Plums, Gages & Damsons

What could be better than the sight and smell of a plum, gage or damson tree dripping with fruit? Some, like Victoria, will carry so much fruit some years that it is necessary to thin a little out to save branches breaking with the weight of the fruit. The only variety listed which is shy to fruit is Old Greengage, but the small amount it does bear is the most wonderful flavour, so if you have space for an extra tree do plant this one.

A basket full of sun-warmed, ripe plums will fill a room with its intoxicating aroma, so don’t scrump all the fruit straight from the tree!