Prunus domestica Węgierka Dąbrowicka - Common plum

Prunus Węgierka Dąbrowicka is a Polish variety of Plum widely grown in orchards. It is interesting for its abundant, but often irregular, biennially bearing. It produces relatively large, navy blue fruits with a hint of purple. The yellowish-green flesh is sweet and easily separates from the stone. Flowering in April, harvesting takes place as early as August. A medium-sized fruit tree, easy to grow, not very susceptible to diseases, but requiring a companion plant as it is not self-fertile.

The Prunus genus, rich in 300 species of both fruit and ornamental trees, belongs to the vast Rosaceae family (around 5000 species). This family hosts most of our cultivated fruit trees, as well as many wild plants in our countryside, and numerous ornamental plants (Rhaphiolepis, Photinia, Exochorda...). The Common Plum, or Prunus domestica, likely originates from a cross between the Blackthorn (P. spinosa) and the Cherry Plum (P. cerasifera). It is native to Anatolia and the Caucasus, where it grows up to 1300 m altitude, forming a tree up to 8 to 10 m tall, with brittle branches and elongated, reddish or purple fruits. It has been extensively cultivated and improved in Western Asia, notably in Syria, where the Damson Plums were highly valued by the Romans. It is believed to have been introduced to Europe during the Crusades.

'Węgierka Dąbrowicka' is a Polish variety selected in 1962 by A. Jackiewiczowa at the Horticultural Institute of Skierniewice, in the central part of the country. A medium-sized tree, this Plum tree reaches approximately 5 m in height and 4 m in spread, with a moderately dense to dense, more or less spherical crown. It has a moderate growth rate and bears fruit early, usually from the 2nd year. Flowering occurs in April, shortly before the new leaves emerge. The small, 1.5 to 2 cm diameter flowers, are single, composed of 5 rounded, pure white petals, highlighted by the rust-orange heart of the corolla, from which a cluster of white stamens with yellow tips emerge. they are honey-producing and delight pollinating insects. The young, beautiful light green leaves, appear before the end of flowering, growing up to 8 to 10 cm in length, taking on an elongated elliptical shape as they turn from light to medium to dark green. Not self-fertile, the flowers need to be pollinated by pollen from other varieties, among which the most compatible are 'Cacanska Rana', 'Renkloda Ulena', 'Opal', 'Węgierka Łowicka', 'Empress', 'Cacanska Najbolja', 'Amers', 'Bluefree', 'Herman', 'Ruth Gerstetter'... A tree of one of these varieties should be planted nearby for a successful harvest. In this case, the fruiting will often be abundant, although, especially in poor soil, heavy harvests may lead to lower yields the following year, as this variety tends to alternate. From August, the plums are ready to be harvested. Fairly large, weighing 30 to 35 g and up to 40 g in fertile soil, the fruits have a dark navy blue skin, with a surface bloom. Their yellowish-green flesh is sweet and tangy, easily separating from the stone. These succulent plums can be eaten fresh or used for making jams or preserves. Fresh plums are low in calories (45 kcal/100 g) and have a low glycemic index. Dried plums have 260 kcal/100 g. Due to their alkalising compounds that neutralise excess digestive acids, dried plums can be beneficial in dishes that are hard to digest.

Prunus Węgierka Dąbrowicka is an easy-to-grow variety, best suited to sunny locations in moist, well-drained, fertile soil to reduce its biennial bearing tendency. It will find a place in an orchard where you can plant it alongside other fruit trees like Apple trees and Pear trees, choosing staggered ripening varieties to extend the harvest season. Also, consider soft fruits like Redcurrants and Raspberries to diversify your harvest as summer approaches.