Old Green Gage Tree
£62.00
Mature Healthy Old Green Gage Fruit Tree.
Bring a true heritage fruit tree to your garden with this mature, healthy Old Green Gage tree. Supplied in a generous 16-litre pot, this well-established specimen has been professionally grown and pruned into an open shape, making it ideal for planting and future fruit production.
Tree Details:
* Mature, healthy Old Green Gage fruit tree
* Supplied in a 16L pot
* Approximately 7-8ft tall
* Professionally pruned to an open shape
* Grafted onto St. Julien A rootstock for reliable growth and excellent fruiting
* Well-established and ready to plant
Once planted in the ground, the tree is expected to produce its renowned sweet green fruits within approximately 12 months, subject to growing conditions and aftercare.
A Historic and Celebrated Variety
The Old Green Gage is regarded by many fruit enthusiasts as the finest dessert plum ever grown. Its origins can be traced back to France, where it was known as Reine Claude Vraie after Queen Claude, wife of King Francis 1st, prior to this it is believed to have originated from Armenia and from there spread to Italy, Greece and then France during the reign of Francois 1 between 1494 and 1547, it has also been mentioned that some seed stones thought to be green gage stones were recovered from the Mary Rose which sank in 1543.
The first record of them in Britain is from 1629 when they were brought from Italy and known as Verdocchia, but then called Parkinson,
It's said that the variety was reintroduced to England between 1720 and 1725 by Sir William Gage who planted them in his garden at Hengrave Hall, Bury St Edmunds, whose name became forever associated with this exceptional fruit, however it has been said he or his gardener forgot the trees original name and simply called it green gage, or that the label had been rubbed off, there are mentions of Thomas Gage and John Gage plus there was two Williams Gages alive at the time so the facts get a bit sketchy, subsequently was then introduced to the USA in the late 18th century.
For hundreds of years, Green Gages have been prized for their unique flavour rich, honey-sweet, and intensely aromatic. Although smaller than many modern plums, they are widely considered unsurpassed for eating fresh and are equally excellent for jams, preserves, desserts, and cooking, but can be challenging to grow.
Acknowledged by the RHS and currently in the National Fruit Collection, Brogdale.
The tree produces attractive spring blossom followed by crops of delicious green-yellow fruits that ripen in late summer, making it a rewarding addition to any garden, orchard, or collection of heritage fruit trees, self sterile so requires pollination partner in group 4.
Semi clingstone.
Please Note:
* The photographs show a typical example of the tree you will receive.
* As these are living plants, minor variations in shape and branching are natural.
* Fruit production times can vary depending on planting position, soil, weather and aftercare.
Collection Only
Due to the size of this tree, it is collection only from our nursery in March, Cambridgeshire.
Please ensure you are able to collect before purchasing.
A superb opportunity to own a mature specimen of one of Britain's most treasured heritage fruit varieties, combining beautiful blossom, historic character, and outstanding fruit.
