OPAL european plum tree DWARF (Krysmk 1)

🍑 Opal plum tree (Prunus domestica ‘Opal’)

🌸 Origin and type

• Species: Prunus domestica
• Origin: Sweden, 1925
• Breeder: Alnarp Research Institute
• Type: Self-fertile European plum tree

🌳 Tree characteristics

• Habit: Spread out, well branched
• Mature height: Approximately 5 m

• Hardiness:

  USDA Zone 5–6 (resistant to temperatures as low as –15°C)
• Exposure: Sun or partial shade, sheltered from the wind
• Soil: Rich, deep, well-drained, slightly calcareous accepted
• Growth: Average, fast fruiting (often after 2–3 years)

🍑 Fruit

• Shape: Round to oval
• Size: Medium (35–45 mm)
• Skin: Purple-red on a yellow background, sometimes with a bluish bloom
• Flesh: Golden yellow, firm, juicy
• Flavor: Sweet, fragrant, slightly tart
• Stone: Semi-adherent
• Harvest: Late July to early August
• Use: Fresh, jams, pastries, compotes
• Storage: 2–3 weeks in a cool place

🌼 Flowering and pollination

• Flowering: Mid-March to April (moderately early)
• Self-fertile: Yes ✅
• Recommended pollinators: Reine-Claude d'Oullins, Mirabelle de Nancy (improve yield)

🛠️ Cultivation and care

• Planting: Fall or early spring
• Watering: Regularly for the first few years, then moderately
• Pruning: Winter, to aerate the branches and promote light
• Thinning: Recommended if the tree bears a lot of fruit
• Diseases: Good resistance to common diseases

🍽️ Uses

• Fresh fruit at the table
• Jams, compotes, pastries
• Less suitable for drying or freezing

💡 Advantages

✅ Self-fertile, ideal for small gardens
✅ Early harvest (end of July)
✅ Excellent taste
✅ Good disease resistance

⚠️ Points to watch

• Flowering sensitive to spring frosts
• Fruits are fragile, require careful harvesting
• Prefer a sheltered location to avoid wind damage