Gage (Prunus) Denniston's Superb

Denniston's Superb, also known as Imperial Gage, is the ideal choice if you want a gage that's easy to grow. It holds the RHS Award of Garden Merit and is valued for being hardier and more reliable than most gages, cropping well even where conditions aren't perfect. White spring blossom, popular with bees, is followed in late August by generous crops of round, greenish-yellow fruits, often flushed with red when fully ripe. The juicy flesh has a sweet, rich gage flavour. Enjoy them fresh from the tree, or use them in tarts, jams and bottling.

Denniston's Superb is self-fertile, so a single tree will fruit on its own. It is also a good pollination partner for other plums and gages, including Cambridge Gage. Plant in full sun in a sheltered spot, in fertile, moist but well-drained soil. Although it is tougher than most gages, it still enjoys warmth, and it takes well to fan-training against a sunny south or west-facing wall. Water well during dry spells while the tree establishes, and thin the fruit in heavy years for better size and flavour. Prune only in summer to reduce the risk of silver leaf and bacterial canker. Fully hardy. The fruit is delicious, but the stones and leaves shouldn't be eaten, so keep those out of reach of children and pets.

Supplied in a 12-litre pot.

Each tree is hand-selected before dispatch.

Available from Pengelly Garden Centre.