Plums, Gages & Damsons- grid
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Showing 1–18 of 29 results
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Showing 1–18 of 29 results
Our selection of Plum, Gage and Damson trees – dessert, dual purpose and culinary is always widening. Gages are a distinct group of plums being the sweetest. We also have a number of damson tree varieties available. All ripen from late July into September. All grown on our fruit tree nursery.
The Plum season lasts from late July until September with most varieties ripening during August. There are Plum trees to buy to suit everyone. Choose from well known varieties such as Victoria to the less well known but just as desirable varieties. Plums can be divided into three categories:
Dessert – are best eaten fresh. Gages are the sweetest.
Dual purpose – can be cooked or eaten as a dessert plum. There is a wide selection of dual purpose varieties including Czar, Victoria, Marjories Seedling, Heron, etc.
Culinary – best cooked or made into jams. Some are acceptable as a dessert such as Pershore Purple. Usually their fruit are large, so less stones in your desserts!
Damsons ripen mostly into September. Though not edible like plums their uses are varied. We offer a small range of Damson trees for sale that will grow well in most situations.
The Plum, Gage & Damson trees for sale are available as bare rooted one year ‘maiden’ trees being lifted and dispatched when dormant from November onwards. They vary in size according to the variety but many are over 1.8m / 6′ tall and will require reducing in height after planting to encourage branching at a nice height for picking fruit in the future. There is advice on this site and a helpful cultural leaflet will be enclosed with every order.
We offer them on different rootstocks which detemines the ultimate size of the trees:
St Julien A – moderate vigour. We grow most on this rootstock.
Pixy – semi dwarfing, a little less vigorous than St Julien. Just a few varieties offered on this rootstock.
Brompton – vigorous, suitable for growing into standard trees.
When delivering we use 1.8m long cartons. The taller plums and damsons will have to be reduced a little. Having planted the trees you can reduce the height further to the desired height.
You may buy at any time of the year. We keep our availability up to date. We will then contact you to arrange delivery or collection when the plants have become dormant.
Mirabelle de Nancy
£19.00Availability: In stockOut of stock
Related to the Damson, arising in the middle east arriving in France in the middle ages. Small round yellow fruits up to 3cm diameter ripen early August. Its yellow flesh is sweet and richly flavoured. Partially self fertile. Not often cultivated in the UK, flowering early it benefits from shelter and a warm spring.
Mirabelle Gypsey
£19.00Availability: In stockOut of stock
Gypsy is a result of a breeding programme in Ukraine to create improved varieties from naturalized Cherry Plum with its small fruits. Introduced in 1995 it produces larger round bright red fruits with sweet orange flesh. Ripens late August and considered partially sel fertile.
Peach Peregrine
£19.00Availability: In stockOut of stock
A delicious white fleshed peach that ripens early August. Large round fruits with orange / crimson skin. Bred in the UK so as good as any variety for growing in the UK, but requires warmth so best grown on a wall as a fan.
Blue Tit
£19.00Availability: In stockOut of stock
Produces round medium sized blue plums with a light blue bloom. Yellow flesh, quite juicy of good flavour. A cross between a Gage and a plum hence its quality of flavour. Reliable cropper and self fertile. A good garden variety. An English variety Introduced 1938. Rootstock availability: St Julien A. Now sold out on Pixy
Pricing time – early / mid August Pollination group – D
Burbank
£19.00Availability: In stockOut of stock
Burbank arose from a stone in 1883 in the US and is named after its original grower. Though ‘triflora’ plums are often grown in warmer climates Burbank succeeds well in the UK. Flowering is early, so cold damage will often reduce the crop. If unaffected the cropping can be very heavy. The round plums are dark red with yellow mottling. The flesh is juicy, sharp but of good flavour and suitable for eating or cooking.
Cambridge Gage
£19.00Availability: In stockOut of stock
Produces the classic Greengage fruit. An excellent rich flavoured gage. Medium sized round fruits with yellow green bloomy skin and yellow flesh. Sweet and juicy. Partially self fertile.
Picking time – mid August Pollination group – D
Coe’s Golden Drop
£19.00Availability: In stockOut of stock
An excellent late Gage picked from mid September and extending the plum picking season. Large in size, with golden yellow skin and red spots and lines. The golden yellow flesh is juicy sweet and of rich flavour. Requires pollination. Raised first in Suffolk in late 1700s Rootstock: St Julien A
Picking time – mid September Pollination group – B
Count Althan’s Gage
£19.00Availability: In stockOut of stock
A fine quality gage. The large fruits have a purple skin over a yellow background with lots of golden dots and a thick bloom. The golden yellow flesh is sweet, juicy and of good flavour. The round oval stone comes away from flesh almost free. Fruits mid August.
Originated in Czech republic in 1860 and introduced into the UK via Belguim by River’s Nursery, Herts by 1867. A reliable cropper, it is not self fertile requiring a pollinator.
Picking time – mid August Pollination group – D
Czar
£19.00Availability: In stockOut of stock
A culinary plum but very good as a dessert when ripe. Upright growth with frost resistance. One of the most prolific croppers and self fertile. This plum owes its name to the visit of the Tsar of Russia in 1874. Raised by prolific plant breeder and nurseryman Thomas Rivers from a cross between Early Prolific and less well known Prince Englebert.
Smaller trees now approx. 1.2m/4′ tall hence reduced price
Picking time – early August Pollination group – C
Denbigh
£19.00Availability: In stockOut of stock
A dual purpose plum large and oval in shape. Ripe by late August the plum is dark red with many small yellow dots and a blueish bloom. The golden yellow flesh is sweet juicy of of good flavour. Also known as Cox’s Emperor.
Picking time – late August Pollination group – C
Early Prolific
£19.00Availability: In stockOut of stock
One of the earliest plums. Very good as a dessert plum when ripe. Otherwise a good plum for cooking and making jam. Plums round oval dark blue with a heavy bloom and golden yellow flesh. Heavy cropping. Requires pollination. Raised by Thomas Rivers at his nursery in Hertfordshire about 1820.
Picking time – late July Pollination group – C
Grove’s Late Victoria
£19.00Availability: In stockOut of stock
A sport of Victoria that ripens later – about 10 days later. Has the same qualities as Victoria – an excellent dual purpose variety, large plums good to eat fresh. With its size good for cooking. Self fertile. Rootstock: St Julien A.
Picking time – late August / early September Pollination group – C
Herman
£19.00Availability: In stockOut of stock
A very early reliable dual purpose plum that can ripen from early July. The roundish plums are of medium size with a distinct suture that is often broad and deep. Ripens to a blue/black colour with thick blue bloom. Greenish yellow flesh of good flavour. A variety to extend the plum season being the earliest to ripen. Self fertile.
Picking time – mid July Pollination group – C
Heron
£19.00Availability: In stockOut of stock
A large, long, oval shaped purple plum with greenish yellow flesh of good quality. A reliable cropper. One of a selection of Plums raised by Rivers Nursery and named after birds. Rootstock: St Julien A.
Picking time – early August Pollination group – C
Jefferson’s Gage
£19.00Availability: In stockOut of stock
Fruiting from late august the Gages are yellow green skinned with red russet dots with a long faint suture from top to bottom. The flesh is golden yellow, sweet and of good flavour. A Gage that originated in the US around 1825 and is named after an American president. Rootstock: St Julien A
Picking time – late August Pollination group – B
Kirke’s Blue
£19.00Availability: In stockOut of stock
A very enjoyable late dessert plum that ripens in the first half of September. Medium sized plums dark purple when ripe with a thick blue bloom that is quite persistant if wiped. The greenish yellow flesh is juicy which comes freely apart from its stone and is of excellent flavour. There is shallow suture that runs from top to bottom of the fruit.
Picking time – early/mid September Pollination group – D
Marjories Seedling
£19.00Availability: In stockOut of stock
One of the latest cropping plums with large deep purple fruits with a blue bloom. Oval in shape. A dual purpose plum with greenish yellow flesh that is quite sweet. Regular and heavy cropping. A late flowering plum and is self fertile. Originated in Berkshire in 1912.
Picking time – early / mid September Pollination group – E
Michaelmas Damson
£19.00Availability: In stockOut of stock
Produces small round dark purple damsons with an easily removed bloom. No more than 25mm/1″ across. The greenish yellow flesh is sharply astringent so to use needs cooking. Fruit ripens in September. Stone clings. The growth of the tree is typically upright with age the branching from these upright limbs weeping from the weight of the fruit.
Presumably given the name Michaelmas because it is good at Michaelmas day on 29 September. Grown historically in orchards south of Gloucester along the Severn.
