An 'orchard grade' is a tree that may be somewhat shorter, slightly crooked, or a bit scratched, or for some other reason is not a perfect front lawn specimen. These trees will work just as well in an orchard as a first or number one would, since they still produce the very same fruit.

Castleton™ comes out of the Cornell University research program. Since it's release in 1993, it has become known as the sweetest of the early ripening Europeans. This mid-size, high-quality, deep blue plum will colour up well before maturity, so your best bet is to check them by biting into one to determine when to pick. Castleton™ is considered a dual-purpose variety – a fine early dessert plum, but also excellent for processing or drying. The tree is a somewhat slow grower, with a spreading pattern, but is a consistent heavy producer.

SELF-FERTILE | ZONE 4 | HARVEST: EARLY SEPT.