[welshboy]

We have a small established orchard containing 2 plum trees . I am pretty sure one is Victoria but the other one is the one that interests me. The fruit is just ready now which is very early . Poor crop last year but prolific in 2006 and ripe end July as this year. The fruit are smaller than Victoria a darker colour almost black and sweet.
Anybody suggest which variety ?

[northfifeduckling]

far too early for any plum I know! Maybe some kind of Damson? Make sure you let us know when you find out, I want it! 

[doganjo]

Sounded like Damson to me from the colour, but mine were never that sweet.

[Rosemary]

We've got ripe plums. I think the variety is Opal but I can't find the list. It's not what is being described here - but we do have ripe plums

[welshboy]

The colour of nearly ripe is similar to a ripe victoria  but when this plum gets ripe it darkens more. Maybe black was an overstatement ! The size is about halfway between a victoria and a sloe. Definitely sweet.I walk up and eat some for my desert after supper each night.
I don't think it is a damson as I have planted some of these although they are not fruiting yet.
After the first year I saw them and was so impressed I kept some stones in the fridge and planted them -some germinated but died. Will have another go this year.

[welshboy]

I think this is it (Link Below) or it looks very similar to me although the early rivers variety looks more like it but it says that the er ripens august - the one I have starts ripening mid/late July. 



http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.readsnursery.co.uk/acatalog/plum-river-early-prolific.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.readsnursery.co.uk/acatalog/Plums-Damsons-Gages.html&usg=__EQZQj9U_vcjb125TWOPv4Ozprr4=&h=200&w=200&sz=8&hl=en&start=1&tbnid=WPUSEnqYZuBXnM:&tbnh=104&tbnw=104&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dearly%2Bfavourite%2Bplum%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DG