Where do damson plums grow best?
Damson plums are perfect for any type of soil but love growing in moist soil. They are also incredibly cold, hardy and do well in a variety of growing zones. They grow best in growing zones 5 through hardiness zones 7.
Can you grow damsons in UK?
Damsons, or prunus insititia are small, purple coloured stony fruits grown here in the United Kingdom for their culinary uses and spring blossom. They are often, rather sadly overlooked by the common plum and are grown on small trees and crop only once a year in late summer to early autumn.
What is a damson fruit?
Damsons, or prunus insititia are small, purple coloured stony fruits grown here in the United Kingdom for their culinary uses and spring blossom. They are often, rather sadly overlooked by the common plum and are grown on small trees and crop only once a year in late summer to early autumn. The origin of the damson is unknown.
How tall do damson trees grow?
Damson trees grow up to 15ft high and are easy to maintain, being relatively tolerant to most things! They don’t particularly like pure peat or pure clay soil though.
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Do damsons grow in the US?
It was regarded as thriving better in the continental United States than other European plum varieties; many of the earliest references to European plums in American gardens concern the damson. A favourite of early colonists, the tree has escaped from gardens and can be found growing wild in states such as Idaho.
Where are wild damsons found?
Damsons. Damsons are a member of the plum family, frequently found in hedgerows, parks, woodlands and gardens in September and October. The fruit is slightly bigger than a large grape and resembles small plums.
What is the season for damson?
Yields ripe fruit typically from August to early September. Bears a heavy crop each season. Begins to bear crops in 3–4 growing seasons. Blooms in April, with an abundance of clustered white flowers.
Can you eat damsons straight from the tree?
It's true that, because of their tartness, you're unlikely to want to eat damsons straight off the tree, but we get a good harvest every August unless the blossom was damaged by a particularly bad late frost, the trees survive with barely any maintenance and, as well as making delicious preserves and pies, damsons can ...
Are damson stones poisonous?
Damson stones contain the cyagenic glycoside amygdaline, a toxin that can lead to cyanide poisoning if taken in quantity (how much?) – don't eat lots of damson stones, and don't get any Walter White 'crystal damson' lab ideas!
What is difference between plum and damson?
Damsons are longer in shape than plums. They generally have deep blue skins and they are spicier and more tart, making them better for cooking. They're a popular pick for jam making. Damsons also have a reputation for being hardier, thanks to their wild ancestry.
Are damsons good for you?
The most important health benefits of damson plums include their ability to improve the digestive system, lower cholesterol, protect against heart disease, strengthen bones, increase energy, optimize sleeping patterns, decrease your risk of certain types of cancer, and boost the immune system.
How long does it take a damson tree to fruit?
Damsons are not difficult to grow. They will come true from a stone and will produce fruit within 15 years. Alternatively, you can buy a tree grafted on to a rootstock that will control the amount of growth.
Are damsons easy to grow?
Plums, and their closely related damsons and gages, are all easy fruits to grow at home. They produce large (often too large!) reliable crops of fruit, which is available in a range of coloured skins and flesh.
Can you freeze whole damsons?
Yes, you can freeze damsons. Damsons can be frozen for around 3 months. Damsons, like many other fruits, freeze really well. Make sure they're nice and fresh and wash them thoroughly before placing them in a freezer-safe bag.
What can damsons be used for?
Damson recipesDamson gin. A star rating of 4.6 out of 5. ... Damson crumble. A star rating of 3.6 out of 5. ... Damson jam. A star rating of 3.7 out of 5. ... Damson jelly. A star rating of 4.7 out of 5. ... Spiced damson cheese. A star rating of 5 out of 5. ... Caraway oatcakes with stilton & damson jam. ... Damson vodka.
Do damsons fruit every year?
It flowers well and the tree looks fine each year; however, no fruit ever appears. Following the flowering, the tree looks a bit sad and the leaves curl in places but no sign of pests. My other plum trees in the garden (different types) do well for fruit each year. Douglas.
How do you know when damsons are ripe?
For instance, plums varietals such as 'Stanley', 'Damson', and 'Mount Royal' change from green to greenish-blue then segue to dark blue or purple when they are ripe. Other plum cultivars are ripe when the skin color changes from yellow to red.
How do you eat damsons?
Modern cultivated damsons (such as the Merryweather variety) can be eaten raw when ripe, although there is about as much stone as there is flesh. In general, they're best cooked, which brings out their sweet, spicy flavour. Many home-brewers are also eager to harvest the fruit to make damson 'wine' or damson gin.
How do you Prune a damson tree?
Pruning takes place in the second half of the summer and is simply a matter of trimming back all of the side growths to about 3”. Established trees only need to be pruned once a year but young trees show more vigour and you may need to go over them again in late Autumn.
Is a damson plum a Prune plum?
Shropshire Prune (also known as Prune Damson) is one to choose for neat, compact growth, or you could look for a tree grown on Pixy rootstock to restrict growth to 8-10 feet (2.4-3m). Damsons are self-fertile, so you don't need to plant more than one.
Where did the damson come from?
The origin of the damson is unknown. It was originally thought that they came from Damascus, Syria and introduce to Western Europe by the Romans.
When do damson trees produce fruit?
The damson trees upon which the fruit is grown produce a wonderful blossom in the spring, with the fruits being ready to harvest late summer to early autumn. Damson trees take a long time to mature and produce a harvest, but when they do it is so worth it.
What are damsons?
Damsons, or prunus insititia are small, purple coloured stony fruits grown here in the United Kingdom for their culinary uses and spring blossom.
What are the aphids that are attracted to damson trees?
There are 2 types of aphids that are attracted to damson trees. The leaf curling aphid affects the foliage during spring leading to leaf distortion and the mealy plum aphid which although does not distort the foliage, leaves a sticky honey dew allowing sooty mould to grow.
What does a Damson blossom mean?
Damson blossom signals that spring has arrived. Their blossom is a wonderful sight with single, small white flowers.
Why are damsons cooked before eating?
Damsons straight off the tree can be especially tart which is why they are often cooked before eating, releasing their wonderfully rich flavour.
When do damsons come out?
Damsons are produced on trees and ready to harvest from August to October in the UK. They will come true from a saved stone, but you could be waiting many years for the tree to mature and bear fruit. Most damsons are self-fertile and do not require another nearby.
Where are damson plums grown?
However the Shropshire Prune variety of damsons is known to be grown in Westmoreland. Damson plums are also grown in Western Europe and the United States.
How tall is a damson tree?
These trees when fully grown attain a height that is about 20 feet. The tree has pretty white damson blossoms that bloom in April and later yield into purple plums.
What does a shropshire prune damson taste like?
The Shropshire Prune Damson tastes great after cooking. This small purple colored fruit has an astringent flavor. The taste of Shropshire Prune damsons is bound to linger in your mind, once subjected to your taste buds.
What color is Damson Merryweather plum?
Damson merryweather plums are extensively used for culinary purposes. This small plum is recognized by the blue-black color of its outer skin. Its flesh has a contrast yellow color. It is not necessary to subject the fruit tree to regular pruning. This fruit grows best in fertile soil.
What is the color of Damson plums?
This variety appears to have a rich blue-black color. The Farleigh tree is a very tough tree that can even withstand extreme cold and wet climates unlike other orchard fruit trees. Damson Farleigh plums are significant for their culinary usage. It has a very strong and sweet flavor.
What was the damson fruit used for?
In the olden days the skin of the damson fruit was used to make dye; especially purple dye.
How long does it take to make damson slumps?
The smart and simple recipe can be prepared in less than twenty minutes. Go ahead and devour the tongue tickling damson slumps!
How tall do damson trees grow?
Damson trees grow up to 15ft high and are easy to maintain, being relatively tolerant to most things! They don’t particularly like pure peat or pure clay soil though.
Who supplies damsons?
Joe Cottingham, director at Watts Farms in Kent, supplies damsons for an online home delivery service. He says: “We love this purple gem and we produce a quality crop for our online customers who are keen to make damson jam, damson cheese, damson chutney, damson gin and a whole host of other damson related foods!”
What is a purple damson?
Smaller than your regular plum, the tiny purple damson is a quirky pocket-rocket of a fruit. The sweet fruits were introduced by the Romans and became incredibly popular in Victorian times. They are easy to grow and maintain, and this is perhaps why damsons have seen a resurgence of interest by consumers in the last couple of years.
How long do Damson plums last?
Damson trees are good ‘doers’ and can fruit for 50 years. They don’t take much maintenance, but when you do prune, stick to early summer to avoid the risk of silver leaf fungi. This is an airborne disease that affects the plum family. Credit: Vikki Rimmer.
How long to boil damson stones?
Wash your damsons and place them in a large cauldron, or jam pan, with 1.5 litres of water. Bring to the boil and simmer for 15 minutes. Add 2.5kg of sugar while stirring and turn the heat up a little to ensure a rolling boil for 20 minutes, or until it looks like all the stones have risen to the top.
What is Watts Farms?
Watts Farms specialises in high quality herbs, vegetables and distinctive seasonal produce such as damsons and Kentish cobnuts. It began an online delivery service to homes in the south east at the start of the pandemic.
When is damson jam season?
Plentiful from August to October, the damson is a tasty ingredient for jams and gins alike! A quick trawl of the internet reveals lots of quirky recipes passed down from parents and grandparents – the holders of secret concoctions, whispered, like a juicy family secret, from generation to generation.
Grow
Cover fan-trained trees temporarily in a tent of horticultural fleece on frosty nights when plants are in flower, holding the fleece away from the flowers with canes. Fruit set is generally finished by early summer, after which the fruits start to swell significantly.
Plant
Damsons have quite high moisture demands, so they are best planted on good clay or loamy soils. But sites also need to be well drained as plums, and gages in particular, hate waterlogged soils. Add bulky organic matter to sandy or shallow chalky soils prior to planting.
Harvesting
Damsons develop their best flavour if left to ripen on the tree. If they feel soft when gently squeezed, they are ripe. Trees will generally need picking over several times.
Recommended Varieties
Fairleigh is a comapct growing and reliable cropping dark blue culinary damson which will produce good crops in most years. Fairleigh is self fertile so no pollinator is required.
Recipes
Nigel Slater says damsons are the best type for this ice cream recipe, but any rich-flavoured plums can be used.
What do Damson plums look like?
What do Damson plums look like? The small clingstone prunes are dark purple-black with firm green or golden yellow flesh. The trees display an attractive, rounded shape. The ovoid green leaves are finely toothed along the edges. Look for clusters of white blooms to appear in spring.
How tall is a Damson plum tree?
Damson plum trees reach mature heights of about 20 feet (6 m.) with a similar spread, and dwarf trees are about half that size.
Can you eat Damson plums?
According to Damson plum tree information, fresh Damson plums ( Prunus insititia) are bitter and unpleasant, so Damson plum trees aren’t recommended if you want to eat sweet, juicy fruit straight off the tree. However, when it comes to jams, jellies and sauces, ...
Where did damsons come from?
Damsons were introduced by the Romans (like nettles and ground elder) and the origins of their name gives a hint to their aged lineage – ‘the plum of damascus’. It remained a favourite with the stones being found in Anglo-Saxon archaeological sites.
How to remove damson stones from a mix?
The other method of removing the damson stones from the mix is at the cooking stage. Mix the damsons and the sugar and heat, slowly at first to melt the sugar without burning. The damsons will break up as they heat or you can help them by using a potato masher to gently squash them against the bottom of the pan.
What are some good jams to mix with damsons blackberries?
Mix damsons blackberries and elderberries in equal parts for the best jam ever.
What is the most rocking fruit?
Damsons – the most rocking fruit.#N#These have to be the most rocking of fruit with their ‘Deep Purple’ colour and perfect blend of fruitiness and tartness. At this time of the year a heavily laden damson tree will bring joy to the heart of those in the know. Many people have never tasted this relative of the plum, and so don’t know what they are missing.#N#Some botanists regard all of the plums, damsons , bullaces, and greengages as hybrids of the humble sloe, others suggest they are cross breeds with the yellow cherry plum. The sloe is Prunus spinosa and all the rest are varieties of Prunus domestica ssp insititia (like dogs are all varieties of Canis lupus familiaris).
Is Damson a bullace?
Damson foliage is almost free from thorns unlike it’s smaller cousin, enabling pain free picking. If you ever find a slightly thorny oversized sloe bush then you likely have a bullace. These hybrids fall between damsons and sloes and are thought to be another man-made cultivar.
How to Grow Damson Plum Trees?
A dwarf Damson Plum tree grows to be ten feet wide and ten feet tall compared to the normal plum tree being twenty feet tall and twenty feet wide. That means if you are limited on space, you can grow Dwarf Damson Plum trees on your back porch with ease.
What is a Damson Plum?
Damson Plums bloom in the late spring and offer not only a delicious fruit but also beautiful showy white clusters that cover the tree. Because they bloom in late spring, they are less likely to be damaged by frost. Also, once you plant a Damson Plum tree, you can expect a fruitful harvest in 2-4 years.
What is the flavor of blue damson plum?
Because a Blue Damson plum has a sweet-sour flavor, they are often used in a variety of jelly and jams where sweeteners are added.
How often do Damson plum trees grow?
Damson plum trees have a moderate growth rate, so where you decide to plant them is crucial. They typically grow a foot to two feet every single year. Damson Plum Trees also thrive in full sun and well-draining soil. Damson plums are perfect for any type of soil but love growing in moist soil. They are also incredibly cold, hardy ...
What is the difference between Newport plums and Damson plums?
Newport plums offer stunning visual colors while not offering fruit that is commonly eaten by humans. At the same time, Methley plums provide delicious rich plum flavor. Damson plums, also known as Prunus Institia, give you a little of both worlds.
How long does it take for a Damson Plum tree to produce fruit?
Also, once you plant a Damson Plum tree, you can expect a fruitful harvest in 2-4 years. The dark green foliage along with the purplish-blue fruit complement each other to create a stunning display.
Why are damson plums considered clingfruit?
Damson plums have an oval shape and are considered clingfruit because the fruit is attached to the stone inside. When eating a blue damson plum, you must eat around the stone that it is attached to, knowing that ahead of time is crucial.