gages and damsons

DAMSONS & GAGES

Less popular than plums, damson and gages are the two opposites of the plum family. Damsons (and the close relation, the Bullace) have the tart, acid flavour that make excellent jams , preserves and pies. A few varieties can just about be eaten fresh if allowed to fully ripen. The trees are hardy, growing in places that would not suit a plum and are often planted as a hedgerow tree. Gages on the other hand are far more fussy than a plum, requiring a warm and sunny site, better still fan them out on a warm sunny wall. The trials garden did have four large fan trained gage trees in the open on wires (see picture below). Every spring they would flower profusely but fail to crop satisfactorily even though they were closely matched for pollination. These have been removed and plums planted in their place. Damson can be treated as self fertile like many plums.

Gages, however, can be a mine field so self fertile ones are best

Rootstocks are the same as plums, Pixy for dwarf trees, bushes and fans and St Julian A for larger specimens.

It's worth noting that Damsons often make a smaller, more compact tree than many plums on the same rootstock

DAMSONS & GAGES Less popular than plums, damson and gages are the two opposites of the plum family. Damsons (and the close relation, the Bullace) have the tart, acid flavour that make excellent jams , preserves and pies. A few varieties can just about be eaten fresh if allowed to fully ripen. The trees are hardy, growing in places that would not suit a plum and are often planted as a hedgerow tree. Gages on the other hand are far more fussy than a plum, requiring a warm and sunny site, better still fan them out on a warm sunny wall. The trials garden did have four large fan trained gage trees in the open on wires (see picture below). Every spring they would flower profusely but fail to crop satisfactorily even though they were closely matched for pollination. These have been removed and plums planted in their place. Damson can be treated as self fertile like many plums. Gages, however, can be a mine field so self fertile ones are best Rootstocks are the same as plums, Pixy for dwarf trees, bushes and fans and St Julian A for larger specimens. It's worth noting that Damsons often make a smaller, more compact tree than many plums on the same rootstock
These Gages didn't crop in the open and have been replaced with plums		Damson Merryweather	Damson blossom
	PIXY For more compact Fan trained trees or larger bushes. Minimum wall height 6 feet and width 10 feet for fan training	St JULIAN A For larger fan trained and free standing trees.		usually to order please check normally stocked, Check for availability
Don't forget National Garden Scheme open days at the Trials Garden for pruning and tasting this summer. Pick up a copy of the yellow book from the nursery

VARIETIES GROWN IN THE TRIALS GARDEN (OR NURSERY)
Damson Delma- A new introduction found as a chance seedling in Hampshire. All the usual culinary attributes but one the can be eaten fresh as well. Picks end of August			Langley Bullace
Damson Langley Bullace- small round, blue black fruit self fertile
Damson Merryweather- A large plum sized damson which can be eaten fresh. relaible and heavy crops. Nottinghamshire 1907			Shropshire prune
Damson Shropshire Prune-a midlands variety with intense flavour, reliable and makes a good, small, hedgerow tree. Self fertile
Gage Old Green Gage-Excellent old fashioned flavour and more reliable cropping than most. Partially self fertile
Gage Oullins Golden Gage quite large greenish yellow fruit with good flavour. A good one for bottling and freezing			Oullins golden gage

	Merryweather	Old Green Gage