Top 20 Greengage Varieties to Grow: Tips and Advice for a Successful Harvest

Greengages are a unique and delicious type of plum, renowned for their sweet, honey-like flavor and smooth green skin. They are perfect for fresh eating, cooking, and making preserves. Growing greengages can be a rewarding experience, as they are relatively easy to care for with the right conditions. This guide will explore the top 20 greengage varieties to grow, offering tips and advice for cultivating a healthy and productive crop.

1. Old Green Gage

The classic Old Green Gage is one of the most popular varieties, known for its small, round, green fruit with an exceptionally sweet, rich flavor.

Tip: Plant Old Green Gage in full sun with well-drained soil. This variety benefits from regular pruning to encourage better fruiting.

2. Reine Claude Verte

Reine Claude Verte is a French greengage variety with small, green fruit and an intensely sweet flavor, perfect for fresh eating or making jams.

Tip: Reine Claude Verte needs full sun and protection from late frosts, which can damage the early blossoms.

3. Cambridge Gage

Cambridge Gage produces medium-sized, greenish-yellow fruit with a sweet, honey-like flavor. It’s ideal for fresh eating and preserves.

Tip: Cambridge Gage benefits from mulching to retain moisture and protect the roots during dry periods.

4. Golden Transparent

Golden Transparent produces greenish-yellow fruit with a translucent skin and a sweet, delicate flavor. It’s excellent for fresh eating and desserts.

Tip: Regular watering during the growing season will improve the size and sweetness of the Golden Transparent fruit.

5. Early Transparent Gage

Early Transparent Gage is an early-ripening variety with small, sweet, green-yellow fruit. It’s perfect for fresh eating and making preserves.

Tip: Early Transparent Gage requires well-drained soil and benefits from regular feeding with organic compost.

6. Denniston’s Superb

Denniston’s Superb is a cold-hardy greengage variety that produces small, green fruit with a sweet flavor. It’s great for fresh eating and cooking.

Tip: Prune Denniston’s Superb annually to maintain its shape and improve fruit production.

7. Reine Claude Doree

Reine Claude Doree is a French variety with small, golden-green fruit and a sweet, honeyed flavor. It’s perfect for desserts and preserves.

Tip: Plant Reine Claude Doree in a sunny, sheltered location and ensure regular watering to prevent the fruit from becoming dry.

8. Bryanston Gage

Bryanston Gage produces large, greenish-yellow fruit with a sweet, juicy flavor. It’s excellent for fresh eating and cooking.

Tip: Thin the fruit early in the season to encourage larger, more flavorful fruit at harvest.

9. Transparent Gage

Transparent Gage is a traditional variety known for its translucent green fruit and sweet, aromatic flavor, perfect for fresh eating.

Tip: Transparent Gage benefits from regular pruning to improve air circulation and reduce the risk of disease.

10. Oullins Gage

Oullins Gage produces large, yellow-green fruit with a sweet, mild flavor. It’s perfect for cooking, preserves, and fresh eating.

Tip: Oullins Gage prefers full sun and needs regular watering, especially during dry spells, to keep the fruit juicy.

11. Old Golden Gage

Old Golden Gage is an heirloom variety with golden-green fruit and a rich, honey-like flavor. It’s ideal for desserts and jams.

Tip: Mulch around the base of Old Golden Gage to retain moisture and protect the roots from extreme temperatures.

12. Reine Claude Bavay

Reine Claude Bavay is a late-season variety that produces greenish-yellow fruit with a sweet, slightly tart flavor. It’s great for fresh eating and preserves.

Tip: Reine Claude Bavay benefits from a balanced fertilizer in early spring to boost growth and fruiting.

13. Laxton’s Gage

Laxton’s Gage is a heavy-yielding variety that produces small, sweet, greenish-yellow fruit, ideal for fresh eating and cooking.

Tip: Regular watering and good soil drainage are essential for Laxton’s Gage to produce large, flavorful fruit.

14. Old English Greengage

Old English Greengage is a traditional variety with small, green fruit and an intensely sweet flavor. It’s perfect for jams and fresh eating.

Tip: Old English Greengage trees benefit from annual pruning to remove old wood and encourage new, productive growth.

15. Reine Claude de Bavay

Reine Claude de Bavay is known for its large, green fruit with a sweet, rich flavor, making it perfect for fresh eating and desserts.

Tip: Reine Claude de Bavay prefers a sunny location with well-drained soil and regular feeding to promote healthy growth.

16. Merley Gage

Merley Gage produces medium-sized, green-yellow fruit with a sweet, honeyed flavor. It’s perfect for fresh eating and making preserves.

Tip: Thin the fruit on Merley Gage trees to improve size and reduce the risk of branches breaking under the weight of heavy crops.

17. Stella’s Gage

Stella’s Gage is a rare variety with small, greenish-yellow fruit and a sweet, juicy flavor. It’s great for fresh eating and jams.

Tip: Stella’s Gage thrives in full sun and needs well-drained soil. Regular pruning helps maintain a healthy tree and high yields.

18. Green Velvet

Green Velvet is a newer variety with medium-sized, sweet green fruit. It’s perfect for fresh eating, preserves, and cooking.

Tip: Mulch around the base of Green Velvet to keep the soil cool and retain moisture, especially during dry periods.

19. Yellow Transparent Gage

Yellow Transparent Gage produces small, translucent yellow-green fruit with a sweet, delicate flavor. It’s great for fresh eating and making jams.

Tip: Ensure Yellow Transparent Gage gets full sun for the best fruit production and sweetest flavor.

20. De Nancy

De Nancy is a French greengage variety known for its small, green fruit with a rich, sweet flavor, perfect for making desserts and preserves.

Tip: De Nancy requires well-drained soil and benefits from regular feeding with an organic fertilizer to encourage healthy growth and fruiting.

Tips for Growing Greengages Successfully

1. Full sun for best flavor: Greengages thrive in full sun, requiring at least 6-8 hours of sunlight daily to produce sweet, flavorful fruit.
2. Well-drained soil: Plant greengages in well-drained soil that’s rich in organic matter. They prefer slightly acidic to neutral soil for optimal growth.
3. Water consistently: Water greengages deeply once a week, especially during dry spells and while the fruit is developing. Keep the soil moist but not waterlogged.
4. Prune annually: Prune greengage trees in late winter or early spring to remove old, diseased, or weak branches. This encourages new growth and better fruit production.
5. Mulch heavily: Apply mulch around the base of the tree to retain moisture, regulate soil temperature, and suppress weeds.
6. Fertilize in spring: Feed greengages with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in early spring to support healthy growth and fruiting.
7. Pest control: Keep an eye out for common pests like aphids and caterpillars. Use organic or chemical treatments as necessary to protect your tree.
8. Thin the fruit: For larger, higher-quality fruit, thin out the greengages when they are small. This allows the tree to focus its energy on fewer, better fruits.

Common Questions and Answers

Q1: How long does it take for greengage trees to bear fruit?
Greengage trees typically begin producing fruit 3 to 5 years after planting, with full yields around 7 years.

Q2: When is the best time to plant greengage trees?
The best time to plant greengage trees is in early spring or late fall when the tree is dormant, allowing the roots to establish before the growing season.

Q3: How often should I water greengage trees?
Water greengage trees deeply once a week, more frequently during hot or dry weather, to keep the soil consistently moist.

Q4: Can greengages be grown in containers?
Yes, dwarf or compact greengage varieties can be grown in large containers with good drainage and regular watering.

Q5: How do I protect greengage trees from birds?
Use bird netting or other deterrents to protect your greengages from birds, as they love the sweet fruit as it ripens.