Stratification of stone fruit

Cold weather is rather unusually welcome at this time of year in the Mediterranean garden. Freezing temperatures help control bugs and diseases amongst the plants. They also provide an important service to growers of stone crop fruit and nut trees, after shedding their seeds the pits (or stone) of fruit and nuts need to go through a period of stratification, intense cold, before the seed is able to germinate.

Once the seed has grown to a tree the cold spell is again important. This is the reason fruit and nut orchards are at risk from rising winter average winter temperatures; without sufficient number of cold days for that particular variety the fruit will not set.

When you pick your apricot, peach, nectarine, plum, or cherry on a sunny summer day perhaps you should remember that early cold spell with a little more affection.

Tonight temperatures will range from freezing on the Mediterranean coast to -15C in the Pyrenées just a few miles away. We once recorded temperatures of -12C in our Mediterranean garden though a thick coat of mulch meant almost all of our plants survived.

Last year the cold spell was a little later falling at the beginning of March resulting in the loss of our cherry and Nispera / Loquat crop.

Caramelized figs with Peaches

Caramelized figs with Peaches.

Nutritional value per serving:

Energy: 287 kcal.

Protein: 1.5 g.

Carbohydrates: 45.2 g.

Fat: 7.8 g.

• saturated: 4.7 g.
• Monounsaturated: 2.3 g
• Polyunsaturated: 0.26 g
• Cholesterol: 22.7 mg.

Fiber: 3.9 g.

Vitamin C: 20.9 mg.

Ingredients for 4:

20 g. mint

100 g. brown sugar

35 g. butter

50 g. brandy

140 g. peach

80 g. Greek yogurt

460 g. apple green

30 g. lemon

120 g. fig

Steps to follow:

1. Peel the apples and crush with a little lemon
2. In a skillet with some butter, skip the peaches, figs, mint and a little brown sugar. Add the brandy and let it reduce.
3. In a bowl, put a little yogurt, chopped apple and sautéed fruit (peaches and figs)
4. Crown with a little fresh mint

From El Mundo