Plums are part of late summer. They can be used in a variety of ways, stay firm when baking and don't ooze too much. To make your day sweeter, they should be harvested at the right time with sufficient care.
How do you harvest plums correctly?
To harvest plums correctly, only pick them when they are fully ripe by touching the base of the stem. Look for sweet taste, color change from green to blue, and softer flesh as indicators of ripeness.
Selection of location influences harvest
Plums value a temperate climate that is not too rainy. Waterlogged soils and shady growing locations impair growth. The fruit trees prefer a warm and nutrient-rich location with fresh conditions.
Planting different varieties
Plant at least two varieties of plums, as this increases the fruit set. Plums and sloes nearby ensure a lot of insect activity. Make sure there is a distance of at least five meters between the trees, because the Prunus plants need a lot of sun for the fruit to ripen. With the right selection of varieties, you can enjoy the harvest from July to October.
Determine ripeness stage
If unripe plums are harvested and stored, acid degradation and subsequent bluing occurs. However, the typical aroma no longer develops if the harvest is too early, so you should only pick the fruits when they are fully ripe. The sugar content, which increases as the tree ripens in the sun, is important for the aromatic taste. However, this varies depending on the variety and the climatic conditions also have an influence. Therefore, to determine the level of maturity, you should examine several aspects:
- bitter-tasting fruits are still unripe
- a grassy green color indicates that the plum is not ripe
- Hard and firm pulp requires more ripening time
What to pay attention to when harvesting
The drupes on a tree are not ripe at the same time because the tip of the crown benefits from more sunlight. Make sure to touch the plums as little as possible. They are protected from drying out and pathogens by a whitish wax layer. Touching destroys this so-called scent and affects its shelf life.
Picking tips
Pick the plums carefully from the branch, touching them at the base of the stem if possible. Damage and cracks in the skin can cause mold to develop during storage. If the peel in this area tears despite careful work, it may indicate that the fruit is not ripe.
