- See also:
- Eating plums34
- Dual-purpose plums18
- Japanese plums2
Plum varieties which are great for cooking with
These plum varieties have a sharp tangy flavour and good flesh consistency, which make them ideal for use in the kitchen.
Belle de Louvain
Belle de Louvain is a large purple culinary plum, useful because it can be grown on north-facing walls.£38.75buy- Picking season: Mid
- Self-fertility: Partially self-fertile
- Flowering group: 3
Blaisdon Red
Blaisdon Red is one of the best plum varieties for making plum jam.£38.75 - £41.25buy- Picking season: Mid
- Self-fertility: Not self-fertile
- Flowering group: 3
Dittisham Ploughman
Dittisham Ploughman is a traditional dual-purpose plum from southern Devon.£34.95buy- Picking season: Late
- Self-fertility: Not self-fertile
- Flowering group: 3
Hauszwetsche German Prune
Hauszwetsche is a damson-like Quetsche or Zwetsche plum, ideal for German-style cakes and desserts.£38.75 - £61.50buy- Picking season: Late
- Self-fertility: Self-fertile
- Flowering group: 4
Kirke's Blue
An old-fashioned blue plum with a rich sweet flavour.£38.75buy- Picking season: Mid
- Self-fertility: Not self-fertile
- Flowering group: 3
Purple Pershore
Very similar to Yellow Pershore and with the same excellent culinary qualities.£38.75 - £41.25buy- Picking season: Mid
- Self-fertility: Self-fertile
- Flowering group: 4
- Awards: RHS AGM (former)
Sanctus Hubertus
One of the best cropping early-season plums.£38.75 - £41.25buy- Picking season: Early
- Self-fertility: Not self-fertile
- Flowering group: 3
- Awards: RHS AGM (former)
Yellow Pershore
Also known as Yellow Egg, Yellow Pershore is a self-fertile heavy cropping culinary plum.£38.75 - £51.00buy- Picking season: Mid
- Self-fertility: Self-fertile
- Flowering group: 4
How to choose Plums for cooking
Czar, a dark blue plum, is perhaps the best known English cooking plum, but Purple Pershore and Yellow Pershore, and Blaisdon Red are all superb for plum jam.
Adventurous cooks might want to experiment with plum cookery traditions from elsewhere. Try Hauszetsche, a kind of "zwetchen" plum popular in central Europe, and characterised by a very dry sweet flesh