How to Grow Wickson Plum
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Wickson Plum
Prunus salicina 'Wickson'
treeWickson is a vigorous Japanese plum tree that produces large, golden-yellow fruits with a distinctive elongated shape and excellent flavor. It's a heavy bearer known for its ornamental spring blossoms and reliable fruiting habit. The tree grows to 15-20 feet tall and is self-fertile, making it an excellent choice for home orchards.
When should you plant Wickson Plum in your zone?
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Example Wickson Plum timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant Wickson Plum
Around Apr 17Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
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Tend & protect
Late spring–summerWatering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
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Harvest Wickson Plum
Late summer into fallBefore the first fall frost (≈ Nov 8)
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Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives in zones 5-9, with best performance in zones 6-8
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Get my Wickson Plum timeline →Growth Stages
Establishment (Year 1)
12 monthsYoung tree focuses on root and branch development. Minimal flowering may occur; remove blossoms to encourage vegetative growth.
Remove flower buds the first year. Stake for support. Water regularly. Prune to establish central leader structure with 3-4 main scaffold branches.
Development (Years 2-3)
24 monthsTree grows vigorously, developing branch structure. Light flowering and some fruit set may begin in year 3.
Continue formative pruning. Thin any developing fruit to 1 every 6 inches. Maintain consistent watering. Fertilize in early spring with balanced fruit tree fertilizer.
Flowering (Late Winter to Early Spring)
2-3 weeksTree produces abundant white to pale pink blossoms on 2-year-old wood. Flowers appear before or with emerging leaves.
Protect flowers from late frosts if possible. Ensure adequate pollinator access. Flowering is self-fertile, so no second variety strictly needed, though cross-pollination increases yield.
Fruit Development (Spring-Early Summer)
6-8 weeksMarble-sized fruit develops from pollinated flowers. Fruit rapidly increases in size, progressing from green to yellow.
Thin fruit when approximately 1 inch diameter to 1 fruit every 6 inches for larger, higher-quality plums. Maintain consistent watering. Apply liquid fertilizer every 2-3 weeks during this critical period.
Ripening and Harvest (Mid-Summer)
3-4 weeksFruit reaches full golden-yellow color with slight blush. Interior becomes deep golden and juicy. Sugar content peaks.
Monitor ripeness by gentle pressure and color. Pick slightly underripe for storage; fully ripe for fresh eating. Harvest regularly to encourage continued fruit production and prevent branch breakage from heavy loads.
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
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Apply spinosad or pyrethrin when fruit is 1/4 inch diameter. Handpick fallen fruit. Install pheromone traps. Reflective mulches can deter adults.
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Hand-pick in early morning. Use pheromone traps away from tree. Apply spinosad or neem oil if infestation is severe. Encourage native parasitoid wasps.
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Remove fallen or overripe fruit promptly. Use hanging traps with apple cider vinegar and soap. Maintain good sanitation. Thin fruit for faster drying.
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Prune out affected branches. Improve air circulation through thinning. Remove mummified fruit. Apply sulfur or copper fungicide at petal fall and fruit development stages.
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Spray with strong water stream to dislodge. Apply neem oil or insecticidal soap. Encourage beneficial insects like ladybugs and lacewings.
Uses
Fresh eating and desserts
CulinaryWickson plums are exceptional fresh-eating fruits with high sugar content and excellent flavor balance. Perfect for eating out-of-hand, in fruit salads, desserts, and stone fruit tarts. [source]
Preserves and jams
CulinaryThe high pectin content and balanced sugar-acid ratio make Wickson ideal for jam, jelly, and preserves. Can be canned or frozen. [source]
Drying and dried fruit
CulinaryWickson plums can be dried into prunes with concentrated sweetness, suitable for snacking or use in baking and cooking. [source]
Digestive health support
MedicinalPlums are traditionally used to support digestive health due to their sorbitol content and dietary fiber. Fresh or dried plums have mild laxative properties. [source]
Pollinator and wildlife support
WildlifeSpring blossoms provide early-season pollen and nectar for honeybees and native pollinators. Ripened fruit attracts birds and beneficial insects. [source]
This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.
Harvest Tips
Wickson plums ripen mid-July through August depending on region. Pick when fruit yields slightly to gentle pressure and has developed full golden-yellow color. Fruit continues to ripen slightly after harvest. Can be picked slightly underripe for storage in cool conditions (32-35°F) for 2-4 weeks. Handle gently to avoid bruising. Harvest every 2-3 days at peak ripeness for best flavor and to encourage continued production. Expect 50-100+ pounds of fruit per mature tree.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Wickson plum was developed by Luther Burbank in Santa Rosa, California, and released in 1905 as one of his famous plum introductions. It was one of the first commercial plum varieties to gain widespread adoption in American orchards.
- 🌱 The distinctive elongated shape of Wickson plums—wider at the base and tapered toward the stem—makes them easily recognizable and visually striking at farmers markets and orchards.
- 🌱 Wickson trees are remarkably self-fertile and productive, making them ideal for home gardeners; a single tree can produce abundant fruit without requiring a pollinator variety, though cross-pollination with other Japanese plum varieties can increase overall yield.
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