Prunus domestica Opal

The Opal Plum is characterised by its vigour and hardiness, as well as abundant and regular yields. It produces small round to oval plums, purple-red on a yellow background. Its pale yellow flesh is firm, juicy, and highly aromatic. The harvest begins at the end of July and continues until August. This fruit can be eaten fresh or used in desserts or preserves. This self-fertile variety proves to be a very good pollinator. It has proven itself over many years for its good disease resistance.

Plant from Organic Agriculture.

Prunus domestica (Common Plum) is a fruit tree belonging to the Rosaceae family, just like the apricot tree, almond tree, and peach tree. It is native to Syria, where it sometimes grows up to 1000 metres in altitude. 

The 'Opal' variety was selected in 1925 by the Alnarp Research Institute in Sweden. It is the result of cross-breeding between the Early Favourite and Reine-claude d'Oullins varieties. It forms a fruit tree with a fairly rounded structure that can reach a final height of about 5 metres, producing numerous branches grouped in spreading crowns. Its habit is well suited to free forms on high, half, or low stems. Its deciduous foliage is composed of obovate, 6 to 8 cm long, scalloped and toothed leaves, slightly hairy underneath and dark green. Towards the end of March, beginning of April, the white, 1.5 to 2.5 cm diameter flowers, appear solitarily, before the leaves on the previous year's branches. The flowering is sensitive to spring frosts, but it is so abundant that frost rarely compromises the harvest. It is a remarkably decorative flowering in spring, particularly nectar-rich. It is hardy to -20°C. This variety is self-fertile, so it does not need a companion to bear fruit, but the presence of another variety of plum tree nearby will increase production.

Prunus domestica 'Opal' is a fertile variety with quick fruiting. The fruits can be harvested from late July to mid-August, as they ripen. Since plums are quite fragile, harvest carefully with a picking pole or manually with a ladder. On average, a plum tree produces between 25 and 50 kilograms of fruit per year. The fruits can be consumed as soon as they are harvested. They are small, ovoid, 2.5 to 3 cm in diameter plums, with delicious and flavourful flesh. The plums can be eaten fresh right after picking, eaten raw or mixed in a fruit salad, or used in desserts. They are also exquisite in the making of clafoutis, cakes, crumbles, or pies, and as an accompaniment to savoury dishes based on white meats (turkey, chicken, veal...) or tagines. They are also perfect for making jams, compotes, or preserved in syrup.

The plum is a light and balancing fruit. It is low in calories and rich in potassium, calcium, and magnesium, with a significant iron content. Its content of vitamins C, B, E, and K, phenolic antioxidants, and fibre make the plum a healthy choice. It is invigorating, energising, and rehydrating.

The Opal Plum is a very interesting variety of the mirabelle Plum category. Its major asset is the taste quality of its fruits, but it is also very vigorous, hardy, and highly productive. It resists diseases well and, under favourable conditions, it is easy to cultivate. It prefers rich, deep, and well-drained soils, without excess water and in full sun. It should be protected from frost and strong winds, as its branches are very fragile.