Plums that grow in Belize are members of the Anacardiaceae  family which includes the Golden or Paradise plum (Chrysobalanus icaco), which is one of the most common and familiar varieties.  Other plums that grow well in Belize are June plum, Governor (aka Hog plum), Marian plum (considered to be a plum mango).  The plums can be grown as dwarf 6-8 feet tall container plants to orchard plants that may grow up to be about 10 – 25 feet tall. Unpruned trees can sprawl to be around 20 – 30 feet wide. Many are grown as bushes or trees in the orchard, The dwarf varieties are sometimes grown as fences.  

Plum trees that commonly grow in Belize are grown to be cultivated as evergreen shrubs to bushy trees.  All plum bushes and trees produce drupes.  Drupes are fruits with a large seed inside. Most plum seeds in Belize are covered by fibrous vegetation. Residents of Belize have been eating the plums for hundreds of years. Eating a warm sun ripened plum picked fresh from the tree is a special treat.  Nowadays many are harvested when green --  peeled, cut into slices then sprinkled with salt, red pepper and lime, sometimes with sugar and sold in small plastic bags from street vendors or in the open air markets.  Many Belizeans enjoy the sour, tart fruits during the dry season when the trees are most productive.  Some find the sour tart green fruits to be challenging to eat and prefer to wait for the fruits to ripen and the flavor sweetens and changes to a pineapple, mango and crunchy sour apple taste. Fruits will continue to ripen once harvested.  Monitor the color changes from green to yellow to red and occasionally to a variety that produces dark purple fruits. Be sure to eat them before they become soft and wrinkled.

Plum trees are hardy and require minimal care.  Plants may be purchased at many nurseries in Belize.  Once you have your plant at home, search for a sunny location that allows at least 20' to 25' feet apart, or 10' to 15' apart for dwarf or semi-dwarf trees.

The optimum pH is 5.5 – 6.5. Dig a hole 3' to 5' wide and deep as the root ball.  Set firmly in the ground, cover the roots with soil then cover the top layer with 2” - 3” of mulch.   Water the plant well at least once a week for about 3 months when there is no rain.  Planted from a grafted sapling the tree(s) should bear in 3-5 years; dwarf plants are said to bear in 2-4 years. Planted from a pit, expect 7-10 years for the tree to bear fruit.

Plum trees grown in Belize seldom have plant diseases or insect problems.  It is recommended to spray the leaves and bark a few times with neem oil spray if mites or thrips are detected.  Be careful not to over-water to avoid root rot. Once the trees are in production, harvest frequently to avoid broken branches from the weight of the fruits.

Jungle plums are high in nutrients, including vitamin A, C and K, antioxidants and dietary fiber.  The leaves and fruit promote heart health and help to stabilize blood sugar.  Leaves are boiled to use as a gargle for a sore throat and/or cough or to bathe skin irritations and wounds.

Here is a simple recipe for making jam or a beverage made with ripe plums.

Golden Plum Jam

2 cups ripe golden plums and pits, 1 cup sugar, 1 cup water, 1 Tbs. lemon juice.

Boil gently for 20-30 minutes checking and stirring often to prevent scorching.

Allow to cool then push the mixture through a sieve and compost the pits and skin.  Place the jam in a glass jar, use the jam as a dessert topping or with toast or make a beverage following the recipe below.

Golden Plum Beverage 

Add 10 cups of water to the jam recipe stir well, cool for at least 2 hours, add ice and serve.

 
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