Damsons
Damsons were first cultivated in Damascus and were brought to Britain by the
Romans.
Damsons are oval in shape and have smooth yellow-green flesh with dark blue
to purple skins. The fruit is acidic making it ideal for use in jams or jellies.
Another good use for the damson is for making damson gin, where, because of the
sweetness of the fruit less sugar is needed compared to making sloe gin. Damson
'Merryweather' is a nice dual-purpose variety which can be cooked or eaten
straight from the tree.
Damsons are early flowering so they require protection from frost. Damsons
are quite happy grown in a hedge although they are best grown in a sunny
position with some protection from morning sun to prevent fruits from splitting.
Grow in moderately fertile, moist, well-drained neutral to slightly acidic
soils.
Rootstocks
Rootstocks in order of their vigour are outlined below: -
Pixy - Dwarf. An ideal
rootstock for the smaller garden. It needs to be grown in fertile and weed-free
soil. It will reach a height of 2.4-3m. Trees grown on this rootstock will bear
fruit within 3 years. Use for dwarf bushes, dwarf pyramids, and small fans.
St. Julian A - Semi-Vigorous.
A good rootstock for most soils. Trees grown on this rootstock will reach a
height of 3-3.5m. Trees grown on this rootstock will bear fruit within 4-5
years. Use for bushes, half-standards, and fans.
Varieties
Damsons are available as bare-root one-year-maidens from November to March.
Trained forms of Damsons are available in 12 litre pots all-year-round.
Damson ‘Blue Violet’
Dessert/Cooker. Dark blue-black fruits which have an attractive bloom. The
flesh is sweet making an ideal dessert damson of plum quality. Its season of use
is mid-August. (Kendal 1932) Flowering Group 3. Self Fertile
Damson ‘Farleigh’
Cooker. Small, roundish oval fruits which have very dark, almost black skin
with a light blue bloom. The greenish yellow flesh which has some streaks of red
when ripe is rich with a good flavour. An immense bearer. Its season of use is
mid-September. (Kent 1820) Flowering Group 3. Self Fertile
Damson ‘King of the Damsons’
Cooker. Large fruit which has black-blue bloom. A reliable cropper. Its
season of use is mid-September. (Nottinghamshire 1880) Flowering Group 2. Self
Fertile
Damson ‘Langley Bullace’
Cooker. Small oval fruit which has bluish black skin with a good bloom. Its
season of use is mid-October. (Veitch 1902) Flowering Group 3. Self Fertile
Bare Root Trees
Two Year 1/2 Standard SJA £27.50 each
Damson ‘Merryweather’
Dessert/Cooker. Very large round fruits which have a hyacinth blue skin with
a heavy bloom of lighter blue. The greenish yellow flesh is rather firm with a
definite damson flavour. Reliable heavy crops. Its season of use is late
September. (Nottingham 1907) Flowering Group 3. Self Fertile
Containerised Trees
Two Year Bush (Pixy) £38.50
Two Year Bush (SJA) £36.30
Bare Root Trees
One Year Maiden Pixy £22.50 each
One Year Maiden SJA £20.25 each
Damson ‘Shropshire Prune’
Cooker. The 'Greengage of Damsons'. Oval to oblong fruits which have a very
deep purple skin carrying a dense bloom which easily rubs off. The flesh is
firm, sugary, astringent, and the choicest flavour of all damsons. Too
astringent to eat fresh from the tree but excellent for cooking, preserving, and
bottling. Its season of use is mid-September. (Shropshire 17th Century)
Flowering Group 3. Self Fertile
Bare Root Trees
One Year Maiden Pixy £22.50 each
One Year Maiden SJA £20.25 each
Two Year Bush SJA £24.50 each
