Prunus domestica Quetsche Blanche de Létricourt - Common plum

The 'Quetsche Blanche de Létricourt' Plum Tree is a productive, self-fertile variety that pollinates well, with self-fertilizing flowers. It produces a large-sized fruit, with an elongated oval shape, smooth and bloomy skin, pale yellow to almost white. Its yellowish flesh is firm, slightly crunchy, sweet, and delicately acidic. The stone detaches easily from the pulp. The plum is enjoyable to eat straight from the tree. When cooked, it is suitable for many sweet or savoury recipes. It is a fruit with exceptional nutritional qualities. This plum tree is sensitive to spring frosts and prefers a warm, sunny, and protected location. It adapts well to ordinary, well-draining, fresh, deep, and fertile soil, but not too chalky and without stagnant moisture.

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 (3281 feet) in altitude. The plum tree was introduced to France during the Middle Ages and experienced its development and spread throughout the territory during the Renaissance. The word "quetsche" comes from the German name "Zwetsche," which itself is derived from the Greek word "damaskênon," meaning "Damascus plum." Traditionally cultivated in Lorraine (France), Germany, and Austria, the quetsche undeniably finds its ideal soil in Alsace. The 'Quetsche Blanche de Létricourt' variety has somewhat unknown origins. According to some, it was discovered before 1882 in Létricourt, a locality in Meurthe-et-Moselle, by Mr. Alix (an arboriculturist in Nancy).

The 'Quetsche Blanche de Létricourt' Plum Tree forms a fruit tree with a fairly rounded framework that can reach a final height of about 4 to 6 metres (13 to 20 feet). It produces numerous branches grouped in spreading crowns. Its habit is suitable for free forms on high, medium, or low stems. Its deciduous foliage is composed of obovate leaves, 5 to 7cm (2 to 3in) long, with serrated edges and slightly pubescent undersides, dark green. Towards the end of March or early April, the white flowers, 1.5 to 2.5cm (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 harvests. It is a remarkably decorative flowering in spring, particularly attractive to bees and butterflies. It is a hardy tree, withstanding temperatures down to -20°C. This variety is self-fertile and does not require a companion to bear fruit, but the presence of another plum variety nearby will increase production.

The 'Quetsche Blanche de Létricourt' Plum Tree is a fertile variety with a quick fruiting period. The fruit harvest begins in late August and extends until mid-September as they ripen. Since plums are quite fragile, they are harvested with a picking pole or manually using a ladder, always with delicacy. On average, a plum tree yields between 30 and 60 kilograms of fruit per year. The fruits can be consumed as soon as they are harvested. They are large-sized, elongated, approximately 4 to 5cm (2in) long and 3 to 4cm (1 to 2in) in diameter. Delicious and tasty, plums can be eaten fresh, raw, or mixed in fruit salads or desserts. They are also excellent 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. Not to forget the famous prunes soaked in brandy, to be consumed in moderation.

Plums are a lightweight and balancing fruit. Low in calories, they are rich in potassium, calcium, and magnesium, with a significant contribution of iron. Their content of vitamins C, B, E, and K, phenolic antioxidants, and fibre makes plums a health asset. They are invigorating, energizing, and rehydrating. The fruits only keep for a few days at room temperature but can be frozen once washed, dried, and pitted or preserved as jams or in syrup.

In the Plum Trees - Mirabelles category, the 'Quetsche Blanche de Létricourt' Plum Tree is a highly productive and fertile variety, recognized and appreciated for the taste quality of its fruits. Under good conditions, it is easy to cultivate, generous in fruit production, 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 alike. With a wide range of varieties, it is easy to find the one that best suits one's desires.