The differences between wild and cultivated plums
The plum is a fruit of the subgenus Prunus which includes the cherry. The subgenus is distinguished from other subgenera (peaches, nectarines, apricots and almonds) in the shoots having a terminal bud and solitary side buds (not clustered), the flowers in groups of one to five together on short stems, and the fruit having a groove running down one side and a smooth stone (or pit). Mature plum fruits may have a dusty-white waxy coating that gives them a glaucous appearance. This is an epicuticular wax coating and is known as “wax bloom”. Dried plum fruits are called “dried plums” or “prunes”, although prunes are a distinct type of plum, and may be used both for prunes and for dried plums. Plums are a diverse group of species. The commercially important plum trees are medium-sized, usually pruned to 5–6 metres (16–20 feet) height. The tree is of medium vigor and bears an average of 2,600 to 2,800 fruits per year.
There are two types of plum trees, the wild and the cultivated. The wild plum tree is native to Europe, Asia, and North America. The tree grows to a height of 10 to 20 feet and has spreading branches. The leaves are ovate-shaped and are 2 to 4 inches long. The flowers are white and have five petals. The fruit is a drupe that is 1 to 2 inches in diameter. The skin of the fruit is green or yellow and the flesh is pink or red. The wild plum tree is found in woods and hedgerows. The fruit is used to make jams and jellies.
The cultivated plum tree is a hybrid of the wild plum tree and the apricot tree. The tree grows to a height of 15 to 20 feet and has a more compact growth habit than the wild plum tree. The leaves are ovate-shaped and are 2 to 4 inches long. The flowers are white and have five petals. The fruit is a drupe that is 1 to 2 inches in diameter. The skin of the fruit is green or yellow and the flesh is pink or red. The cultivated plum tree is found in gardens andorchards. The fruit is used to make pies, tarts, and jams..More information
How long to ferment plum wine
Red wine is made from dark-colored grape varieties. The skins of these grapes contain high amounts of anthocyanin, a type of flavonoid pigment that imparts color to the wine. White wine is made by fermenting juice that is pressed from white or green grapes. Most of the time, the skin is removed before fermentation to avoid giving the wine a pinkish hue. rose wine is made in a similar way to red wine, with the skins left on during fermentation to impart color. The fermentation process can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks, depending on the type of grape, the sugar content, and the desired alcohol content.
The sugar content in grapes is turned into alcohol by yeast during fermentation. Wild yeast is present on the skins of grapes, but commercial wines are usually made with a specific type of yeast. After the grape juice is pressed from the grapes, it is transferred to a fermentation vessel. The vessel can be made of steel, concrete, or wood, and is usually closed to keep out oxygen. The vessel is also temperature-controlled to ensure that the yeast is active and fermentation is taking place.
During fermentation, the yeast consumes the sugar in the grape juice and produces alcohol and carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide escapes from the vessel, but the alcohol remains in the wine. The amount of time that fermentation takes depends on the grape variety, the sugar content, and the desired alcohol content. For most red wines, fermentation takes place over the course of 7-10 days. White wines and rosés usually take a bit less time to ferment, while dessert wines can take weeks or even months to ferment.
After fermentation is complete, the wine is transferred to another vessel for aging. This vessel can be made of steel, glass, or wood, and is usually closed to keep out oxygen. The wine is left to age for a period of weeks, months, or years, depending on the desired flavor profile. After aging, the wine is bottled and ready to be enjoyed.
Visit howtomakewinefromgrapes.com to learn more about how to make plum wine. Disclaimer: We used this website as a reference for this blog post.