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Potted Greengage European Plum

Potted Greengage European Plum

Available only for pick-up at nursery.

History: Greengage plums are a European variety that originated in Iran, although it is unclear exactly how old they are. They were introduced to England via France in 1724 by Sir William Gage, after whom they were named in English when the French labels were supposedly lost in transit. These sweet plums were later brought to North American colonies where they were grown by prominent figures such as George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. Although they have since fallen out of favour in North America, they are still quite popular in western Europe and occasionally referenced in pop culture. Greengage plums are the namesake of The Greengage Summer, a 1958 novel and subsequent 1961 film, and are mentioned in a Monty Python sketch. 

Why We Grow It: It is a shame this plum's popularity declined in North America since it is considered a high-quality dessert fruit, possibly even the best dessert plum. Their bright green flesh is incredibly sweet and can also be used for cooking and preserving. Greengage plum trees tend to have a compact growth habit, great for anyone without a lot of space.

        Fruit Specs

        Recommended Use: Fresh eating, cooking

        Fruit Size: Medium

        Storage: Keeps about a week in the fridge.

        Harvest: September - Late

        Growing Specs

        Canadian Hardiness Zone: 4

        Soil Preference: Sandy loam and loam, like plenty or organic material. Prefers average to moist conditions with well-drained soils, avoid planting anywhere that floods for more than two weeks in the spring.

        Flowering Time: Middle

        Bloom Colour: White

        Pollination Requirements: Self-pollinating, this variety will produce fruit without a European plum tree of a different variety but will produce more and better fruit if one is present.

        Sun/Shade Requirements:

        Full sun (approx. 8-10 hours of sun daily)

        General Growth Habits:

        Compact growth habit, tends to bear fruit every other year but produce heavy crops when they do.

        Primocane or Floricane (if applicable):

        Thorns:

        Pickup

        Potted plants are only available for pick-up at the nursery. They unfortunately cannot be shipped due to the size and weight of the pots.

        You are welcome to order potted plants ahead of time online or stop in at the nursery to purchase them! Our hours vary seasonally so we recommend checking our posted hours ahead of time (see the bottom of the webpage or our Google hours).

        Size at Purchase

        The sizes of potted plants varies by species and variety, but we have some approximate size ranges based on pot size (all heights include the pot):

        • 1g pots - 1-3ft tall
        • 2g or 3g pots - 1.5-3ft tall
        • 5g pots - 3-7ft tall
        • 8g pots - 4-7ft tall

        Please note that some plants may fall outside these ranges. If you are curious about the size of a specific kind of plant, call or email us and we're happy to give you a more accurate size range!

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        Regular price $84.00 CAD
        Regular price Sale price $84.00 CAD
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