Greengage

[undercarriage plan]

How? When? Why? Where? Please.....Thank you!! ;D I'm attempting not waffling and so far, it seems to be going  really well, but I do have a tendency to........... ::)

[undercarriage plan]

[Derekthefox]

I am no help at all really but can at least get the ball rolling ...

greengage - a traditional low yielding eating plum (gage)

http://www.gardenaction.co.uk/fruit_veg_diary/fruit_veg_mini_project_march_2_plum.asp

If they are less susceptible to pests eg wasps that other plums then I would also be interested ...
My best bet for info would be Eric or jennym ...

Derekthefox :D

[tim]

But well worth the hassle any day, Derek?

[Derekthefox]

Hence my interest Tim ...

Derekthefox :D

[blight]

i don´t think greengages are low yielding at all. but:
they seem to ripen all on the same day and have got a shelf life of two days.
but they are rather nice,especially on a hot day and not too sweet.it´s like having to eat twenty watermelons in two days.

[Palustris]

Yes, but greengage jam is ................................brb, must have a butty!

[tim]

We had the biggest crop ever this year & then...............?.............the tree popped its clogs!!

[Palustris]

Basically they are just a form of plum which is green when ripe. Same problems and method of growth as plums. Choose a variety which flowers at the same time as any other plums in the area for cross pollination. Plant in a sheltered from cold winds position. Lots of varieties available.

[MikeB]

I've got a greengage, unfortunately I don't know which type.  I can say that they keep 'fresh' for at least a fortnight after picking, but they do seem to come ripe at the same time.

MikeB

[Derekthefox]

i don´t think greengages are low yielding at all. but:
they seem to ripen all on the same day and have got a shelf life of two days.

Do they freeze well?

Derekthefox :D

[undercarriage plan]

OK, I'm in total agreement about how lovely greengages are, love them myself...which is why I was wondering about pruning...?? ??? Anyone?? At all? You really don't want me attempting this with no refernce point, now do you?? Or should I just leave well alone..

[Derekthefox]

I wouldn't think pruning would be a problem in the short term, and then it would be as any other standard fruit tree, think plums generally ... take out interior growth ... ?

Derekthefox :D

[MikeB]

I couldn't say whether they freeze well, in the years prior to this one, it was a very poor cropper with only 2 - 4 gages per season.
This year I gave it a very heavy pruning, lots of new growth and a crop in the forties, they were all eaten.

MikeB

[Robert_Brenchley]

I have a Cambridge Gage, which produced one gage two years ago, fruiting for the first time. It was wonderful. This year my plums didn't fruit at all due to the low temperature at flowering time. I'm hoping for a decent crop next year.

[Palustris]

Aaaaaah. Do not prune any plum or greengage or damson after August, they get Silver leaf. Prune only in early Spring.

[blight]

@derekthefox,
it never occured to me to freeze them. i guess it´s like freezing watermelons. i don´t think so, no. not enough backbone on them. and there´s this fierce competition and  limited space in the freezer: raspberries, borlottis...

[undercarriage plan]

Thanks Eric!! Do I just treat it like a normal plum then? It's really old, didn't friut very well last year and was just wondering if pruning would help.

[Derekthefox]

Blight, you freeze borlottis?
I thought they should be dried ... I dont mind if the greengages collapse, they would be used for jam or chutneys ...

Derekthefox :D