{"product_id":"plum-long-john-bare-root","title":"Plum, Long John, Bare Root","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLong John Plum (\u003cem\u003ePrunus domestica ‘Longjohn’\u003c\/em\u003e)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLong John is a European prune-type plum with large, elongated blue-purple fruit and firm amber flesh. Its sweetness and freestone texture make it useful fresh, dried, and cooked.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKey Characteristics\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eA distinctive elongated plum\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe fruit is long and tapered rather than round like many Japanese plums. Its firm amber flesh has a sweet flavor and releases readily from the stone when ripe.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eA useful drying and kitchen fruit\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003cp\u003eLong John can be eaten fresh or dried into prunes. Its texture also suits baked dishes and preserving when you want fruit with some structure.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eA European-plum pollination plan\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003cp\u003eLong John is partly self-fruitful, but Stanley improves the planting’s cropping potential. Keep this European pairing separate from pollination recommendations for Japanese and hardy hybrid plums.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003ePollination Partners\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003ePartly self-fruitful, with better cropping when a compatible European plum such as \u003ca href=\"\/products\/plum-stanley-prune-bare-root\"\u003eStanley Prune\u003c\/a\u003e flowers nearby. Japanese and hybrid plums should not replace this European-plum partner. Cross-pollination depends on overlapping bloom, not matching harvest months.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eRootstock and Mature Size\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Mariana 2624 rootstock provides some size control. Plan for approximately 12–16 feet with regular orchard pruning; unpruned trees can grow taller. Keep the graft union above soil level and remove rootstock suckers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eProduct Details\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSun:\u003c\/strong\u003e Full sun to light partial shade; full sun is best for fruiting.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil:\u003c\/strong\u003e medium to medium-dry, well-drained soil; avoid standing water.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMature height:\u003c\/strong\u003e Approximately 12–16 feet with orchard pruning; unpruned trees can grow taller.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBloom:\u003c\/strong\u003e Early to mid-spring; white flowers.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFruit:\u003c\/strong\u003e Large elongated blue-purple plums with sweet, firm amber freestone flesh.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eUses:\u003c\/strong\u003e Fresh eating, drying for prunes, baking, and preserves.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRipening:\u003c\/strong\u003e August–September\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eChill hours:\u003c\/strong\u003e A dependable cultivar-specific chill-hour requirement is not established.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePollination:\u003c\/strong\u003e Partly self-fruitful; Stanley Prune is a compatible European partner.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eUSDA hardiness:\u003c\/strong\u003e Zones 4–8.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eGeneral Plum Orchard Guidance\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003ch4\u003eA good start\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003cp\u003eChoose well-drained soil and enough room for the mature tree. Water consistently while roots establish, mulch with space around the trunk, and keep vigorous grass and other competitors away from the young root zone.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch4\u003eFertility and fruit-tree guilds\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003cp\u003eUse a soil test to guide lime and fertilizer rather than feeding heavily by default. Our \u003ca href=\"\/products\/tree-planting-kit\"\u003eTree Planting Kit fertilizer blend\u003c\/a\u003e is an optional planting supplement; keep concentrated fertilizer away from bare roots and avoid excess nitrogen.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eInterested in permaculture and stacking functions around your fruit trees? Explore our \u003ca href=\"\/blogs\/resources\/transform-your-garden-build-a-fruit-tree-guild-that-practically-grows-itself\"\u003efruit-tree guild guide\u003c\/a\u003e for ideas on combining plants for flowers, ground cover, and mulch while giving your tree room to grow.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch4\u003ePractical pest and disease care\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003cp\u003eThin crowded fruit to improve size and protect branches, prune for airflow in dry weather, and remove fallen or mummified fruit. Monitor for brown rot, plum curculio, and black knot where it occurs. Early sanitation and fruit bags where practical can reduce problems; protect bees during bloom.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Turner and Son Nursery","offers":[{"title":"Bare Root \/ 9\/16\" caliper \/ Semi-dwarf Mariana 2624","offer_id":49845687779587,"sku":"TFT-17137","price":39.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0675\/1128\/8067\/files\/Plum-Long-John-Bare-Root-For-Sale.png?v=1792230760","url":"https:\/\/tfcnursery.com\/products\/plum-long-john-bare-root","provider":"The Farm Connection","version":"1.0","type":"link"}