Do you dream of a family orchard laden with golden mirabelle plums? Between PDO, the joys of gardening, and 100% organic production, it's possible even on a small plot! Follow this SEO guide designed to help you maximize your traffic... and your harvest. From rootstock selection to pruning, including biological control and storage, we'll explain everything step by step.

Summary

• 1. Choice of rootstock and scion
• 2. Planting your mirabelle plum tree: key steps
• 3. Pruning and training the tree
• 4. Biological control of diseases
• 5. Harvesting and storing mirabelles
• Resources & useful links

1. Choice of rootstock and scion

The rootstock determines the vigor, soil resistance, and precocity of your cherry plum tree. For a small orchard:

• Prunus mahaleb : the classic, adapted to light soils, provides moderate vigor, ideal for hedges.
• Prunus cerasus (sour cherry): good resistance to cold, interesting productivity, produces a more compact tree.
• Prunus domestica : for clayey but vigorous soils, to be reserved for large gardens.

Next, choose a "Mirabelle de Nancy" or "Mirabelle de Metz" AOP graft to guarantee optimal size and sugar content. You can order your package of mirabelle plums to collect your pits and test the emergence in your home nursery!

2. Planting your mirabelle plum tree: key steps

Planting is ideally done in autumn or late winter. Here is the protocol:

1. Prepare the soil : loosen to a depth of 50 cm, add 20 L of compost and a little horticultural limestone if your soil is too acidic.
2. Take a hole of 60 × 60 × 60 cm, loosen the soil at the bottom.
3. Position the rootstock in the center, replant it at the same depth as in its root ball.
4. Water thoroughly then apply organic mulch (straw, wood chippings) to maintain humidity and limit weeds.

Install stakes if necessary; the young tree will be able to withstand winds and you will limit the risk of graft breakage.

3. Pruning and training the tree

Training pruning (1st to 3rd year) allows you to create a balanced framework:

• Year 1 : remove the lower branches to define a 50 cm trunk.
• Year 2 : select 4 to 5 well-distributed carpenters, recut the others.
• From the 3rd year onwards , carry out annual maintenance pruning in winter (twigs and dead wood) and light green thinning (June) to improve air circulation and fruit ripeness.

Use clean, disinfected pruning shears to prevent disease transmission.

4. Biological control of diseases

For an organic and sustainable orchard, focus on integrated pest management:

• Preventive : spraying with horsetail decoction or blackthorn manure in spring to limit brown rot and scab.
• Trapping : sticky collars against the codling moth, the main insect of pits.
• Resistance inducers : Dormant horticultural white oil to smother eggs and larvae.
• Promoting biodiversity : installing tit nest boxes to reduce aphids and caterpillars.

Also consult the Phytodata Network guide for detailed technical sheets on each pest.

5. Harvesting and storing mirabelles

Hand-harvesting takes place at the end of August, when the fruits come off easily and are a beautiful orange. To optimize:

• Work in the morning, the temperatures are cooler.
• Use openwork crates to limit the heating of the fruit.
• Weighs and calibrates immediately to prepare for marketing or family use.

For short-term storage, keep mirabelles in a cool place (8–10°C, 85% humidity) for up to 2 weeks. To extend storage, check out our freezing and drying tips.

Resources & useful links

• Planting tutorial video: YouTube – Neary
• Savory recipes with mirabelle plums: delicious ideas
• Everything you need to know about the Lorraine mirabelle plum: complete guide