Opal plum tree

Prunus domestica 'Opal'

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• Gardening skill: Beginner
• Picking season: Early Late July
• Self-fertility: Self-fertile
• Pollination group: 3

Opal is probably the best-flavored early plum variety - indeed it is sometimes called a gage-like plum thanks to the excellence of its flavor. However the flavor depends crucially on developing sugars during the short growing period, and in northern gardens Opal really benefits from being grown in a sunny aspect. In less favourable situations it will still give good crops but with a less intense flavor.

The fruit is medium-sized, colored dusky red with a heavy bloom, becoming blue when overripe. The plums ripen over a period of about 1-2 weeks, so you don't have to deal with a glut. The flesh is straw-yellow and fairly juicy. Opal is a free-stone plum - the stone falls away easily from the flesh. If picked on a warm July day and placed in a fruit bowl Opal also has a wonderful aroma.

Please note we cannot deliver Opal plum trees to California.

Opal plum trees for sale

• Semi-dwarf 1-year bare-root tree $37.95
  Mature height: 8ft-12ft after 10 years
  Semi-dwarf rootstock
  

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How to grow

Opal is very easy to grow, and crops reliably. It has the potential to produce a heavy crop, and in a good spring it is likely that too much of the blossom will set fruit. This will lead to a very large crop of very small plums which will lack flavor. If this seems to be happening, thin the fruitlets towards the end of May so that there is one plum per cluster, with about 2" / 5cm or so between each plum. Thinning plums is a tedious business, but you won't regret it as the ones left will be bigger and with better flavor.

Opal is very hardy and a good choice for colder climate zones.

Advice on fruit tree pollination.

History

Opal was developed in Sweden in 1925 from a cross between Oullins Gage and Early Favourite.

Opal characteristics

• Gardening skillBeginner
• Self-fertilitySelf-fertile
• Pollination group3
• Pollinating othersAverage
• Picking seasonEarly - Late July
• UsesEating fresh
• Keeping (of fruit)1-3 days
• General resistanceGood
• Cold hardiness (USDA)Zone 4 (-34C)
• Summer maximum temperaturesCool ( 20-24C / 68-75F)Warm (25-30C / 76-85F)Cold (< 20C / 67F)
• Country of originSweden
• Period of origin1900 - 1949
• Fruit colorRed