Damson Merryweather

Raised in Nottinghamshire and introduced in 1907, culinary Damson Merryweather is well suited to cold and wet areas, and may in fact be a plum. The fruit is very large for a damson, blue-black with a light blue bloom; the flesh is greenish-yellow, juicy and firm, with a clinging stone and good damson flavour. Good for cooking and jam, and freezes well for winter use. The tree is large, vigorous and spreading, more like a plum than a damson, reliable, and a heavy cropper. Comes into bearing earlier than most damsons. Good disease resistance, especially to silver-leaf disease.

Site: Sheltered
Soil: Any reasonably well drained
Position: Full sun, partial shade, northern aspect
Pick: Late September
Keep: Keeps for about a week
Hardiness: Hardy
Pollination: Self-fertile. Pollination Group 3
Uses: Cooking, preserving