite amazing.
This makes about 6-8 portions, but it can be cut up and frozen as individual slices. One minute in the microwave, and the slices are ready to eat!
My tree is a Victoria Plum. Jubilee is thought to be an improvement, and there’s also Marjorie Seedling which crops later in the season.
After I’ve harvested the plums, I do some tidying up and pruning. If you’ve never done any pruning this can seem like a daunting task. However I simplify it by starting off cutting out any broken twigs and branches. Plum trees bear a heavy crop and the wood is brittle, so there are often a lot of damaged stems.
Next I cut back anything that’s rubbing or crossing as these stems will rub together in the winter and cause wounds where infection will get in.
After that, I cut out any stems that are heading towards the centre of the tree, as a good air flow helps to prevent mouldy fruit and fungal diseases.
Finally, I shorten any really long stems, as I want to keep the tree compact – I’ve got to the age where I’m not keen on going up ladders! So I keep the tree at a manageable size.
Hope these tips have been helpful. Do think about planting a plum tree over the winter. Bare root trees are cheap and easy to plant. And after planting you’ll have years of produce to make jam, crumble, plum cakes and clafoutis!
Photos of my orchard in spring. Tulip Exotic Emperor in the cut flower bed in front.
If you are listening in to Ben Jackson on BBC Radio Leicester on Wednesdays at 3.10pm, you’ll hear us pruning Ben’s apple trees. I often go over and do some gardening with him and we record a ten minute tip for the radio. Just simple ideas to help and encourage new gardeners and give some fresh ideas to experienced gardeners too.
Thanks for reading my blogs and leaving a comment in the box below. You are among 400 people who read bramblegarden every day! I’m so pleased to see you all here!
Here’s a link to a list I wrote on Plum Jam and also Plum crumble cakes.
https://bramblegarden.com/2017/08/22/peaches-and-plums-crumble-and-jam/
Bramble Garden 
Thanks for the specific plum to plant this winter. I must acrually get around to grwoing more fruit.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Suella. Thanks for reading the blog. Have a super weekend. Xx
LikeLike
I grew up in the Santa Clara Valley in the early 1970s, so am very familiar with pruning, but because of the climate, we do it later, after trees begin to defoliate.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve just looked up Santa Clara Valley. It’s very beautiful! What a landscape with mountains in the background. Good farming land on the flat. We have to prune our stone fruit before winter as they get something called silver leaf disease which gets in through the cuts. There’s no cure for this fungal disease, so we minimise risk by pruning in late summer, early autumn. Have a good Sunday Tony. Karen
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, the Santa Clara Valley is nothing like it was, and I can not remember the best of it. It was formerly occupied by vast orchards that were mainly stone fruits. It was actually a tourist destination while the orchards bloomed, like the autumn color of New England.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow! That must have been an amazing sight!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It was, but I can not adequately describe it. It is impossible to imagine that it was ever there. https://tonytomeo.com/2017/09/09/never-forget-the-valley-of-hearts-delight/
LikeLiked by 1 person
I will enjoy making this. plums are coming to us courtesy of another plotholder with a laden tree. it sounds delicious Karen x
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Christine. You won’t regret it! Such a tasty recipe. Enjoy! ❤️
LikeLike
Ooh, I could just a few of those right now, Karen!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Cathy. Just made my second lot of jam. Taking some to mum tomorrow. 😃❤️
LikeLike
There was a plum tree here when we first moved in, but it died a slow death. Must start my tomato chutney making soon as I am now on the last jar of last year’s!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love chutney and jam! Something to enjoy mid-winter and a reminder of summer sunshine, fruit and veg.
LikeLike
I need a good supply of tomato chutney!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sounds delicious. If only I could get my husband to eat our plums!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Send them this way! My husband loves them. Luckily 😃
LikeLike
Forgot to say, you can also make it with cherries and peaches. I’m also trying blackberries today!
LikeLike