When to Plant Plum in Perth, Mediterranean Guide
What this month normally looks like in Mediterranean
In October the Mediterranean zone normally runs 22°C by day and 10°C overnight, with about 38 mm of rain over 6 or 7 wet days. The coldest October night on record across the zone was -0.2°C, so a late frost is not out of the question. Averages 1991 to 2026, 19 postcodes, SILO.
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This Plum guide is written for the Mediterranean zone, which takes in Perth, Adelaide and Bunbury. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.
Not your zone? Cairns Brisbane Sydney Melbourne Canberra Alice Springs
Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.
- Planting window
- Jun to Aug
- Sun
- Full sun
- Soil pH
- 5.5–6.5
Two main types: Japanese plums (larger, juicy, eat fresh, most common in Australia) and European plums (smaller, denser flesh, better for drying/prunes and cooking). Japanese plums need less chill than European types.
Published · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Best Planting Window for Mediterranean
- Jan -
- Feb -
- Mar -
- Apr -
- May -
- Jun P
- Jul P
- Aug P
- Sep -
- Oct -
- Nov -
- Dec -
P = Planting window
Plant bare-root in winter. Low-chill Japanese plums suit the plains, and European plums suit the hills.
Want a nudge when it is sowing time?
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How to Grow Plum in Mediterranean Australia
- Soil
- Well-drained, slightly acidic. Better tolerance of clay than peach. Deep loam ideal.
- Salt
- Moderately sensitive. Copes with a little salt, but the harvest drops on salty bore water.
- pH Range
- 5.5-6.5
- Sunlight
- Full sun, good air circulation.
- Good companions
- Nasturtium, Lettuce, Radish, Chives, Comfrey
- Keep away from
- Previous stone fruit site
Mediterranean Growing Tips for Plum
Recommended Varieties
- Santa Rosa
- Satsuma
- Mariposa
- Greengage
Key Challenges
- Dry summers
- Med fruit fly in WA
Pro Tips
- Good zone for both types. Dry conditions reduce disease.
- European prune plums do brilliantly.
Pests and problems for Plum in Mediterranean
Harvesting Plum
When ready: Full colour development. Slight give when gently squeezed. Sweet aroma. Japanese plums: slight softening. European plums: can harvest firmer.
How to harvest: Twist and pull gently. Handle carefully, plums bruise easily.
Storing and preserving plum
How to keep it
- Drying (prunes). European plums: halve, stone, dehydrate at 55°C for 18-24 hours until wrinkled and chewy. Keeps: 12 months.
- Freezing. Halve, stone, freeze on trays then bag. Keeps: 12 months.
- Jam. Halve, stone, cook with sugar (3:4 ratio) and lemon juice to setting point. Keeps: 12 months.
- Bottling. Halve, stone, pack in light syrup, water bath 20 minutes. Keeps: 12 months.
- Plum sauce. Cook plums with sugar, vinegar, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, chilli. Simmer until thick. Bottle. Keeps: 12 months.
What plum costs in the shops right now, retailer by retailer, updated daily.
What members get
- Soil and weather from your nearest station
- An email when it's time to sow
- Your own garden plan, including planning from a photo
- Price history and price alerts
- Pest risk alerts for your area
- Full salt and canning detail
Common Questions About Plum
When do you plant plum in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): not recommended
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Jun to Jul
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Jun to Aug
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Jun to Aug
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): Jun to Aug
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Jun to Aug
- Mediterranean (Perth): Jun to Aug
When should I plant Plum in Perth?
Plant bare-root in winter. Low-chill Japanese plums suit the plains, and European plums suit the hills.
How do I know when Plum are ready to harvest?
Full colour development. Slight give when gently squeezed. Sweet aroma. Japanese plums: slight softening. European plums: can harvest firmer.
What are the best Plum varieties for Perth?
Recommended varieties for the Mediterranean zone include: Santa Rosa, Satsuma, Mariposa, Greengage.
What grows well with Plum?
Good companion plants for Plum include: Nasturtium, Lettuce, Radish, Chives, Comfrey.
Are plum salt tolerant?
Only a little. Plum are moderately sensitive to salt, so the harvest drops on salty bore water. Mix salty water with rainwater, and mulch the bed.
Which zone am I in?
Type your postcode into the box near the top of the page and it tells you, and links this crop in your own zone if it differs. Or look it up on the grow zone map. This page is the Mediterranean zone, Perth is its reference city.