How to plant and care for Plum (Victoria)

Prunus domestica

🌳 Tree 🍓 Fruit 🔁 Perennial

A highly popular and reliable self-fertile English plum, 'Victoria' is renowned for its heavy crops of large, oval, red-flushed yellow fruits. Excellent for eating fresh, cooking, or preserving. A vigorous grower, it's a great choice for home orchards.

At a glance: harvest in August.

When to plant and care for it

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Harvest

Prune

Timed for a typical UK garden (last frost mid-April). The app uses your own town's frost dates.

Growing Plum (Victoria): what it needs

Light: Full sun · 6+ hours a day
Watering: Regularly during establishment (first 1-2 years), then as needed during dry spells.
Soil: Well-draining, fertile loam · pH 6.0–7.0
Spacing: 3-5m apart
In pots: Best in the ground
Feeding: Apply a balanced fruit tree fertilizer in early spring before new growth begins.
Hardiness: USDA zones 5–8
Difficulty: Intermediate

Step by step

On planting day
Plant Plum Tree
Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball and just as deep. Ensure the graft union is above soil level.
Straight after “Plant Plum Tree”
Water In Plum Tree
Water thoroughly immediately after planting to settle the soil around the roots.
Straight after “Plant Plum Tree”
Stake Plum Tree
Install a sturdy stake to support the young tree for its first 1-2 years, preventing wind rock.
7 days after “Plant Plum Tree”
First Feed for Establishment
Apply a slow-release, balanced fertilizer around the base of the tree, keeping it away from the trunk.

Every year

February
Dormant Pruning
Prune out dead, diseased, or crossing branches. Shape the tree for good air circulation and light penetration.
March
Spring Fertilizing
Apply a balanced fruit tree fertilizer or well-rotted compost around the drip line of the tree.
April
Spring Pest & Disease Check
Inspect for early signs of pests (aphids, plum sawfly) or diseases (canker, brown rot). Treat as necessary.
June
Thinning Fruit
Thin developing plums to 5-10cm apart after the 'June drop' to encourage larger, healthier fruit and prevent branch breakage.
July
Summer Pruning (Optional)
Lightly prune in summer to restrict growth, remove unwanted shoots, or improve light penetration to ripening fruit. Avoid heavy pruning.
August
Harvest Victoria Plums
Pick plums when they are fully colored, slightly soft to the touch, and detach easily from the branch.
October
Autumn Mulching
Apply a fresh layer of organic mulch (compost, wood chips) around the base of the tree to conserve moisture and suppress weeds.