Bullace - Damson?

[Tony O-P.]

Anyone out there can tell me how to tell the difference between a Bullace fruit or bush and a Damson fruit or bush? Sorry I'm a bit late if it's all in the leaves! Cheers, Tony.

[Stewy]

Damson fruits are much larger than bullaces but that's not much help now is it!! Bullaces are also more round in shape where as damsons look a bit like mini victoria plums in shape (oval)

Well that's what I reckon anyway!!

Got any pics?

[Tony O-P.]

Thanks Stewy, from your description it's a Bullace. Made some bullace and apple(for the pectin) jam last year, Useable but nothing to write home about. Cheers, Tony.

[Stewy]

You could also make bullace gin or vodka with them.

http://www.cottagesmallholder.com/?p=41

[NicolaB]

I thought I saw some today when I went Kite watching, but couldn't be sure as I thought bullaces were damson sized....bah, I obviously missed out on a good forage there!

[Hobjob]

Bullace tend to be round and go deep pink, not dark purple.
Often they are yellowish.

Damsons tend to be oval and are always dark purple when ripe.

[Jim Ford]

Originally Posted by Hobjob

Bullace tend to be round and go deep pink, not dark purple.
Often they are yellowish.

Ah - we've got one with yellow fruit in the front garden. It didn't fruit this year, but when it does the fruit are very good.
It was in the garden when we moved in.

Damsons tend to be oval and are always dark purple when ripe.

We've also got a damson in the back garden. Last year it bore so much fruit it broke high up. It's looking very sorry for itself this year.

Jim

[Hobjob]

Originally Posted by Jim Ford

Ah - we've got one with yellow fruit in the front garden. It didn't fruit this year, but when it does the fruit are very good.
It was in the garden when we moved in.

If it been planted and is not wild it may not be so easy!!
Some cultivars of plums can be yellow I think, and
what about greengages??

I bet there is some gardener on WAB you knows - not
me though

[Jim Ford]

Originally Posted by Hobjob

If it been planted and is not wild it may not be so easy!!
Some cultivars of plums can be yellow I think, and
what about greengages??

I believe it's self-set. It ticks all the boxes for a bullace - growth habit fruit size (large cherry) etc.. It's certainly not a greengage (unfortunately - can't seem to buy them these days).

Jim

[Tony O-P.]

There was a magnificant greengage tree out the back of my local pub. Gone now due to some uneducated twerp and a new Landlord!

There was also a magnificant Ginko Biloba tree growing in the centre of town. Early one Sunday morning, yep you guessed it, chopped down. Called the Town Hall to complain, they said they had been inundated with complaints but what can you do after the event?

There are countless shoots about six feet long surrounding the stump. Anyone any ideas if cuttings can be taken from this tree and if so how? Cheers, Tony.