

Removing the pit is fairly easy with these plums because they are a freestone pit, meaning that the pit pops out and lacks the tough, fibrous bits that hold some pits to the fruit meat. Look for very dark purple skin often dusted with a cloudy film.

Italian plums are about the size of a large strawberry, and they have an oblong shape rather. They look much different than the commonly available plums in United States supermarkets. Italian plums, also called Italian prune plums, are a European plum. Read on to learn about Italian plums, their uses, and how to grow your own! Plums isolated on white background What are Italian plums? This tree is perfect for home-growers in the United States because Italian plums are rare finds in supermarkets, so a tree of your own will give you a steady source of these seasonal fruit. For more information read our guide to tools for pruning, and if you’re looking to update your kit, our experts have been busy testing the best pruning saws, the best secateurs and the best anvil loppers, so you can buy with confidence.Italian plums are a sweet, oblong fruit that steal the show in German baked goods during fall and winter. Whether it’s a pair of long-handled loppers, pruning saw or secateurs, using the right tool is essential for this task. Heavy pruning can also affect cropping, as fruits are produced on one- or two-year-old shoots. If your plum tree is unproductive or is only producing fruit every two years (known as biennial bearing), the cause may be lack of moisture at the roots, or a late frost affecting the flowers in spring. Each pruning cut will result in several thin shoots growing – these will need to be thinned the following summer. If you want to renovate an old, neglected plum tree, do it gradually, over several years. Also pull up any suckers that are growing from the base, and grub out any buds growing on the trunk. P rune the branches by about a third, then prune away shoots growing into the centre of the tree, plus any that are dead, damaged or crossing. Prune to create an open, wine glass shape. Again, the aim is to keep the tree a manageable size and shape, while allowing the fruit to ripen.

Established plum trees that are more than three years old can be pruned in summer, from mid-June onwards.
