greengage 'Oullins Gage'
gage or Prunus domestica 'Oullins Gage'
This plant is deciduous so it will lose all its leaves in autumn, then fresh new foliage appears again each spring.
- Position: full sun
- Soil: will tolerate most soils, except very chalky or badly drained
- Rate of growth: slow growing
- Ultimate size on Pixy rootstock: 3 x 3m (10x10ft)
- Flowering period: May
- Hardiness: fully hardy
First introduced in France in 1860, this self-fertile gage produces large, delicious golden-yellow gages that can be used for both cooking (if picked early), or eating straight from the bush. It has a good flavour and is excellent for bottling and freezing. This bush has been grafted onto VVA-1 rootstock, which produces a plant that is similar in size to those grafted onto 'Pixy' rootstock. They also tend to produce a higher yeild of larger fruit on plants that show a better winter hardiness. Greengages will generally start to produce fruit when they are 3 - 4 years old, so you may need to wait a year or two before you enjoy the harvest. - Garden care: When planting incorporate lots of well-rotted garden compost in the planting hole and stake firmly. Prune in summer to reduce the risk of silver leaf and bacterial canker.