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Growing Damsons at the Allotment

Growing Damsons at the Allotment

Damsons are a form of plum but are a hardier plant that will have a better success rate of cropping than a plum tree in the wrong growing conditions. Damsons, with their tart flavour, are more often used for cooking and wines than eaten fresh and raw.

If your allotment is in the north, where the temperature remains unfavourable or in the north-west receiving way too much rain and you find most fruit trees unable to thrive, growing Damsons can be a good idea. Damsons have a hardiness rating of H6 and can survive temperatures between -20℃ and 15℃. Damson fruits are either blue-black or yellow with yellow-green flesh, while the trees bear pretty flowers during spring. 

Damsons are beginner-friendly, as they take very little maintenance and reward with a bountiful harvest. It is also a great plant that attracts pollinators like bees, helping with plant reproduction and maintaining biodiversity.

If you are planning on growing Damsons in the UK and struggling to understand when to plant Damsons and the right time to pick the fruit, this guide is for you. Read on to learn more about how to grow Damsons. 

How to Grow Damsons

Damsons grow as a free-standing tree. For those with limited space, you can even fan-train it to grow against a wall. You can choose dwarf varieties for containers or smaller spaces. There are different varieties of Damsons to choose from and a more local variant is better suited to your climatic conditions. Growing damsons requires a rootstock that controls the tree size. 

Some popular rootstock variants include ‘Pixy’, ‘VVA-1’, ‘St Julian A’ and ‘Wavit’, semi-dwarfing variants that can be trained as a bush. ‘Brompton’ is a vigorous plant growing as a free-standing tree.

Some popular variants of Damsons include:

  • ‘Prune’ damsons produce the classic, high-quality and medium-sized fruit
  • ‘Farleigh’ damsons are heavy-cropping with small-sized fruits
  • ‘Merryweather’ damsons produce relatively large fruits
  • ‘King of the Damsons’ is a self-fertile plant producing large fruits

  • ‘Blue violent’ damsons are a small, mid-season variety

    ‘Michaelmas’ are a late-season variety with sharp-tasting fruits

When to Plant Damsons

Bareroot dormant plants can be planted during winter to early spring and container-grown trees can be planted any time. The period from November to March is often considered the ideal time to plant plug plants.

You should avoid planting damsons in hot, dry conditions. Damson plants are well-suited to extreme cold and can even survive in regions receiving ample rainfall. However, you must ensure the soil doesn’t get waterlogged. 

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Growing Damsons in Summary

Planting Damsons

  • Plant dormant bareroot trees in winter to early spring
  • Plant container grown trees any time
  • Plant in a sunny spot with good pH levels

Growing Damsons

  • Water well until established, do not allow to get water-logged
  • Prune young trees in spring or summer for established trees 
  • Protect against frosts and birds

Harvesting Damsons

  • Pick young fruit to thin out or support branches
  • Pick ripened fruit over several times
  • Can be used in cooking and wine-making

Learn More on Allotment Online

Are you interested in growing damsons in the UK? These tasty yet hardy variants are well-suited to the local weather and diverse soil conditions. Whether you are someone looking to grow damsons for the first time or someone looking to improve your produce, our community can offer the right support and advice. 

Do you have growing-related questions? Sign up for our community today.

Do you want specific tips for growing peaches, pears and strawberries? Visit our Grow Your Own page for more such tips and advice.