Old Greengage

Try these similar varieties

• 
  Brandy Gage
• 
  Cambridge Gage
• 
  Lindsey Gage
• 
  Warwickshire Drooper
• 
  Belgian Greengage
• 
  Reine Claude Doree

History and description of Old Greengage

Greengages are believed to be very old and to have come to Western Europe from Armenia. They are believed to have been introduced to France during the reign of Francois I (1494-1547) where they were given the name Reine Claude after his wife. Greengages probably first arrived in Britain from Italy as the first records dated 1629 refer to them as Verdoch, a name derived from the Italian Verdocchia. They were later named Green Gage after Sir William Gage who introduced them from France sometime before 1724 and planted them in his garden Hengrave Hall, Bury St Edmunds. Greengages have been the most highly prized plums throughout Europe and have been widely grown ever since their introduction.

Medium sized, round fruit. Green bloomy skin turning yellowish when ripe Often mottled with red and bearing grey russet dots. Greenish yellow succulent flesh. Very rich sweet flavour. A delight to eat.

Trees are of moderate vigour. Cropping is regrettably light and unreliable in the UK. The crop is also prone to wasp attack.

Characteristics of Old Greengage plum and gage trees

Use	Dessert
Colour	Green
Flavour	Sweet
Fruit size	Medium
Picking time
Season of use	E Sep
Tree vigour	Moderate
Tree habit
Fruit-bearing
Cropping	Light
Suitable for	Late Frost
Pollination date	22
Pollination group	D
Self-fertility	Self-sterile
Pollinators	Pollination partners
Progeny	Blue Tit Bryanston Gage Cambridge Gage (Firkins) Cambridge Gage (Palmer) Coe's Golden Drop Count Althann's Gage Denniston's Superb Late Greengage Laxton's Gage McLaughlin Transparent Gage