Old Green Gage

Old Green Gage is the definitive "gage", and often considered the best flavoured of any plum variety.

It is described by Victorian fruit enthusiast Robert Hogg as "tender, melting, and very juicy, with a rich, sugary and most delicious flavour", whilst H.V. Taylor in 'The Plums of England' (1949) rates it as "For all purposes unsurpassed".

Taylor also mentions the "light and uncertain" crops which is the main horticultural issue with Old Green Gage - although in our experience cropping can be good once the tree is established. In any case this is a small price to pay for such excellence of flavour.

Compared to the attractive colouring of most plums, the appearance of Old Green Gage plums are fairly plain dull green colour, turning slightly yellow when ripe. However this is one that you grow for flavour - for eating fresh it is exceptional.

 

Growing and Training

The gages are more fussy in their growing requirements than other plums and Old Greengage is no exception.  It is worth remembering that the natural home of most gages is France and Italy - so for more northerly climates such as the UK you need to choose a sunny sheltered spot in the garden for the best results. Fan-training on a south-facing wall is also a good option.

However although it likes a warm sunny summer, Old Green Gage is surprisingly hardy and will tolerate cold winter weather.

Old Greengage is generally considered partially self-fertile but having another pollination partner nearby will definitely help to improve cropping. Old Greengage can be pollinated by most other plum and gage varieties.

If the tree sets a lot of fruit after a good spring, be sure to thin the fruitlets, otherwise the plums will be small and have less flavour.

History

Old Green Gage has a fascinating history. The gages are usually included within the European plum species Prunus domestica, but are nevertheless a distinct sub-group, being smaller and more spherical, and usually green or yellow in colour. They have been cultivated in France since the Middle Ages, having been introduced from Italy. In France the many different varieties of green-skinned gages are known collectively as "Reine Claude" after Queen Claude, the wife of Francis I who ruled France from 1515 to 1547. Old Green Gage is believed to be the same variety as the French Grosse Reine Claude.

It is generally thought that Old Green Gage was introduced to England from France in the 18th century by Sir William Gage, who lived at Bury St. Edmunds and obtained a tree from his brother who was a priest living in Paris. As a result of his promotion of this new variety all green plums tend to be known as "Gages" in the UK. However, whilst Sir William is undoubtedly responsible for the English name, and the Old Green Gage in particular, there is some evidence that his was in fact a re-introduction of a variety already widely grown in England known as Verdoch, which may have come to England from Italy in the Middle Ages.

Old Green Gage characteristics

• Gardening skillExperienced
• Fruit persistenceNormal ripening
• Self-fertile?Not self-fertile
• Pollinating othersAverage
• Pick seasonLate - Late August / early September
• Picking monthAugust
• Picking periodearly Augustmid-August
• Keeping1-3 days
• Food usesEating fresh
• Country of originFrance
• Period of origin1550 - 1599
• Fruit colourGreen

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