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Simple bare root fruit trees and ornamental trees

Cambridge Gage

Prunus domestica
Cambridge Gage plums
Cambridge Gage has received the RHS Award of Garden MeritCambridge Gage is listed in the RHS Plants for Pollinators

Cambridge Gage is a classic English green gage, with a high quality gage-like flavour. It is a close substitute for the traditional Old Green Gage, but easier to grow.

Cambridge Gage ripens towards the end of August, and is equally good as a fresh dessert plum or for culinary purposes.

Cambridge Gage plum trees for sale

  • RF12-year bare-root tree on VVA-1 rootstock£49.75
    Mature height: 2m-3.5m after 10 years
    Will become a medium-sized bush-trained semi-dwarf fruit tree, will require permanent staking, but won't need much space
    Available next season
  • RF21-year bare-root tree on St. Julien rootstock£38.75
    Mature height: 3m-5m after 10 years
    Can be trained on as a large bush-trained tree or a half-standard tree, no staking required once estalished. Also suitable as a large fan-trained tree.
    Available next season
  • RF32-year bare-root tree on St. Julien rootstock£47.50
    Mature height: 3m-5m after 10 years
    Will become a large vase-shaped fruit tree, no staking required once established.
    Available next season
  • RF42-year half-standard bare-root tree on St. Julien rootstock£51.00
    Mature height: 3m-5m after 10 years
    Can be trained on as a large free-standing half-standard tree.
    Available next season
  • RF51-year bare-root tree on Brompton rootstock£41.25
    Mature height: 5m-7m after 10 years
    Can be trained on as a 'standard' fruit tree, no staking required, suitable for a traditional plum orchard.
    Available next season

Growing and Training

Cambridge Gage is very similar to Old Green Gage in most respects but is generally found to be a more reliable cropper with consistent crops from year to year.

As with most green gages it prefers a dry climate and does best when planted in a sunny aspect.

Cambridge Gage is partially self-fertile (unlike Old Green Gage) but it helps if there is another pollinator nearby. Victoria is a good choice as it is typically in peak flower just a couple of days after Cambridge Gage.


Recommended pollinators for Cambridge Gage plum trees

Cambridge Gage is partially self-fertile, so you do not need another variety to pollinate it to produce fruit. However you will get a better crop if you plant any of the following pollinator varieties nearby. If you are not sure about pollination requirements don't hesitate to ask us. More pollinators >

  • Pollinator Victoria
    Victoria
    Victoria is the definitive English plum, attractive fruit, good for eating, outstanding flavour for cooking.
  • Pollinator Opal
    Opal
    Opal is an early plum variety with a good flavour, self-fertile and very easy to grow.
  • Pollinator Marjorie's Seedling
    Marjorie's Seedling
    Marjorie's Seedling is an easy to grow, late-season, heavy cropping purple/black plum.
  • Pollinator Jubilee
    Jubilee
    Jubilee is a new heavy-cropping dessert plum variety, similar to Victoria but larger and more reliable.
  • Pollinator Czar
    Czar
    Czar is a traditional culinary plum, one of the easiest plums trees, will even fruit on north-facing walls.

History

Cambridge Gage is thought to be a seedling of Old Green Gage, and was grown commercially in the Cambridge area by the jam manufacturers Chivers in the early 20th century. It was probably discovered at the end of the 19th century.


Cambridge Gage characteristics

  • Gardening skillAverage
  • Fruit persistenceNormal ripening
  • Self-fertile?Partially self-fertile
  • Pollinating othersAverage
  • Pick seasonLate
  • Picking periodlate August
  • Keeping1-3 days
  • Food usesEating freshCulinary
  • Country of originUnited Kingdom
  • Period of origin1850 - 1899
  • Fruit colourGreen - light

You might also like these varieties

  • See also Marjorie's Seedling
    Marjorie's Seedling
    Marjorie's Seedling is an easy to grow, late-season, heavy cropping purple/black plum.
  • See also Opal
    Opal
    Opal is an early plum variety with a good flavour, self-fertile and very easy to grow.
  • See also Victoria
    Victoria
    Victoria is the definitive English plum, attractive fruit, good for eating, outstanding flavour for cooking.

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