Prunus domestica Prune d'Ente Blanche - Common plum

The domestic Plum tree, White Ente Plum, is a self-fertile variety that pollinates well, ensuring a high fruit yield. It produces a large-sized fruit, with an elongated oval shape, smooth yellow-green skin marked with red dots. Its yellowish flesh is firm, crunchy, very sweet, and delicately fragrant. Energizing, the Ente Plum is enjoyable to eat straight from the tree. Rich in sugar, it is a variety that is well-suited for making jams and syrup-soaked fruits. When dried, the fruits gather exceptional nutritional qualities. This plum tree prefers a warm, sunny, and sheltered exposure. It tolerates ordinary, well-drained, cool, deep, and rich soil, but not excessively chalky or with stagnant moisture.

The Prunus domestica (Common Plum) is a fruit tree belonging to the Rosaceae family, just like the apricot tree, almond tree, and peach tree. It originates from Syria, where it sometimes grows up to 1000 meters (3281 feet) in altitude. The plum tree was introduced to France during the Middle Ages, and it was during the Renaissance that it experienced its development and spread throughout the territory. The White Ente Plum variety originates from the municipality of Monflanquin in the Lot-et-Garonne department, derived from a clone of the Ente Plum.

The White Ente Plum forms a fruit tree with a semi-upright structure that can reach a final height of about 4 to 6 meters (13 to 20 feet), producing numerous branches grouped in spreading crowns. Its habit is well-suited for free forms on high, half, or low stems. Its deciduous foliage is composed of obovate leaves, 5 to 7 cm (2 to 3in) long, with serrated edges, slightly pubescent underneath, and dark green. Towards the end of March, beginning of April, the white flowers, 1.5 to 2.5 cm (1in) in diameter, appear solitarily 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 is a remarkably decorative flowering in spring, particularly rich in nectar and pollen. It is a hardy tree, tolerating temperatures down to -20°C (-4°F). This variety is self-fertile, it does not require a companion to bear fruit, but the presence of another plum variety nearby will increase production.

The White Ente Plum is a variety that quickly bears fruit and has a very significant fruit set that can bend the branches under the weight of the fruits. The harvest starts around mid-August and continues until mid-September as they ripen. Since plums are quite fragile, they are harvested with a picking pole or manually using a ladder, but always with delicacy. On average, a plum tree yields between 40 and 60 kilograms of fruit per year. The fruits can be consumed as soon as they are harvested. They are large-sized, elongated, about 4 to 5 cm (2in) long and 3 to 4 cm (1 to 2in) in diameter. Delicious and delightful, plums can be eaten fresh, raw, or mixed in fruit salads or desserts. They are also enjoyed when dried. They are also excellent in making clafoutis, cakes, crumbles, or tarts, and as an accompaniment to savory dishes based on white meats (turkey, chicken, veal, etc) or tagines. They are also perfect for making jams, compotes, juice, 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 amount of iron. Its content of vitamins C, B, E, and K, phenolic antioxidants, and fibers make the plum a health asset. It is invigorating, energizing, and hydrating. 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 - Mirabelle category, the White Ente Plum is a recognized and appreciated variety for the taste quality of its fruits. In favorable conditions, it is easy to cultivate, generous in fruits, and resistant to diseases. Extremely popular, thanks to its fruits, the plum tree finds its rightful place in the garden for the enjoyment of young and old. With a wide range of varieties, it is easy to find the one that best suits one's desires.