Plum - 'Early Italian' Dwarf Plum Tree
The large, sweet, oblong, purple freestone fruit of the Early Italian Plum is perfect for fresh eating or preserving in a multitude of ways, including canning and drying. European plums are the best plum varieties in cold climates, and this hardy and vigorous mid season plum ripens 14 days earlier than traditional Italian Plums. The delicious yellow-green flesh turns to a beautiful rich red wine color when cooked. This is a self-fertile tree also great for commercial production. It is considered an easy tree to get established and can begin bearing fruit from between three to six years. Considered self-fertile, but will have greater production when cross-pollinated with another European plum variety.
The Early Italian Dwarf Plum tree under ideal growing conditions should reach a height of 20' and a spread of 10'. Like all fruit trees, it requires full sun exposure and should be pruned annually for best crop yield. As a zone 5 plum (there are some sources that put this at a zone 4), plant Early Italian Dwarf in a protected, warmer region of your yard away from harsh winds and mulch well. Plums like well-drained soil and avoid competition with grass at the base of the tree. Fruit should ripen June to early August with high yields.
Special Considerations: Prune when young to create an open branching structure that allows for even light distribution and more consistent ripening of fruit. Better yields associated with cross-pollination with another European plum (Prunus domestica). For general care and maintenance of plum trees, watch for plum aphids, caterpillars, fruit tree red spider mite, brown scale, plum moth, bullfinches, silver leaf, bacterial canker, and brown rot.