I am constantly confused about which fruits are in season when. Many stores sell all the fruits and vegetables in and out of their seasons, making it hard to remember when they run. Plums are the most succulent and popular fruits, so let’s explore when they are in season.
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Plums are considered a summer fruit. The plum season runs from the end of May up to October in the United States of America. Varieties of plums from Japan are first to mature, then European varieties later. You can look at your local farmer’s markets in July and August for local plums too.
Plums are considered stone fruit, and stone fruit are typically only good when they are in season. Their in-season period can span from mid-May to early October, but this can vary depending on the weather conditions and the country where they are grown.
Therefore, it’s essential to know when the season begins and ends.
Related: 23 Top Types Of Plum Trees
What Month Are Plums In Season?
There are 200 different varieties of plum trees growing around the world. The plum season for the most widely sold varieties is in summer, with August being the peak period in the UK, and autumn, in general, in Australia.
Narrowed down, there are six plum tree varieties, including Japanese, American, Damson, Ornamental, Wild, and European or garden plums. However, the two most common fruit-bearing plum trees are the Japanese Plum trees and the European Plum trees.
The season for the Japanese Plum runs from May to August, while the European types mature in the latter part of the year. In the United Kingdom, the season runs in September and October mainly.
Are Plums Available In Winter?
Plums are usually available throughout the spring to fall season in one form or another as there are so many varieties of Plum and so many places where they are widely grown.
Due to importation into the United States, you can find plums in the store year-round.
If you can’t find them at your local fresh food market, you don’t have to worry; plums can fair well with being shipped and handled better than peaches, nectarines, and apricots at similar firmness levels. That gives you a decent chance of finding good ones at the grocery store.
When Are Different Varieties Of Plums Available?
There are several varieties of plums. The color of plums can range from purple to yellow and green, and, since some are picked unripe, a plum season can vary considerably based on how far the fruit is allowed to mature.
The main varieties of plums include the European Plum and the Japanese Plum. These varieties of Plum are harvested at slightly varying times in the season.
European Plums
These plums are primarily grown in California. They have different colored skins, and they ripen later in the season. The season to pick European Plums is from July to October, when they are at their best. This period can change depending on the variety and weather conditions.
Types of European Plums include:
- Mirabelle
- Greengage
- Damson
- Moyer
Japanese Plums
Japanese Plums originated in China but are the most sourced Plum in the USA. Mature fruit has a dark red to purple color. Although considered a spring fruit, harvesting season begins mid-July through to early September, depending on the variety and location. Most Japanese plums bloom and mature earlier than other varieties.
Types of Japanese Plums include:
- El Dorado
- Santa Rosa
- Friar
What Are The Benefits Of Buying Plums In Season?
Purchasing and consuming fruit and vegetables seasonally is beneficial for our menus’, but it is also good for the environment. Being aware of which fruit and vegetables are in season can save on cost, plus by eating seasonal food, your meals will taste that much better!
When fresh foods are in season, it is more widely found, which means that the cost will be lower, as markets and stores may have deals and offers.
One idea for making the most of the seasonal food types is to buy it in bulk and freeze food before it becomes far more costly in the months to come, out of season.
How To Check Whether Your Plum Is Ripe And Ready To Eat?
Not only are plums gorgeously sweet and tasty, but they are also high in antioxidants, and Vitamin C. There’s nothing worse than biting into a hard and bitter plum, so knowing when the plum season runs is helpful.
How do you know exactly when this window is? Once you have bought your package of plums and brought them home, there is an optimal time frame in which to eat them, when you get them at their best. Purchase when their tips are slightly soft; they feel heavy and smell sweet.
A couple of signs which you can look out for which will indicate whether your plums are ripe and just right to eat are:
1. Check The Color Of The Plum
Regardless of the variety of the Plum, they should have a rich, uniform color. A pale color indicates that they are not ready, and if the Plum is at all green, the fruit was picked from the tree prematurely.
2. Smell The Plum
The stone fruit, including plums, should smell like fruit. They should smell both sweet and have a fruity aroma. If there is no smell present, this indicates that the fruit is also not likely to have any taste either.
3. Feel The Plum
Gently squeeze your Plum, which will assist in determining whether it is ripe. It should have some give to it, while the skin is smooth. There should be no wrinkles present, and it should also feel full and heavy for its small size. An overripe plum will be very mushy and squashy.
What Are Seasonal Plum Recipe Ideas?
Plums are sweet, healthy, and delicious! There are benefits to purchasing and consuming fruits and vegetables in season.
Plums are delicious to eat just as a fruit, but they can also be used in delicious baking and cooking.
If ever you may have an over-supply of quickly ripening plums and you are wondering what you should do with them, here are some recipes to get your creativity inspired and your taste buds watering!
Check out these seasonal plum recipe ideas:
- Plum Crumble
- Easy Plum Jam
- Plum Crumble Cake
- Brown Sugar Plum Clafoutis
- Plum Cobbler
- Plum Chutney
- Plum and Oat Muffins
- Plum Turnovers
- Plum Filling Breakfast Bars
- Plum Barbecue Sauce
