Damsons, Gages, Mirabelles and Plums
Unless stated, cultivars are supplied on St Julien 'A' (semi vigorous) rootstock. Trees grown on St Julien 'A' are suitable for medium to large gardens, and orchards. Many of the plums, gages and damsons offered are self fertile. However, all cultivars listed will benefit greatly from having an additional pollinator of the same or adjacent pollination group. The month refers to harvesting/eating period.
Tree types
Maiden - Young tree
Bush Trained - Topped at 75cm with some side branch development
Half Standard - Topped at 2m with good side branch development
Barerooted trees
Damsons: Maidens €18.00 ea. Half standards €26.00 ea
Mirabelles: Maidens €21.50 ea
Plums and Gages: Maidens €18.00 ea. Half standards €26.00 ea
Container-grown 4 year old half-standards (damson Farleigh and plums Marjorie’s and Oullin’s only) €33.00 ea
Damsons
Blue Violet
Sweet and very early damson of plum quality. Suitable for eating fresh or cooking. Originates in Westmoreland in Cumbria, England. Mid to late August. Self fertile.
Delma
Early but sweet damson suitable for eating fresh or cooking. Discovered growing wild in southern England in 1997 but now recognised as a distinct variety. Late August/early September. Self fertile.
Farleigh Damson
Small with blue-black bloom. Extremely reliable. Normally used for cooking but can be eaten fresh if fully ripe. Kent 1820. Self fertile. Prolific and vigorous, good on difficult sites. The most reliable damson. Mid September. Self fertile.
Shropshine Prune
Small hedgerow damson usually used for cooking but very sweet when ripe. Originates Shropshire 17th Century. Mid September. Self fertile.
Mirabelles
Mirabelles are midway between the plum and damson, of damson size, and generally very sweet. Can be used for eating fresh or cooking.
de Nancy
Yellow orange with green tinges. Small fruit. Very hardy. France 16th century. Mid to late September. Partially self fertile. Pollination group 1/2
Golden Sphere
Large yellow almost translucent fruit with golden sweet flesh. Early to mid September. Partially self fertile. Pollination group 1/2
Gypsy
Large bright red fruit with ornage flesh. Very sweet. Early to mid September. Partially self fertile. Pollination group 1/2
Ruby
The largest of the mirabelles with peach-like flavour and red flesh. Upright in habit. Mid-late September. Partially self fertile. Pollination group 1/2
Plums and Gages
Coe's Golden Drop
Eater. Large golden gage. Very sweet and juicy. Exquisite taste with hint of apricot flavour. Eratic cropper but can do well in a sunny sheltered garden. Keeps for several weeks after picking. Suffolk 18th Century. October. Pollination group 2.
Denniston's Gage
The most reliable gage. Sweet flesh. Yellow/green, sometimes with red flush. Disease resistant and hardy. USA 19th Century. Late August. Self fertile. Pollination group 2.
Edda
Hardy plum from Sweden (1950) Blue skin with yellow flesh. Excellent flavour. Late July to early August. Not self fertile. Pollination group 3.
Gordon Castle
Hardy plum from Scotland. Sweet yellow-green fruit. Eater. September. Self fertile. Pollination group 3.
Herman
Hardy plum from Norway (1970). Blue/black with golden flesh. Similar in appearance to Czar but tastier. July. Self fertile. Pollination group 2.
Kirke's Blue
Large purple/blue Plum. Juicy and sweet with good flavour. Reputedly good for drying. Bedford 1906. Early September. Very prolific. Not self fertile. Pollination group 3.
Marjorie's Seedling
Large purple plum. Hardy, disease resistant and very reliable. Very sweet when fully ripe. Excellent flavour. Berkshire 1912. Late August. Self fertile. Pollination group 3.
Opal
Medium sized red/purple plum. Hardy and very reliable. Excellent flavour. Late July to early August. Self fertile. Sweden 1925. Pollination group 3.
Oullin's Golden Gage
Large golden fruit suitable for eating fresh or cooking. France 1860. Mid August. Self fertile. Pollination group 4. Vigorous.
Reine Claude de Bavay
Medium sized green gage with yellow flesh.Compact tree. Eater. Belgium 1832. September. Self fertile. Pollination group 2.
Violetta
Hardy plum from Sweden (1990). Blue with with sweet yellow flesh. Compact tree. Heavy cropper. August. Self fertile. Pollination group 3.
Yellow Pershore
Large dual purpose plum. Reliable and good disease resistance. Worcester 19th Century. August. Self fertile. Pollination group 2.
Warickshire Drooper
Large dual purpose plum. Large yellow fruit. Very reliable cropper. Gloucester 1920. September. Self fertile. Drooping speading habit. Very ornamental - makes excellent feature tree. Pollination group 2.
Willingham
Small yellow/green gage. Good cropping and excellent flavour. Cambridge. August. Self fertile. Pollination group 3.
Availability
Most varieties listed are in stock but are selling out fast
Delivery charges on barerooted trees
1-3 trees €15.00
4-7 trees €20.00
8-12 trees €25.00
Over 12 trees €28.00
Orders may be also collected by arrangement from our premises in Westport.
Additional ordering information
Please use the printable order form provided or simply list the items on a sheet of paper. Add up the total, including carriage if applicable. Do not forget to include your own address and phone number. Payment should be by cheque postal order or bank draft, made payable to the Sustainability Institute.
The Sustainability Institute
Cooloughra
Ballinrobe Rd
Westport
Co. Mayo
Republic of Ireland