Avalon

Avalon is a relatively young plum variety, developed in England and introduced in the mid-1980s. Its history may not stretch back hundreds of years, but it certainly doesn't need much time to make an impression.

In this grower's opinion, something rather special happens when Avalon is allowed to remain on the tree until it is perfectly ripe.

You may need to sit down afterwards.

The flavour is so complex and multi-layered, heading in so many directions at once, that words struggle to do it justice. There is an intense, unmistakable plum flavour, tremendous sweetness and at the same time enough fresh acidity to balance everything beautifully. On top of that, the fruit is so incredibly juicy that eating a perfectly ripe Avalon without making at least a little mess is almost impossible.

And that is exactly how it should be.

The fruit is large, and the trees produce good crops almost every year. There probably isn't such a thing as the perfect plum – or the perfect fruit, for that matter – but if I had to choose the variety that comes closest, regardless of fruit type, Avalon would be a very serious contender.

Of course, there had to be a catch.

Avalon deals with rain about as well as some of our more temperamental sweet cherries. As the fruit approaches full ripeness, it cracks very easily – in fact, more readily than any other plum variety we grow. The fruit is also sensitive to knocks and handling, and brown marks can quickly appear if it isn't treated carefully.

So Avalon isn't necessarily the easiest plum to grow and handle.

But when you are standing there with a perfectly ripe one straight from the tree, you stop caring about all that remarkably quickly.

Almost enough to bring a tear to your eye.

- Benefits from having Victoria nearby for good pollination
- Handles rain very poorly and cracks easily
- Sensitive to knocks and easily develops brown marks
- Large fruit and very good yields
- An almost indescribable flavour experience – nearly enough to bring a tear to your eye
- The kilos add up remarkably quickly
- Dangerously easy to eat too many – with all the consequences that may follow