yellow plums ripening

[jake47]

Picked these this morning at about 6 am for free, although they where alongside a lane nearby(houses opposite) ,thought i would get them while they where still on the tree. Dropped my step ladder in the car and off i went.Thers about 15 pounds (uk)so maybe get 2 to 3 gallon hopefully .

[StockeyDAW]

My observation of the plums are that they still require some ripening - should be very ripe before you start. Are they Greengage plum variety? The information that I have calls for 4-6 pounds per imperial gallon of wine to be made. I would also make sure all the stems have been removed and that they are sliced into halves or quarters and the pit removed and then put them into a nylon straining bag. Since the plums are a malic fruit I am very much in favour of blending approximately 10% of a citric fruit such as oranges (peeled and pitted). My suggestion and the way that I would do the batch. DAW

[Hippie]

I agree the plums don't look ripe enough for wine. With the addition of lots of sugar and pectin, they might make good jelly.

[jake47]

Yes the plums are ripening as i said,the orange coloured ones are sweet jucy and ripe,the yellow ones have been in the sun for a couple of days and are ripening nicely.They are a greengage variety as far as i know .Not sure if i fancy making a jelly with them, think i will experiment and make three one gallon batches ,plum, plum& orange, and maybe plum and bilberry (just picked them this morning and see how it pans out.

[Hippie]

Sorry, plums don't get any riper after picking, like tomatoes do.
My concern is the unripe plums causing a vegetable taste in the wine.

[jake47]

Have to disagree with you there Hippie ,red plums will not ripen to any degree once picked ,however other types will ripen off the tree see :- http://www.ehow.com/how_8296_harvest-store-plums.html (step 3) and 5 .The yellower ones have now turned orange and they are all about the same ripeness .

[StockeyDAW]

Have to disagree with you there Hippie ,red plums will not ripen to any degree once picked ,however other types will ripen off the tree see :- http://www.ehow.com/how_8296_harvest-store-plums.html (step 3) and 5 .The yellower ones have now turned orange and they are all about the same ripeness .

Ah ha! not like pineapples. In this case I would suggest washing, disesteeming, slicing and removing pits as they ripen and putting them in a zip lock bag into the freezer. When you have the required number of pounds you can then plan the rest of the wine making process. The freezing will help break down the pulp and skin and aid in the juice extraction and fermentation process. Cheers DAW

[jake47]

Ah ha! not like pineapples. In this case I would suggest washing, disesteeming, slicing and removing pits as they ripen and putting them in a zip lock bag into the freezer. When you have the required number of pounds you can then plan the rest of the wine making process. The freezing will help break down the pulp and skin and aid in the juice extraction and fermentation process. Cheers DAW

Thanks Daw sounds like a good idea the freezing ,especially as it will break down the pulp and skin.

[StockeyDAW]

Thanks Daw sounds like a good idea the freezing ,especially as it will break down the pulp and skin.

Ya, it is great with fruit of any kind - I use the process all the time. I also think that we should make a note concerning "Red Plums"; the information that I have is not to use them for wine as they are high in amygadlin and the result is a bitter almond taste and smell that few enjoy. Cheers - Enjoy your wine to be. DAW

[Hippie]

Off the tree, the plums might well turn darker, but without the leaves and photosynthesis, they will not get any sweeter or change in taste.

[lockwood1956]

they look like bullaces to me

I'm not sure about them ripening off the tree.....

my understanding is that photosynthesis is required to produce proper ripening, they may change colour and give the impression of ripening, but i suspect the sugar level is not increasing, nor the acid content reducing.

but hey....I might be wrong, wont be the first time.


I have some oulins gage (yellow plums) i might try picking some when not yet ripe and then measure the brix day by day and report back

[Hippie]

You have too much time to spare Bob!

[lockwood1956]

OK

Guilty on the too much time charge


here is a pic of some not quite ripe bullaces from my tree

the brix is at 12 to 13 on all 4 (couldn't get the camera to focus through the refractometer...sorry, you will have to take my word for it

they are on the kitchen window sill in full sunlight all day, will measure day by day to monitor changes and post results.

[StockeyDAW]

they look like bullaces to me

I'm not sure about them ripening off the tree.....

my understanding is that photosynthesis is required to produce proper ripening, they may change colour and give the impression of ripening, but i suspect the sugar level is not increasing, nor the acid content reducing.

but hey....I might be wrong, wont be the first time.


I have some oulins gage (yellow plums) i might try picking some when not yet ripe and then measure the brix day by day and report back

http://caswell.ces.ncsu.edu/files/library/17/NewsletterJuly2006Web.pdf

I guess you knew that I just had to get back to you lads on this. I think it may help answer the ripening question? Cheers DAW hope the link works!

[lockwood1956]

Interesting article Daw

seems they do ripen off the tree!

It isn't that I don't believe it....... but more that I have begun the experiment, that I will carry on.