Methley plums, which is a variety of the Prunus salicina, is an easy-to-grow fruit tree that produces delicious and juicy fruit during the middle of July. It is a hybrid between the Prunus cerasifera and the Prunus salicina, and was unintentionally discovered as a seedling in South Africa.
The Methley plum tree has bright green leaves, and they grow together on the tree. The fruit has deep red chalky skin with red and orange flesh. Occasionally, the skin has a purplish color with bright red flesh. In early spring, white, fragrant flowers will bloom. After 3 to 6 years of its growth, the tree will begin to bear fruit. Although the tree is small, it has a widespread and rough bark. It can grow to be 18 to 20 feet tall and wide, and its growth rate is 15 to 20 inches per year.
The Methley plum tree is best suited for USDA regions 5 through 9, and it thrives in areas that are warm and dry. It is both drought and heat tolerant once it has been established.
Methley plum trees are low maintenance, making them perfect for people who have not grown a fruit tree before or live in climates outside of USDA hardiness zones 5 through 9. The trees need to receive at least 6 hours of full sunlight a day. When planting the saplings, they need to be given 18 to 21 feet of space to grow freely.
Pruning for the Methley plum tree should be done in early spring and winter before the buds break to avoid infection. When the plant is in its first two years of growth, prune the tree to have an open center and thin out some of the limbs. Remove interior branches, water sprouts, growing scaffold branches, and dead, diseased, and damaged wood. You should remove vigorous upright shoots since fruiting occurs more on older wood once it matures.
Propagation of the Methley plum tree is easy. First, take a hardwood cutting during late autumn or winter. It is best to take from two-year-old growth, and it should be at least three-eighths-inch thick. Then, use shears to cut through the branch without damaging the tree. You must plant this cutting in full sun and fertile soil.
Methley Plum Fruit and Harvesting
Methley plums can be consumed in nearly every way imaginable. They can be sauteed, baked, boiled, canned, juiced, and much more. You can also dehydrate them into prunes. When it has fully ripened, the Methley plum can produce about one-fourth of a cup of juice, and a single tree can grow an abundance of fruit.
The Methley plum can still ripen once it has been picked from the tree and can do so on its own once it has been harvested. To do this, place them in a paper bag and close it loosely. Then, leave the bag in a dark place at room temperature and check on it 24 hours. Adding another fruit, such as apples, can speed the ripening process by adding more ethylene gas.
Methley plums are firm when ready to harvest, and usually, they can be picked between May and July, depending on the climate. The skin will be chalky and red or purple with a tart flavor, and the fruit will be sweet and juicy. To harvest the plums, twist the fruit at an angle off of the branch instead of pulling it to avoid damaging the branch. You can also use scissors or another sharp and sterile object to cut the fruit off of the tree.
Methley Plum Advice
The Methley plum tree grows best in loamy, dry, and well-drained soil. It should also have a pH level between 6.0 and 7.0. Excess water in the plant, either because of overwatering or compact soil, can cause disease in the roots. You should give young trees two gallons of water twice a week, and you should give up mature trees up to 8 gallons of water twice a week. It may need to be watered more often in its early growth stages and during the summer. Make sure that the soil is mostly dry before watering it again.
Before the leaves of the young Methley plum trees sprout in the spring, you should use a water-soluble granular fertilizer over a 3 feet wide radius at the tree’s base. Calcium nitrate or ammonium nitrate can be used in the middle of spring and again at the beginning of summer.
FAQs
Do Methley plums fruit on new wood?
Methley plums fruit on new wood, so keeping the top branches pruned is important. You should do this about once a year.
Are Methley plum trees high maintenance?
Methley plum trees are not too high maintenance, but they can be picky. This is mostly because they require fertile soil and full sun—so much that putting the tree in the shade can stunt its growth or even kill it. But, on the other hand, it can tolerate cold temperatures as low as -10 degrees Fahrenheit.
How much do Methley plum trees cost?
On average, Methley plum trees cost about $90.00 for a tree that is 3 to 4 feet, $100.00 for a tree that is 4 to 5 feet, and $120.00 for a tree that is between 5 and 6 feet.
Are Methley plums good for canning?
Since Methley plums are firm and not overly sweet, they are great for canning. However, adding a bit of sugar for sweetness and to enhance the flavor may be necessary.
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