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Geoffreykensharp wrote:
There are a couple of trees on our land which occasionally bear fruit. I've
never bothered with them before, but as they're loaded this year I tried some
and they were very tasty. They are small (smaller than a walnut - around 2.5 cm
across) and green with the riper ones aquiring a slight yellow tinge.
I think they must be greengages, although my wife will not eat them as she says
they are too small and might be some kind of non edible variety.
Can anyone tell me if this is likely as she is giving me doubts?
They just taste like a very nice plum to me.

If the trees and leaves also look like plums, and they have 'cherry'
blossom in spring, and the stones are plum-like, I would classify
them as greengages and have no hesitation in gorging myself. They
also freeze well and make good jam.

There are a few exotics that match the description of the fruit,
but they are all most unusual (and greengages aren't) and as far as I
are all edible anyway. It is VERY unlikely that they would taste
as good, too - they are wild plums from north America, Japan etc.

I can't think of a plum-like fruit that grows on a plum-like tree
(with appropriate flowers and leaves) in the UK that isn't some
sort of a plum. You have described a Cambridge Gage to a T.

If you are near Cambridge, may I come and scrounge some? And perhaps
some cuttings? :-)


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.