Plums are a very special treat. The fruit is easy to cultivate, but needs a little attention to care for a bountiful harvest.
Red plums (Prunus domestica subsp. italica) are round, sweet and juicy, but by no means difficult to cultivate. The fruit trees, which presumably come from Asia, are therefore also increasingly found in our gardens and thrive particularly well in climatically favorable regions. It is exciting to discover the old and particularly tasty varieties for yourself or to experiment with new breeds. If late summer should bring you a rich plum harvest, the following care instructions can help.
How to properly care for the noble plum
Casting:
Plums require a particularly large amount of water immediately after planting. Compared to the other representatives in the orchard, the liquid requirement of noble plums can be rated as quite high. The plants should not dry out completely. In dry and hot summers, it should be watered extensively with a garden hose. As a rule of thumb, let the garden hose run for about an hour to fully permeate the soil with moisture.
» Tip: The noble plum prefers a calcareous substrate. Therefore, tap water can also be used without hesitation.
In short:
- high water demand
- Soil must not dry out
- water extensively
- Tap water can be used
Fertilize:
Fertilization should be done once a year, in spring and at the beginning of the growth phase. The fertilizer should contain mainly nitrogen, potash and phosphate. The proportion of nitrogen and potash can be around 10 grams per square meter. Phosphate should be around four grams.
» Tip: An additional enrichment of the soil with compost is recommended in spring and autumn. Particularly barren soils should be upgraded accordingly.
After Harvest:
It is not without reason that noble plums taste best fresh from the tree. The fruit is not suitable for a longStorage and should be used as soon as possible after harvest.
» Tip: Plums can be stored in the refrigerator for a few days after harvest.
Due to their sweet and slightly sour taste, noble plums are best eaten raw. Other uses include making compote or jam. You can also use plums as a topping for fruit cakes or to make syrup.
Hibernate:
Most varieties can be overwintered quite well and without additional protection. Especially the old varieties that have been native to Europe for centuries do well with our climate.
» Tip: So that the winter sun does not attack the trees, it is a good idea to whiten the trunks.
If the noble plum was planted in a bucket, it is less robust and should be given additional protection in the cold season. The bottom of the planter should be covered with leaves or brushwood. So that the plant pot does not freeze completely, it should be positioned on a base made of wood or styrofoam. A protected location against a wall or house wall is an advantage.
Popular species of noble plum
The cultivation of noble plums is exciting because there are numerous species that know how to enrich the picture in the orchard.
❍ Count Althann's Greengage
This is a very old and particularly robust variety. The noble plums are also suitable for cultivation in regions with a harsher climate and severe frosts. Greengage originally came from Bohemia. The yield is high and the fruits are green-yellow in color.
❍ Big Green Gageglood
The large green greengage presumably come from southern Europe and have also been cultivated for a long time. The green-yellow fruits taste best straight from the tree, but they can also be used very well as preserves. The trees are vigorous and quite robust. The Sharka virus, which is feared in noble plums, does not occur in this species.
❍ Oullins Greengage
This noble plum was already known in France at the beginning of the 19th century. The plant has a strong growth and produces large, yellow fruits. The yellow flesh is spicy-sweet. The noble plums can be harvested in August.
❍ Diaphane Greengage
This very rare variety from France has fragrant flowers and green-yellow fruits with pink stripes. The flesh is tender and pleasantly soft. Can be harvested from the end of August.
❍ Uhink's Greengage
This isit is an old and very rare variety that was cultivated by a plum grower in the late 19th century. Anyone who owns this noble plum owns a true rarity.
❍ Boddart's Greengage
This variety comes from Belgium and has been bred since the mid-19th century. The plants develop remarkably large fruits, but need a lot of warmth and sheltered locations.
❍ Moissac Greengage
This old variety comes from the southwest of France and is now also grown in California. The fruits appear in large numbers and ripen earlier than the Greater Greengage. In the Dordone, this noble plum is also distilled as a schnapps.