So ...... this little plum tree that we planted in the front yard is bearing fruit for the first time and I am not sure about a couple of things.
1) The limbs are so full of plums they are bent over touching the ground .Should I
prop them up and what is the best way ?
2) There are what seems to be a couple hundred plums on the tree right now. This
is the first time ever we've seen so many. They are very sweet when ripe but
very small .Like a cherry tomato. Is there anything I can do to make them
grow larger or is it just the variety ? I don't what variey it is.
3) What do I need to do to keep this tree healthy and bearing fruit from year to
year?
4) Do I need to keep the fruit that has fallen on the ground picked up ? It seems to
me I remember being told to do so just to keep the bees and hornets from
hanging around.
Any Plum Tree aficiandos out there ?
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Re: Any Plum Tree aficiandos out there ?
All the information you need is here:
http://www.gardenaction.co.uk/fruit_veg ... c_plum.asp" target="_blank
Care of Plum Trees
With newly planted trees, check in their first winter that they are not lifted by frost, and provide them with water during dry spells. Plum trees grown against a wall or fence will need more regular watering throughout their life.
With more mature trees, very little care other than pruning and thinning (see later in this article) is required. Your plum tree will definitely thank you for a layer of well-rotted compost spread around, but not touching, the trunk. Early spring is the best time for this, to help preserve water and keep weeds at bay.
An Autumn application of a long lasting fertiliser such as bonemeal will keep them well fed and ready for growth next year.
Because plum trees have lots of roots near the surface, they will often produce lots of of suckers (mini-trees) for 3 metres (9 foot) around the trunk. Regular cutting of these suckers will keep them under control. A more permanent way is to gently dig away the soil to the point where the sucker joins the main root system. Simply pull the sucker away from the root. This will slow down the production of suckers considerably.
Thinning Plums
Plum trees can be a bit erratic in producing fruit - one year they produce too little and the next year they produce too much. In years when they produce too much, it's best to remove some fruit before it matures to ensure a good crop next year and also better quality fruits this year. The other danger of producing too much fruit is that the branches may not be able to support their weight and they may break.
Thin the fruits at two stages in the year. First in late mid-May when the fruits are beginning to form, the again in July when the plums are about half their full size. First, remove any damaged or diseased fruit. Then, aim to thin the fruit so that there is enough room for the plums to develop without touching each other - about 7cm (3in) between each plum.
Supporting Branches
If the weight on some of the branches looks like it may cause them to break, it will be necessary to support the branch with a stake from below. Where this is done, pad the branch with some sort of material at the point it is supported by the stake. This will prevent the branch rubbing on the stake and maybe letting disease in.
http://www.gardenaction.co.uk/fruit_veg ... c_plum.asp" target="_blank
Care of Plum Trees
With newly planted trees, check in their first winter that they are not lifted by frost, and provide them with water during dry spells. Plum trees grown against a wall or fence will need more regular watering throughout their life.
With more mature trees, very little care other than pruning and thinning (see later in this article) is required. Your plum tree will definitely thank you for a layer of well-rotted compost spread around, but not touching, the trunk. Early spring is the best time for this, to help preserve water and keep weeds at bay.
An Autumn application of a long lasting fertiliser such as bonemeal will keep them well fed and ready for growth next year.
Because plum trees have lots of roots near the surface, they will often produce lots of of suckers (mini-trees) for 3 metres (9 foot) around the trunk. Regular cutting of these suckers will keep them under control. A more permanent way is to gently dig away the soil to the point where the sucker joins the main root system. Simply pull the sucker away from the root. This will slow down the production of suckers considerably.
Thinning Plums
Plum trees can be a bit erratic in producing fruit - one year they produce too little and the next year they produce too much. In years when they produce too much, it's best to remove some fruit before it matures to ensure a good crop next year and also better quality fruits this year. The other danger of producing too much fruit is that the branches may not be able to support their weight and they may break.
Thin the fruits at two stages in the year. First in late mid-May when the fruits are beginning to form, the again in July when the plums are about half their full size. First, remove any damaged or diseased fruit. Then, aim to thin the fruit so that there is enough room for the plums to develop without touching each other - about 7cm (3in) between each plum.
Supporting Branches
If the weight on some of the branches looks like it may cause them to break, it will be necessary to support the branch with a stake from below. Where this is done, pad the branch with some sort of material at the point it is supported by the stake. This will prevent the branch rubbing on the stake and maybe letting disease in.