Plum (Prunus) Victoria 12L

'Victoria' is Britain's best-loved plum and holds the RHS Award of Garden Merit. It has been a garden favourite since Victorian times, and it remains the standard against which other plums are judged. White blossom in spring is followed by heavy crops of large, oval plums that ripen to a rich red-purple from late August into September. The juicy yellow flesh has a good balance of sweetness and sharpness. Fully ripe fruit is delicious eaten straight from the tree, and slightly under-ripe plums are perfect for crumbles, tarts, jams and bottling. It is self-fertile, so a single tree will crop well on its own, and it is also a good pollinator for other plums. Its spring blossom is valuable for bees and other pollinators.

Plant in full sun in a sheltered spot, ideally facing south or west. It grows in clay, loam or sand as long as the soil is moist but well-drained. Improve poorer ground with well-rotted compost or manure before planting, and keep a weed-free circle of at least 60cm around the trunk. 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. 'Victoria' crops so heavily that its branches can snap under the weight. Thin the young fruits in early summer to protect the tree and keep it cropping well every year, and support heavily laden branches if needed. 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.