Prunus domestica Bleue de Belgique - Common plum

Prunus domestica Bleue de Belgique is a vigorous, hardy, and highly productive variety. It produces a medium to large-sized fruit with an irregular, oval, almost round shape, a thin and pruinose skin, and a purple-blue colour. Its yellow-green flesh is firm, melting, juicy, sweet, and of excellent taste. The harvest takes place from mid-July to mid-August, and the fruits are consumed as they ripen. The plum is succulent and delicious to enjoy as is. When cooked, it is a variety that lends itself well to many sweet or savoury recipes. It is a partially self-fertile variety that requires the presence of other plum varieties nearby to improve pollination and increase the number of fruits.

The Prunus domestica (Common Plum) is a fruit tree belonging to the Rosaceae family, like the apricot, almond, and peach tree. It is native to Syria, where it sometimes grows up to 1000 metres (3281 feet) in altitude. The Bleue de Belgique variety is presumed to originate from Belgium around 1850, where it is traditionally cultivated.

The Bleue de Belgique Plum tree forms a fruit tree with a fairly upright frame that can reach 6 to 8 metres (20 to 26 feet) in height, producing numerous branches grouped in a spreading canopy. Its habit is well suited to free forms on high, half, or low stems. Its deciduous foliage is composed of obovate leaves, 5 to 7cm (2 to 3in) long, with serrated edges, slightly pubescent on the underside, and dark green. Towards the end of March or beginning of April the white flowers, 1.5 to 2.5 cm (1in) in diameter, appear 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 has remarkably decorative spring flowering, particularly attractive to bees and nectar-feeding insects. This plum tree is said to be partially self-fertile, meaning the flowers cannot fertilise themselves. That is why the presence of other plum varieties nearby, with flowering occurring at the same time, is necessary. For example, the varieties Reine-claude dorée, Reine-claude d'Oullins, Quetsche d'Alsace, Quetsche d'Italie, Mirabelle de Metz, Mirabelle de Nancy, and Victoria are suitable for cross-pollination, thereby increasing the number of fruits.

Since plums are fragile, they are harvested with a picking pole or manually using a ladder, but always delicately. Delicious and delightful, plums can be consumed fresh from the harvest, eaten raw or mixed in a fruit salad or dessert. 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, etc.) or tagines. They are also perfect for making jams, compotes, juices, or preserved in syrup. The plum is a light and balancing fruit. Low in calories, it is rich in potassium, calcium, and magnesium, with a significant supply of iron. Its content of vitamins C, B, E, and K, phenolic antioxidants, and fibres make the plum a health asset. The fruits can only be stored for a few days at room temperature. However, they can be frozen once washed, dried, and pitted, or preserved in jams or syrup.

In the Plum tree - Mirabelles category, Prunus domestica Bleue de Belgique is a vigorous, hardy, and highly productive variety, recognised for the excellent taste of its fruits. Under good conditions, it is easy to grow, generous in fruit, and resistant to diseases. Like many fruit trees, it prefers rich, deep, and well-drained soils. It does not tolerate excess moisture, heavy and compact soils, or excessively alkaline soils. It prefers a sheltered exposure in full sun to protect it from frost and strong or cold winds, as the branches are very brittle.

Very popular thanks to its fruit, the plum tree finds its place in the garden for the pleasure of young and old alike. With a wide range of varieties, it is easy to find the one that best suits yours tastes.