Golden Transparent Gage
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Golden Transparent Gage, Prunus domestica
Origin: France 1836
Pollination: Transparent Gage is self-sterile and would require a pollinator to produce a crop. There is a long list for suitable pollinators partners if we would like to produce a crop.
History and description of Transparent Gage
Raised from an open pollinated Greengage sometime before 1836 by Lafay, a nurseryman at Bellevue, Paris. Brought to England by Thomas Rivers c 1845 from which he raised the Early Transparent Gage by which it has now been largely replaced. Received RHS Award of Merit in 1964. Medium sized, round-oblong fruit. Yellow skin with red spots and a delicate pale blue bloom. Transparent yellow, soft, very juicy flesh. When fully ripe it is possible to see the stone through the transparent flesh when the fruit is held against light. Free stone. Delicious, sweet flavour and a very pleasant aroma. An excellent dessert plum. Moderately vigorous, round-headed tree. Moderate cropping.
Main characteristics of Transparent Gage
Use: Dessert
Colour: Yellow
Fruit size: Medium (30-40 mm in lenght)
Season of use: L Aug
Tree vigour
Moderate (the most important factor in determining vigour and eventual size of a tree is choice of rootstock. However the variety does also affect vigour with some varieties producing larger more vigorous trees than others. Three categories are used: small, moderate and vigorous)
Tree habit
Spreading (different varieties of the same fruit may produce trees of different shapes. Four broad categories are used: upright, upright-spreading, spreading and pendulous (weeping). These indicate the natural tendency of the tree which may be altered to some extent by training. Most fruit trees also tend to become more spreading with age as the branches are pulled down by their own weight and the weight of fruit)
Suitable for Shade
Pollination date
Pollination group
D (For successful cross pollination to occur between two varieties flowering times must overlap. Varieties are therefore classified into groups based on their flowering times called Pollination Groups. Group A are the earliest flowering, B the next etc. Varieties within each group flower at about the same time and would in most cases pollinate each other well)
Self fertility: Self-sterile
Parentage: Old Greengage
Growing conditions
Plums have quite high moisture demands, so they are best planted on good clay or loamy soils. But sites also need to be well drained as plums, and gages in particular, hate waterlogged soils. Add bulky organic matter to sandy or shallow chalky soils prior to planting. When growing in a container, make sure pots are large enough to prevent the potting compost drying out in summer. These stone fruits are some of the earliest crops to flower in the fruit garden. While the plants themselves are often extremely hardy, the flowers can easily be killed by frosts, so it’s essential to position trees out of frost pockets or windy sites; a sheltered, sunny spot will produce the best results. Gages in particular are best sited against a south- or west-facing wall to ensure the fruits are exposed to sufficient sunshine and warmth to develop their sweet, rich flavour and to ripen wood.
Plant plum trees during the dormant season, before growth starts in late winter or early spring. Bare-root plants usually establish better than container-grown trees. Stakes or training wires may be needed depending on the type of tree form you decide to grow. Cover fan-trained trees temporarily in a tent of horticultural fleece on frosty nights when plants are in flower, holding the fleece away from the flowers with canes. Fruit set is generally finished by early summer, after which the fruits start to swell significantly. Once fruit has set, they may need thinning to ease congestion and weight in the canopy, as well as to boost fruit size. It is often essential to prop up branches in mid- and late summer, as fruit weight can otherwise snap them. Yields can be greatly increased by appropriate and timely feeding and watering. Because they can set such heavy crops, plums and gages, and to a lesser extent damsons, respond well to fertilisers, especially nitrogen. On established trees apply a mulch of well-rotted farmyard manure in mid-spring to help retain soil moisture, keep down weeds, and provide nitrogen. This can be supplemented with a top-dressing of dried poultry pellets or non-organic nitrogen fertiliser such as sulphate of ammonia. Add a top-dressing of sulphate of potash in late winter.
Pruning
Pruning should be carried out in spring or summer. Avoid pruning in the dormant season or in mid to late autumn, as there is risk of infection from silver leaf disease and bacterial canker. There are three commonly used methods of plum pruning (plum trees do not require as precise pruning as apples and pears, but still benefit from initial training and the thinning of old wood to ensure they produce as much fruit as possible. Plums are pruned in early spring or mid summer to avoid infection by silver leaf disease) and training: bush, pyramid and fan.
Problems
Silver leaf: This fungal disease causes a silvering of the leaves followed by the death of the branch. Remedy: The fungus produces most of its infectious spores in autumn and winter, so pruning in summer avoids problems. Not only are there fewer spores in this season, but pruning wounds, the main point of entry for the spores, heal more quickly.
Plum maggots: The larvae of plum moth and plum sawfly tunnel through fruits making them unappetising. In the case of plum moth, misshapen fruits form and there are droppings within the fruits. Damaged fruitlets often fall in summer. Remedy: For plum moth deltamethrin or lambda cyhalothrin can be used in mid June with a second application three weeks later. Pheromone traps, specifically for plum moth, are available and these can help get the timing of sprays right. These traps capture male moths and might actually help protect isolated trees. Plum sawfly is prevented by spraying at petal fall with the same materials. On small trees it is worthwhile looking for damaged fruitlets in May. These should be removed before the larvae complete their feeding and go into the soil.
Brown rot: A fungal disease that causes a brown, spreading rot in fruit. Remedy: Prevent the disease overwintering by removing all brown rotted fruit promptly and composting. Do not allow rotted fruit to remain on the tree. Brown rot infects through wounds, especially those caused by birds, so if possible, net to reduce bird damage. Prune out and burn infected spurs and blossoms to reduce the amount of fungus available to infect fruit. The cultivars ‘Czar’, ‘Jefferson’, ‘Ontario’ and ‘President’ have some resistance.
Blossom wilt: This common disease, caused by the same fungus that causes brown rot, causes blossom to wither and rot soon after emerging. Remedy: Minimise the carry-over of the fungus by removing all brown, rotted fruit promptly and composting. Do not allow rotted fruit to remain on the tree. Prune out and burn infected spurs and blossoms to reduce the amount of fungus available to infect fruit.
Bacterial canker: This serious disease of stone fruit causes sunken, dead areas of bark often accompanied by a gummy ooze. It can kill off entire branches. Remedy: Where possible, carry out all pruning in July or August when tissues are most resistant. This is also the best time to prune in order to minimise the risk of silver leaf disease. Cut out all cankered areas, pruning back to healthy wood and paint promptly with a wound paint to protect the wound from re-infection. Burn or landfill the prunings.
Wasps: All tree fruits are prone to wasp damage. As their fruits ripen, the high sugar content attracts wasps, which not only damages the fruit but also poses a threat to gardeners. Remedy: Hang wasp traps in trees and harvest crops as soon as they ripen. Avoid leaving windfalls or over-ripe fruit on the ground.
Birds: Bullfinches in particular will eat fruit buds in late winter when their normal diet of seeds becomes scarce. Remedy: Netting is the most reliable method of control, although not often practical for large trees. Try humming tape or reflective scarers as an alternative.
Aphids: Mealy plum aphid (white insects on the growing points and undersides of leaves) and plum leaf-curling aphid (curling young leaves) can appear in early spring. Remedy: Either tolerate or spray with thiacloprid (not when trees are in flower).
Uses
Greengages are delicate and soft therefore are best eaten raw. One of the best ways to enjoy cooked greengages is by combining with yogurt to enhance there flavour, this can then be made into mousses and ice creams. They can also be used in pies and sponges alongside the flavour of almond.
If feeling a little more adventurous, it has been used in a few savoury ways such as sauces and compotes.
Origin: France 1836
Pollination: Transparent Gage is self-sterile and would require a pollinator to produce a crop. There is a long list for suitable pollinators partners if we would like to produce a crop.
History and description of Transparent Gage
Raised from an open pollinated Greengage sometime before 1836 by Lafay, a nurseryman at Bellevue, Paris. Brought to England by Thomas Rivers c 1845 from which he raised the Early Transparent Gage by which it has now been largely replaced. Received RHS Award of Merit in 1964. Medium sized, round-oblong fruit. Yellow skin with red spots and a delicate pale blue bloom. Transparent yellow, soft, very juicy flesh. When fully ripe it is possible to see the stone through the transparent flesh when the fruit is held against light. Free stone. Delicious, sweet flavour and a very pleasant aroma. An excellent dessert plum. Moderately vigorous, round-headed tree. Moderate cropping.
Main characteristics of Transparent Gage
Use: Dessert
Colour: Yellow
Fruit size: Medium (30-40 mm in lenght)
Season of use: L Aug
Tree vigour
Moderate (the most important factor in determining vigour and eventual size of a tree is choice of rootstock. However the variety does also affect vigour with some varieties producing larger more vigorous trees than others. Three categories are used: small, moderate and vigorous)
Tree habit
Spreading (different varieties of the same fruit may produce trees of different shapes. Four broad categories are used: upright, upright-spreading, spreading and pendulous (weeping). These indicate the natural tendency of the tree which may be altered to some extent by training. Most fruit trees also tend to become more spreading with age as the branches are pulled down by their own weight and the weight of fruit)
Suitable for Shade
Pollination date
Pollination group
D (For successful cross pollination to occur between two varieties flowering times must overlap. Varieties are therefore classified into groups based on their flowering times called Pollination Groups. Group A are the earliest flowering, B the next etc. Varieties within each group flower at about the same time and would in most cases pollinate each other well)
Self fertility: Self-sterile
Parentage: Old Greengage
Growing conditions
Plums have quite high moisture demands, so they are best planted on good clay or loamy soils. But sites also need to be well drained as plums, and gages in particular, hate waterlogged soils. Add bulky organic matter to sandy or shallow chalky soils prior to planting. When growing in a container, make sure pots are large enough to prevent the potting compost drying out in summer. These stone fruits are some of the earliest crops to flower in the fruit garden. While the plants themselves are often extremely hardy, the flowers can easily be killed by frosts, so it’s essential to position trees out of frost pockets or windy sites; a sheltered, sunny spot will produce the best results. Gages in particular are best sited against a south- or west-facing wall to ensure the fruits are exposed to sufficient sunshine and warmth to develop their sweet, rich flavour and to ripen wood.
Plant plum trees during the dormant season, before growth starts in late winter or early spring. Bare-root plants usually establish better than container-grown trees. Stakes or training wires may be needed depending on the type of tree form you decide to grow. Cover fan-trained trees temporarily in a tent of horticultural fleece on frosty nights when plants are in flower, holding the fleece away from the flowers with canes. Fruit set is generally finished by early summer, after which the fruits start to swell significantly. Once fruit has set, they may need thinning to ease congestion and weight in the canopy, as well as to boost fruit size. It is often essential to prop up branches in mid- and late summer, as fruit weight can otherwise snap them. Yields can be greatly increased by appropriate and timely feeding and watering. Because they can set such heavy crops, plums and gages, and to a lesser extent damsons, respond well to fertilisers, especially nitrogen. On established trees apply a mulch of well-rotted farmyard manure in mid-spring to help retain soil moisture, keep down weeds, and provide nitrogen. This can be supplemented with a top-dressing of dried poultry pellets or non-organic nitrogen fertiliser such as sulphate of ammonia. Add a top-dressing of sulphate of potash in late winter.
Pruning
Pruning should be carried out in spring or summer. Avoid pruning in the dormant season or in mid to late autumn, as there is risk of infection from silver leaf disease and bacterial canker. There are three commonly used methods of plum pruning (plum trees do not require as precise pruning as apples and pears, but still benefit from initial training and the thinning of old wood to ensure they produce as much fruit as possible. Plums are pruned in early spring or mid summer to avoid infection by silver leaf disease) and training: bush, pyramid and fan.
Problems
Silver leaf: This fungal disease causes a silvering of the leaves followed by the death of the branch. Remedy: The fungus produces most of its infectious spores in autumn and winter, so pruning in summer avoids problems. Not only are there fewer spores in this season, but pruning wounds, the main point of entry for the spores, heal more quickly.
Plum maggots: The larvae of plum moth and plum sawfly tunnel through fruits making them unappetising. In the case of plum moth, misshapen fruits form and there are droppings within the fruits. Damaged fruitlets often fall in summer. Remedy: For plum moth deltamethrin or lambda cyhalothrin can be used in mid June with a second application three weeks later. Pheromone traps, specifically for plum moth, are available and these can help get the timing of sprays right. These traps capture male moths and might actually help protect isolated trees. Plum sawfly is prevented by spraying at petal fall with the same materials. On small trees it is worthwhile looking for damaged fruitlets in May. These should be removed before the larvae complete their feeding and go into the soil.
Brown rot: A fungal disease that causes a brown, spreading rot in fruit. Remedy: Prevent the disease overwintering by removing all brown rotted fruit promptly and composting. Do not allow rotted fruit to remain on the tree. Brown rot infects through wounds, especially those caused by birds, so if possible, net to reduce bird damage. Prune out and burn infected spurs and blossoms to reduce the amount of fungus available to infect fruit. The cultivars ‘Czar’, ‘Jefferson’, ‘Ontario’ and ‘President’ have some resistance.
Blossom wilt: This common disease, caused by the same fungus that causes brown rot, causes blossom to wither and rot soon after emerging. Remedy: Minimise the carry-over of the fungus by removing all brown, rotted fruit promptly and composting. Do not allow rotted fruit to remain on the tree. Prune out and burn infected spurs and blossoms to reduce the amount of fungus available to infect fruit.
Bacterial canker: This serious disease of stone fruit causes sunken, dead areas of bark often accompanied by a gummy ooze. It can kill off entire branches. Remedy: Where possible, carry out all pruning in July or August when tissues are most resistant. This is also the best time to prune in order to minimise the risk of silver leaf disease. Cut out all cankered areas, pruning back to healthy wood and paint promptly with a wound paint to protect the wound from re-infection. Burn or landfill the prunings.
Wasps: All tree fruits are prone to wasp damage. As their fruits ripen, the high sugar content attracts wasps, which not only damages the fruit but also poses a threat to gardeners. Remedy: Hang wasp traps in trees and harvest crops as soon as they ripen. Avoid leaving windfalls or over-ripe fruit on the ground.
Birds: Bullfinches in particular will eat fruit buds in late winter when their normal diet of seeds becomes scarce. Remedy: Netting is the most reliable method of control, although not often practical for large trees. Try humming tape or reflective scarers as an alternative.
Aphids: Mealy plum aphid (white insects on the growing points and undersides of leaves) and plum leaf-curling aphid (curling young leaves) can appear in early spring. Remedy: Either tolerate or spray with thiacloprid (not when trees are in flower).
Uses
Greengages are delicate and soft therefore are best eaten raw. One of the best ways to enjoy cooked greengages is by combining with yogurt to enhance there flavour, this can then be made into mousses and ice creams. They can also be used in pies and sponges alongside the flavour of almond.
If feeling a little more adventurous, it has been used in a few savoury ways such as sauces and compotes.