We have a Victoria Plum tree here at the Smallest Smallholding. It’s a proper old, knarly tree that we think was here as part of the original market garden that the land was once a part of. The remnants of the market garden include said plum tree, a damson and perhaps the crab apple. There is another cooking apple tree but unfortunately for us it belongs to next door now (yes, I am quite bitter about it).

The problem with our plum is that every year the plum moths come along and lay their eggs there. So you never quite know when you slice open the plum with your fingernail whether you’ll be met with nice, juicy plump flesh:

…or not so nice plum moth larvae and their excrement:

Needless to say, I don’t have the pleasure of being able to pluck a plum from the tree and take a big, juicy bite from them. It’s not worth the risk, seeing as most of the plums are riddled with the plum moth larvae. Now, you could say it’s my fault for not killing the moths in the first place. Well, call me an idiot, call me sentimental, call me what you like, but I don’t like killing things. It’s just not the sort of person I am (although, I do dispatch fleas quickly and efficiently. Where’s the difference? I don’t know, I don’t even feel particularly easy about killing fleas. Ridiculous? Maybe.). I especially HATE and detest those sticky pheromone moth traps. They’re indiscriminate and dangerous to other wildlife, and I don’t particularly like the thought of something dying a long, horrible death like that. I’ve also read stories about blue tits and other small birds getting trapped and dying on them. I just don’t go there, it’s not part and parcel of my ‘green’, wildlife friendly ethos. You might think humanise things too much, but to me suffering is suffering. I’m all about me doing the hard work rather than just killing things so I can get the most out of them.

But of course I want to be able to eat my plums. So what do I do? Well this year obviously I’ve missed the boat on this one. But next year I’m going to road test a preventative, non-killing sort of method. I haven’t worked it out yet, everything I’ve googled goes on about plum moth traps, so it make take a bit of research. I’ve read lots of things about peppermint and mint keeping a whole host of insects away, so perhaps that will work.

Besides, I’ve nothing to lose really. If the plums aren’t got by the plum moth then a wasp usually comes along and has a feast on them anyway!

But one can dream… so here’s a recipe I might have used had I had a decent crop of plums to make some preserve with. Perhaps you’re luckier than me and have a crop, so why not give it a go and make me green with envy?

Plum Preserve Recipe, ‘Plum Pot’ courtesy of my WI Jams, Pickles and Chutneys book*:

Makes about four 450g (1lb) jars
Prep time: 20 mins + standing overnight
Cooking Time: about 45 mins

Ingredients:
1.3kg (3lb) plums, washed, stones and chopped into large pieces
450g (1lb) raisins or sultanas
2 large oranges (175-225g/6-8oz each), sliced and chopped into small pieces
1.3kg (3lb) sugar

Method:
1. Put all the fruit and the sugar into a large non-metallic bowl. Cover and leave overnight.
2. Next day, transfer the mixture to a large preserving pan and heat slowly until the sugar is dissolved, stirring al the time.
3. bring to the boil and then simmer until the mixture is fairly thick - about 30 minutes. A knob of butter can be added during cooking to reduce any scum.
4. Pour into cooled, sterilised jars and seal. Label and store.

*Best Kept Secrets of the Women’s Institute Jams, Pickles and Chutneys by Midge Thomas
Simon & Schuster UK, 2002

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