Maybe a daft question... But do we pick gages and plums before they are ripa and then they ripen at home, or do we have to wait until they are actually ripe on the trees?
there are plum nickers about, hence my question...
They don't ripen if they are picked when still green. But if they've already developed full colour then they will soften/ripen to edible stage. However..if picked early they never develop the full sweetness like if they would been picked near ripe stage straight from tree.
I leave them on the tree till a touch brings them down. The only drawback is that a gale can strip the tree, and if I'm not down at once, the slugs will chew holes in them all!
Please don't ripen yet I have no room left in the freezers. I don't like jam.
My Oullin's Golden Gage is about ready and the Cambridge Gage not far behind... :)
28 kgs from my Opal plum tree - never known so many. Luckily been able to share them with friends.
OMG I have an opal. ;D
I have a few coming along nicely on my young trees .....I think that with plums you do need to wait till they are almost ready .