The best quality is that Mayor Plums do not get affected by pests. The whole family came together for harvest a few years ago when I helped them gather a bumper crop of heirloom fruit. It is also considered to be an “ancient domesticated species” and is widely cultivated in temperate regions. European & Asian Plum Trees: prunus domestica Plums show great diversity of color, form, size, taste and use. Join today and save off the newsstand price! The flavors that work best with greengage plums include nutmeg, tropical fruits, vanilla, butter, chocolate, citrus, and tropical flavors. European plums are the blue plums, including prunes, with firm flesh, that mature late in the summer. David September 16, 2013 I've never roasted mirabelles but have roasted regular plums with a little brown sugar or honey and packed them into a mason jar and filled with brandy. Another type of Japanese black plum includes Friar, which consists of a lighter tone of amber flesh. But research shows that they have the highest sugar level. In dry years, mulching around the base of the tree with grass clippings can help retain moisture. Many people who find plums to be mealy and bland will prefer smaller, firmer, more intensely flavored mirabelles. and then introduced to Northern Europe. syriaca, FRUIT: Small, oval, yellow dotted with red, free stone, POLLINATION: Benefits from growing a different plum cultivar with concurrent bloom period close-by. Other than pruning and removing suckers, there isn’t much labor involved with growing mirabelles. When the heirloom fruit has finished the fermentation process — usually two to three months, evidenced by a lack of bubbles in the airlock — the fermented mash is ready to be distilled. Mirabelle Plum Tree, highly regarded in Europe, this exceptional variety features round, yellow fruit with firm, tender, sweet and delectable, yellow flesh. "Mirabelle" is a mid-season, free-stone plum with firm, yellow flesh and yellow skin, often speckled with red dots. The author's host family harvests mirabelles in Lorraine, France. It is believed that this type of fruit species was first cultivated in Syria and then in Rome; during the Crusades, the Romans introduced European plums to the Western part of Europe. If you have been enjoying only one kind of plum, then we are afraid to break it to you that you are missing out on a lot of joy and amazing flavors! The mirabelle plum tree bears heirloom fruit thatâs perfect for jams, jellies, tarts, and brandy. Also known as Prunus domestica, this dry variety of plums boasts an oblong sort of shape and is often labeled as “fresh prunes” in the markets. These yummy plums are also quite versatile in nature and can be used in the making of various dishes like ice creams, pies, and cakes. Try making some of our favorite plum recipes with all that in-season fruit you have on hand. Backyard gardeners will appreciate the beauty, productivity, and manageable size of mirabelle plum trees. This helps give the dish more a come-together appearance and texture. (USA only), • 1 year of Mother Earth Gardener magazine both print and digital The Mirabelle plum, also known by the species namePrunus insititia, originated from Asia, but also is widely grown in France. Once ripe, plums will keep at room temperature for around three to four days. The ideal time to get Black Beauty at grocery markets is in a midseason (spring and fall). Plums belonging to each of these groups have a different skin/flesh color, flavor, and seasonality. Distillation is a great way to preserve and store a large mirabelle crop. Lorraine is justifiably proud of its favorite fruit, which holds a central place in its cuisine. Simply prune off whatâs getting out of reach and let them go. Not a true mirabelle, but a hybrid between gage and mirabelle, we had saved from the Geneva New York State plum collection and at last make available ourselves. Mirabelles are grown all over the world, but the two best-known varieties hail from the Lorraine region in France. How to store plums. • Heirloom seed-saving techniques BOTANICAL NAME: Prunus domestica subsp. Greengage plums aren’t just flavorful but they are also packed with an excellent nutrition profile, containing vitamins A, C, and K. In addition, they also filled with minerals like potassium and phosphorus. Plums would have to be the easiest home garden fruit trees of all. Mirabelle plums are a small, sweet type of fruit most commonly grown in the Lorraine region of France. These high sugar plums are renowned for their use in various jams, jellies, baked products, and fruit brandy (known as eau de vie). As with many fruit trees, glut years are often followed by a few sparse harvests. The mirabelle plums hail from Lorraine and show up only in the short season. Unfortunately, they can’t be imported to other countries due to difficulties concerning the import of fresh and excellent quality of products. So many fruit trees, so little time, and with each success, failure has likely played its part. However, in actuality, the cultivation of plums began in East European and Caucasian mountains near the Caspian Sea. This bumper harvest would keep the whole family in Schnapps for years to come. 2. Following are some of the main types of Japanese plums that are dominating the commercial supply of plums. Become a Preferred Subscriber and start enjoying the benefits today! Every fruit is to be treasured, as among the finest products of the garden. You can also use them to make delectable jams, reductions, compotes, and a wide variety of alcohol. 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