Prunus 'Herman' | Plum Tree
Very early season free stone plum perfect for starting the plum season
'Herman' is very early fruiting plum tree that gives blue-purple fruits, which are sweet and juicy. They can be eaten fresh from the tree, but are also very good in desserts and jams. Self-fertile, this tree has no need for any others to be planted near it, so you are assured fruit every year, so long as the weather and pollination situations are good.
Variety Information
- Pollination Group: 2
- Self-Fertile: Yes
- Harvesting Period: Early (July)
- Estimated Time to Cropping: 2 Years
- Estimated Time to Best Yields: 5 Years
- Uses: Eating Fresh, Cooking
Size Options:
- Rootstock (Eventual Height): VVA-1 (2.5-3m) / St. Julien A (3.5-4m)
- Supplied As: 12L Pot / Bare Root / 9L Pot
- Supplied By: Frank P. Matthews / Primrose / Primrose
- Price: £62.99 / RRP £24.99 / RRP £30.99
- Supplied As: 9L Pot
- Height on Arrival: 120-150cm (4-5 ft)
- Age: 2 Years with 4 Year Rootstock
- Rootstock: St. Julien A
- Eventual Height & Spread: 4m x 4m (13 x 13ft)
Dwarfing rootstocks produce smaller trees than the one grown on its own roots. Some rootstocks have a greater dwarfing effect than others, with Pixy/VVA-1 producing the smallest tree. While having a smaller tree may sound like a negative, it is actually highly beneficial! Dwarfing trees will crop earlier in their lives; placing more energy into their fruiting instead of vegetative growth. Nonetheless, some dwarfing rootstocks, such as Pixy and VVA-1, need permanent staking to make sure that they aren't uprooted by strong winds.
Some plum trees are self-fertile, while others need a pollination partner from the same or neighbouring pollination group. Although self-fertile varieties form fruit without the help of a pollination partner, a pollination partner will still greaten their yields. Please note, Japanese plum trees can't pollinate regular plum trees as they belong to a different species.
We have developed an eco friendly polypot that is currently in use across our 9 litre range. This polypot has less than 20% of the plastic used by a regular pot, and is importantly recyclable. Polypots also prevent root spiraling, encouraging a healthier root system.
All trees arrive in an extra thick cardboard box with a clamp to hold their pot in place. This prevents them from moving around on their journey.
Nursery staff will wrap the roots of our bare root trees and use compost to keep them moist during transportation. This extra protection prevents them from drying out, allowing for a flying start. We also use the same specialised box that our potted trees have to keep them nice and secure as they make their way to your home.
Please note: where your plant is supplied with a pot, your plant's 'Height on Arrival' includes the pot
Bare root and containerised trees have differing planting requirements, detailed below:
- Watering: Bare root trees should have their roots soaked in water for up to 2 hours before planting, while with containerised trees, it is important to drench their root ball before planting.
- Pruning: Another difference is that for bare root trees, it is useful to prune their woody roots back a few inches. However, for containerised trees, you should free any spiralized roots growing around their rootball's circumference.
- Planting: With bare root trees, you should dig a hole to enable the graft point to be above the soil, while with containerised trees, the pot should sit no lower than an inch below the ground.
Advice on hot and droopy plants
If your plants are looking a little wilted right now, don’t worry! Plants like to be filled with water to keep their structure, and when it’s hot that water evaporates.
Just give them an off-schedule watering and they’ll be right as rain in no time! Be careful not to flood them - plants don’t like extremes.
- Hardiness: Plum trees are well accustomed to colder regions, so the UK’s mild winters will not risk damage.
- Position: In the UK, the greatest barrier to successful fruiting is lack of sunlight, so be sure to plant your plum tree in full sun. Choosing a sheltered location will help prevent uprooting and allow it to leverage more resources into fruiting.
- Soil: Soil types can be an unwelcome confusion as many plants will adapt to their conditions. Nonetheless, less than ideal conditions will certainly limit your tree’s growth. Waterlogged soils will starve your tree of oxygen, which plays a key role in photosynthesis; causing its roots to rot and creating an optimal environment for disease. Similarly, compressed soils can starve a tree of oxygen and water, so do not compress the soil when planting. Plum trees prefer soils with a pH between 5.5 - 6.5, and a pH beyond this range will reduce its uptake of nutrients.
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| Is Collection/Mix? | No |
|---|---|
| Needs Ericaceous Compost? | No |