Growing June Plum

This is my on-going documentary of how I grow June Plum trees. I only update this documentary about twice a year. I have grown June Plum trees in a pot and in the ground.

This is my June Plum tree on June 9, 2025 In Oviedo, Florida of climate zone 10A.

I started this tree when it was just an air layered branch about two feet tall.

Growing June Plum Tree in a Pot

June Plum trees grow well in a pot and still can produce loads of fruit. When my June Plum tree was in a pot, I use the bag of Lowe’s Sta Green potting mix for vegetables and fruit along with some pine fines and peat moss. The trees grew very well in a pot for three years. Of course I did have to up pot the tree each year as it started out in a 1-gallon small pot up to a 25-gallon pot until I decided to plant my tree in the ground. The tree roots are well established by the time it outgrew the 25-gallon pot size.

Growing June Plum Tree in the Ground

Luckily, June Plum trees are not so picky. I have seen mature June Plum trees in my friends’ garden that are loaded fruits and the trees are in sandy soil. For me, I dug out a large hole as big as a 45-gallon pot, and planted my 25-gallon potted June Plum tree into that whole. I filled in the surrounding with Lowe’s Stay Green potting mix with combination of Mushroom Compost.

Pruning

I pruned and trained my tree to have a straight single trunk and maintain its height under six feet tall by hard pruning the tree in February every year.

(Insert image of before and after pruning in February)

Edible Leaves and Fruits

The edible leaves are sour and used in Vietnamese salads or spring rolls. The fruits when at mature size and green is firm, crunchy, and sour that are commonly pickled or dipped in a salt and chili dip.

insert image

As the fruit ripens, the skin will turn yellow and the flesh would be juicy sweet. Ladybugs like living in this tree. June Plum is a perennial fruit tree that is a perfect addition to a Florida-friendly landscape.

(insert image of ripen fruits)

Market Price

The Asian markets sell June Plum fruits for at least $4.99 to $7.99 per pound! To grow something that’s edible and helps you earn money is better than growing grass. Young air layered June Plum trees are usually $25 max so don’t get ripped off if someone tries to sell it for more than that. Air layered June Plum trees can give you fruits within the first year too.

(insert image taken from market)

Other general information I learned based on my growing experiences and observations over the years.

1. Ladybugs like to live in June Plum trees.