Plums
PLUMS PRODUCTION IN FRANCE
The traditional Alsatian quetsche is smaller than the plum, more elongated and darker, in shades of blue-purple. Its yellow, sweet flesh is slightly acidic and firm, unlike the plum whose flesh is lighter and more watery, but less tasty. It is an excellent table fruit and very refreshing. Take it out of the fridge one hour before eating it raw to fully enjoy its flavor. Cooked, it is the queen of pies, the typical Alsatian streussel and wonderful garnet red jams and compotes.
The presence of bloom means that the quetsche has been little handled. This thin chalky film that covers it protects it from the heat of the Alsatian summer. The quetsche can be kept for several days at room temperature and up to a week in a cool place.
France, with its adapted soils and its semi-continental climate well watered in summer, allows the fruit to express the maximum of its gustative potential. Today, the Quetschier orchard is estimated at about 350 ha for a potential of 7000 tons.
PLUMS PROPERTIES
Plums contain a high concentration of nutrients and easily assimilated sugars contain fiber and good amounts of minerals such as potassium, zinc and magnesium. They also contain a good percentage of antioxidant substances able to stem the harmful action of free radicals. The protective plant compounds in plums appear to have anti-inflammatory properties.
Plums are especially rich in a polyphenol called chlorogenic acid, a compound also found in coffee, this appears to help balance blood sugar and regulate appetite. Plums are rich in a variety of vitamins and minerals, including calcium, which ensures blood clots normally. They also supply potassium and vitamin C as well as being rich in protective polyphenols all of which are associated with reduced cardiovascular risk factors.
PLUMS HARVEST CYCLE
Plum trees are easy to grow, offering heavy crops of fruit in late summer and pretty blossom in early spring. Plum trees need full sun to produce sweet fruit and a well-draining soil rich with organic matter. Depending on your plum variety, the tree may be self-pollinating or require a second tree for cross-pollination. During the first year or two, plum trees needs heavy weekly waterings on a low setting during the growing season.
For established trees, water it semi-regularly during the growing season, well into October to give it enough water to last the dormant season. European plums can be harvested when the skin of the fruit feels soft when lightly squeezed and the plum easily detaches from the branch when twisted.
