Plum Pollination Query

[chris]

Probably going to have a few queries pop up from me, as I've just bought some cheapo trees to see how I get on with them (before garden is sorted completely in the next few years!)

I notice that President Plum is a pollination group C. My neighbour has a Victoria, which also is group C.

Are inter-groups ok for polination?

Both types are listed as self-fertile, but I understand a partner will produce a better crop?

Thanks

[chris]

It may help to add, that my neighbour has had crops from her tree in the past - so I'm not sure if a suited partner may be around the estate?

[Flummery]

Dunno really but my damson is listed as self fertile. Next doors has a victoria plum. I regularly get 50 - 60 lb of damsons. Couldn't deal with more!

[rustylady]

I have a Victoria which crops brilliantly - no other plum trees around here.

[chris]

My father has a Victoria too, which crops really well (though seems to be moving to a bi-annual cropping period)- no other plums around as far as we know - forgot about that

Also my mother in law has the same.

Maybe I should think before asking I fancied something other than a Victoria, so I've bought it - fingers crossed it doesn't uproot the house foundations

[FB.]

If they flower at the same time, they will usually cross-pollinate.
There are occasional exceptions if the varieties are related, so if your plum was bred from a Victoria, the pollination may not be as good.
Quite a few plums are partially self-fertile.
You'll soon find out whether you need a pollinator, so I'd wait and see how it goes. But bear in mind that poor crops from plums can be caused by frost damage to blossoms, since plums flower very early in the year.

[chris]

Thanks FB - I noticed that the flowering is a mid season flower, which is one of the (vein) reasons I decided to go for it too (after the frost took most of my apricots out - bar 2!!!)

[Bigmallly]

Misleading?

Mods please move if not appropriate.
As mentioned in another thread, I bought a President plum tree from Lidl. On reading the label it said self pollinating. I took that to mean it didn't need another tree to pollinate it, however when I got home I did some reading & found out it is self-sterile which means it does need to be near another tree, luckily I am planting it around 10-15 foot from a Victoria plum tree so should be ok. Did I miss something or was it more luck than judgement.

[Pumpkin Becki]

Sounds like very poor labelling on Lidl's part. I think I'd complain in writing to head office if I were you (Can you tell I'm in a 'kick butt' kinda mood today ? ). It may not get you anywhere but at least you'll have got it off your chest.

[Bigmallly]

Sorry Chris, I missed your thread & posted another on the same subject. Victoria is self-fertile which does not need a pollinator. President is self-sterile so DOES need a pollinator. Like you I am putting the 2 close together so fingers crossed should be ok. The victoria has been in for 2 years. This year I had masses of flowers but not a single fruit. Good luck.

[Bigmallly]

It's fine Becki, luckily It's going near another plum tree but I posted it mainly as a warning to other grapes. I've just noticed that chrismarks has posted a similar thread in the fruit section. Mods may wish to link them together.

[chris]

What! How bloody annoying. I'm definately going to complain.

Thanks for that BM, that's influenced my decision on where to place it now..

[FB.]

Bear in mind that with fruit trees, it is not as clear cut as them being:

1.
Self-fertile

2.
Partially self fertile

3.
Self sterile



Each variety has a different degree of self-fertility. Some might normally be able to pollinate 1/2 of their flowers, while others might only be able to pollinate 1/3 of their flowers. Some of the fertility rate is affected by how many flowers the tree produces and what proportion of the pollen is actually viable.
To add further confusion, the temperature and humidity at the time of flowering affect fertillity. Each variety having slightly different preferences for temperature/humidity.

A cut-off point for self-fertility has to be set, below which the tree is labelled as "self-sterile". In my experience, it is varieties that are on the borderline of part-self-fertile/self-sterile that cause the most confusion. In fact, if you asked two different "experts", they'd probably disagree on what defines the fertile/sterile boundaries.

In experiments, it has even been shown that "sterile" triploid fruit trees can self-pollinate about one in 30 flowers.
Additionally, when pollination is poor, some fruit varieties can produce a small number of seedless (parthenocarpic) fruits.

[chris]

They probably won't know that though, and I must admit I do like a good moan

FB - do you think there'll be any problem removing a fir tree, which I believe is a noble fir? (bluey-green) and planting a fruit tree there? Happy to replace a lot of the soil in that area if need be.. Just wondering if the fallen pinse would have made it too acidic? Worth testing?

More than likely, the plum will go there - as I doubt they'll actually stay within the 1.7m they say, so happy for it to grow large there... It'll help screen the neighbours and also it'll be within sight - probably 5m of next doors viccy plum!

[Bigmallly]

I'm lead to believe that fruit bushes prefer acidic soil, I would assume fruit trees are the same. I hope so as I've just tipped loads of coffee grounds round my fruit trees.