Mirabelles
Mirabelles are identified by their small oval shape and smooth-textured
flesh. They are known for being sweet and full of flavour and often crop in
abundance.
Mirabelles are early flowering so they require protection from frost. The
best flavoured mirabelles are the ones grown on a south or west facing position.
Grow in moderately fertile, moist, well-drained neutral to slightly acidic
soils.
Rootstocks
Rootstocks in order of their vigour are outlined below: -
Pixy - Dwarf. An ideal
rootstock for the smaller garden. It needs to be grown in fertile and weed-free
soil. It will reach a height of 2.4-3m. Trees grown on this rootstock will bear
fruit within 3 years. Use for dwarf bushes, dwarf pyramids, and small fans.
St. Julian A - Semi-Vigorous.
A good rootstock for most soils. Trees grown on this rootstock will reach a
height of 3-3.5m. Trees grown on this rootstock will bear fruit within 4-5
years. Use for bushes, half-standards, and fans.
Varieties
Mirabelles are available as bare-root one-year-maidens from November to
March. Trained forms of quinces are available in 12 litre pots all-year-round.
Mirabelle ‘de Nancy’
Dessert/Cooker. Small yellow-orange fruit with green tinges and red spots
which has a sweet orange flesh. The flavour is sugary and rich. Its season of
use early September. Partially Self Fertile. Flowering Group 1.
Mirabelle ‘Golden Sphere’
Dessert/Cooker. A large, yellow almost translucent fruit which has golden
flesh and a sweet plummy flavour. Its season of use is late August. Partially
Self Fertile. Flowering Group 2.
Bare Root Trees
One Year Maiden SJA £20.25 each
Mirabelle ‘Gypsy’
Dessert/Cooker. A large bright red fruit which has a sweet orange flesh. The
flavour is sugary and rich. Its season of use is late August. Partially Self
Fertile. Flowering Group 1.
Mirabelle ‘Ruby’
Dessert. This is the largest fruit of the mirabelles recorded which has
exceptionally sweet peach flavoured dark red flesh. The tree is unusually
upright in habit in comparison with the spreading bushy habit of the other
mirabelles. Its season of use is early September. Partially Self Fertile.
Flowering Group 1.
