Damsons

[pickledtink]

Can anyone point me in the direction of a website that shows pictures of tree,flower,leaf and fruit?

I only realised 4 years ago that my thicket at the middle bit of the cliff above (so out of reach) had sloes. I've just picked up one that's fallen and I think it may actually be a Damson. It looks bigger than a Sloe.
I just nibbled a bit. It's not sour so it's a Damson I think. i've lived here 15 years and never realised!
Some gardener I am.

[mandyballantyne]

Hi Pickledtink,

I use google, click the images tab at the top and up come the pics. I use it all the time.

Hope that helps,

Mandy

[pickledtink]

Ta Mandy. I did actually do a google straight after I posted and they are indeed definitely Damsons. No way I can reach them though. If I squint up I can see quite a few. Maddening that I can't get my hands on them!
I've been wondering how I can clear or prune to see if I can get close enough to prune one to make it reachable next year.
Will they produce fruit if I cut them back by about half I wonder? They are about 14 ft by the looks of it.

[Palustris]

Probably is the answer, but you should not prune any member of that family after the beginning of August and up to February. There is a nasty disease called Silver leaf which is a fungal infection. It enters the tree through damage as in pruning. The spores are released from now till late autumn.

[pickledtink]

Probably is the answer, but you should not prune any member of that family after the beginning of August and up to February. There is a nasty disease called Silver leaf which is a fungal infection. It enters the tree through damage as in pruning. The spores are released from now till late autumn.

Thanks for that. I'd never have known and would have tackled them in September. If I don't cut them back until February I suppose I'll get no fruit next year then?

[Palustris]

Thats the problem! Even if you did it now, you would still lose fruit. It tends to flower best on two year old wood.