Plum, Green Gage
Prunus domestica 'Green Gage'
Family: Rosaceae
1/2-7/8 inch stem diameter at sale, bare root
~3 ft tall at sale
Sourced from VT
Ripe August. Green, sweet, firm fruit.
General Information
Recommended Spacing (ft) 12 - 15 Mature Width (ft) 15 - 20 Mature Height (ft) 15 - 20 Growth Rate (in/yr) 13 - 24 Pollination Needs Multiple plants required Bloom Time March to April Ripens/Harvest August Soil pH 6.6 - 7.3 Soil Type Loam Soil Moisture Well-drained, moist Sun Preference Full Sun, Partial Shade Taste Sour, Sweet Texture Firm, Crisp Description
The history of the Green Gage Plum is murky, but the most prevalent school of thought is that they stem from a green-fruited wild plum native to Iran, and Western culture became familiar with it in the 16th century when Francis I of France cultivated it and named it after his queen, Claude. From there, the tree was imported to England, and the identifying label was lost or ruined. Sir William Gage then introduced the variety to his country, and the rest is history.
We often think of this tasty dessert fruit as an English plum, but the French roots are still to be found. The original Green Gage created by the French is the Reine-Claude Doree, and the descendants of this cultivar are still grown in France today.
It is impossible to overstate the uniqueness of this plum. Its intense sweetness and scarcity have made it the truffle of plums. Finding a perfectly ripe one is the Mecca for food connoisseurs.
The Brix scale gauges the sugar content of fruit. The Fuji apple, the sweetest apple, measures 15-18 Brix. Green Gages measure 30-38. This means that the water in a Green Gage is nearly 40 percent sugar. Over-the-top natural sugar content makes this the finest dessert fruit you can hope to find.
Do not look for recipes. Do not even think of turning them to jam. Unless you come into a monstrous horde of Green Gages, eat them plain. Pair with cheese and wine to fend off a sugar-induced stomach ache.
All plums have a similar nutritional profile that provides potassium, calcium, phosphate, and Vitamins C and B. The skins provide antioxidants, and of course, dietary fiber. The high sugar content of the Green Gages will immediately kick you out of ketosis, and people who need to monitor their natural sugar intake for health purposes should proceed slowly and with caution.
Green Gage Plums can be challenging to grow for new producers. They grow in hardiness zones 4 through 8. You must plant your new tree near another European plum for cross-pollination in order to get fruit.
[description from minnetonkaorchards.com]