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Should I plant Victoria plum?

Invicta2Invicta2 Posts: 663
in Fruit & veg

When I joined the forum in spring this year I was considering planting a Victoria plum tree in the autumn. It seemed to tick the right boxes , hardy in the North West, tolerant of clay soil, self fertile and a good cropper. However there have been a lot of threads on the forum about the numerous problems that gardeners with this variety of plum have faced; though I don't think I will be affected by voracious pheasants, which are making me have second thoughts.

There could be two answers:

1) Victoria plum is planted so much more than other plums that it is bound to feature in the threads by sheer volume of numbers.

2) The variety has intrinsic problems and I would be better planting a different variety, perhaps lacking some of Victoria's advantages but a having a healthier constitution.

What are gardeners views on Victoria plum, should I try a different plum, or even a a completely different fruit tree such as a mulberry?

Posts

  • Alan4711Alan4711 Posts: 1,657

    Hi Invicta, We were the same,so we asked our G/C who said a Plum "Cambs Gage "" was good for off the tree eating and great for cooking ,at present it looks to be a really good choice ,looking forward to eating, good luck

  • PalaisglidePalaisglide Posts: 3,414

    I grew up with Victoria plums three of them espalier on south facing and west facing walls of our garden. They had been planted when Victoria was still on the throne so when I knew them quite old but so fruitful. I could not wait for them to ripen and being on a wall tied in to wires they did not break branches we had trouble with wasps when they ripened but then we did with all the fruit, Dad would say they need some too, that was his attitude live in harmony. I never tasted better than a sun ripened Victoria although we had hedge rows of plums and pears around the village of different types free to pick. If you have a wall then go for it as an espalier, even a good solid fence though they do live a long time.

    Frank.

  • Invicta2Invicta2 Posts: 663

    Hi

    Thanks for your replies. I would be concerned that Cambridge Gage might not ripen its fruit up here in the North west of England, especially as I cannot plant it on my south wall as that is successfully occupied by a Fig tree. Very tempted by a Mulberry as I think they are luscious, but I will give Victoria a go after all as I have seen it growing successfully up here as an open grown tree.

    Neil

  • chickychicky Posts: 10,409

    We have Victoria plums, one planted 5 years ago, two last winter.  All are doing well.  you can thin the fruit out if it looks like the crop is going to be too heavy.  Only problem is that all the fruit ripens in the space of a fortnight - but cut them in half and they freeze very wellimage

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,136
    When we had a Victoria we put wooden props (like clothes props) under the branches when they began to sag because of a heavy crop. It worked. image Don't know why it's in italics image

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,136

    Oh, it isn't in italics now image


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





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