Plum, Gage & Damson
Plums were one of the first fruits to be farmed. The cultivated plum – Prunus domestica – is thought to be a cross between the cherry plum and the sloe. Now there are over 300 varieties of plums and greengages. The plum is usually oval in shape, the gage round. Plum trees are not as robust as apple or pear trees, or as long-lived. They need a sheltered site that escapes spring frosts, as they flower early. They prefer a well drained moisture retentive and slightly acidic soil.
PRUNING – Plums are best grown as a bush or pyramid. Stone fruits should always be pruned during the growing season (May to September) to reduce the risk of silver leaf infection.
POLLINATION – Some plums are self-fertile, if they are not, choose varieties within the same pollination group if possible.
ROOTSTOCKS – Most of our plums, gages and damsons are grown on St. Julien A rootstocks, which will eventually give a tree of 3.5-4.5m(12-15ft) or a pyramid of 2.4-2.7m(8-9ft).
Plums when ripe will not store well. If picked before ripening with stalk attached fruits can be kept in a cool place for 2/3 weeks.
Single stem untrained – 1-2 year old feathered maidens £24.00 each. Bush, 1/2 Standard, Standard, Fan trained trees – from £28.00
Burbank’s Giant
Pollination group 1. Self-fertile. Large long oval fruit – red with darker purple and various russet dots and greenish yellow flesh. Fertile and regularly bearing heavy crops. Ripens early to mid September.
Cambridge Gage SF(Part)
Pollination group 3. Small yellow-green fruits with excellent flavour and very juicy. Useful as either a dessert or culinary gage and ripening in late August/early September. A fair cropper.
Coe’s Golden Drop
Pollination group 2. Self-fertile. Excellent large yellow dessert plum, ripening second half of September. Very juicy, very sweet, apricot-like flavour.
Czar SF
Pollination group 2. A heavy cropping blue plum. Good acid flavour and very juicy. Named after the Czar of Russia who was visiting at the time it was introduced. Ripens early August. Can also be eaten fresh once ripe.
Old English SF
Pollination group 3. Self-fertile. A connoisseur’s fruit of the highest quality, deliciously sweet and richly flavoured. Pale green . Ready for eating late August.
Opal SF
Pollination group 2. An early heavy cropping dessert plum, with excellent flavoured medium sized fruits – yellow with a purplish black flush, with a distinct gage like texture. Fruits ready late July. BRISTOL 1925
Oullins Golden Gage
Pollination group 4. Self-fertile. Not a true gage but a dual-purpose gage/plum. Large, round, fairly sweet fruit. Skin is yellow with green dots, the flesh is pale yellow and transparent, ideal for preserving if picked early. Flowers late, therefore ideal for frosty places. Ripens mid-August.
Victoria SF
Pollination group 2. Introduced in 1840, this plum was found as a chance seedling in Alderton, Sussex. A heavy cropper, this plum is one of the most popular. Fruit is oval, red of excellent flavour, sweet and very juicy, but also useful for cooking when under ripe. Ready for eating late August/early
DAMSONS
PRUNING – Stone fruits should always be pruned during the growing season (May to September) to reduce the risk of silver leaf infection.
POLLINATION – Some damsons are self-fertile, if they are not, choose varieties within the same pollination group if possible.
ROOTSTOCKS – Our damsons are grown on St. Julien A rootstocks, which will eventually give a tree of 3.5-4.5m(12-15ft) or a pyramid of 2.4-2.7m(8-9ft).
Single stem untrained – 1-2 year old feathered maidens £24.00 each. Bush, 1/2 Standard, Standard – from £28.00
Farleigh’s Prolific
Pollination group 2. A small tree with small blue-black fruits of a fine rich flavour when cooked, bearing enormous crops in suitable conditions. Although partially self-fertile it is readily pollinated by other plums. Ready for picking mid-September.
Merryweather SF
Pollination group 3. A large, dark damson with juicy, acidic fruits ideal for culinary use, particularly suitable for freezing and bottling. Ripens in September.
