[clarebear]

I have thought about growing some damson bushes, I have seen seeds and shrubs available.

I quite fancy doing it from seed though. I'm quite patient and I like the idea of starting absolutely from scratch.

[Jeanieblue]

Would you end up with wild damsons? That would certainly liven up our allotments - might try to grow some just for fun!!!

[clarebear]

yeah. I really fancy making damson gin.

[Selkie]

Won't it take ages til they're mature enough to produce fruit?

I know you said that you're patient but still....

[WG.]

Buy plants.  I think they are usually grafted onto a specialised root stock to give better performance.  Splodger (and others) will know.

[Trillium]

I always throught damsons came from trees? The ones here do. That could be a very long wait otherwise.

[clarebear]

yeah. I thought it would take a few years at least. but i am a very new gardener and have lots to work on whilst i wait. i thought i could just plant it and keep on top of it but pretty much just leave it to grow and get on with the rest of the garden.

[richyrich7]

Buy plants.  I think they are usually grafted onto a specialised root stock to give better performance.  Splodger (and others) will know.

Damsons, plums, gages are all usually grafted onto the appropriate rootstock  eg St Julien etc

Growing from seed is slow and unpredictable, IMHO WG is right buy plants.

[clarebear]

excellent. thanks for the advice.  i think i might do that. i knew about the time issue but this all sounds a bit complicated.

thanks.

[Selkie]

You could buy a young bush and then watch it mature - just bypassing the first few years!

[gobs]

I always throught damsons came from trees? The ones here do. That could be a very long wait otherwise.

Thanks for that, I can't understand what bushes we are talking.

Just a couple of years, really, or for a good crop 3-4. Depending on the variety, might be five.

Let not all of that deter you, CB, as long as your seed is good.

famous gardener's story: went to see my university lecturer, he is 90 something now, he was sowing fir tree seeds at the time, that's optimism

[Selkie]

Peter's Mum has one in her garden and it's definately more bushy than tree-y but maybe there are different types (and hers has been seriously neglected over the years --- but still fruits like mad most years)

[gobs]

Well, if there's a pear bush, I don't know what it is.

If it's pear trees we are talking (which have a shape /pruning form called bush), they will take a few years to produce from seed, but also, you won't know what you are getting and for good crop set you will need a different variety that flowers about the same time.

I don't know why I suddenly thought we are talking pears here. :oops:  :roll:

Damsons are more likely to come good from seed.

[wildeone]

Well, if there's a pear bush, I don't know what it is.

If it's pear trees we are talking (which have a shape /pruning form called bush), they will take a few years to produce from seed, but also, you won't know what you are getting and for good crop set you will need a different variety that flowers about the same time.

I don't know why I suddenly thought we are talking pears here. :oops:  :roll:

Damsons are more likely to come good from seed.

i thought we were talking damsons? :? i'm confused!

[Selkie]

Who's bringing pears into this? I'm confused :?