The plum, a favorite stone fruit, is a popular crop across Texas. Its cultivation is possible due to the wide range of climates found throughout the region. The harvest period is not a single date but a window that shifts based on geographic location and the specific variety planted. Understanding this timeline requires looking at the general calendar and the influence of the state’s varied growing conditions.
The General Texas Plum Season Timeline
The primary plum harvest in Texas begins in the late spring and extends through the end of summer. Consumers can typically find fresh, locally grown plums starting in mid-May, with the season often running until August or early September for later-ripening varieties. Because of the sheer size of Texas, the season does not start simultaneously across all regions. Plums in the warmer southern parts of the state usually ripen first, allowing for the earliest harvest dates. As the season progresses, the harvest moves sequentially northward into Central Texas, East Texas, and the Panhandle regions.
Common Plum Varieties Grown in Texas
Most plums successfully grown in Texas are Japanese or Japanese hybrid varieties, as European plums require colder climates and are susceptible to fungal diseases in the Texas heat. One of the earliest and most widely adapted varieties is the ‘Methley,’ which ripens from late May to early June. This cultivar has small to medium size, mottled purple skin, and sweet, juicy red flesh, though it does not store well. Mid-season plums include the ‘Bruce,’ a large red fruit ready around the beginning of June, and the ‘Santa Rosa,’ a popular market variety ripening in late June. The ‘Santa Rosa’ is a large, purplish plum with amber flesh that offers a good balance of sweetness and a hint of tartness.
How Weather Impacts the Annual Harvest
Yearly variations in the harvest timeline are often caused by the fulfillment of “chill hours” during the winter. Chill hours refer to the total number of hours a tree spends at temperatures between 32 and 45 degrees Fahrenheit, which is necessary for the tree to break dormancy and set fruit. If a plum tree does not receive enough chill hours, blooming can be delayed and inconsistent, resulting in a patchy harvest. Conversely, an early warm spell followed by a late spring freeze can be devastating; if trees bloom early due to marginal winter chill, the subsequent frost can kill the flowers or young fruit. Environmental factors during the spring, such as prolonged drought or excessive rain, can also affect the fruit’s size, quality, and final ripening date.