Prunus domestica Tipala

The 'Tipala' plum tree is a robust and vigorous variety that produces oval, yellow to golden fruits, speckled with pink and orangish-yellow when ripe. They have a particularly sweet taste and their yellow flesh is very juicy and sweet. In April, beautiful white blossom provides a dazzling spectacle in the garden, while providing a source of food for bees and other pollinating insects. To ensure its healthy growth and a high and regular harvest, it should be planted in a sunny location with well-drained soil rich in humus. Harvesting begins in late July and continues until the end of August. Planting is best done in autumn for a July harvest.

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 variety 'Tipala' forms a fruit tree with a fairly rounded framework that can reach a final height of about 5 metres, with a spread of 4 to 6 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, crenate and toothed leaves, slightly hairy underneath and dark green. Between mid-April and early May, the white, 1.5 to 2.5 cm diameter flowers, appear singly, before the leaves on the previous year's branches. The blossom is sensitive to spring frosts, but it is so abundant that frost rarely affects the harvest. It is a remarkably decorative flowering in spring, particularly nectar-rich. It is hardy down 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 'Tipala' is a fertile variety with quick fruiting. The fruits are harvested from late July to late August, as they ripen. Since plums are quite fragile, they should be carefully harvested with a picking pole or manually with a ladder. On average, a plum tree yields between 25 and 50 kilograms of fruit per year. The fruits can be consumed right after harvest. They are medium-sized, round to oval, 3 to 4 cm diameter plums, with delicious and flavourful flesh. Plums can be eaten fresh as soon as they are picked or mixed in a fruit salad, or as a 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...) or tagines. They are also perfect for making jams, compotes, 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 iron content. Its content of vitamins C, B, E, and K, phenolic antioxidants, and fibres make the plum a healthy choice. It is invigorating, energising, and rehydrating. 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.

The 'Tipala' Plum Tree is a very interesting variety in the Plum Trees - Mirabelles 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, including Sharka, a formidable viral disease that affects stone fruits of the genus Prunus (nectarines, plums, apricots, almonds, and some ornamental varieties). 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.