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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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Tips for Growing Damsons

  • Damson plants are hungry and like soil that is high in nitrogen and slightly acidic, with a pH of 6-6.5. You can add lime to poor or sandy soils. 
  • Damsons need moist but not waterlogged soil and should be watered during dry spells until they are established.
  • You can choose to plant your Damson tree to be trained and pruned against a wall or to act as a hedge or windbreak in a sunny spot.
  • Protection may be required if you experience late frosts. Try to position your Damson tree in a sheltered area. The flowers bloom in spring and are very delicate, easily damaged by frost. 
  • Mulch around the base to retain moisture and suppress the weeds.
  • A high-potassium feed and composting are required during the growing season, from April to August. 
  • Young fruits need to be thinned out to ensure evenly sized fruits. Maintaining a distance of 2-3 inches between each pair of fruits is sufficient.
  • Damson trees should not be pruned during the dormant season, as it can lead to diseases such as silver leaf and bacterial canker.
  • Any pruning should be done in spring for young trees, once the buds have formed and in summer for more established trees. Also, protect smaller trees with netting to keep birds and wildlife away. You can shape them as bush trees or pyramid trees.
  • You can also train damson trees as fans and cordons.

How to Harvest Damsons

When the fruits have formed during early summer, it may be worth thinning out young fruits, because as the fruits keep coming, the branches can break from the weight of a heavy glut. You may need to support the branches.

Harvesting can be done several times. When it’s ready, the fruit will feel soft when squeezed gently. Wondering when to pick damsons? The best time is between late August and September, but some varieties can last until October.

Pick the Damsons, store them carefully to avoid bruising and discard any damaged fruit. Damsons can be turned into preserves, jams, gins and desserts.

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. 

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