20 of the best plum varieties with descriptions and photos

1. Plum varieties for the Moscow region and the middle zone
2. Early varieties of plums
3. Self-fertile plum varieties
4. Yellow plum varieties
5. The largest varieties of plums

Plum varieties for the Moscow region and the middle zone

When choosing a plum variety for planting in areas of the Moscow region and the middle zone, preference should be given to varieties with high frost resistance and resistance to diseases and pests. Also desirable choose plum varieties with early ripening periods so that the harvest has time to ripen before autumn frosts.

"Skoroplodnaya"

“Skoroplodnaya” is one of the popular varieties of plums for the Moscow region and central Russia, early ripening and productive. Self-sterile species. The hybrid cherry plum, “Red Ball,” is suitable for cross-pollination.

• Productivity 30 kg per tree.
• Reddish cream with yellow sweet pulp weighing 30 g.
• The tree is undersized, about 2.5 m, with a fan-shaped, sparse crown.
• The time for fruit ripening is the first half of August.
• The first harvest can be obtained already in the third year after planting the seedling.
• Tolerates severe frosts down to -40, suitable for growing in the Moscow region and the middle zone.
• Slight damage from diseases and pests.

Advantages of the type: tasty fruits, drought-resistant, excellent frost resistance, early fruiting

Minuses: self-sterility, poor separation of the stone from the pulp.

"Yakhontovaya"

“Yakhontovaya” is an early-ripening, productive type of plum, partially self-fertile. To obtain abundant harvests in the neighborhood, you need varieties for cross-pollination: “Skorospelka red”, “Moscow Hungarian” or “Pamyat Timiryazev”.

• The harvest is 30 kg per tree.
• Yellow cream with a waxy coating 30-35 g with sweet and sour juicy pulp.
• Tree of strong growth up to 5 m, neat spherical crown.
• Harvest ripening by mid-August.
• It begins to bear fruit in the third or fourth year after planting.
• It tolerates frost well, flower buds are resistant to spring frosts. The variety is zoned for the Moscow region and the middle zone.
• Satisfactory disease resistance.

Advantages of the type: early fruiting, early ripening, frost resistance, easy separation of the stone from the pulp, fruits with excellent dessert taste.

Minuses: large tree height, partial self-fertility.

"Smolinka"

“Smolinka” is an early-ripening, productive type of plum. The fruits of wonderful taste are used fresh and for freezing, drying and preparing prunes.

• Productivity 15-20 kg per tree.
• The cream is dark purple weighing 35-40 g with sweet and sour tender pulp.
• Tall trees (5-5.5 m) with a sparse crown.
• The harvest ripens in the second half of August.
• The plum tree begins to bear fruit in the fourth or fifth year of growth.
• Winter hardiness is average, but sufficient for the conditions of the Moscow region and the middle zone. The branches quickly recover after freezing.
• With good care, resistance to major diseases is decent.

Advantages of the type: large fruits of high quality, good transportability.

Minuses: The trees are tall, self-sterile, branches without support can break under the weight of the fruit.

"Red Ball"

"Red Ball" with early ripening and excellent frost resistance. This variety is partially self-fertile; to obtain decent yields, pollinators are needed in the neighborhood, for example, “Skoroplodnaya” or hybrid cherry plum.

• Productivity 18 kg per tree. Red cream with a waxy coating weighing up to 40 g. The pulp is yellow, juicy, sweet and sour in taste.
• The tree is low (about 2.5 m) with a round drooping crown.
• The fruits ripen by mid-August.
• Fruiting begins in the third year after planting.
• It tolerates severe frosts well, but does not like thaws, after which it can freeze. Recommended for planting in the Moscow region and the middle zone.
• It is practically not damaged by clasterosporiasis, but protection is needed from other diseases.

Advantages of the type: large tasty fruits, low-growing trees, early fruiting, high frost resistance, good transportability.

Minuses: During early flowering, damage by spring frosts is possible, self-fertility is partial.

Early varieties of plums

The time for early ripening plum varieties to ripen is from late July to mid-August.

"Zarechnaya early"

"Zarechnaya early" - early ripening, productive. The variety requires cross-pollination. The best neighbors for this purpose are “Volga Beauty”, “Etude”.

• Annual yields are 15 kg per tree.
• The cream is dark purple weighing 40-50 g with yellow juicy pulp with a sweet taste.
• The tree is medium-sized with a compact crown.
• The fruits are ready for harvest at the end of July.
• The plum tree begins to bear fruit in the fourth year after planting.
• Winter hardiness is high. The variety is zoned in the Central Black Earth region.
• Disease resistance is good.

Advantages: early ripening, large sweet plums, the pit is easily separated from the pulp, excellent frost resistance, good transportability

Minuses: self-sterility

"Oryol Dream"

“Orlovskaya Dream” is an early-ripening, frost-resistant plum variety with partial self-fertility. The best neighbors for cross-pollination are “Skoroplodnaya” or cherry plum.

• Average yields are 10-12 kg per tree.
• Red cream with subcutaneous specks, weight up to 40 g. The pulp is yellow, juicy, sweet and sour.
• The tree is low 2.5-3 m with a pyramidal crown.
• The time to ripen is the first half of August.
• It begins to bear fruit in the third year after planting the seedling.
• Frost resistance is excellent. Recommended for cultivation in the Central Black Earth region.
• High resistance to klyasterosporiosis.

Advantages: early ripening, frost-resistant, early fruiting, cream does not crack.

Minuses: self-fertility is partial, the stone is difficult to separate, the fruits become smaller when the harvest is abundant.

"Indira"

“Indira” is a variety of domestic plum of the latest generation, early ripening, productive, and winter-hardy.

• Productivity 20-25 kg per tree.
• Blue cream weighing 35-45 g with yellow sweet pulp.
• A tree of strong growth with a dense pyramidal crown.
• Ripening period is early.
• Fruits in the fourth or fifth year of growth.
• Winter hardiness is average (up to -35). The variety is zoned for the Middle Volga region.

Advantages of the type: early ripening, large tasty fruits, good yield.

Minuses: average winter hardiness.

"Sissy"

“Nezhenka” is an early ripening variety, partially self-fertile. The plum “Skoroplodnaya”, “Red Ball” and cherry plum varieties are suitable as pollinating neighbors.

• Average yield up to 15 kg.
• Red cream weighing 25-30 g. The pulp is yellowish, juicy, sweet and sour.
• Moderate tree (2.5-3 m) with a sparse crown.
• Harvest ripening time is mid-August.
• Fruits in the fourth or fifth year of growth.
• It has high winter hardiness and is zoned in the Central Black Earth region.
• Disease resistance is relative.

Advantages: early ripening, fruits do not crack, the stone is easily separated from the pulp, excellent winter hardiness.

Minuses: When ripe, the fruits quickly fall off and are partially self-fertile.

"Candy"

“Konfetnaya” is remarkable for its extremely early ripening period. This type of domestic plum is self-sterile and needs pollinating neighbors. “Zarechnaya Rannyaya” and “Renklod Kolkhozniy” were recognized as the best.

• Productivity 25 kg per tree.
• Red-burgundy cream with a bluish coating, weighing 30-35 g. The pulp is yellow, jelly-like, with a very sweet taste.
• A short tree (2.5-3 m) with a compact crown.
• The fruits are ready for harvest at the end of July.
• It begins to bear fruit in the fourth year of growth.
• Frost resistance is average (up to -20). When grown in the Central regions, it is better to cover the trunk for the winter.
• Resistance to major diseases is good.

Advantages: large sweet plums, low trees, early fruiting, productive, the stone is easily separated from the pulp.

Minuses: a self-sterile species needs pollinating neighbors, low shelf life and transportability.

Self-fertile plum varieties

Self-fertile varieties of plums are able to be pollinated by their own pollen and produce good harvests. They do not need pollinating neighbors, but if they are present, the yield increases significantly.

"Memory of Timiryazev"

“Memory of Timiryazev” is highly self-fertile, but during prolonged severe frosts (below -30) the fruit buds freeze and the yield can decrease noticeably.

• Productivity is 10-15 kg, in favorable conditions up to 35 kg.
• The cream is yellow with a reddish blush, weighing 20-25 g with sweet and sour dense pulp, the stone is easily separated.
• Harvest ripening in late August - early September.
• The tree is short (up to 3 m) with a drooping, rounded crown.
• The first harvests begin to be produced in the 4th year after planting the seedling.
• Winter hardiness is average, but when it freezes the branches quickly recover. Safely grown in areas of the middle zone.
• Resistance to major diseases is satisfactory.

Advantages of the type: early-fertile, self-fertile, disease-resistant, productive, good transportability.

Minuses: Average winter hardiness, severely damaged by plum mite.

"Viola"

"Viola" is characterized by high self-fertility, excellent and stable yield.

• The yield is 25-30 kg per tree.
• Blue cream weighing 20 g with sweet and sour juicy pulp.
• The harvest is ready for harvest in early September.
• The tree is spreading, medium-sized.
• It bears its first fruits in the third or fourth year after planting.
• Frost resistance is at an average level. Recommended for cultivation in the Middle Volga region.
• Slight damage from diseases and pests.

Advantages of the type: high self-fertility, abundant yields, early fruiting, good transportability of fruits.

Minuses: small fruit size, in dry summers plums may fall off, poor separation of the pit from the pulp.

"Morning"

“Morning” is highly self-fertile and regularly brings good harvests. This variety is a good pollinator for many self-sterile forms of domestic plum.

• The yield is 15 kg per tree.
• The cream is yellowish-green with a pink barrel weighing 25 g with aromatic tasty pulp. The bone comes off easily.
• The harvest is ready for harvest in early August.
• The tree is low with a crown of moderate density.
• The first fruits are born in the fourth or fifth year after planting the seedling.
• Frost resistance of the tree is average, but that of flower buds is low. The variety is zoned for the Central region.
• Resistance to diseases and pests is satisfactory.

Advantages of the type: high self-fertility, early ripening, quickly restored when frozen, good transportability.

Minuses: low frost resistance of flower buds.

"Peaceful"

“Mirnaya” is one of the self-fertile varieties of domestic plum.

• Productivity 25-40 kg per tree, annual harvests, stable
• The cream is burgundy-violet weighing 25-30 g with sweet and sour juicy pulp. The bone separates well.
• The fruits reach ripeness in the first half of August.
• A tree of vigorous growth with an oval crown of moderate density.
• It begins to bear fruit in the fifth year after planting.
• Frost resistance is quite good. The variety is zoned in the Middle Volga and Lower Volga regions.
• Disease resistance is satisfactory.

Advantages: self-fertile, high-yielding, large tasty plums of universal use, good winter hardiness.

Minuses: Fruit ripening is not simultaneous.

"Bogatyrskaya"

“Bogatyrskaya” is a self-fertile species of domestic plum, producing very high yields from an early age.

• Harvests are 50-60 kg, subsequently up to 80 kg per tree
• The cream is elongated, dark purple, weighing 30-40 g with delicate sweet-sour pulp.
• The harvest can be harvested in the second half of August.
• It begins to bear fruit in the fifth year after planting.
• Frost-resistant, zoned in the Lower Volga region.
• Resistance to diseases and pests is quite good.

Advantages of the type: self-fertile, high-yielding, large fruits with good transportability, high frost resistance.

Minuses: With abundant harvests, the branches may break and the fruits become smaller.

Yellow plum varieties

"Golden Ball"

“Golden Ball” is an early ripening type of yellow plum. The variety is self-sterile. The best pollinating neighbors are “Skoroplodnaya” or hybrid cherry plum.

• The yield is 15 kg with subsequent increase in yield.
• The cream is round, yellow with a pinkish blush, weighing 40-50 g. The pulp is aromatic, juicy, sweet with sourness near the seed.
• Ripening time is mid-August.
• Spreading tree 3-4 m tall.
• The first harvest is produced already in the third year after planting.
• Excellent winter hardiness. Zoned for the Central and Central Black Earth regions.
• Satisfactory resistance to major plum diseases.

Advantages of the type: large sweet fruits, early ripening, early fruiting, good transportability.

Minuses: self-sterility, with abundant harvests the plums become smaller, low drought resistance.

"Golden large"

“Golden large” is a type of yellow domestic plum with high yield, late-ripening. Partially self-fertile variety. The best pollinating neighbors are “Volga Beauty” and “Mirnaya”.

• Productivity 27 kg per tree
• Yellow cream with a ruddy barrel weighing 40 g with sweet and sour tender pulp. The bone comes off easily.
• The fruits ripen in the first half of September.
• A medium-sized tree with a pyramidal sparse crown.
• In the fourth year after planting, the seedling produces its first harvest.
• Frost resistance is satisfactory. The variety is zoned for planting in the Lower Volga region.
• Virtually immune to disease.

Advantages: productive, tasty large plums, good transportability, high disease resistance, drought-resistant.

Minuses: late fruit ripening, partial self-fertility.

"Covenant"

"Testament" is a variety of yellow Chinese plum. Self-sterile variety. For pollination, pollinating neighbors are needed: hybrid cherry plum or other types of Chinese plum.

• Productivity is stable: about 30 kg per tree
• Round yellow cream with a pinkish barrel weighing 25-30 g. The pulp is juicy, dense, sweet and sour in taste.
• The plum tree ripens in early September.
• Spreading tree up to 3 m tall.
• Fruiting begins in the fourth year of growth.
• Frost resistance is high.Zoned in the Volga-Vyatka region.
• Resistance to diseases is excellent. Can be damaged by plum aphids and sawflies.

Advantages of the type: abundant yield, good quality fruits, high winter hardiness.

Minuses: self-sterility, can be damaged by pests.

"Honey White"

“Honey White” is an early ripening variety of plum. Needs cross-pollination. The best pollinating neighbors are “Hungarian Donetskaya”, “Renklod Karbysheva”.

• The yield is 35-40 kg per tree.
• The cream is oval, yellow with an orange barrel, weighing 35-50 g with aromatic sweet pulp. The bone does not separate well.
• The harvest ripens at the end of July.
• The tree is vigorous, up to 5 m in height, with a sparse crown.
• It begins to bear fruit in the fourth year of growth. Has high frost resistance. Safely grown in the Central Chernozem region and the Moscow region
• It is practically not damaged by moniliosis. Resistance to other diseases is average

Advantages: sweet large fruits, early ripening, high frost resistance and drought resistance.

Minuses: strong tree growth, self-sterility.

Large-fruited varieties of plums

"Gigantic"

“Ispolinskaya” is a large-fruited plum variety with high yield, self-fertile.

• Productivity 40 kg.
• Red-pink cream weighing 60-80 g with sweet and sour juicy pulp. The bone does not separate well.
• The harvest ripens at the end of August.
• Tree of medium height up to 4 m with a dense crown.
• The first harvest occurs in the third or fourth year.
• Winter hardiness is average (up to -34). Suitable for planting in the Lower Volga region.
• Affected by moniliosis. Preventive measures are needed for protection.

Advantages: very large fruits, good yield, early fruiting.

Minuses: average winter hardiness, low drought resistance

"Angelina"

"Angelina" is a plum variety with very large fruits, self-sterile. “Traveler”, “Black Amber”, “Friar” are suitable for pollination.

• The harvest is abundant and amounts to 50-70 kg per tree.
• Rich purple cream weighing 90 g with sweet and sour juicy pulp.
• The fruits ripen in the second half of September.
• Spreading tree 3 m tall.
• The first fruits appear in the third year after planting.
• Winter hardiness is average. Suitable for growing in southern regions.
• Disease resistance is average.

Advantages: fruits can be stored in the refrigerator without freezing for 2-3 months, large plums of universal use, early fruiting, high yield.

Minuses: average winter hardiness and disease resistance

"The president"

“President” is a large-fruited plum species, self-fertile and productive.

• Productivity 20-40 kg with subsequent increase to 70 kg per tree
• The cream is oval, burgundy-purple, weighing 60-70 g, sweet taste.
• Plums ripen in the second half of September.
• The tree is spreading, dense with a growth of 3-3.5 m.
• It begins to bear fruit in the fifth year.
• Winter hardiness is average (up to -30). The variety is adapted for the forest-steppe and steppe zones
• Average resistance to major diseases

Advantages of the type: large sweet fruits, high yield, self-fertility, drought resistance

Minuses: the dense and spreading crown requires formation and thinning, is damaged by plum aphids and codling moths, and is prone to gum development

"Starting"

“Startovaya” is a large-fruited variety, very early ripening, self-sterile. The pollinator can be a domestic plum variety that coincides in flowering time.

• Productivity is low 60 c/ha.
• The cream is round, burgundy-purple, weighing 50-70 g. The pulp is juicy, sweet with sourness. The stone is easily separated from the pulp.
• The fruits ripen at the end of July.
• A tree of medium height with a dense crown.
• Fruiting begins in the third or fourth year after planting the seedling.
• Winter hardiness is good. Zoned for the Central Black Earth region.
• High resistance to diseases and pests.

Advantages: large tasty fruits, good transportability, early ripening.

Minuses: self-sterile, low yield.