Satsuma plums are small to medium sized with mottled maroon skins over a green base. The round, plump plums measure between 6 and 7 centimeters in diameter and are firm with tough skins that can be somewhat bitter. The flesh is dark red and meaty offering a juicy consistency.
Are Satsuma plums sweet?
Satsuma Plum TreePrunus cerasifera
A great dessert plum, it is sweet and mild. The Satsuma Plum Tree is a favorite for it’s late summer firm but juicy fruit.
Where do Satsuma plums grow?
A Satsuma Plum is a Japanese variety of trees that produce juicy fruit that you can eat right from the tree. Although the name suggests that this variety of tree is from Japan, it actually originated in China.
How do you know when Satsuma plums are ripe?
When satsuma ripen, they become slightly soft. That’s a good indicator that they are ready to harvest. This softness makes them extremely easy to peel but poses a challenge when harvesting. If they are simply pulled off of the tree, some peel will be left on the tree and the fruit will be compromised.
What color is a satsuma plum?
dark red plums
The Satsuma Plum tree is a Japanese plum variety which is one of the more popular blood plum varieties and prized especially in California. These trees produces delicious dark red plums with radiant white flowers in the spring.
Do you need 2 Satsuma trees to produce fruit?
Owari Mandarin trees, also known as Satsumas, produce a bounty of juicy, easy-to-peel, seedless oranges that ripen early, through December. Because they’re self-pollinating, you only need one to gain this harvest.
How big does a satsuma plum tree get?
Specifications
| Ripening Time | February |
|---|---|
| Growth Habit | Can be espaliered using the “fan” style only. Free standing tree grows to around 3 – 5m tall. |
| Rootstock | Non-dwarfing rootstock |
| Chill Tolerance | Tolerates low chill |
| Plant Sizes | Normal: approx 70-130cm bare rooted; Small: approx 50-70cm bare rooted |
How long does it take a satsuma tree to produce fruit?
about eight years
Satsumas can be grown from seed. These trees will take about eight years to produce their first fruits. They can also be grafted onto other citrus rootstocks which tend to be ready in half the time.
Are Satsuma plums good for you?
Satsuma plums are a good source of vitamin C and iron. They are also a source of vitamin A, B-complex vitamins riboflavin, thiamin, and niacin, as well as potassium, phosphorus and calcium. The deep red flesh and dark skin of the Satsuma plum are a source of anthocyanin, which provides excellent antioxidant benefits.
Is Satsuma plum a blood plum?
Prunus salicina ‘Satsuma’
A true blood plum with dark-red, mid-sized, rounded fruits are borne on vigorous upright branches that develop a willowy habit. The fruit is sweet with a hint of tart making it both a fresh eater as well as the perfect plum for jams and preserves.
What month are satsumas ready to pick?
Satsuma fruit are ready to harvest October through December, ripening before the coldest winter temperatures.
What is the best tasting plum?
Elephant Heart – mottled dark crimson colored skin, rich firm, red, juicy flesh. One of the best tasting plums with extremely sweet flavor. Japanese variety has clingstone fruit.
How long can satsumas stay on the tree?
The fruit will stay good on the tree until late winter. Be sure all of the fruit has been harvested before the tree blooms in the spring. However, all ripe fruit should be harvested from trees prior to a significant freeze. It takes temperatures in the mid- to low 20s for five to 10 hours to freeze the fruit.
What pollinates a satsuma plum?
“Satsuma” plums may be pollinated by “Methey,” “Shiro” and “Toka.” Other useful Japanese plum pollinators are “Beauty,” a large plum with amber-tinged red flesh and bright red skin; “Burbank,” a purplish red plum; and “Santa Rosa,” a large plum with purple flesh and reddish-purple skin.
What kind of plum is Santa Rosa?
Japanese plum
Santa Rosa PlumPrunus salicina ‘Santa Rosa’ This Japanese plum tree fulfills two purposes in your yard — producing beautiful, white spring blooms and delicious fruit. The plums are large in size with red to purple coloring, ripening midseason.
Are Satsuma plums Freestone?
Red to purple flesh with a freestone. The flavour is good, the growth vigorous and its bears particularly well, in fact to get large fruits it may require thinning. The firm, juicy flesh has a sweet spicy flavour.
Where is the best place to plant a satsuma tree?
If planting the satsuma tree in the ground, site it on a south-facing sunny wall to absorb as much heat and sun in winter as possible. Citrus trees need well-drained soil, consistent and deep watering and a regular application of citrus fertilizer throughout the year.
Why are my satsumas so big?
This is a condition called puffy fruit, and it is mostly a problem for young, vigorously growing satsuma trees. It is disappointing, as the fruit look good but are not really fit to eat. Satsuma trees are most likely to do this when they produce fruit in the first five years after planting.
Can you plant a lemon tree next to a satsuma tree?
Since citrus trees do not cross-pollinate, Satsuma (Citrus reticulata) and lemon (Citrus limon) trees can be planted near each other. In addition, Satsuma flowers produce sterile pollen and set fruit without pollination.
Are Satsuma plum trees deciduous?
A small and attractive fruiting deciduous tree, leaves are green and flowers before the onset of fruit, are pink and white and fragrant.
Where should I plant my Japanese plum tree?
Plum trees need full sun to produce sweet fruit, so pick a planting site that gets at least six hours a day. For soil, they prefer loamy, well-draining soil rich with organic matter.