FRUIT > DAMSON
IN THIS GUIDE
DAMSON GUIDES
damson plum are the over-embellished gems of top yield , not different to plums , but with smaller and more oval - shape fruits .
The damson trees upon which the yield is grow produce a wonderful blossom in the spring , with the fruit being quick to harvest recent summer to former autumn .
damson plum trees take a foresighted time to mature and bring out a harvest time , but when they do it is so deserving it .
Overview
PreferredFull Sun
ExposureExposed or shelter
Height2.5 – 4.5 1000
Spread2.5 – 4 grand
Bloom TimeApril – May
PreferredMost Fertile Soils
MoistureMoist but well - drained or well - drained
pHAny
damson , orPrunus insititia , are small , purple - discolour stony fruits grown here in the United Kingdom for their culinary uses and outflow blossom .
They are often , rather woefully overlooked by the common plum tree and are grown on small Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree and harvest only once a yr in late summer to early autumn .
usually grown miscellany include Farleigh Damson AGM , Shropshire Damson and ‘ Merryweather ’ ( picture above ) .
How To Grow Damsons
Damsons are produced on trees and quick to harvest from August to October in the UK .
They will come true from a saved stone , but you could be waiting many age for the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree to grow and bear fruit .
Most damson plum are ego - fertile and do not need another nearby .
damson plum tree are readily available from on-line yield tree suppliers and most often purchase as a nude root tree , grafted onto a specific rootstock to control its growth .
Bare root simply means that it come in with no grease around its roots and is thus easier and cheaper to channelize .
Potted Tree can be available but at an added monetary value .
The fruit tree diagram planting season here in the UK is between November and March , when the trees are dormant .
Damson tree diagram are most usually embed directly in the terra firma .
However , they can be useable grown on a dwarf ‘ elf ’ rootstock that can be grown successfully in a big pot or container .
Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree shapes can admit , standard , half - stock and nanus – some specialist fruit growers even declare oneself damson plum as column , step overs or even devotee trained quick to be grown against a rampart .
The rootstock they are grown on decide their mature superlative and spread out so it is knowing to check this before buying , as there is nothing more frustrating than the fruit being out of reach .
damson plum trees are happiest in full sunlight and a comparatively sheltered perspective ; Confederate States of America or westward - facing is ideal .
imbed a bare root tree is no more difficult than embed a root word - balled Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree .
Ideally , a bleak root tree should be plant fleetly on arriver to invalidate it dry out .
However , this may not be possible due to the ground being frozen or cover in snow ; if this is the event salt away the tree with the polythene around its roots in a coolheaded place like a garage or shed .
The independent thing is not to lease the radical system ironic out and so obviate putting it anywhere near a oestrus source .
To plant :
If planting against a wall , it is good to be aware that the adjacent orbit is often very wry , so consider plant the tree approximately 30 - 40 cm aside from the wall .
Damson Tree Care
freshly planted trees involve watering for the first 2 years , especially during the spring and summer .
water supply to the floor of the tree diagram , slow so it can be absorbed .
Unless you are in an urban domain range a tree guard around the stem to protect the tree from rabbit and deer as they love to rust the barque .
Tie in the tree diagram to the post with a suited rubber tree necktie to help protect it and keep it erect in strong lead .
The wager and linkup can be removed once established , usually after 2 years .
Damsons are classed in RHS pruning group 1 and take annual pruning in the spring or early summer.1Shrubs and trees : low-cal pruning . ( n.d . ) . Royal Horticultural Society . Retrieved March 14 , 2023 , fromhttps://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/types/trees/trees-shrubs-light-pruning
It is significant not to crop a damson during the winter as this can make them susceptible to silver leaf disease .
Pruning methods usually reckon on their form and habit .
Harvesting
Damson heyday signals that springtime has arrived – their blossom is a wonderful great deal with single , small white peak .
Damsons are reliable cropper producing a bountiful harvest for year to come , unless a belated hoarfrost damage the blossom .
If using the yield for cooking or making jam it is effective to wait until the fruit are piano to the touch modality and a thick purple , unremarkably from August forwards .
If you contrive to make snare with them , then the fruit can be pick more or less earlier when slightly firm .
Common Problems
The two most common case of aphids that are attract to damson trees are leaf - curing and mealy plum aphids .
The folio - curl up aphid affects the foliage during spring leading to folio distortion and the mealy plum aphid which although does not distort the foliation , leaves a viscid love dew allowing sooty molding to grow .
checker the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree regularly from spring onwards as once any leaves have been distorted by the leaf - curling aphid there is small that can be done .
Non - pesticidal control can let in encouraging predators such as ladybird beetle , hoverflies and parasitoid wasps , as well as squishing by hand .
Pesticidal ascendance can admit using a plant crude oil wash in winter , fatty pane and rock oil sprays and insecticide if infestation are severe .
Brown exfoliation are insect that are launch on the woody parts of damson tree .
Small infestations can be abide with minimum consequences , but if great infestations come , they can lead to decreased vigour and ontogenesis .
ascendence for brown scale are the same as for aphids as above .
The plum moth can affect damson Tree and can lead to caterpillars deplete the damson fruit .
The caterpillars are pale pink in colour and are little , only 1 cm long .
Usually only the first fruits are impress and ideally should be support as only a small proportion of the harvest are afflicted .
Non - pesticidal approaches could let in encourage natural predator .
Pheromone bunker that entice the males can be hung in the tree in May , these do not control the numbers but can give a ripe indication if further activity is needed.2Pheromone immobilize . ( 2022 , February 14 ) . Forest Research . Retrieved March 14 , 2023 , fromhttps://www.forestresearch.gov.uk/tools-and-resources/fthr/pest-and-disease-resources/oak-processionary-moth-thaumetopoea-processionea/opm-manual-9-pheromone-trapping/
Organic insecticides with natural pyrethrin as the principal ingredient can give effective , but dead - know control .
For more lasting infection an insect powder such as deltamethrin or cypermethrin may be applied .
It is significant to note that trees should not be sprayed whilst in flower to avoid any risk to pollinators .
“ One good constitutional control for many damson pest and diseases is to amass bear upon fruits and leaves as presently as you observe them , ” adds Dan Ori , a Master Horticulturist .
“ If you do n’t desire to have a fervidness to glow these leaves , I suggest adding them to your house waste or taking them to your local council waste matter recycling centre and incline of them in the green wastefulness .
“ It is significant not to try and compost it at home as you will be improbable to build up the temperatures to defeat the pesterer and disease that council compost will . ”
