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Home » Seasonal Guides » Plums

Published: Feb 28, 2020 · Modified: Sep 8, 2021 by Veronica T

Plums

Plums are in season from late spring into mid-fall. Get tips on picking, storing, and of course, recipes!

Plums don't get sweeter after they are picked, but since they ship better than other stone fruits, they have a higher chance of having ripened longer on the tree.

Jump to:
  • Plum varieties
  • Pluots, plumcots, and apriums
  • When are plums in season?
  • How to buy & store
  • Common questions about plums
  • Recipes with plums
  • More resources

Plum varieties

Black plum variety

Black plums

Black plums have red flesh (whereas other types have yellow flesh). Because of this, they can be used as a dye to keep other fruit red when baking (like in a cherry pie). These tend to be one of the sweeter types of plums and are great in desserts.

red plum

Red plums

These can be hard to distinguish from black plums as the skin colors can be similar depending on the specific variety and stage of ripeness. However, the flesh is yellow (not red). These tend to be more sour-sweet than black plums, making them more common in soups and stews than desserts.

cherry plum

Cherry plums

These are much smaller and have yellow flesh with a sweet-tart flavor.

yellow plum

Yellow plums

Yellow skin and yellow flesh with a sweet flavor, and slight tart finish. Great for recipes when you don't want anything to turn red.

Prune type of plum: oval and often has white 'blooming' on the skin

Prune-type plums

These are used for drying into prunes as well as making preserves. However, they can also be eaten fresh. The skin tends to be blueish-purple to red (more red is pictured), often with white 'bloom' on the skin.

Sloe plums

Sloe plums

Sloe plums are a wild variety about the size of a dime. They are very astringent and taste generally unpleasant raw, but makes for an interesting liquor: sloe gin. It is very unlikely you'll find these in stores or even farmers markets (I was able to eat them at a farm-stay in Italy)

Pluots, plumcots, and apriums

All of these are plum-apricot hybrids, with varying ratios of parentage. The cross with apricots makes these hybrids sweeter and more aromatic then regular plums.

The pluot & plum guide lists the varieties and differences.

Plumcots and pluots

When are plums in season?

Plums are in season from May through October. Check your farmers markets in July and August for local plums, picked nice and ripe!

If you can't find them at a local farmers market, don't fret. Plums stand up to shipping and handling better than peaches, nectarines, and apricots at similar firmness levels. That gives you a decent chance of finding good ones at the grocery store.

What else is in season?

See what else is in season at the same time: May, June, July, August, September, and October.

How to buy & store

To pick the best plums...

Look for plump fruit, paying attention to the stem end - the fuller it fills up and around, the longer it stayed on the tree. Make sure there are no wrinkles in the skin.

Ripe ones yield to gentle pressure. While they can get softer after you take them home, they do not get sweeter or more flavorful.

Storing plums

Leave on the counter for a few days if they aren't yet soft (remember, this won't make them sweeter). If they are ripe, put them in the fridge and they should last for a few days.

Common questions about plums

What is the white coating on plums?

That is called the 'wax bloom.' It's dusty coating that contains alcohol (among other things) and helps protect the fruit from fungus and water loss. It also contributes to the flavor.

What is the difference between plums and prunes?

There are two major differences. First, a prune is a dried plum. Second, they are usually made from a specific variety that is rarely sold for fresh eating (because they are better suited for drying).

Do plums help with constipation?

Yes, they actually do. They have sorbitol (a natural laxative) as well as a lot of fiber.

Recipes with plums

Plums aren't the summer darling of fruits and are under utilized. But that means you can easily use them to add an unexpected twist to traditional recipes.

Seasonal plum recipe collection.

More resources

  • Other stone fruit guides: peaches, nectarines, apricots, and cherries
  • Pluots & plumcots
  • All produce guides (or monthly seasonal guides)

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jim says

    August 21, 2023 at 6:25 am

    Just bought myself a kilo of Black Plums. Lovely to look at, but didn't want to eat them at the wrong time. Loved this website and info on Plums. They are still very firm to the touch, sad to note that they won't ripen further (LOL), but will keep ém on the counter for a few more days. These were beautiful fist-sized plums that I'm seeing for the first time, compared to the much smaller variety that I am used to seeing (those too are Black, but much smaller compared to these!) ...

    Reply
    • Vee says

      August 23, 2023 at 5:54 pm

      They sound wonderful! They will soften on the counter and here's hoping they were picked ripe enough that they still have a good flavor 🙂 Are you eating them fresh or cooking with them?

      Reply

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