Price range: 20,00 € through 28,00 €
Flowering period: Mid-late (March – April)
Harvest period: Late August – early September
Shelf life: 2 weeks in the fridge
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The Stanley Plum tree is an emblematic American variety, resulting from the Prune d’Ente x Grand Duke cross made in 1912 at the Geneva station in New York State. This modern plum has become a world reference for the production of quality prunes.
Particularly appreciated for its robustness and exceptional productivity, the Stanley has adapted perfectly to the French climate. Its late flowering allows it to escape spring frosts, making it a safe choice for the northern regions of the Loire and mid-altitude areas.
Stanley plums are large in size (4-5 cm in diameter) and have an elongated oval shape characteristic of plums. The shiny epidermis has a magnificent dark blue-purplish colour with red reflections, covered with a bluish plum (natural waxy layer).
The amber-yellow-green flesh is firm, soft and sweet, but not very juicy. The pit is easily detached from the flesh, making it easier to transform into prunes. This firm texture and balanced taste make Stanley a versatile plum, excellent fresh or processed.
The Stanley Plum is a very vigorous tree with an upright habit that spreads with age, reaching 8 meters in height and 7 meters in wingspan. Its rapid growth is compensated by an early fruiting that naturally balances the tree.
This variety has a strong and regular productivity, not very sensitive to alternation. Its late flowering (late March – mid-April) is resistant to spring frosts down to -3°C, guaranteeing reliable fruiting year after year.
✅ The Stanley Plum tree is self-fertile, which means that it can be planted on its own and produce fruit without pollinators. This feature makes it an ideal choice for small gardens or isolated plantings.
In addition, Stanley is recognized as an excellent pollinator for other plum varieties. You can combine it with the Queen Claude d’Oullins, the Queen Claude de Bavay or the Victoria to improve the overall production of your orchard.
The Stanley Plum tree is the world reference for prunes, but its uses are multiple:
The ease of detachment of the pit facilitates all culinary preparations, making Stanley a particularly practical fruit in the kitchen.
Plant your Stanley Plum tree in well-drained, filtering soil that is not too wet or dry. It tolerates shallow and even slightly calcareous soils. A bright exposure is recommended, even when windy.
This hardy variety (-15°C) adapts perfectly to the north of the Loire and tolerates the maritime climate. Planting is best done in autumn, outside of frost periods.
The maintenance of the Stanley Plum Tree is relatively simple :
⚠️ Important: Avoid pruning too severely after a heavy harvest, which will cause excess vegetation and alternation.
✅ The Stanley Plum tree has a good natural resistance :
This natural hardiness makes them a variety of choice for environmentally friendly, low-intervention cultivation.
The Stanley harvest takes place from the end of August to the beginning of September, spread over about 15 days. The fruits are ripe when they are easily detached from the tree and have their characteristic blue-purplish colour.
📦 Storage: Plums can be kept for up to 2 weeks in the fridge and are resistant to handling and transport. Their natural firmness facilitates storage and marketing.
| Advantage | Detail |
|---|---|
| 🌸 Self-fertile | Can be planted on its own |
| 🌡️ Late | Frost resistant (-3°C) |
| ⚡ Rapid | Production from the first years |
| 📈 Productivity | Strong and regular, little alternation |
| 🔧 Care | Easy, undemanding |
📜 The Stanley Plum tree is a perfect example of the success of American varietal breeding. Established in 1912 and introduced in 1926 by Cornell University, it has become a global benchmark for prune production.
Its remarkable adaptation to different European climates makes it a must-have variety today, grown in both commercial orchards and home gardens. Its versatility and reliability explain its worldwide success.
🍇 To optimize your Stanley production:
💡 Expert tip: The Stanley Plum tree is perfect for starting an orchard thanks to its self-fertility and robustness. Pair it with Queen Claude d’Oullins to diversify your production and improve cross-pollination, ensuring even more bountiful harvests.
Our advice in video
Our other Plum Trees
| Weight | 0,33 kg |
|---|---|
| Plum rootstock | Myrobolan, adult size ≈ 4m, St. Julien A, adult size ≈ 3m, St. Julien INRA II, adult height ≈ 3m |
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