Plant, cut & harvest the mirabelle tree

Why not just harvest mirabelle plums from your own garden? Tips for planting and pruning the mirabelle tree so you can get a bountiful harvest soon.

Who has a mirabelle tree (Prunus domestica subsp. syriaca) in their own garden, sweet hours are guaranteed, because the small, plum-like fruits are real delicacies. And some hikes can also be wonderfully sweetened with a mirabelle plum here and there along the way. We have summarized what you should know about this easy-care plant.

Mirabelle tree: origin and characteristics

Actually, mirabelle plums are a subspecies of Plums (Prunus domestica). But that doesn't make them any less special, because their little yellow fruits are a real treat. Probably the mirabelle once came from a cross between the plum and the

Cherry plum (Prunus cerasifera) or sloe (Prunus spinosa), but no one can say that exactly today. Your scientific name syriaca at least indicates their origin: the region around Syria in Asia Minor. The world's largest growing area for mirabelle plums is not that far away from here, but in the middle of Lorraine. Mirabelle trees don't get very big, around six meters. Their growth is mostly bushy and sparse, but they can be raised to be pretty trees. They are particularly beautiful in April and May, when the white flowers cast a spell over the beholder and provide a valuable source of food for numerous insects. Due to the countless crossings and close relatives, mirabelle plums are not always easy to spot. Important distinguishing features are the late flowering, the hairy flower stalks and the oval, slightly serrated leaves. The tasty yellow fruits are about 2-3 centimeters tall and can be easily detached from the stone.

NoteRed mirabelle plums: Wait, can't mirabelle plums also have red fruits? This opinion is widespread, but in fact mirabelle plums are always yellow. It is true that every now and then they white speckles or cheeks, but there are no deep red mirabelle plums. Mirabelle-like fruits with a red color are usually very similar to mirabelle plums Cherry plum (Prunus cerasifera) at. Cherry plum fruits can be either red, yellow, or purple, and are similar in size and shape to mirabelle plums. However, during flowering you can easily tell the difference between the two species. Cherry plums bloom about two weeks earlier and, unlike mirabelle plums, have a bare flower stalk. The ripening of the cherry plum is also somewhat earlier than that of the mirabelle plum and begins as early as the end of June. If you are still not entirely sure, then the stone solubility of the pulp is also a factor essential distinguishing feature, because cherry plums are far less easy to remove from the stone than Mirabelle plums.

Mirabelle varieties

Mirabelle plums have been around for a long time, even if the sweet fruits weren't until the 16th century. Reached Europe in the 19th century. The most diverse varieties emerged from centuries of culture. Important selection criteria are vigor and size, the time of fruit ripening and susceptibility to diseases such as Scharka disease. plum pox virus, PPV).

Recommended types of mirabelle plums:

• ‘Mirabelle von Nancy’: This old variety is very common. Their fruits are large, extremely sweet and only moderately juicy. The flesh is quite firm, but easily detachable from the stone. The fruits ripen from August. The ‘Mirabelle von Nancy’ is vigorous and is characterized by its high resistance to the Sharka virus.
• ‘Mirabelle von Pillnitz’: This Mirabelle variety was only bred in Pillnitz near Dresden in the 1980s. It is robust and has a very compact growth. With its average size of around 3 meters, it is also suitable for small gardens. The fruits leave nothing to be desired in terms of taste and are aromatic and juicy-sweet. They ripen between August and September. In addition, the variety is resistant to the Scharka virus.
• ‘Early Mirabelle von Bergthold’: An extremely early harvest can be expected for the ‘Early Mirabelle from Bergthold’, because the sweet fruits start to ripen from the end of July. The variety is quite undemanding in terms of location and soil.
• 'Metzer': The ‘Mirabelle von Metz’ is an old Mirabelle variety that probably originated in the region around the Lorraine city of Metz. It is slow and small, but still delivers a high yield. The fruits are extremely aromatic and very juicy and ripen from mid-August.
• ‘Herrnhäuser Mirabelle’: This type of mirabelle bears large fruits, even larger than that of the ‘Mirabelle de Nancy’, to which it is, however, very similar in terms of fruit. Fruits that are particularly sunny often have red speckles on their otherwise yellow skin. The mirabelle plums ripen from mid-August and are juicy and tender. The tree is rather short.

Plant the mirabelle tree

Like most plants, mirabelle trees should be planted either in autumn or in spring, i.e. in the off-season, as it were, when the plants are growing. After planting, you should water the young tree regularly until it is well rooted in the soil.

Expert tip: You can expect particularly high yields if you have two mirabelle trees in your garden so that they can fertilize each other. However, this is not necessary.

Sandy to sometimes even loamy soil is possible as a location, even if mirabelle plums have no objection to nutrient-rich and humus-rich soils. Mirabelle plums are less demanding when it comes to the soil. This should only be permeable and not tend to waterlogging. A pH value in the neutral to slightly alkaline range is ideal. On the other hand, the sun is more important, because mirabelle plums love it warm and sunny. Penumbra is well tolerated, however. So that it always stays nice and warm, a protected location is ideal, especially in rough locations. In the landscape, mirabelle plums therefore often grow on the edges of forests and in hedges, where they get enough sun but are somewhat protected from the wind.

Maintain the mirabelle tree

Mirabelle trees are pretty undemanding. The maintenance effort is accordingly extremely low. Once the tree is well rooted, you don't need to worry about the plant any further. However, if you value a rich harvest, regular pruning is advisable.

Cut the mirabelle tree

Mirabelle plums do not necessarily have to be cut, but a regular cut thins the crown and brings the tree into shape. Through the transparency, larger fruits can develop and you get a richer harvest. Your mirabelle plum tree should be pruned in spring or in autumn after the harvest. In winter, on the other hand, it is better to let your tree rest, because at this time of the year the cut wounds of the mirabelle tree are susceptible to fungus. The goal of a cut should be to envision an oval crown that spreads out in all directions.

Note fertilize the mirabelle tree: Mirabelle trees don't need great fertilization. A little bit compost or manure in spring or early summer, however, benefits the plant.

Propagate the mirabelle tree

Mirabelle plums are usually not varietal, which means that the seedlings do not belong to the same variety as the mother plant. It is true that mirabelle trees would also result from the propagation by seeds, but it is difficult to predict what properties these will have. But who knows, maybe the result will be a very tasty mirabelle plum? It can be worth trying, but it takes about seven to eight years before the first harvest can be expected. Reproduction is faster and safer by means of refinement. For this purpose, a noble rice is cut from the mother mirabelle and grafted onto a base, for example a plum. This process takes some practice, but it is well worth it. As the Finishing works you can read here.

Last but not least, there is still the variant with the cuttings, which are cut in spring and then potted. The success rate with fruit trees, however, is moderate.

Pests and diseases on the mirabelle tree

Like most plum trees, mirabelle plums can be plagued by some pests and diseases. Still, the small plums are far less susceptible than their larger relatives.

The most important harmful organisms on the mirabelle tree:

• Sharka disease plum pox virus, PPV) is due to the Sharka virus. This is transmitted by aphids and has been widespread in Germany since the middle of the last century. In early summer, yellow rings appear on the leaves of infested trees. Later on, many fruits have pox-like dents and are no longer tasty. In addition, infected fruits tend to fall from the tree prematurely. A fight against the virus is currently not known. The most important precaution is the choice of the variety.
• The plum moth (Grapholita funebrana) is a moth that lays its eggs on the ripening fruits. The caterpillars dig into the inside of the mirabelle plums and enjoy the pulp. They are easy to recognize by their red color and the dark head capsule. The fruits usually fall off before they are ripe and should then be collected in order to reduce the infestation in the next year.
• The mushrooms Monilia laxa and Monilia fructigena occasionally attack the fruits of the mirabelle plums. These then show brownish spots and fall to the ground or dry up on the tree. It is best to remove infected fruits immediately and thin out the crown with the next cut. This way the tree is better ventilated and fungal pathogens have worse cards.

Harvesting mirabelle plums: harvest time and procedure

Depending on the variety, mirabelle plums ripen between August and September, but individual varieties such as the ‘Early Mirabelle plum from Bergthold’ ripen as early as the end of July. You can pick the small fruits straight from the tree for harvesting. However, if you want to harvest larger quantities at the same time, you can shake the tree and catch the falling fruits with nets or cloths.

Use mirabelle plums and preserve them

Unfortunately, the sweet fruits cannot be stored. They can survive well in the refrigerator for two to three days, but beyond that they start to rot quickly. Mirabelle plums are easy to freeze and can be enjoyed even in winter or the coming year. You don't need much preparation to freeze mirabelle plums. Cut the fruit in half and remove the stones. Now all you have to do is pack the halves in freezer bags and pull the air out of the bags and put it in the freezer. You can also boil mirabelle plums down wonderfully and thus preserve them, for example as compote, jam or jelly. Mirabelle plums are also an excellent ingredient for schnapps and fruit mustard.

The so-called red mirabelle plums are actually the fruits of the cherry plum. You can find out everything you need to know about this in our special article on Cherry plum.