picking plums

[jacob]

The problem with plums is that as they ripen, birds and wasps have a habit of eating them.

At what stage do you pick them? Just as they start to turn? Or earlier? Or later?

[valmarg]

I think the problem is more wasps than birds eating your plums. Birds can't perch on them, but they will eat them when they have fallen to the ground/

We have a Victoria plum tree, and have quite a good crop this year. I prefer to pick them later, rather than earlier, ie, when they are fully ripe. I admit you have to be a bit careful, as the fruit you are about to pick could have a wasp on it..

Lovely ripe fruits are best, as I can't think of a recipe I have for under-ripe fruit.

valmarg

[realfood]

If the tree is still small, say under 3 m, try using a cheap mosquito net to keep off the wasps, as shown on this page :- plums

[purplekat]

Supposedly wasps (or is it birds?) go for fruit for the water content rather than the fruit itself so might be worth trying a birdbath or large saucer of water nearby to try and tempt them away.

Wasps are normally attracted when a large rainfall after a dry spell causes the fruit to swell quickly and split, they don't normally eat through a perfect fruit - so if it's a small tree maybe try to avoid it drying out too much and try and pick off any split fruit.

I would try and wait for fruit to ripen on tree rather than pick early, they're much nicer

[rana]

The fruit on my plums is subject to damage (now) by birds, wasps and worst of all squirrels. There is also a fair amount of 'early' fruit drop about now. This seems to be limited mostly to the fruit containing maggots (plum moth) which I am sure bring on early maturity. It is therefore difficult to decide when to harvest the fruit. If I do it now I get a higher proportion of maggotted fruit. If I wait another 10 days the crop is considerably reduced or damaged by the other grazers.

[mrscorpio]

The problem with plums is that as they ripen, birds and wasps have a habit of eating them.

At what stage do you pick them? Just as they start to turn? Or earlier? Or later?

I get a wasp problem every year. This year however I won the battle. I purchased a cheep plastic wasp catcher. It is shaped like a large honey pot and hangs it the tree I got it from Aldi late last year. it has a hole in the bottom where the bugs fly in. It unscrews so you can fill the inner lip with sugar water or jam and water.
I think it must have trapped every wasp in my garden (best thing I have ever bought)

I also made a catcher from a 2l pop bottle, instructions can be found on the net. this caught 2 flys. I wouldnt bother again.

[rana]

A simple wasp/moth/fly catcher can be made by punching about a dozen 5mm holes in a jam jar lid, then hanging the jar in a tree. A mix of vinegar sugar and water is a very effective bait.