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Plum and Gage trees

Plum and gage trees are becoming increasingly popular as garden fruit trees. The choice of English plums and gages in shops and supermarkets can only be described as almost non-existent. The plums available are largely imported Japanese type plums which travel better and have better shelf life, but little taste. The many delicious English and European plums and gages which were once widely available are never seen. The only way you can have them is to grow them yourself. Plum trees can be grown successfully in nearly all parts of the country. They are relatively easy trees to grow needing less pruning and maintenance than apple or pear trees.

Botanically plums and gages are the same. It is simply that certain types of high quality plums – usually fairly small, very sweet with soft juicy flesh - have become known as gages. Many of the gages are of continental European origin and are known by the French name for gage Reine Claude. For simplicity we will therefore usually refer to all these as plums.

Here at Keepers Nursery we offer over 100 varieties of plum tree for sale in any one year and we can produce many others to order. We have listed a relatively small range of the most popular and our recommended varieties. You can see the full range by clicking on the relevant links below.

Early season eating plum trees

Early season plums and gages are varieties which ripen in late July and early August.

Please find below 5 of the most popular and recommended varieties. We can offer a total of 12 varieties - click here.



Mid season eating plum trees

Mid season plums and gages are varieties which ripen from mid August to the end of August

Please find below 7 of the most popular and recommended varieties. We can offer a total of 71 varieties - click here.



Late season eating plum trees

Late season plums ripen in September. Thse varietes last longer than most on the tree and are less likely to suffer from brown rot or be damaged by wasps because of the cooler weather in September.

Please find below 8 of the most popular and recommended varieties. We can offer a total of 42 varieties - click here.



Gage trees

Gages are a group of high quality plums which are very sweet and have soft juicy flesh. Many varieties originate from continental Europe and have the French name for gage Reine Claude in their name.

Please find below 7 of the most popular and recommended varieties. We can offer a total of 46 varieties - click here.



Cooking plum trees

While all plums can be used for cooking there are varieties which are particularly suitable for various culinary uses. These include acid varieties which are good for jam making and varieties which are very firm fleshed and can be used for tarts or drying.

Please find below 6 of the most popular and recommended varieties. We can offer a total of 71 varieties - click here.



Japanese and hybrid plum trees

Japanese plums belong to a different but closely related species Prunus salicinia. Hybrid plums are novel fruit types produced by hybridisation of plums with other stone fruit such as apricots.



Self-fertile plum and gage trees

Self-fertile and partially self-fertile plum varieties do not require cross pollination from another plum variety to fertilise their flowers and produce fruit. They can be grown on their own. They may however benefit from cross pollination.

Please find below 12 of the most popular and recommended varieties. We can offer a total of 59 varieties - click here.







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