New damson owner

[janzbro]

I have just become the pround owner of a merryweather and 2 shropshire prune damsons.
m\weather for production and shrop for best flavour.

These are maiden 1yr old plants grafted onto St. Julien rootstock.
How big will these get as need to decide where they are going to go in my mini orchard.

cheers

John

[Alison]

How are you intending to train them? I have mine as fans but other methods are available

[janzbro]

I was just thinking about having them as bush trees so they are easy to pick.

My other 12 trees are all pruned as bush with 3m between them, all on semi vigorous rootstocks but if these were to get higher I would plant on the east side so they didnt rob the others of light, if not then they can go on the south side.

[Alison]

It will depend on your soil but a St Julian A rootstock will produce a 3.5m to 4m tall tree although obviously pruning can reduce that.

[janzbro]

i presume I just plant now and prune into bush type tree in the spring / summer as its a stone fruit, they are a good size approx 5 to 6 feet with the shropshire damson having a few small side shoots the merryweather is more like a true maiden.

[mothhawk]

Is the Shropshire damson the one that was used to make khaki dye for the army uniforms in days of yore?

[janzbro]

apparently it is one if not the oldest types of damson. I know it was once used to make dye but dont know about khaki as it gives a reddy purple colour when you make damson gin/vodka my real purpose for getting them.

[Alison]

If they grow well then 3 trees will give you a hell of a lot of fruit

[janzbro]

fingers crossed LOL

the shropshire is not supposed to be a heavy cropper and are quite small so thats why I also got the merryweather