| Author |
Garden Gate:  Question about plum trees  |
|
|
Annika
True Blue Farmgirl
5602 Posts
Annika
USA
5602 Posts |
 Posted - Aug 29 2011 : 09:30:54 AM
|
I have heard that plum trees sometimes take a year off and don't produce fruit. I have three Mirabelle plum trees, and was so looking forward to canning them. We had a very long cold wet spring in north Idaho and my trees didn't even blossom. Having never had plum trees before, I don't know what care they need. I want to stay as simple and organic as possible. Do I need to prune them or fertilize them?
Thanks in advance 
Annika
Farmgirl & sister #13
Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. ~Leonardo DaVinci
|
|
|
mickib
True Blue Farmgirl
267 Posts
Michele
Coeur d'Alene
Idaho
267 Posts |
Posted - Aug 29 2011 : 12:37:11 PM
|
| Have you had the trees for a few years? I know virtually nothing about fruit trees, but I know that with all of our ornamental fruit trees it took them three years to really get going, same with grapes. Hopefully someone with actually knowledge will respond. I wouldn't count out that crazy weather we've had either. And the last few days have been the hottest all summer! |
 |
|
|
mickib
True Blue Farmgirl
267 Posts
Michele
Coeur d'Alene
Idaho
267 Posts |
Posted - Aug 29 2011 : 2:57:50 PM
|
| Annika, I also forgot to mention the extension office. The folks in Coeur d'Alene are incredibly helpful. We get so much useful information from them about all kinds of things. Recently, they helped us with our raspberries. http://www.uidaho.edu/extension/latah |
|
|
|
marthajane
True Blue Farmgirl
196 Posts
Anna
Orlando
FL
USA
196 Posts |
Posted - Sep 03 2011 : 11:50:30 AM
|
Hey, I just thot Id add that I believe fertilizing the fruit trees the first 3 years is a good practice, you sprinkle it all around the inside of the perimeter of the circumference of the branches. Also, sometimes getting rid of anything growing under your tree branches can help. Depending on the soil, you might want to consider how the tree is doing underground, or look for possible pest problems.
Happiness IS being a MoM |
|
|
|
Nanniekim
True Blue Farmgirl
206 Posts
Kim
Arizona
206 Posts |
Posted - Sep 03 2011 : 2:33:41 PM
|
Do you know if they are self-pollinating? Most of the plum trees I see in seed catalogs need a pollinator.
Kim |
|
|
|
Annika
True Blue Farmgirl
5602 Posts
Annika
USA
5602 Posts |
Posted - Sep 03 2011 : 3:49:42 PM
|
I know that the trees are at least 15 years old and are quite large. Most years they are just covered in plums by late July or early August. I am not spotting any insect activity, but a lot of the leaves have been nibbled on and there are little round holes in some of them. I think I'm going to look into some organic fruit tree fertilizer and see if they perk up next year. I love the sweet - tart little yellow plums! Crossing my fingers for a good harvest next year =)
Annika
Farmgirl & sister #13
Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. ~Leonardo DaVinci
|
|
|
|
Montrose Girl
Farmgirl Legend/Schoolmarm
1360 Posts
Laurie
Montrose
CO
1360 Posts |
Posted - Sep 04 2011 : 6:42:43 PM
|
Annika, sometimes the frost will get them. We have an orchard and this was a horrible fruit year. Our blood plums produced, but the other two varieties of plums had no fruit at all. This was a weird spring all around, so I wouldn't panic if they didn't produce. Other years they are abundant. I can't say hubby fertilizes, but I'll ask him.
Laurie
http://www.inntheorchardbnb.com/ |
|
|
|
melody
True Blue Farmgirl
3309 Posts
Melody
The Great North Woods in the Land of Hiawatha
USA
3309 Posts |
Posted - Sep 04 2011 : 7:44:22 PM
|
We planted our plum tree gosh....when my DS was 7 or so and he is 15 now. The tree looked a little better than a long switch, but now it is gorgeous. Not as many plums as last year I had a bumper crop and made tons of plum jelly and plum butter. This year was cooler and a lot wetter in the spring. Not as many blossoms but still I will have a good crop. They are turning a wonderfully plummy purple now and I will wait until the very end of September before I harvest.
With plum trees patience is a must. I thought I would never have plums but when my tree was ready she started to bear. Do you have any other fruit trees that will draw the bees? I think it helped us having 4 apple trees and a big patch of sunflowers in the yard.
Melody
Farmgirl #525 |
|
|
|
rough start farmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
3331 Posts
marianne
The Beautiful Pacific NW
Washington State
USA
3331 Posts |
Posted - Sep 05 2011 : 06:03:47 AM
|
Annika
We are just west of Spokane and my Italian plum tree did not produce fruit this yesr. I also lost my peaches to a fungus because of the wet spring. All the trees have recovered though. Fingers crossed for next yesr.
marianne
|
|
|
| |
Garden Gate: Question about plum trees |
|
Question about plum trees
