Sainte-Catherine Plum Plant Conventional bare-root scion

Technical sheet of the Sainte-Catherine Plum variety

• Color of the fruit flesh: Melting, tender and sweet.
• Skin color: Golden yellow delicately speckled with red on the sunny side.
• Size and shape: Mature size of the tree: from 3 m to 10 m (height) and from 2 m to 4 m (width).
• Tree size: From 3 m to 10 m in height.
• Fruit maturity: Picked from the first half of September, it is one of the last of the season.
• Fruit taste: Sweet with honeyed notes, with juicy and fragrant flesh.
• Earliness of the variety: Flowering early to mid-April, early to mid-season.
• Fruiting period: End of August-beginning of September.
• Disease resistance and storage: A fairly hardy and disease-resistant variety. Sainte-Catherine plums can be stored for about 2 weeks in a cool place.
• Variety yield: Good vigor.
• Is this variety self-fertile? Self-fertile, but more productive if a greengage is planted nearby.
• Commercial use: Dessert, table, pastry, drying, preserving.
• Comments: Suitable for all types of soil, fresh and drained. Hardy, resistant to low temperatures (-12°C to -18°C).

Quick read / the essentials on Prunier Sainte-Catherine

The Sainte-Catherine plum tree is a traditional French variety , native to Touraine and northern Poitou , known for its culinary versatility and disease resistance . Thanks to its sweet flavor and honeyed aromas , it is sought after for fresh consumption, processing into jams and the production of spirits . Its adaptability to cold climates and varied soils makes it a strategic option for professional producers .

This medium to large tree is hardy , able to withstand temperatures down to -25°C . It thrives in well-drained soils and tolerates sunny to semi-shaded exposures . Its early mid-season flowering (early to mid-April) requires vigilance against late frosts , but its good natural resistance to cold allows it to adapt to various French climates .

At Arboriverse, a specialist wholesale supplier of plum trees , we offer carefully selected Sainte-Catherine plum trees , guaranteeing optimal production and increased resistance . Buying Sainte-Catherine plum trees from a specialist ensures successful planting and a high-performing orchard .

The Sainte-Catherine plum tree is self-fertile , but its production is optimized with compatible pollinators , such as Mirabelle de Nancy, Reine-Claude Dorée or Quetsche d'Alsace . It offers a regular and stable yield , improved by well-controlled pruning and optimal irrigation management .

Sainte-Catherine plums are medium to large in size, golden yellow in color with light red spots , with juicy, sweet and fragrant flesh . They are ideal for:

• Eat fresh , with a juicy texture and honeyed notes.
• Jams and compotes , thanks to their high sugar content.
• Pastries and pies , where they provide a nice texture.
• Production of spirits , an interesting niche for distillation.
• Long shelf life , allowing for delayed storage and marketing.

The harvest takes place from the first half of September , extending the plum season and diversifying sales opportunities .

As a specialist wholesale supplier of plum trees , Arboriverse supports French producers by providing them with plants adapted to local conditions and technical support . Buying Sainte-Catherine plum trees from an expert guarantees optimized profitability and efficient cultivation .

Presentation of the Sainte-Catherine Plum Tree for Apple Growers and Plum Producers in France

The Sainte-Catherine plum tree is a traditional French variety, mainly grown in Touraine and northern Poitou . Valued for its culinary versatility and disease resistance , this plum is distinguished by its sweet flavor and honeyed aromas. It is particularly sought after for processing into jams, compotes, and spirits , but can also be eaten fresh. Its adaptability to cold climates and varied soils makes it an attractive option for professional growers.

Origin and Climate Adaptation

The Sainte-Catherine plum tree originates from Touraine , where it has been cultivated for centuries. Its hardiness allows it to withstand temperatures as low as -25°C , making it a variety suited to harsh winters. It thrives in well-drained soils , but avoid very clayey and shallow soils that could hinder its development. A sunny to partially shaded exposure is preferable to optimize fruit production.

Its early to mid-season flowering , which occurs between early and mid-April, may require protection against late frosts in some regions. However, its natural resistance to cold allows it to withstand harsh climatic conditions well.

Fruit Characteristics and Harvest

Sainte-Catherine plums have a golden yellow skin , delicately speckled with red on the sun-exposed side. They have an oval and elongated shape , with juicy, fragrant and sweet flesh, which gives off honeyed notes.

This variety is one of the last to be harvested , reaching maturity in the first half of September . This late period allows for a longer plum season and wider marketing opportunities. The fruits are medium to large in size , well suited to fresh sales or processing.

Sainte-Catherine plums are distinguished by their good conservation , which makes them interesting for producers looking to store or ship their harvest over significant distances.

Pollination and Yield

The Sainte-Catherine plum tree is self-fertile , but its production can be improved by the presence of pollinating varieties such as the Mirabelle de Nancy, the Reine-Claude Dorée or the Quetsche d'Alsace . This cross-pollination increases the quantity and regularity of harvests.

Thanks to its early flowering , it combines well with other varieties with similar flowering, such as Reine-Claude d'Oullins or the Madeleine variety, thus promoting better fertilization and increased yield.

Its production potential is high , with good regularity from year to year. Adapted cultural management, including regular pruning and well-controlled watering , allows for optimal fruiting.

Resistance to Diseases and Parasites

The Sainte-Catherine plum tree is renowned for its disease resistance , making it a suitable variety for growers who want to limit the use of phytosanitary treatments. It is particularly resistant to fungal diseases , although like all plum trees, it can be subject to certain infections such as brown rot or shot hole in humid climatic conditions.

Adopting good agricultural practices, such as removing mummified fruit and pruning for ventilation , helps limit the development of diseases. Regarding pests, no particular sensitivity has been reported, but monitoring for aphids and scale insects is still recommended.

Rootstocks and Crop Management

The development and vigor of the Sainte-Catherine plum tree varies depending on the rootstock used . Common options are:

• Myrobalan : gives great vigor , suitable for heavy soils.
• Saint-Julien A : medium vigor, ideal for light to medium soils.
• Saint-Julien Inra II : reduced vigor, preferable for denser plantations.
• Plum Franc : promotes strong growth and is suitable for open-air orchards .

The choice of rootstock allows the crop to be adapted to local soil and climate constraints and production objectives.

Orchard Maintenance and Management

The Sainte-Catherine plum tree requires regular maintenance to ensure optimal production. Gentle pruning is recommended to encourage fruiting and maintain a good balance between vegetative development and fruit production. Removing dead wood and diseased branches in late winter also helps preserve the tree's health.

Watering is crucial during the first few years of planting and during summer droughts. Once well established, the tree becomes more resistant to water shortages , although additional fertilization may be necessary to maximize fruit quality.

Integrating integrated pest management techniques and improving orchard biodiversity (installing flowering hedges, beehives) can help limit infestations while promoting effective pollination.

Commercial Valuation

The Sainte-Catherine plum tree offers several commercial outlets thanks to its culinary versatility and taste quality . It can be valued in different market segments:

• Fresh market : sold in trays or in bulk, targeting consumers looking for sweet and fragrant plums.
• Artisanal and industrial processing : used in the making of jams, compotes and pies .
• Spirits : ideal base for the production of eaux-de-vie and liqueurs, thanks to its intense aroma and its high sugar content.

Its late harvest makes it a complementary product to other plum varieties, extending the sales season and diversifying producers' offerings.

Production Strategies and Recommendations

To optimize the cultivation of the Sainte-Catherine plum tree, several strategic recommendations can be implemented:

• Selection of rootstock based on soil type and production objectives.
• Optimizing pollination by introducing compatible varieties to maximize yield.
• Health monitoring and implementation of good pruning and foliage aeration practices to avoid diseases.
• Watering management to ensure good growth of young plants and limit water stress in summer.
• Highlighting the fruit's versatility to reach several markets, from fresh to agri-food and spirits processing.

Conclusion

The Sainte-Catherine plum tree is a traditional variety with great potential for producers looking to combine taste quality, hardiness and diversity of use . Its adaptability to cold climates , its resistance to diseases and its regular production make it a wise choice for professional orchards.

Its late harvest and good storage life allow for expanded commercial outlets, whether for fresh consumption, sweet processing or distillation. By controlling growing conditions, pollination and health management , producers can maximize the profitability of this emblematic Touraine variety.

To summarize: Prunier Sainte-Catherine

The Sainte-Catherine Plum is a heritage variety with strong commercial potential , combining resistance, productivity and culinary versatility . Its adaptability to cold climates , its long conservation and its early flowering make it a strategic choice for French producers wishing to diversify their production .

Although slightly sensitive to spring frosts , it is self-fertile , but its production is improved with compatible pollinators such as Mirabelle de Nancy and Reine-Claude Dorée . It tolerates various types of soil , provided they are well-drained , and shows excellent hardiness to low temperatures .

Its medium to large sized fruits are sought after for:

• Consume fresh , with a juicy texture and a sweet flavor.
• Transformation into jams, compotes and pastries , with a nice richness in sugar.
• Distillation into eaux-de-vie , thanks to its honeyed aromas.
• Long shelf life , facilitating stock and sales management.

The late harvest in September allows the plum season to be extended and provides a complementary product to other early varieties .

The Sainte-Catherine plum tree is not very susceptible to fungal diseases , although vigilance is required against brown rot and shot hole in humid conditions. Regular aeration pruning and integrated pest control guarantee healthy and abundant production .

The choice of rootstock influences the vigor and adaptability of the plum tree . Arboriverse, a specialist wholesale supplier of plum plants , offers suitable options :

• Myrobalan , for strong vigor and adaptation to heavy soils .
• Saint-Julien A , for moderate growth and easy management .
• Plum tree franc , for outdoor cultivation and stable production .

Thanks to its multiple commercial outlets , the Prunier Sainte-Catherine represents a strategic opportunity for producers .

At Arboriverse, a specialist wholesale supplier of plum plants , we help French apple growers optimize their orchards with selected plants and personalized technical monitoring .

Buying Sainte-Catherine plum trees from an expert guarantees optimized production, assured profitability and a productive orchard , with a trusted partner for sustainable and efficient cultivation .