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All about apples, pears, plums, and cherries - and orchards where they are grown

Shropshire Prune Damson tree

Owner: Robin

Location:  Mirsk, DOLNY SLASK, Poland

Age:Planted in about 2016
Age of this tree:8 years
Soil:Clay rich improved by digging in well rotted compost, leaf mould and some wood ashes 
Climate at this location:Central European Transition climate
Tree form:Half-standard
Height:Up to 6ft / 2m
Cropping:Not specified
Growth:Not specified
Herbicides:Manual treatment (hoeing and weeding)
Pesticides:Not sure
Local pests:deer

Owner's comments

This is one of six damson trees (2 x Farleigh, 2 x Merryweather, 2 x Shropshire Prune) which were planted here in SW Poland on 27th October 2016 in a clay rich soil with some leaf mould, well rotted compost and tree ashes dug in, on a plateau very slightly north facing, with plenty of direct sunlight. Protected from deer grazing by a chicken wire cage 1m x 1m x 1,6m. Mulch of a wheelbarrow full of fallen leaves has been applied. The winters here are obviously a bit harder than in the UK, so it is a bit of a calculated risk - however on the farm we already have one very large very plum tree which produces fruits not dissimilar to damsons proper, as well as several more typical plum trees and what appear to be some Mirabelle plums.