Maturity group — european plum, gage, garden plum, plum, prune plum

European plum varieties are divided into early, ripening from late July to the first ten days of August; mid-season, ripening from the second ten days of August to mid-September; and late, ready for harvest from late August or early September. The distribution into groups is based on long-term observations of the dates of harvest maturity, as specific timing varies depending on the region and the weather conditions of the year.

The choice of maturity group determines the strategy for agrotechnology and logistics: early varieties are valued for their market entry but have poor shelf life, whereas late varieties often possess increased winter hardiness and are suitable for long-term storage or industrial processing. The use of varieties from different groups allows agronomists to create a supply chain of produce and optimize the harvest period.