Cultivar; Van Der Merwe 

Clone Number; VD 253 A                                  

Origin; Bud mutation discovered by J. van der Merwe

Royalties/ Levies; not enough data

Yield; good

Fruit use; dried

Type; freestone

Shelf-life; poor

Water requirements; water to a depth of 609mm every 14-21 days 

Sun requirements; 6 to 8 hours per day

Chill hours; 400 to 600

Pruning; prune in early spring or summer on a dry day to prevent water-borne pathogens from infecting your trees. Prune only when absolutely necessary- such as to remove dead branches, diseased sections and to shape the tree in it's initial years. Apply a pruning paint to help seal the cut.

soil requirements; a well-draining soil type with a pH of 6 to 7 is best. Sandy or clay soils must be avoided at all costs.

Soil depth; at least 600mm is recommended

Fertiliser requirements; be careful not to over fertilise young trees. Trees less than 3 years old should be given minimal fertiliser. Trees older than 3 years can be given fertiliser after bud break. 10-10-10 fertilisers and zinc foliar sprays are best.

Pollination requirements; self fertile

Successful test-crosses; self

Bloom time; September

Harvest time;January

Vigor;  strong

Size and shape; semi-upright

Tree age;  will start fruiting around year 3 to 5.

Average life span;  prunes have a short life span in colder regions, but generally live for 15- 25 productive years depending on the rootstock used.

Susceptibility to pests and diseases; normal

General notes; very good drying quality