The plum season is in full swing: despite the spring frost and the summer drought, the harvest is close to average

The delicious, juicy fruit is a favorite of many people (Photo: Pixabay)

As Balázs Győrffy, the president of NAK, said, the plum is the third largest fruit grown in Hungary after apples and cherries. It is grown on nearly 7,000 hectares, 70 percent of which is concentrated in three counties, Bács-Kiskun, Pest and Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg. – This year, due to the spring frost and the summer drought, the plum harvest is expected to be somewhat below average, between 50,000 and 60,000 tons. At the same time, due to the lack of water, some of the fruits did not reach the ideal size and content value. – pointed out the NAK president. He added that the drought can also be a problem in the long term, because it can also cause disturbances in the differentiation of the next year’s flower buds, which can again result in a decrease in yield. In such periods, fruit growing research and the role of irrigation are even more valued.

According to Dr. Ferenc Nádosy, head of the Cegléd Research Station of the MATE Fruit Growing Research Center, growing plums is not always easy

For example, in such dry weather as this year, you need to know what amount of water and what nutrients should be used to help the development of the fruit. – Among other things, the research institute deals with the research and breeding of plum varieties, which provide useful information, for example, regarding the appropriate use of varieties. Disease tolerance and broad ecological tolerance are important aspects. We are trying to develop the breeding of the varieties in such a way that they adapt to the current plum consumption trends. In addition, the different types all have different characteristics and can be used in different ways. – said the specialist.

One of the most popular varieties is Stanley, which begins to ripen in mid-August

Toptaste is one of the best-tasting, sweet plum varieties for fresh consumption, while Haroma and Presenta are also excellent for jam, from which you can make preserved and pickled plums. The Topfive variety is the best choice for cakes, which not only has a high sugar content, but also a suitable acid content. In the traditional growing areas, in Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg county, the Beszterce variety is still widespread.

There are nearly 3,000 varieties of plums, of which 25 are grown in Hungary

Varieties differ in size, color (red, purple, yellowish, greenish, dark blue), shape (round, ovoid, spherical, oblong), seed separation, juiciness, aroma and ripening time. Thanks to the many domestic varieties, plums ripen from the end of June to October. The plum peak starts at the end of August, when the industrial processing of plums also begins. During his visit to the plum variety collection, Attila Valter, the athlete ambassador of the European Fresh Team, told me that when he was younger, during training, if he felt tired or thirsty, he would often stop along the way to eat a plum, because it was not only easily accessible, but also high water – and due to its nutrient content, it is also an excellent regenerator. The video in which Hungarian champion cyclist Valter Attila and Dr. Ferenc Nádosy will tour the collection of plum varieties, then take a peek into the secrets of making plum jam, it can be viewed on the social media platforms of the European Fresh Team program!