Want to replace self seeded plum

[rob the roller]

We have a very successful self seeded plum (I think) growing in the corner of the garden next to the house. It bears vast numbers of small yellow fruit about the size of large grape or cherry. Flavour not bad but not outstanding. It usually finishes up as jam, but it is tiresome to make as the pits are so large, they are about half the size of the fruit by volume.

I want to replace it with something more useful. Would I replace it with another plum, or should I plant a different variety altogether, such as a cherry. There is currently no pollinator in the garden, so would have to select a SF or plant two trees (not a problem).

Would appreciate any ideas or suggestions. The garden is London clay, and can get waterlogged in the winter.

Thanks

Rob

[FB.]

If you plan to plant the same (or similar) type of tree in the same location, you may suffer from "replant disease" - the new tree gets attacked by all the diseases that were lurking in the ground and attacking the older one.
Young trees can be severely stunted.

One solution is to use a more vigorous rootstock to combat the replant diseases. The other is to dig-out the old tree and the surrounding soil.

But on a heavy clay soil, your soil will hold water and nutrients very well.

If you're prone to waterlogging, I suggest creating a mound on which to plant the new tree. The mound only really needs to be large enough to stop surface water from rotting the base of the trunk.

There are plenty of fruits to choose from - apples, cherries, pears, plums.....

Cherries tend to mostly get eaten by the birds.

Pears are more tolerant of heavy soil than other fruit trees.

Apple rootstock M9 is reasonably tolerant of heavy soil, but has brittle roots and is prone to drought stress.

Ultimately, the choice of what to plant is up to you.

Personally, I would grow a handful of small-medium fruits as bushes - such as a pear, a plum, and a couple of apples (early and late, or cooker and eater).
All could be maintained at about 7ft in size if you choose the correct rootstock and variety.

[littleexperience]

hello im new to this forum but will try to give some help.why not try another plum rob i highly reccoment the opal plum i have grown this type in a half whisky barrel for the past 4 years and get monster crops every year i live in the southern uplands in scotland which gets alot of rain and cold frosts but still get great results as FB has said you could also try apples pears or cherries i also have 2 apples 2 pear and also a cherry all are no bigger than 8ft tall which all grow in half whisky barrels and iget great crops every year from all i would recommend whatever you plant plant it in a whisky barrel its very easy to look after just keep them well fed and watered

[Two_Sheds]

We have a very successful self seeded plum...vast numbers of small yellow fruit about the size of large grape or cherry.

that would be a Cherry Plum or Myrobalan

I made wine from 'ours' last year, we had a massive crop.

[rob the roller]

Thank you FB, you more or less confirmed my understanding of what might occur. I am planning to put a number of fruit trees in the garden and the allotment, so your suggestions and advice much appreciated.

Twosheds, I make wine from gooseberries. I haven't tried using the plums. In view of what you say I might leave the tree there for another year and try making wine. Do you have any tips on this? What is the wine like?

Thank you for your advice too Littleexperience but I suspect whisky barrels are easier to come by in your neck of the woods. I don't recall ever having seen or heard of them here in North London/South Herts.

If I did have a barrel I am not sure I would want to cut in half and use it as a planter. It does seem a rather sad end to what is after all a highly skilled piece of work in good quality oak. Are the barrels too far gone for any other use such as wine making by the time you get to use them as planters?

Rob

[Two_Sheds]

I might... try making wine. Do you have any tips on this?

Cherry Plum Wine

x

[littleexperience]

we are quite fortunate here rob we can get half whisky barrels very easly £25 gets you 2 or if you go to the nearest distillery you get them for nothing but you have to half them in 2 yourself with a power saw which makes a real mess but they do do make lovely planters a bit of caractour to your garden with some Perennials plants round the base it really looks stunning in the summer months

[rob the roller]

I think that's worth making a visit for. Are they always available?

Rob

[littleexperience]

I think that's worth making a visit for. Are they always available?

Rob

i can get them for nothing rob about 1-2 full barrels a year my brother works in the distillery and brings them home most people here use them as planters because they are so big anywhere between 30-36inch wide. you can get them about anywhere here 2 halves for 25 pounds but they weigh a ton.
im surprised they arnt more widely avalible further south

[BUFFS]

fb is spot on about replant desease,but there is a fungus you can buy in the garden centres that was originally bred to cope with rose replant problems,but after talking to the local gardening guru,it apparently works on most plants,im told it does something to the roots to protect them,i havent used it (or remember its name) but alec was really pleased about it when he told me last autumn,any decent centre should have it or be able to get it for you..

[jaimie]

Is a mirabelle the same thing as a myrobalan?