Crops › Plum (Japanese)
How to grow Plum (Japanese)
in the US
Sow March to November, plant out December, harvest June to September. About 730 days from seed to plate.
Shown for zone 6. Zone table further down.
Plums, proper cracking fruit, aren't they? Japanese Plums, they're a bit special, offering big juicy things that make all the effort on the plot worthwhile, you know. They might take a bit of patience, but getting a good crop of your own is dead chuffed.
Sowing
Starting Japanese Plums from seed, it's a bit of a marathon, not a sprint, taking about two years until you get your first proper crop. Sow them indoors, about an inch deep, in trays or small pots with some good potting mix. When to sow depends a fair bit on where you are. For folks in zones 3 and 4, you're looking at April or May. Zone 5 can start a bit earlier in March, going through May. Further south, zones 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10, you've got options in the fall too, October, November, even December for the warmest spots, alongside some spring sowing. Just check your local last frost date for spring planting.
Growing on
Once your seedlings are big enough to handle, carefully prick 'em out and pot 'em on into bigger pots. They'll need a good, sunny spot on a windowsill or in a cold frame to grow on sturdy. Before planting out in their permanent spot, you'll need to harden them off for a week or two, gradually getting them used to the outside. Plant them once all danger of frost is past, giving them plenty of space, you know, a good 15 to 20 feet (about 4.5 to 6 meters) if you can, depending on the rootstock.
Looking after it
Plums need a good drink, especially when they're young and when the fruit is setting. Keep the soil moist, not waterlogged. A good layer of mulch around the base helps keep the moisture in and weeds down. You can give them a balanced fertilizer in early spring as they're getting going. Proper care through the year means healthier trees and better fruit.
What goes wrong
Watch out for plum curculio, they can really damage the fruit. Aphids can be a pest too, you'll spot them on new growth. Brown rot and black knot are common diseases; good airflow and pruning out affected branches help a lot. Keep an eye on your trees, prevention is always easier than a cure, to be honest.
Harvest
You'll be harvesting from July right through to September, depending on the variety and your zone. Plums are ready when they're soft to the touch and come away easily from the branch. Store them in a cool, dry spot, or pop them in the refrigerator if you've got a proper glut. They're cracking for jams, pies, or just eating fresh off the tree.
I always make sure to plant some daffodils around my plum trees. Not just because they look lovely, mind, but they're cracking companion plants and seem to keep some of the bother away.
Dates for your plot
Type your zone and the plant-out advice shifts to your frost dates.
Varieties, and whether the club would grow them again
| Variety | Club verdict |
|---|---|
| Santa Rosa A classic Japanese plum, Santa Rosa is a reliable performer. It's often one of the first varieties people choose for its consistent yields and lovely flavor. | No club votes yet |
| Shiro Shiro is another solid choice amongst Japanese plums, known for being a reliable performer. Expect good crops of yellow-skinned fruit, great for fresh eating or preserves. | No club votes yet |
| Satsuma This Satsuma variety is a reliable performer, offering deep red, sweet fruit. It's a good one if you like plums with a bit of a richer taste. | No club votes yet |
| Methley Methley is a trusty Japanese plum, a reliable performer that often ripens early. It's a fine choice for getting some of the first fresh plums of the season. | No club votes yet |
| Black Amber A dark-skinned beauty, Black Amber is a reliable performer in the Japanese plum family. It's a good one to try if you fancy something a bit different. | No club votes yet |
| Burgundy Burgundy is a reliable performer, giving you sweet, firm fruit. It's a cracking variety that keeps well once picked, handy for a bigger crop. | No club votes yet |
| Beauty True to its name, Beauty is a reliable performer, known for its attractive fruit. This one's a good all-rounder for any backyard orchard. | No club votes yet |
| Elephant Heart This distinctive Japanese plum, Elephant Heart, is a reliable performer with large, heart-shaped fruit. It's a bit of a showstopper for those who want something impressive. | No club votes yet |
| Ozark Premier Ozark Premier is a reliable performer, offering large, juicy plums. It's a good choice for consistent harvests and versatile use in the kitchen. | No club votes yet |
| Toka Toka, sometimes called the 'Bubblegum Plum', is a reliable performer, known for its unique flavor. This one's a proper treat and often a favorite with the kids. | No club votes yet |
| Fortune Fortune is a reliable performer, giving you good sized, firm plums. It's a cracking late-season variety that extends your harvest. | No club votes yet |
| Autumn Rosa Autumn Rosa is a reliable performer, ripening later in the season. It's a fine choice for extending your fresh plum supply right into fall. | No club votes yet |
| Queen Rosa Queen Rosa is a reliable performer among Japanese plums, known for its good size and sweet taste. This variety is a strong contender for anyone wanting a generous harvest. | No club votes yet |
| Friar Friar is a reliable performer, offering large, dark-skinned plums. It's a good, solid choice for a late-season harvest that stores well. | No club votes yet |
| Mariposa Mariposa is a reliable performer, giving you sweet, juicy fruit with a lovely red flesh. It's a fine option if you're looking for a plum with a bit of character. | No club votes yet |
Votes are members rating varieties in their Seed Tin, one vote per gardener. Tap a variety for the full page and where to buy.
Buy Plum (Japanese) seeds
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Sowing by USDA zone
| Zone | Sow / plant | Harvest |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | April to May | August to September |
| Zone 4 | April to May | July to September |
| Zone 5 | March to May | July to September |
| Zone 6 | March to November | June to September |
| Zone 7 | March to November | June to September |
| Zone 8 | February to November | May to September |
| Zone 9 | February to December | May to September |
| Zone 10 | November to February | April to September |
Cook the harvest
Grilling plums over high heat caramelizes their natural sugars and adds a subtle smokiness that transforms them into an effortlessly elegant dessert. Served warm over cool, honey-sweetened mascarpone with a handful of toasted pistachios, this is a five-ingredient summer dessert that takes twelve minutes and impresses every time.
13 min · easyThe quintessential German summer cake — a simple yeast dough base blanketed with rows upon rows of halved Italian prune plums, each one pressing into the dough as it bakes and releasing sweet-tart juices that soak into the crust below. Finished with a cinnamon sugar topping and a drift of powdered sugar, this is a cake that tastes exactly like late summer in Bavaria. It is unfussy and extraordinary.
70 min · mediumOven-roasted plums become deeply caramelized and jammy, creating a warm, luxurious sauce that is the perfect contrast to cold, creamy vanilla ice cream. This is one of those deceptively simple desserts that feels profoundly indulgent. The roasting takes just 20 minutes and the plums release their juices into a gorgeous, spoonable syrup.
25 min · easyThis rich, smoky-sweet plum sauce gets depth from a splash of bourbon that cooks down with fresh plums, brown sugar, and warming spices into a glossy, complex sauce. It is outstanding spooned over roasted pork tenderloin, grilled duck breast, or pan-seared chicken thighs. It also doubles as an elevated dipping sauce for spring rolls and dumplings.
35 min · easyWatch for, and grow alongside
Companions: nasturtium, chives, comfrey, white clover, yarrow, daffodils
Questions people ask
When do you sow Plum (Japanese) in the US?
Sow Plum (Japanese) from March to November in zone 6, earlier or later by zone. Plant out December, after the last frost.
How long does Plum (Japanese) take from sowing to harvest?
Roughly 730 days, with the harvest June to September.
Which Plum (Japanese) varieties do gardeners grow again?
Club members rate every variety they grow. This page shows the grow-again votes for Santa Rosa, Shiro, Satsuma, Methley and more.
Track your Plum (Japanese) from packet to plate
Sowing reminders and harvest forecasts for your own frost dates, the Seed Tin, Scan Centre for any label or packet, and the Potty Mouth Garden Club. Free to start.
Allotment keeper in the North East of England, the voice behind the Tony C Smith YouTube channel, and the gardener who built GrowMore CookMore. Club numbers on this page update as members log their plots. Last updated 3 September 2026.