Greengages - Recommendations or advice please

[Jillyreeves]

I really love Greengages and want to plant a couple of trees but have no experience what so ever of Gages/Plums or fruit trees of any kind for that matter.

Can anyone recommend a variety and/or supplier and offer any planting growing advice please

I think if I am quick its still not too late to plant them

[Rossa]

I planted an Oullins Golden Gage last year cos my Mum reckons they're better than plums. It's an old French variety, more a yellow plum than a greengage. It was a Supercolumn so won't grow above 8' and no more than 24-30" wide. Self-fertile so doesn't need another one for pollination. Got it and a pear, apple and cherry from Chris Bowers.

Top Fruits > Plums, Gages & Damsons > Gages - available from Chris Bowers and Sons.

They do all sizes of trees from Pixy to standard including the trained varieties like fans, step overs etc. Have a look around their site for ideas if nothing else. And there is info on pruning and looking after them. If you don't have a lot of space you can train plums into a "weeping willow" shape which also makes it easier to pick the fruit.

If you plant now don't expect any fruit. First year is best for putting down roots, though all mine did have blossom. You may not get a really good crop until the 3rd year.

"... I went from adolescence to senility, trying to bypass maturity ..." - Tom Lehrer
Earth Wind and Fire

[vicky]

I had an Early Transparent Gage at the last house from Deacons Nursery which was a really lovely flavour, although I found the wasps got to a lot of the fruit before I did.
I planted an Oullins Gage here a few weeks ago as I've heard good things about it, from Victorianna Nursery (fantastic customer service)

[Capsid]

I bought one from T&M and planted it last week. It's going to be a long wait for the fruit in a few years' time then.

Greengage (Fruit)

[Jillyreeves]

Thanks for the help fellow Grapes :-)

Forgot to say that Victoria Plum Trees are already planted on the area so I wont need a pollinator if not self pollinating.

Anyone else off any advice, please :-)

[Rossa]

Thanks for the help fellow Grapes :-)

Forgot to say that Victoria Plum Trees are already planted on the area so I wont need a pollinator if not self pollinating.

Anyone else off any advice, please :-)

Victorias are self fertile. Trees will only cross pollinate if they blossom at the same time.

[sarraceniac]

Sorry. just spotted this. I'm with Rossa on gages. My Oulins is lovely. Not as trendy as a greengage but wonderful flavour.

[VictoriaJS]

Hi,

This is an interesting topic and I see that one or two people have had the Oullins Golden Gage. I bought one of these a number of years ago but I think that it must flower very early because in my (what was then) Nottinghamshire garden I had no more than three flowers and it never fruited after either. I can only assume the frost got the buds or something. the tree itself grew very large.

[northepaul]

I have a willingham gage - just to be different
I have only had it in since last November, but it was recommended to me. Hoping it may produce some fruit in 2-4 years.

[littleexperience]

by far gages are better tasting than plums but the size of crops a poor compared to plums thats my understanding

[Jillyreeves]

Thank you everyone but I have decided that rather than rush into buying a Greengage I am going to wait until autumn to plant one, more time to research and plan where it/they are going to go.