Plum (Prunus) Herman 12L

'Herman' is one of the earliest plums you can grow, ripening in mid-July, around two to three weeks before most other varieties. It is a seedling of the much-loved 'Czar', with the same reliable cropping habit but a sweeter flavour for eating fresh. White spring blossom is followed by heavy crops of medium-sized, dark blue-black plums covered in a pale bloom. Inside, the golden flesh is sweet and juicy with a hint of honey, and it comes cleanly away from the stone. This is a true dual-purpose plum, delicious eaten straight from the tree and just as good in crumbles, pies and jam. Leave the fruit on the tree for as long as possible for the sweetest flavour. It is self-fertile, so a single tree will crop well on its own, and its spring blossom is valuable for bees and other pollinators.

Plant in full sun in a sheltered spot, ideally facing south or west. 'Herman' is tolerant of most well-drained soils, but it does best in a loamy, slightly acidic soil. Avoid very chalky or waterlogged ground. Improve poorer ground with well-rotted compost or manure before planting. Its blossom can be damaged by late spring frosts, so avoid frost pockets. Water well while it establishes and during dry spells as the fruit swells. Prune plums in summer rather than winter to reduce the risk of silver leaf and bacterial canker, shaping the tree and removing any dead or crossing branches. 'Herman' crops very heavily, so thin the young fruits in early summer for better-sized, better-flavoured plums, and net ripening fruit to keep the birds off. It is hardy across most of the UK (RHS H5). Size depends on the rootstock, with the RHS giving a height and spread of 2.5–4m within 5–10 years.

Supplied in a 12 litre pot. Each tree is hand-selected before dispatch.

Available from Pengelly Garden Centre.