Gage (Prunus) Old Greengage 12L

Old Greengage is the original Reine Claude, the classic gage grown in English gardens for centuries and still regarded by many as the finest-flavoured plum of all. White spring blossom, loved by bees, is followed in August by round, yellow-green fruits with juicy, melting amber flesh and the rich, honeyed sweetness that made gages famous. They are best enjoyed fresh from the tree at their peak, and also make exquisite jams, tarts and bottled fruit. This is a gage to grow for quality rather than quantity: the crops are modest, but every fruit is a real treat.

Old Greengage is only partly self-fertile, so it crops far better with another plum or gage nearby for cross-pollination. Denniston's Superb or Cambridge Gage both make ideal partners. Like all gages it loves warmth, so give it the sunniest, most sheltered spot you have, or fan-train it against a south or west-facing wall to help the fruit ripen to full sweetness. Plant in fertile, moist but well-drained soil, and water well during dry spells while the tree establishes. Pick the fruit promptly as it ripens, since birds and wasps find it hard to resist, and net the tree if needed. Prune only in summer to reduce the risk of silver leaf and bacterial canker. Hardy in most of the UK (RHS H5). 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.