Long John has long been held as the prize plum of prunes. Yet it is also great eaten fresh. Long John got its name from the fact that the fruits are elongated, rather than round. It has deep blue flesh that is high in antioxidants. What’s more, it’s cold tolerant to 30 below zero for short periods, which makes it great for Garrett County growing.
It blooms in April and bears fruit in late August. One of Long John’s assets is that it is free stone, meaning the seed is easily removed. Most of the plums you eat from the grocery store are not. It is a reliable bearer.
And here is the best part of all. It is resistant to Black Knot, the disease that wipes out so many of our Garrett County plums.
Pollinate with Castleton.