walshie Posted June 7, 2018 Report Share Posted June 7, 2018 We moved in here in 2015. There's a big plum tree at the end of the garden and in 2015 it produced a handful of plums. 2016 and 2017 not one. Just looked at it now and there are literally hundreds of them. We haven't done anything to it to cultivate it. In fact I was going to chop it down this year if it didn't produce anything. Do plum trees produce fruit in cycles like this or what else would cause this tasty phenomenon? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
figgy Posted June 7, 2018 Report Share Posted June 7, 2018 It only takes bad weather when the blossom is out and you get a poor or no harvest. On a good year your now seeing the results. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDog Posted June 7, 2018 Report Share Posted June 7, 2018 Pollination is the key unless the tree is self fertile. As Figgy says if the weather is bad at the time of flowering then there may be insufficient insects to get out and pollinate the flowers. The time span for pollination of flowers on fruit trees is remarkably small, often just two or three days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dougy Posted June 7, 2018 Report Share Posted June 7, 2018 We had 15 kg off our last year, far too many for our needs half that would have ben enough so I've cut it in 1/2. ? You may find (As Jdog said) if it's not been pollinated you will loose allot of the fruit (seedpods)next time the wind blows. I always give mine a winter spray and renew the grease band early in the year. I also have a cherry tree next to it, that also gives a brilliant crop, and last year was covered in as many ladybird larvae. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruno22rf Posted June 7, 2018 Report Share Posted June 7, 2018 One of the woods that I shoot is called "plum wood" ( for obvious reasons) and some years the trees are bare yet another the branches hang to the ground under the weight of the fruit - once the fruit drops it's actually unpleasant to walk on the fruit rotting on the floor - trees were planted in 1917 by a local soldier returning home after receiving shrapnel wounds in France - visiting this wood always saddens me because while recovering from his wounds he was sent a white feather by the local ladies who did not bother to do their homework, he later returned to the front and was killed in action in Belgium . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eyefor Posted June 7, 2018 Report Share Posted June 7, 2018 39 minutes ago, walshie said: ......In fact I was going to chop it down this year if it didn't produce anything. Obviously you threatening it worked? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave at kelton Posted June 7, 2018 Report Share Posted June 7, 2018 We has a few at the last house and it was the same. Largely depended on the spring weather. Bad frosts at blossom time and that was it, no fruit! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mickyh Posted June 7, 2018 Report Share Posted June 7, 2018 We have 3 in the front garden every year fruit dripping from the branches. Everyone takes some. Really tasty they are. This year, nothing, everything seems to have dried up and rotted off ? No idea why, nature has its own ways I guess. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigbob Posted June 7, 2018 Report Share Posted June 7, 2018 As said some years can be hit and miss i was told it was resting after a bumper year but the short pollination time seems more plausible Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mice! Posted June 7, 2018 Report Share Posted June 7, 2018 we've also got a plumb tree that was here when we moved in, it was a bit of a mess and giving it a good prune certainly helped, and it also seems to cycle between small and large amounts of fruit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
39TDS Posted June 7, 2018 Report Share Posted June 7, 2018 I have a tree that leans over a bit. Don't think it is plumb though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GingerCat Posted June 8, 2018 Report Share Posted June 8, 2018 Mine is laden thus year. Had 10kg of it last year as well. It's 5 years planted and probably less than 10 years old in all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lloyd90 Posted June 8, 2018 Report Share Posted June 8, 2018 Does it help to have Bees nearby? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GingerCat Posted June 8, 2018 Report Share Posted June 8, 2018 1 hour ago, Lloyd90 said: Does it help to have Bees nearby? It certainly won't hurt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moose man Posted June 8, 2018 Report Share Posted June 8, 2018 Our plum tree this year is hanging in fruit , so much so a branch broke of this morning .Last year there was not a plum on it .. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loriusgarrulus Posted June 9, 2018 Report Share Posted June 9, 2018 We had a Victoria plum tree at a previous house. It was in between two apple trees and planted too close together. The previous house owner told us it had never fruited. Grandad a keen and knowledgable gardener came and helped us move it. He dug a huge hole round it and we lifted it in Autumn with as much roots as possible. He cut the tap root short as he said that often brings them into fruit The next year it had 5 fruits. The year after it was loaded with fruit and fruited well every year after that while we were there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClemFandango Posted June 9, 2018 Report Share Posted June 9, 2018 On 07/06/2018 at 17:12, 39TDS said: I have a tree that leans over a bit. Don't think it is plumb though. Ha! On 07/06/2018 at 11:48, bruno22rf said: One of the woods that I shoot is called "plum wood" ( for obvious reasons) and some years the trees are bare yet another the branches hang to the ground under the weight of the fruit - once the fruit drops it's actually unpleasant to walk on the fruit rotting on the floor - trees were planted in 1917 by a local soldier returning home after receiving shrapnel wounds in France - visiting this wood always saddens me because while recovering from his wounds he was sent a white feather by the local ladies who did not bother to do their homework, he later returned to the front and was killed in action in Belgium . What is the significance of the white feather? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walker570 Posted June 9, 2018 Report Share Posted June 9, 2018 (edited) I have seven plum trees in our orchard of differing types. The Golden Gage was heaving with fruit last year but I notice this year it has only a few fruit forming. The Victoria always has too many and they are small but good for jamming, the Czar always produces and I have a new one which I don't know the name of and it has a few plums forming this season. I tell a lie because I have three Bullace ...little green plum .. which produce every year and make superb jame and bullace vodka is ..mmmmmmmmmm..... last autumn I moved six seedlings which had shot up near the bullace and two flowered this year and have a handful of small round plums, so think they are bullace as well .... so 13 plum trees. My orchard is on the sight of an old orchard and above the frost pocket. Spring frosts can kill a lot of blossom and the old timers knew where to plant. I replanted the orchard 25yrs ago and now we have more fruit than we can use but it is great to turn friends loose in there to pick their own. If you can find a Golden Gage to plant, do so. Delicious. They grow into a fairly large tree and at 25yrs mine is 20ft high and maybe 18ft across. We are blessed in having an orchard where we can just pick a fresh ripe plum or apple or pear or APRICOT!! yep got one of those too. The five hives also help pollination. 7 minutes ago, ClemFandango said: Ha! What is the significance of the white feather? It was given to a person believed to be a coward in short. Edited June 9, 2018 by Walker570 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClemFandango Posted June 9, 2018 Report Share Posted June 9, 2018 Thanks for that. Poor guy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amateur Posted June 9, 2018 Report Share Posted June 9, 2018 (edited) 9 hours ago, ClemFandango said: What is the significance of the white feather? 9 hours ago, Walker570 said: It was given to a person believed to be a coward in short. Not just that. My maternal grandfather was a skilled engineer, working in a reserved occupation for the defence industry in WW1 and was also excluded from military service on health grounds - dodgy stomach which eventually killed him post war. Anyway, because he was not in uniform, some misguided woman gave him a white feather. Rather than explain, Grandma just decked her. Edited June 9, 2018 by amateur Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moondoggy Posted June 9, 2018 Report Share Posted June 9, 2018 Cut it down and give the logs to me to turn in to spoons! ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moose man Posted June 9, 2018 Report Share Posted June 9, 2018 1 hour ago, amateur said: Not just that. My maternal grandfather was a skilled engineer, working in a reserved occupation for the defence industry in WW1 and was also excluded from military service on health grounds - dodgy stomach which eventually killed him post war. Anyway, because he was not in uniform, some misguided woman gave him a white feather. Rather than explain, Grandma just decked her. On the very odd occasion a good hard punch in the face says so much more than words ...grandma sounds a proper old bird ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walker570 Posted June 9, 2018 Report Share Posted June 9, 2018 Don't suppose your Granny is still about and could take charge of the Brexit negotiations Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amateur Posted June 9, 2018 Report Share Posted June 9, 2018 (edited) Alas, after a very hard life (widowed with 2 small children in the 1920's, before the benefits system emerged), she died in 1973, having helped raise me and my brothers and sister, living with our family when she had retired. Edited June 9, 2018 by amateur Clarification Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mice! Posted June 10, 2018 Report Share Posted June 10, 2018 I hadn't heard about white feathers signifying cowardice, just the possibly more modern angels feathers or remembering a loved one passed away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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