The Victoria Plum tree, Prunus domestica ‘Victoria’, is a popular and versatile fruit tree, especially well-regarded in the UK. Known for its consistent and abundant yields of egg-shaped fruits, it offers a pleasing balance of sweetness and tartness. These plums are suitable for various culinary uses, from eating fresh to making jams, chutneys, and pies. Its adaptability to different garden settings, including smaller spaces, makes it a practical choice for home gardeners.
Why Choose Victoria Plum for Your Garden Fence?
The Victoria Plum offers several advantages for a garden fence. It is a robust, self-fertile variety, known for consistent fruit production without requiring another plum tree for pollination. This simplifies cultivation, particularly for gardens with limited space. The tree’s adaptability to various training forms, such as fan or cordon, allows it to be shaped against a fence, maximizing space and creating an attractive living boundary. This combination of practical fruit yield and aesthetic appeal makes the Victoria Plum ideal for integrating into a fence garden.
Site Selection and Preparation
Selecting the proper location for a Victoria Plum tree, especially near a fence, is important for its health and productivity. These trees thrive in full sun, requiring at least six hours of direct sunlight daily to promote optimal growth and fruit development. A south or west-facing aspect is often ideal for maximizing sun exposure. The soil should be well-draining and fertile, ideally a moderately fertile, moist loam or clay loam. Protection from strong winds is also beneficial, as strong gusts can dislodge developing fruits or damage branches.
Before planting, prepare the site by digging over an area of at least 24 by 24 inches and 18 inches deep. Incorporate plenty of organic matter, such as well-rotted compost or manure, to improve soil structure and fertility. If the soil is heavy clay, adding gypsum can improve drainage, while sandy soils benefit from organic matter to enhance water retention. The soil pH should ideally be between 6.0 and 7.0.
Planting and Training for a Fence
Planting a Victoria Plum tree near a fence requires careful consideration for proper growth and training. If planting bare-root trees, the dormant season from November to January is ideal; containerized trees can be planted at other times. Position the tree about 15 cm from the fence or wall for air circulation and root development. The graft union should remain above ground level.
For fence training, establish a support system of horizontal wires, spaced approximately 35-60 cm apart, along the fence. These wires will support the branches as they grow. Use quality wire, and if attaching to a wall, vine eyes and a tightener can create a strong structure.
Fan Training
Fan training is a popular method for growing plums against a fence or wall, suitable for a space of about 6-8 feet high and wide. For initial fan training, a young tree is often cut back to about 18 inches high in winter. In spring, two strong new lateral branches will typically emerge just below the cut. These are then tied horizontally to the support wires, with other growth removed during summer.
Cordon Training
Cordon training, another space-saving option, involves growing the tree as a single main stem with short side shoots. Cordons are often planted at a 45-degree angle to increase the stem length at an accessible height and require permanent support. For cordon training, trees are spaced 60-90 cm apart along the wire system. Initial training involves trimming any side shoots back to three or four buds in March to April, while the leading shoot is pruned by one-third. The goal with both fan and cordon training is to encourage a framework that optimizes light exposure and fruit production along the fence.
Ongoing Care and Maintenance
Once established, ongoing care is important for a productive Victoria Plum tree, especially when trained against a fence. Watering needs are moderate; newly planted trees require regular watering for their first growing season. Established trees usually only need supplemental watering during dry spells, particularly in early to mid-summer when fruit is swelling. Consistent moisture helps prevent fruit drop and promotes development.
Fertilization supports overall tree health and fruit yield. In the first year, a balanced fertilizer or organic options with higher nitrogen can encourage vegetative growth. For established trees, a high-potassium fertilizer, such as blood, fish, and bone meal, applied in winter can be beneficial. Avoid fertilizing after August to prevent late new growth susceptible to frost damage.
Pruning techniques vary depending on the training method. For fan-trained trees, light summer pruning helps maintain the desired shape and encourages an open structure. For cordon-trained trees, summer pruning in August or early September involves cutting side shoots back to three leaves from the current season’s growth. This timing helps concentrate the tree’s energy on fruit bud production. Regular removal of dead, diseased, or crossing branches is important for all training forms to improve air circulation and light penetration, reducing the risk of fungal diseases like silver leaf.
Victoria Plum trees can be susceptible to common pests like aphids, caterpillars, and plum moth, as well as diseases such as silver leaf and brown rot. Regular inspection helps detect issues early. Good garden hygiene, such as removing damaged fruit, and ensuring adequate airflow through proper pruning are preventative measures.
Harvesting Your Victoria Plums
Victoria Plums typically ripen between late August and early September, though this can vary with local conditions. Key indicators of ripeness include the fruit developing a deep red or purple skin color. Ripe plums will also feel slightly soft to the touch and detach easily from the tree.
Plums do not continue to ripen significantly once picked, so leaving them on the tree until fully ripe ensures the best flavor. Since fruits ripen in flushes, check the tree every few days and harvest over a two to three-week period. Pick plums gently, ideally with their stalk attached, to maintain freshness and extend their storage life.