Methley Plum

Methley Plum (Prunus salicina 'Methley')

Methley Plum is an early-ripening Japanese plum prized for heavy crops of sweet, juicy fruit with reddish purple skin and red to amber flesh; its rounded, manageable tree and reliable performance make it a favorite for home orchards and small gardens.

Distinctive Features

Abundant white spring blossoms are followed by medium, aromatic fruit with tender skin and rich, sweet flavor; self-fruitful plants produce well even solo and often bear at a young age.

Growing Conditions

• Sun Exposure: Full sun for strongest bloom, sweetness, and color.
• Soil: Deep, well-drained loam enriched with organic matter; avoid waterlogged sites.
• Water: Keep evenly moist from bloom through fruit swell; reduce slightly after harvest.
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 to 9.
• Mature Size: About 12 to 15 ft tall and wide on semi-dwarf; 8 to 12 ft on dwarf rootstocks.
• Bloom Time: Spring; fruit ripens early season, often early to mid summer.
• Soil pH: Slightly acidic to neutral, about 6.0 to 7.0.

Ideal Uses

• Focal Point: Spring bloom and colorful fruit create a seasonal highlight.
• Home Orchard: Early, reliable harvests for fresh eating and preserves.
• Edible Landscape: Attractive canopy pairs well with herbs and pollinator plantings.
• Small Yard Tree: Manageable size on dwarf or pruned semi-dwarf fits patios and lawns.

Low Maintenance Care

• Watering: Deeply soak when the top 1 to 2 in are dry; increase frequency during heat and fruit swell.
• Pruning: Train to open center; winter prune to renew fruiting wood and summer thin watersprouts for light and airflow.
• Fertilizing: Feed in early spring with a balanced fruit tree fertilizer based on soil test; avoid excess nitrogen that softens fruit.
• Mulching: Apply 2 to 3 in organic mulch, keeping it a few inches from the trunk to conserve moisture and suppress weeds.
• Notes: Self-fruitful yet benefits from thinning to 4 to 6 in spacing; monitor for brown rot and plum curculio and use sanitation where pressure is high.

Why Choose Methley Plum?

• Early Harvest: Enjoy ripe plums ahead of many varieties.
• Self-Fruitful: Good crops from a single tree.
• Sweet, Juicy Fruit: Excellent for fresh eating and jam.
• Home Garden Fit: Compact size and straightforward training.

Plant in full sun with deep, well-drained soil, keep moisture steady during fruit set, and thin and prune regularly for abundant, high-quality early plums.