Jubilee
Prunus domestica Jubilee (also known as Jubileum) is best thought of as an improved large-fruited Victoria plum, although it is not closely related. Like Victoria, it excels as a culinary plum, but it is arguably superior for eating fresh.
The fruit is larger and a slightly darker red than Victoria. The flavour is a good balance of sweetness and sharpness, and the stone separates easily from the flesh.
Jubilee plum trees for sale
RF11-year bare-root
tree
on Weiwa rootstock£43.75
Mature height: 3m-5m after 10 years
Can be trained on to become a large free-standing fruit tree, or a half-standard fruit tree, or a large fan-trained fruit tree.
Available next season
RF21-year bare-root
tree
on St. Julien rootstock£38.75
Mature height: 3m-5m after 10 years
Can be trained on as a large bush-trained tree or a half-standard tree, no staking required once estalished. Also suitable as a large fan-trained tree.
Available next season
RF32-year bare-root
tree
on St. Julien rootstock£47.50
Mature height: 3m-5m after 10 years
Will become a large vase-shaped fruit tree, no staking required once established.
Available next season
RF42-year half-standard bare-root
tree
on St. Julien rootstock£51.00
Mature height: 3m-5m after 10 years
Can be trained on as a large free-standing half-standard tree.
Available next season
Growing and Training
Jubilee is similar to Victoria in that it crops very heavily, and is self-fertile, but it is more disease-resistant. It ripens just ahead of Victoria, usually around late August in southern England.
The trees are notably cold-hardy (having been developed for Swedish conditions) and start to produce plums from a young age - typically in the 3rd year.
The main problem when growing Jubilee is its tendency to set a very heavy crop. This causes fruit size to be reduced, along with flavour. It can also put too much weight on the tree, causing branches to snap. The simple (but tedious) solution is to thin the fruitlets in mid-spring - you should still get plenty of plums, but fruit size and flavour will be greatly improved.
Recommended pollinators for Jubilee plum trees
Jubilee is self-fertile, so you do not need another variety to pollinate it to produce fruit.
However you are likely to get a better crop if you plant any of the following pollinator varieties nearby.
If you are not sure about pollination requirements don't hesitate to ask us.
More pollinators >
Cambridge GageCambridge Gage is a reliable green gage, similar to Old Green Gage, with an excellent flavour.
CzarCzar is a traditional culinary plum, one of the easiest plums trees, will even fruit on north-facing walls.
Marjorie's SeedlingMarjorie's Seedling is an easy to grow, late-season, heavy cropping purple/black plum.
OpalOpal is an early plum variety with a good flavour, self-fertile and very easy to grow.
VictoriaVictoria is the definitive English plum, attractive fruit, good for eating, outstanding flavour for cooking.
History
Jubilee was developed at the SLU Balsgard research station in southern Sweden, and is more correctly known as Jubileum. It is a cross between Giant and Yakima. Despite the Japanese-sounding name, Yakima is a true European plum, with a sweet flavour. Both Giant and Yakima have very large fruits, and this explains the relatively large size of Jubilee plums.
The name Jubilee was also used for another plum variety raised by Laxton Brothers nursery in 1905.
Jubilee characteristics
- Gardening skillBeginner
- Fruit persistenceNormal ripening
- Self-fertile?Self-fertile
- Pollinating othersAverage
- Pick seasonMid - Slightly earlier than Victoria
- Picking monthAugust
- Picking periodmid-August
- Keeping1-3 days
- Food usesEating freshCulinary
- Country of originSweden
- Period of origin1950 - 1999
- Fruit colourRedRed - dark
You might also like these varieties
Marjorie's SeedlingMarjorie's Seedling is an easy to grow, late-season, heavy cropping purple/black plum.
OpalOpal is an early plum variety with a good flavour, self-fertile and very easy to grow.
VictoriaVictoria is the definitive English plum, attractive fruit, good for eating, outstanding flavour for cooking.
